The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-05-25
The Southern Baptist Convention.

|
ated in one missionary organization,
known as the Tho Trionnial Convon-
tion," @. convoning every third year.
But in 1S45, few Baptists of tho
South mot in Augusta, Ca, and Or
ganizcd a Missionary Society, called
"The Southern Baptist Convention"
At first, like the gehorral convention,
it mot ovory third year, then, overy
alternate year for time, but since
1866 its sessions have been annual.
After This organization, the South
orn churches became much more in
terested in missions and liberal in
thoir support, increasing seven hundred
per cent for Home and Foreign Mis-
sions, Biblo distribution, Sunday
Schools and other objects, within thir.
teen years. Tho whito Baptists Of
the South arc it's constituents-tho
colored Baptists have separate organi-
cations, and contribute only to linn
tied extent to tho convention, and
solely to African missions. This body
comprises fifteon States, one Territory,
and part of tho District Of Colum-
ba, having 1881 churohos, 1914
ministers, and 1,272,691 mombors,
and yot many Associations do not
work through this convention, and arc
not reported. These number about
twelve thousand churches, with over
six thousand ministers, and about eight
hundred thousand membors Thus
it appears, that, ablo as this body is,
great Southern force remains yot to
be utilized.
Concerning tho object of this Con-
vontion, and also its loading charac-
teristic. 1 quote from the Richmond
Equirier, of May llth, in anticipation
of the meeting, as follows:
"Tho Convention mcots to day in
our city, and tho three or four hum
dred delegates, which it brings togeth
er will receive cordial welcome from
our hospitable cilizons. It's members
represent tho Southern portion of q
denomination which, in this country,
numbers probably more commu-
nicants than any other single religious
organization. 1t contains within it's
pale many eminent public men; many
scholars, lawyers, physicians, minis,
ters, and other professional mon,
with a large proportion of the sub,
stantial masses OF the pooplo. In re-
ligious and educational enterprise, in
public spirit, patriotism, pioty, zeal
and bcnefcence it ranks with the
foremost.
Tho convention is not q legislative
or Judicial body. 1t determines no
doctrines, make no laws. hears no ap-
peals from and exercises no supervis-
ion over any of its churches. 1t is
simply q voluntary cooperative orr
ganization, channel of combined
action, in which contributing church.
cs, societies, and persons find means
for collecting their energies, contribu-
tions, and plans for creator power,
unity and economy. Baptist churches
are congregational in their poity,
having no central or supervisory au-
thorlty, either executive, judicial or
legislative They combine by mutual
consent for general enterprises; con-
suit, discuss, decide, and then execute
their plans by the united efforts of
those who approve. The unity, enor-
gy, growth and successful work Of
this great denomination shows that
the system of willing and accordant
cooperation, prompted alone by
common intelligent faith and spirit OF
behevolence, is not uDfavorable to
close cohesion and energetic, concerts
cd action. This Convention ia there's
tore, simply the Missionary Society of
the Southern Baptist Convention. Its
authority is wholly advisory with the
churches and ministers, carrying the
weight Of wise couDsels and defined
in its constitution as, "eliciting, com-
bining and directing the onergics of tho
wole denomination in one sacred effort
for the propagation of the Gospel"
Its delegates aro appointed by contri-
butors, eithor as churches, sociotios,
associations or individuals. It's SOS.
sions arc all public, and its decisions
bind only its officers and Missionaries.
1t has Missionaries in China, Africa
Italy, among the Indians, and scat
tered at homo through all tho South,
orn States"
If you will be kind enough to pub
Iiah fhis infrodnoforu orfioIo will