The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-11-27
THE RELIGIOUS WORLD.
THE STATE B4PTIsr CONVENTION.
Second Days Proceedings-sermo from
the Rev. DIR. Reynolds.
[FRoM oUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE

[FRoM 0UR OWN CORRESPONDENCE
CAMDEN, November "a.
The convention met at half-past seven
o'clock last evening to hear historical SER
mon from DR.. ]. L. Reynolds, which sermon
was listened to with marked interest by a
crowded congregation. mere outline would
not be possible, nor would 1t do Justice to the
chaste and elegant discourse which for over
an hour commanded the attention OF highly
intelligent and appreciative audience: The
following extract, however, WILL convey an
idea of the whole discourse, and Is worthy of
special notice:
sour predecessors In this body were humble,
laborlous, patient, God-fearing men, and We
have entered into their iabols, reaplng the
fields which they sowed. They now rest from
their labors, and as 1t was the custom OF the
early Chrisian 10 visit the graves of the
| martyrs and the cemeteries of the seepers In
Jesus, to honor them with votive offerings,
and renew at those hallowed places their own
devotion to the principles for which their de-
parted brethren labored and died, 80, with
similar sentiments, we repair to the tombs of
our fathers. In memory and Imagination, we
retrace our Appian Way, marked by the sue
cesslve milestones of fifty years, and lined on
both sides with the monuments OF the dead
il we uHI Gall iueu ucdu, WuO nave tulcEcu
into life eternal. Ours Is world of the dead
and the dying; theirs alone Is the world of
the living.
''At the further end OF that avenue of the
immortals, we behold the stately mausoleum Of
the presidents of the convention, inscribed
with the honorable names OF Richard Furman,
the almost inspired sage, whose presence was
power, whose words were oracles; William
Buein Johnson, the embodiment of zeal for
God, tempered with polished rrbanIty towards
pan; Basil Manly, the beloved disciple who
leaned upon the bosom OF the Master, and
With heart warmed by that sacred conjunc-
tion, told with pathetic eoqueuce the story OF
his love; Jshn Belton O'Neall, the pure and
enlightened jurlst, abundant In labors and con-
highest uses of time and eternity. On the
opposite side those simple headstones desig-
nate the early graves Of Brooks, Hall, Cohen,
Hopkins, Seymour and Lunn, who came forth
as flower and were cut down. fonder row
OF obelIsks bear the names borne on earth by
John B. Cooke, the veteran VINO feli WIN ms
harness on; Cartledge, the soldier of the cross;
Compeer, the preacher of the red men; Estes,
Bythewood Ray, Lawton, Peoples, aud other
kindred spirits. On this spot the seraphic
Mallany slumbers, and near him those meek
ministers Of Jesus, Daniel Sheppard and
Thomas Mason; whilst that broken Tyre guards
the tuneless repose of Dassey and Hartwell,
the psalmlsts OF our Israel. That sepulchre
covers the remains Of Chiles and DuPre, and
the names on yonder sculptured pyramid recall
Gloss which sacred learning bewailed 10 the
demise of Minis and Edwards. These broken
shafls remind us of Hodges. with his calm,
pale face, and those eyes tnat seemed to look
beyond this world Josiah B. Furman, who
LIT the ledger to open the book OF God before
the people. Watkins Bealer, fallen In the full
vigor o, Christian manhood. Timmons, the
alp nF hrnthprhnOI.
whole church. Hucklns the commissary OF
our sick and famishing soldiers. Brant!y,
grand In person, intellect and speech. On that
secluded spot rises the cenOtaph of one, OF
large heart and mind, whom God buried, and
not until the sea gives up Its dead will the
angels gather up the remains Of Thomas Cur
It's. We must not leave this place of tombs
ure which holds in trust the memory OF our
pivus;deacops: Timothy Dargan, the patriarch
OF household Of faith; Mclver, Miller, Lide,
Blandipg. Jones, Tupper, and so many who
have used the office OF deacon well. Last OF
all, let us cast tributary garland, the whitest
Ing, seltdenyiog, sanity women, who shared
the pryations OF their husbands, and bright
tened the homes of Baptist ministers.
brethren of the convention, the Issues OF
the age are upon US. The struggle between
splrtualism and ritualism, the religion OF faith
and the religion Of form agltates the Chrlsten-
dom of the day. Our position in this contest
was taken at the beginning. Let US resolutely
maintain it. Christian plety Is divine life 10
the souls of men, and Its suitable expression
consists not In meats and drinks and divers
washIngs-not In prlestly rites and pompous
ceremonies. but in sincere obedience to the
Word of the Lord"
The convention met at 10 O'CLOCK; was open
ed with singing Of the 939th hymn and prayer
by D. R. Lide, Of Alabama. After preliminary
business, the reports OF the various commit.
ices were called for. None were ready with
their reports except that on the nomination OF
delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention,
| which, with secondary amendments, was
adopted.
The hour having arrived for the reception
| of the report Of the State mission board, the
acting secretary of that board made long
and interesting report. AS to Sunday-schools,
the cause among Baptists is upon rising
ground and more than ordinary activity and
| interest exist among the churches In the
State, the greater number of which are fully
alive to the importance of the work. AS to
State MISSIONS several missionaries have been
employed whose labors have been crowned
with unusual success, and from whom very
encouraging reports have been received. New
churches have been organized In sections
where formerly there were none, and, In
some places, new church edi6ces have been
erected upon the ashes Of those destroyed by
the ruthless hands of rindlcive soldiery
| The board have been much hampered by the
comparatively small means at their disposal,
and yet they have been able to do much, and
| the good work has gone on. and souls have
| been converted to Jesus Christ. The field be-
| fore us Is vast, and, while we have been en-
couraged by the experience Of the year just
closed, vet there remains much more to be
done than has been done. The cause of edu'
cation Is receiving more than ever before the
attention of the denomination, and mum bers
of the young are seeking higher religious
and literary education than heretofore. The
report of this board was referred to two COM
mittees. one on mission work, and one upon
On motion of DR.. E. 7. Winkler, it was
RESOLVED, That whereas the board OF trus-
tees of the Southern Baptist Theological 81 Semi
nary have accepted the proposition OF thls
convention and Of the Furman university for
a release of mutual obligations, and have
appointed It's officers to sign tue necessary
| equal papers; therefore,
RESOLVED, That the president aud secretary
of this convention are hereby authorized and
| directed to sign The said papers on oehaf oi
| this body.
Brother D. R. ide. of Alabama, was now
invited TO address the convention in behalf
of the domestic and Indian mission board,
| which he did in pointed and fOrcible speech.
R-y. E. T. Winkler made an appeal in be-
half of the sea islands, those places where once
| the beauty and chivalry of our beloved State
moved, and where bowling wilderness now
raises Its horrid front to heaven, aud where the
| old race, perished or scattered, o sad remnant,
M onrn iInabIa tO obtain even the bread of life