The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-13
MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN
BAPTIST CONVENTION.

DEMO IONAL STATISTICS
BEAUTIFUL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
GANIZATION OF THE tONNEN-
ON-DELlGHTFUL DEVOTIONAL
EXERCISES-R EPURT OF THE
FOREIGN MISSION AND DOMESTIC
MISSION BUARDS-A GRAND SER
MON FROM REV. DR.. I. G. JONES,
OF NASHVILLE.
Especial Correspondence Of Richmond Displfch.J
MOBILE, May S. 1878.
The meeting of the Southern Baptist Con-
vention in its eighteenth annual session has
to this beautiful city OF Mobile a
large number of leading ministers ana lay
men of the Bapti>ts of the South.
There are in the United States, according
to the l5apt>t Yearbook for 1873, So3 ban.
list associations. 1920 churches. | ,SI2 or.
dained ministers, aud total OF l,3S5,232
members. There were during the past year
: ,G25 r.pti>lns. There are 9,4l2 sunday
schools. SS.03l officers and teachers, 633,'
scholars, aud 1887 LartiSms OF members OF
the schools. These churches and SUNDAY
schools contributed to benevolent objects $50
far as rcl,oltetD the sum Of S4,926,32i .o4.
About thrce-fourths of the membership
rcportcd above lies in the territory occupied
bv the Southern Buptist Convention.
The gathering of the representatives OF :"
larye a body of Christians cannot fail to be
Of deep significance and Of wide interest. !
nrnnose, however, to send you rather II
b,rtl's-eyc ricD than Il iul report OF the
Convention.
In vending my way this morning TO the
place OF mectin--thc st. Francl>-Strert
Baptist church, had first to pau and adj
mire the admirable taste and liberal eXpcn.
diturc BY which this church, under the lead
of their able and efficient young pastor. Rev.
\. Is. Woodhn. formerly OF Richmond, has
recently converted their old house oil wor-
ship into Que of the most beautiful ana con-
vcnicnt in the whole South. The Sunday
school room. with its comfortable CHAIRS
gushing fountain, and beautiful aud appro-
pria.e notices. is one OF the handSomest and
most convenient have ever seen.
The pastors study is Il model of neatne>s
combined with convenience, and The man
audience-room an admirable blending OF
beauty, good taste, and Wcll-nich perfect
acoustic qualities.
But YOU have not long to admire the
house ere YOU are drawn into the general
hlnd-shakin3S, cordial greetings, amt plea
SAINT clJf.chnt as thee soldiers from every
part of the field tell each other of heir trials.
battles. Victories, or rrvcr>cS during the last
wears. campaign, and their plans ana pur'
poses for the future.
But at the appointed hour the portly form
and genial face of DR.. Boyce. of South Caro-
lima, Is seen upon the platform, the meeting
is called to order, and the Convention opened
with reading the scriptures, singing, and
PRAYER.
The following permanent officers were
elected:
prpsidep'.-Rcv. Dr. i. L. Boyce. of
South Carolina.
Vice Prcs;dent<.-Hon. John Kerr, of
North Carolina; Rev. DR.. II. II. Tucker. OF
Georgia Rev. VI. p. Lowry. OF Mississippi;
Rev. Dir. s l.. Helm, of Kentucky.
.Sccreiar2cs.-Rcv NJ. Il. Wharton, of
Kentucky: Hon. W. Q. Tugse, Of Georgia.
TrenSurn.-G, W. Norton, Esq. Of
Louisville.
During the counting Of the ballots the
Convention engaged in Il most delightful
Rev. DR.. Dargan, of South Carolina, made
feeling reference to the recent death of Rev.
John Cupeper OF South Carolina, one Of
the veterans OF the Convention, and paid an
and appropriate tribute to his
Rev. DR.. George b. Taylor, Of Virginia
missionary ccct 10 Italy,. made Il touching
nlan" Or. William II. McGutlcy, of the Uni
vrr>ty Of Virginia. the news of which had
Just come by telegraph, and said that as we
NJ" AL ready to praise the virtues or throw
mantle of charity over the faults OF our
brethren when they are called from among
Us to "go up higher" so he would urge
that we should show more OF This same
spirit tc them ,rhTic they arc hiring. and that
we should especially remember this ut "a
thcrn@S like these. Other remarks in tie
same spirit were made. and they seemed 10
have nelowing influence upon all present.
and to serve as an admilabc preparation for
the business Gf tho Convention.
The report of The Foreign Mission Board,
located at Richmond. was read by the cor
responding secretary, Rev. Dir. II. A. Tup-
per. The exhibit of the finances of the
Board showing that 81 ,023.41 had been
raised during the last Year, and the results
of tile Years labors Of the missionaries and
the prospects of the work il China, Africa,
and Italy were detailed in the report, and
considered decidedly encouraging. In China
Inc board has thirteen missionaries, three
native pastors, sixteen native assistants. I'VE
churches, nine out-stati9ns, and 81 members
of the churches.
In Africl they have eight stations and ten
preachers.
In italy they have seven resularly-olgan-
;zrd churches, seven missionaries, and IA
members.
Though there have been troubles in the
mission at Rome, rendering it necessary for
the Boartl TO disnis, from its employ DR..
Cote and g.. B. Gioja, yet the prospects oI
ultimate success are considered decidedly
favorable, and it is hoped that the mission will
soon be put on firm foundation by that
able, scholarly, prudent, and devoted man OF
God Rev. DR.. George B. Tay Tor, who is cX-
1ected to sail for his new Icld on the lOlh
IF June next.
The report WAS referred 10 appropriate
and its several parts will come
I'D again for discussion in the Convention.
The question of establishing new missions
II Germany and Brazil will also be con-
idered.
The report of the Domestic Mission Board,
'ead by Rev. DR.. Sumner. showed that this
Goard has employed during the past year
itty.nluc domestic and twenty-seren Indian
and that several States who do
heir own work but report through this
Board have siXiy.lire additional mission
aries--lnaking one hundred and tiIty-one in
all. Add to this; n1niber the missionaries
Of the ,Stutc Boards of Virginia. Maryland.
Missouri. North Carolina. aud South Caro-
lna-nonc CT whom have reported their
work to the General Board, although they
.acl, have more missionaries than tho States
Int llaxn rrnnrtpd fo o. Nirninia has nenrlY