The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-05-16
The Southern Baptist Convention
sketch Of the First Days Proceed.
[Repor.ed for the Dispatch.1

| ST. LOUIS, Mo-, May II, 1871.
/ The Southern Baptist Convention assem-
bled to-day at 10 O'Clock in the Third Bap-
l fist Church, and was called to order by the
| President, Rev. Dr. z. FL. Nell, ofssGeorgia.
This Convention was organized in 1916 by
the Baptists of the South, who felt COMPEL
| ed to secede from their northern brethren
because of certain decisions made by the
Foreign Mission Board (then located at
| Boston, on the slavery question. 1t has had
| an unbrOken succession ever since.
The territory of the Convention extends
from Maryland to Texas and from Virginia
to Missouri, and represents q membership
Of upwards of five hundred thousand.
a recent and reliable table of statistics
gives the strength Of the regular Baptists
Of the United States at 100 associations, IT,
40 ordained ministers, 126, IA additions to
the churches during the past year, and
total membership of LAO, 49S. or these.
500 associations, IL So churches, ~ lo
ministers, 1895 Of the additions, and wv
1876 of the total membership, are from the
territory of the Southern Baptist ConVen-
tion. &itet 49," q
Deductine 4OO, 900 colored members who
have Their own organization, and there are
left upwards of fine hundred thousand men,
bers who are represented in this body.
II is very pleasant to witness the cordial
Greetings Of brethren from all sections OF
our wide territory, and 10 hear them tell OF
their labors during the past year and their
hopes and plans for the future.
After devotional exercises the Conyen-
ton elected the following officers Presi-
dent, Rev. Dr.: P; III Nell, Of Georgia:
Vice. Presidents: Rev. DR.: Burrows, of
Virginia; Rev. DR.. J. S. Coleman, OF Ken
lucky Kew. DR.. Williams, of Mary land {;
Rev! Dr..A. Sherwood, of Missouri. ySecre-
taries e. Calvin Williams, of Mary land !;
DIR. Trueman Sumner, of Alabama.
Rev. Dr. Nell, on taking the. chair, re-
turned thanks for the honor conferred, and
briefly explained the methods which he
should pursue in conducting the business
Of the Convention. %s- a. -
DIR. Melliis Yice.C Chancellor of the Uni
vel sity of Georgia, and, without exception,
the best presiding officer we ever saw. Not
palmiest days he presided oyer the Senate
Of the Units d States, was, In our Judgment,
equal to President Nell in the ability, dig
nifty, and Inpartiality. with which he pre-
sides. .ss-ss..~ls5s.. s5s, : "a 81
Rev. DR.. w. Pope Teaman, pSstor Of the
church with which the Conysntie1 meets,
made an earnest address of welcome 10 the
body. He, desired to extend to the hreth-
.H8n cordiM welcome to tho city and the,
State. Hes said that he could not welcome
them to . Baptist, or eyena Protestant or
81 Christian city. Yet there are here six
American Baptist churches, who are In
complete harmony, and earnestly working
together for the good OF this great city, aud
the progress OF evangelical piety IN the
great Northwest. Z n ~ 81 81
He gave a graphic picture Of the material
progress OF ST. Louis since the days when o
brother present used to preach here and
to hunt wild beasts ID the woods where
noWstauas the house in which theeoayen-