The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-04-29
The Southern Baptist Convention.

On Thursday, the 9Th of May next, the South
ern Baptist Convention assemblies in this city,
at the Citadel Square Baptist Church. The ma
ture of this organization, its honorable history
and important work, as we'll as the eminent
character of many who will take part in its de-
liberations, combine to render this an occasion
of extraordinary interest for the entire commu-
nifty. We are informed that probably four
hundred ministers and laymen in the Baptist
denomination, South, will be in attendance as
delegates, besides large number of visitors,
including some from Northern cities. The
Convention embraces the States of Maryland,
Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mis-
souri,, Tennessee and Kentucky, and part of
the Indian Territory. All of these, it is expect
ed will be we'll represented.
The Southern Baptist Convention owes its
origin to the growth and oppressive spirit of
Abolitionism. Thirty years ago the Baptists of
the United States met for the last time in what
was then their Triennial Convention. Their
Board of Foreign Missions located at Boston
had passed a resolution that no STAKEHOLDER
should be eligible for the Office and work of
foreign missionary. This compelled the Bap-
lists of the South to organize separately, which
they promptly did. They determined to pur-
sue the same objects which had previously en-
gagged their wisdom and zeal-principally for
eign missions, and missions among the desti-
tute of this continent, including the Indians,
and for this purpose they located Board of
Foreign Missions at Richmond, Va, and
Board of Home and Indian missions at Marion,
Alabama. Through these Boards large corps
of missionaries at home and abroad have been
kept at work, and very happy fruits of their la
Dor have been realized. Prosperous missions
are maintained in China, Africa, Southern Eu-
rope, among the Indians of the West, and in
multitude of places more or less destitute of
religious privileges throughout the Southern
States.
This Convention of Baptists differs essential
ly from the great organizations of other denom-
nations. 1t has no authority whatever. 1t is
not an ecclesiastical court. Neither churches
nor individuals, neither ministers nor unofficial
members are controlled by its measures, any
further than they may judge them good and
expedient. Yet there is almost perfect una
nimity in the counsels and uniformity in the
practice of the omination-numbering in
the Southern States nearly one million Of COM
municants.
Besides its missionary operations, the Con-
vention has had much to do with systematizing
and developing the Sunday-school work, and
higher theological education. All of these
subjects will engage the attention of the body
at its ensuing session. The debates from day to
day, the mass meetings at night, and the occa-
sional sermons will afford the people of Charles
ton 81 opportunity, it is hoped, Of hearing such
men as Richard Fuller, j. L. NJ. Curry, John
A. Broadus, J. L. Burrows, E. T. Winkler, T.
G. Jones, the Williamses, the Furmans. the
Cranes and many others, whom not only our
Baptist friends, but the world delights to hon
or for their piety, learning and eloquence.-
Charleston News and Courier.