The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-01
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION

TER's REPORT on RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
CLOSING ADDRESS OF DR.. NELL.
RussEILvuLE, KY, May &c, 1866.
Rev. DIR. Boyce (after the usual prellmi-
nary serviccS) reported from the com
mittee on arrangements for the next ses-
sion that Memphis should be the place
of meeting, Rev. DR.. Brantley, OF Georgia,
the preacher of the Introductory sermon,
and Rev. DR.. Tichcnor, of Alabama, the
alternate. Report adopted.
Rev. DIR. Williams, from the Committee
ON the Coliseum Place Baptist Church"
New Orleans, made a report, which was
amended and passed. The report detailed
that the church was considerably in debt
and in danger of losing their house OF
worship. and the whole matter was referred
to the Domestic Mission Board, with in
structions that as soon as they had ASST
RANGES that the church had done its part,
they should send out agents and make an
effort to free the church from debt.
Resolutions of thanks to the Baltimore
Committee " and others for their Voluntary
labors, to the missionaries themselves Tor
their self-sacrifce, and to the States OF
MARYLAND and Kentucky for their generous
I
rics during the war, were passed.
On motion of 4. p. Abel, Esq, OF Nlr-
rinia. the Convention united with DR.. Je
ter. of Virginia, in thanksgiving to the God
of Missions for His providential care OF our
missionaries, and His blessing upon their
lahorS.
DR.. Jeter, of Virginia, from the COM
mittec to whom was referred the reSolu-
following report: o
"Many of our Christian brethren, OF dIf-
ferent denominations, and in various por-
tions of the United States, having been
restrained and annoyed in their approprl-
ate work of preaching the Gospel OF Christ,
sometimes by civil and sometimes by mill
tary authority, contrary to the fundamental
principles Of religious liberty and the para
mount claims of Jesus Christ, we, mem
bcrs of the Southern Baptist Convention,
deem it a proper occasion for reaSScrtng
and proclaiming the principles OF "Sonl
LIBERTY" which our fathers were the frSt
10 publish, for the maintenance OF when
they suffered persecution, in winch thcy
have for ages gloried, and which we should
he the last to abandon. We Soicmnly re-
solve, in the face OF the world and Ill the
fear of God,
|. That we believe civil government to
bc of Divine appointment; and that magis-
trates should be prayed for and obeycd III
all things not contrary to the rights ol con-
science and the revealed will OF Christ.
3. That Christ is the supreme ruler of
the Church; that it is His prerogatlve to
nut men into the Gospel ministry, and that
they are anSwcrablc only to him for the
discharge of its functions; that all inter
ference with these functions on the part oil
civil rulers tranSccndS their legitimate au-
thoritv, and is a uSurpation OF the rights OF
conscience: and that when the claims OF
civil rulers come in conflict with those of
Christ. il is our duty TO "obcy God rather
than man, and endure the consequences"
3. That we express our sincere sympathy
and high regard for those ministers who,
in following the dictates OF their con-
sciences and maintaining the authority or
their supreme law-giver, have cheertully
submitted to fines, impriSonmcntS, ana
other "painS and penalties y; and that we
will earnestly pray that rulers may be so
/ considcrate and Just, and that Christian
ministers may be so discreet and upright,
that the cause of Christ may mot be hindered
and the name of God blaSphemcd.
( DR.. Jctcr stated that the report had been
carefully prepared, and had been submitted
! to many other brethren not members "l
the committee.
Rev. DR.. Williams, Of Baltimore, cx-
pressed his regret that he was compelled
TO oppose the resolutions. He subscribed
heartily to every word which they con-
/ tanned, but did not think that this Conven-
ton ought to pass them. He had deter
mined never, as a minister of the Gospel,
/ to do or say ANYTHING which savored at all
of politics. lie had stood firmly by
this principle all through the war. and
! God had given him grace to maintain 1t.
I'm Baltimore. soon after the ASSASSINATION
of Mr.. Lincoln, he was summoned TO q
meeting of ministers called to express
their opinions upon the occasion, and was
threatened if he did not attend. lie
refused to go. The resolutions passed by
this meeting were sent to him for his sigma
tire. and he was threatened with arrest if
he did not sign them. He went with sad
heart to tell his wife OF the alternative,
and she said to him, "Stand to your prln-
ciples, and rather than give them up, go 10
prison and rot there; ! will take care OF
! the children" He stood firm then, and he
never meant to take action which has the
slightest taint of politics about 1t.
| The debate was further participated III
bv Rev. Mcssrs. Pratt, of Kentucky Poin-
dexter, of Virginia; Boyce, OF South Ca
! rolina: Cabaniss, of Virginia; Jeter, OF
! Virginia J. B. Taylor, Sr., of Virginia !;
| Lorimer, of Kentucky; Burrows, of Nir-
pinia Mcdonald, of Kentucky; Lcaman,
of Kentucky; Massey, OF Kentucky !;
Green. of Missouri; Crawford, Of Ken
tucky Gwin, of Georgia; Petty, OF Nir-
pinia: Sumner, of Alabama; and Mars, OF
I Kentucky.
Rev Dir. Pojpdextcr moved an indefinite
| postponemcnt. Lost.
Rev. DR.. J. 4. Broadus, OF South caro-
, lima, moved the following as an addition TO
the resolutions:
Resolved, 4. That in adopting these
resolutions the Convention expressly dlsa-
vows any disposition to interfere with polltl-
cal affairs, and has regard solely to the
question of religious liberty.
DIR. Broadus stated that he did not deem
the addition necessary SO far as he was
personally concerned, but offered it to
remove the objections of others.
The amendment was adopted, and then
the whole preamble and resolutions were
adopted by vote of l35 to 8.
Those who opposed the resolutions ex-
pressed themselves as in favor OF every
sentiment they contained, and only OPP
| posed To their passage on the ground that
| they might be construed to sayorOf politics.
On the other hand, the advocates of the
1 llx in