Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-13
DOINGS OF THE BAPTISTS.
Third and Last Days Work Of the
State Convention.

Amendments 10 the COnstttuttOn-The
Centennial Movement Receives q
Grand Send-OR-The Nashville Col.
Ored Institute-RePOrts OF Commit
fees-The New Executive BOard-The
Southwestern University ResOIu-
ton Of Thanks.
The State Baptist Convention met again
in the First Church, at 9 o'clock yesterday
morning, President Eaton in the chair, and
a full quorum Of delegates present.
THE CONSTITUTION.
After devotional exercises, the COnven-
ton resumed consideration of the amend
ments to the constitution, recommended BY
the committee appointed for that work.
The only amendments adopted were
those changing the time of the annual
meeting Of the Convention from Friday be-
fore the first Sabbath in April to Friday be-
fore the fourth Sabbath in October, and
that changing the basis Of representation to
five dollars instead Of n
On motion the Constitution thus amend
ed was adopted as a whole.
THE CENTENNIAL MOVEMENT.
At II o'clock the report Of the Commit
tee on Centennial Endowment was called
for as the special order Of the day. DR..
VIM. Shelton, from that committee, read
the following:
'sWhereas we have already recommend
ed that there be established in Tennessee a
Central Centennial Committee, whose
duty it shall be to take immediate steps to-
wards organizing, directing and superin-
tending the collection of funds for endow-
ment of the Southwestern Baptist UniYer-
sity, therefore,
"ResOlyed, that in Prosecuting there
work the Central Centennial Committee
Of tennessee be instructed to appoint a
general agent for the collection of funds
and as many subordinate agents as may be
found necessary to the full prosecution OF
the work.
"That there be held at central and i'm
portaut points, in all parts Of the State
centennial meetings, at which the General
Agent and others shall deliver popular ad-
dresses on the progress of our dennmina-
ton, the value of education, the wants of
u Institutions Of learning and other
kindred subjects, so as to awake an enthu-
siastic interest among our people in refer
ence to the great objects to which our labors
are directed.
"That each Of our district associations
appoint an asscciatiOnal committee, for the
purpose of cooperating with the Central
Committee Of the State, that through their
aid the great objects had in view may find
access to each Of our churches, and all
our people may have the privilege of parti-
cipatiHg in the noble work.
THAT the committees and agents Of the
State be requested to raise funds for the
endowment Of our institution Of learning
by the two methods suggested by the EX-
ecUtiye Committee of the American Bap-
fist Educational Commission, first, accord
ing TO our numbers and, secondly, according
to our means. The first method, TO be
called the dollar roll, ~sOlicits one dollar
each from all the members Of cur churches
and congregations, and gives, in return, an
engraved certificate with appropriate me
mortal devices to each Of the donors. The
second method, the subscription according
to Il means, sOlicits the free will offerings
Of all our people according to their ability
and IS the Lord has prOspeTed them.
THAT we enter upon and prosecute this
noble enterprise in the spirit Of self cOnse-
Grafton to the service of Christ and in CRATE
full acknowledgement to God for his good
ness TO the Baptist people Of the United
States, duringthe first century Of American
Independence
DR.. ShelgOn, when he had finished read
inc, stated that the committee desired Rev.
DR.. Winkler TO deliver an address to the
convention On the subject Of the centennial
movement. That gentleman complied i'm
mediately, making an eloquent and thriLk
ing speech in advocacy of the proposed ep-
t~erprise.
Rev. DR.. Burrows was also called upon
and responded very forcibly. He alluded
to the hist-Tic prosecutions Of the Baptists
in Virginia and asserted that America was
indebted 10 the BaptiSLs alone for the doc
trine Of religious liberty, as understood at
the present day. Entire separation of
Church and State was distinctively an
article Of Baptist belief. 1t precluded the
Baptis,s from asking State aid for their in
slitutions, it forbade them to do 20. Ha7-
inc promised this, the speaker appealed to
the convention, whether they should not
endOW their own institutions; whether
they would not.
Considerable enthusiasm was manifested
by the assemblage on the subject, and when
the question was put, the IesolutiOnsf Of
feret by the committee we're adopted BY a
unanimous rising vote
THE NASHVILLE INSTITUTE.
Rev. DR.. Phillips, President Of the Nash
vile Institute for the education Of cOlOred
people, addressed the convention on the
workings Of his school, DR.. Phillips re-
marks received the closest attention. 1t
had been his fortune, he said, 10 be born
near the spot famous as the birthplace Of
Roger Williams. He came to Tennessee
about twelve years ago to establish a school
for the cOlOred people under the auspices. Of
the Baptist denomination. Hecame when
there was strong assurance Of the elevation
Of the negro rae, to citizenship, and his
mission was to educate the negro
50 as to fit him for his new
functions and save him to the denOmina-
ton, seeing that be must sink down to a
lower depth, under the new conditions, if
left TO himself. He had experienced much
inconvenience in the prosecution Of his
work, having had to return to the North
for aid, where he raised many thousand
dollars. The white people, and especially
the white Baptists of the South, had never
spoken an unkind word or done an unkind
thing 10 interfere with him. He had al
ways been able to carry 10 the North good
reports Of his relations to the white people
of the South. He said the Institute had
turned out an average Of thirty cOlored
ministers per anuum for the past five years,
and was now educating for the ministry
about fifty. He asked some recognition
from tie Convention to aid him in his fu-
tUre labOrs.
4 resolution was adopted extending
sympathy and encouragement. to DR..
Phillips, and the Convention adjourned
till y p. N.
Afternoon Session.
The afternoon session was devoted main
ly to the reception and disposal of reports
of committees. The Committees on Nom
nations, Publications, Deceased Ministers,
Statistics OF Ministers. Education. Destitu-