The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-05-13

SOuthefm Boptist Convention.
MEMPHIS, TENN, May l0.-The South
ern Baptist Convention reassembled this
morning at 10 o'clock. After singing and
prayer by Rev. Mr.. Carter, Of Kentucky,
the minutes were read, corrected, and ap-
proved. Letters from the Coliseum. place
church and First Baptist church of New
Orleans were referred. Rev. Mr.. Miller,
of Memphis, moved the appointment of q
committee to settle the time and place of
the next convention; which was adopted.
G. O. Betting, of South Carolina, corre-
spending secretary of the Sunday School
Board, submitted the annual report of that
body, and it was referred. The report
states that at the commencement of the
year the prospects of the Board were not
fiattering. The treasury was empty and
$4,000 were owing for Testaments. 1t en-
tiers into minute details Of the operations,
and, in conclusion, urges the Importance of
fostering the colored Sunday schools, and
their more thorough organization.
The following committee on religious
instruction for freedmen was announced :
A. w. Chambliss, of Mississippi; N. NJ.
Crawford, of Kentucky A. NJ. Poindex-
ter, Of Virginia; j. P. Bayard, of South
Carolina; Josephus Shackleford, of Ala
bama l.. B. Seaton, of Missouri; e. w.
Young, of Tennessee.
On motion Of Rev. DR.. Poindexter, of
Virginia, the claims of the Southern Bap-
fist Theological Seminary, located at
Greenville, S. c., were presented. Rev.
DR.. Boyce, of South Carolina, made ver-
bal expose of the condition Of the institu-
ha M IF m
affairs, which loudly calls for action, and
asserted that unless something were done
at once the institution cannot be longer
successfully conducted.
He was followed by Rev. DR.. Poindexter,
Of Virginia, who presented the claims of
education for the ministry in a most for
chile and eloquent manner. He revealed
a sad picture of the necessities of educa-
tionAkintepests of the church, and earn
estlNusesd the members to 60 forward in
the graat work, fostering education, until
many fields now destitute of religious in
struction both at home and abroad be no
longer uncultivated.
Rev. ]. l.. NJ. Curry, president of How
ard College, Alabama, heartily endorsed
the spirit of Rev. DR.. Poindexter's re-
marks. His people felt that the country
was impoverished. Beyond them was @
ruin; before them painful apprehension.
Socially, they were OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
cally, overthrown. If there is any saliva
ton for the country it is in the religion of
Jesus Christ. The war has developed an
alarming extent of infelity and monstrous
heresy, which must be met and overthrown.
This country he believed to be the great
fha IF a
resies. He disclaimed religious intole-
rance, but thought the Roman Catholic
Church was seeking to subsidize the coun-
try, and believed that the only real and
scriptural antagonist of that sect was the
Baptist Church. He did not wish to be
harsh, but asserted what he deemed true.
He exhorted Baptists not to shrink from the
difficulties besetting them, but press on
ward in the great work to be performed,
putting their trust in God for its accom-
plishment. He regarded the entire history
of the Roman Church as one of intolerance
wherever it had power, and challenged
history to show just charge of that cha
racter against the Baptists. He believed
that if Baptists were true to themselves,
their history, and their obligations, they
must use all the agencies God had placed
in their hands for evangelizing the world.
The only hope of the world was a pure
Christianity. Referring to the question
before the Convention, he regarded it as
unnecessary to urge the cause of educa-
ton as an abstract question. Regarding
the support Of religious educational insti-
tutions as one of the most potent means of
accomplishing the work of spreading Chris
tianity, he cordially united with the pre-
vious speakers in urging the maintenance
of the seminary.
The Rev. T. E. Skinner, of North Caro-
lima, bore testimony to the excellence of
the Greenville Seminary, and entreated
Baptists not to permit it to go down for
want of means. He would ask this ques-
tion-Shall the Institute die or live? If
it be sustained, it must be by the efforts of
the ministry. He was poor, but was will
ing to give portion of his income to the
seminary.
Rev. DR.. Samson, president of Colum-
bian College of the District of Columbia,
followed DR.. Skinner. He felt that south
ern Baptists should concentrate their ener-
gies upon their schools. He was willing to
give $500 if .one hundred more Of like SUBJ
scriptions were offered. He thought that
before the Convention closed the sum might
be placed in DR.. Boyce's hands.
Rev. DR.. j. R. Graves, of Memphis, and
several others, spoke in favor of the semi
nary, and urged the brethren to contribute.
Upon the conclusion of these addresses,
voluntary subscriptions, aggregating to
$4,000, were made. The Convention then
adjourned until o'clock tomorrow after
noon.