Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-05-15
Southern Baptist Convention.

Southern Baptist Convention.
MEssRs. EDIrons: This body Of representa-
tive men of the Baptist denomination South of
"Mason and Dixon's Line" which met in its
thirty. fourth annual session in tho city of At
lanta on the 9th instant, was like tho Meth odist
Episcopal Church, South, Tho result of the diff
ference of opinion between the members
denominations, North and South on the subject
of slavery, and was organized in Augusta Ga,
in 1915.
Unlike similar bodies in other denominations,
it is neither legislative nor judicial, but simply
On advisory council, whose acis arc accepted or
rejected by each individual church as it approves
or disapprovcs them Nor is this wrong, for
each church is independent Of every other and
enters into tho conference with the express un-
derstanding that its liberty is in no wise cur-
tailed by the step.
Again, the body is purely benevolent or
ganization, its object being three field: |. To
devise means for sending tho Gospel to tho
heathen in foreign lands. g. To build up the
cause of Christ in the destitute places in our
own Southern land and among tho Indians in
the West. 8. To provide n way whereby our
ministers may be educated for their lifo work
''Tho work Of the convention is carried on by
boards appointed annually" v
At the convention in Atlanta there were about
three hundred and sixty delegates present, rep
rescnting Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Gcorgn, Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Ken
lucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Indian Territory,
besides vistor8 from the North and elsewhere.
and the Rcvs. Crawford and Hartwol, Mis-
sionarics of tho Foreign Board in China, Rev.
Mr.. David, Missionary 10 Africa, and Rev. Mr.
Taylor, who represents Southern Baptists i'm the
City Of Rome.
The meetings Of the body were harmonious,
and, doubtless, productive Of lasting good.
Perhaps the most important question before it
was, "Shall Southern Baptists co operate with
their brethren in the North in tho work to
which tho two conventions ore respectively de-
voted?" After proractcd discussion, in which
quite q number of the most prominent men pre-
sent participated, and not always, am sorry to
say, in the best Christian spirit, it was decided
that n consolidation of tho two conventions was
neither practicable nor desirable, and that it
should be left 10 their respective boards to net
in concert wherever it seemed for the interest of
the cause that they should do so.
The reports Oh mission work elected spccches
from returned missionaries which were both in.
teresting and instructive.
Tho Row. Mr.. Taylor of Rome, eayc an cx
tended account of the difficulties with which tho
missionaries have had 10 contend in tho "Impe-
ral City" and Italy at largo, and showed Tint
tho work in Cnfho1ic Jtoly tl,o,oL
very slowly, had gained iuo foothold. Even
in Rome hc has n locale in one of tho most
central parts Of tho city with membership Of
about twenty.
Rev. Mr.. Crawford, Of China, reminded tho
convention that seventeen Of its missionaries
hcd died at their posts, braycly fighting against
idolatry and superstition, thus overwhelmingly v
retuting tho vile charge made by somo that the
missionaries of Foreign Board of Southern
baptist Convention arc not faithful to tho
charge given them 10 keep
Rev. Mr.. David, OF Africa, gave an en-
couraging account of his work in Africa,
and declared the pcoplc, among whom he
went, to bo superior to tho American whites
in all points Of morality, except truthful.
ncsss They would lie 10 ninoty.nino cases
out Of ovcry hundred, and be more than
apt to do SO the hundrcdth time; but steal.
ing, murder, theft and liccntiousncss wore
far less common among them than among
tho whites herc. This is duo, said the
speaker, to the fact that tho Law knows nc
degrees 10 tho punishment Of crime. IF ]
kill, must die; if I main, [ must bo
manned. They require "an eye for an oyo,''
&c. Theft is punishable with death.
The people aro very supcrstitious; bu,
ofton exhibit tho most astonishing faith
La one town little band prayed withou,
coasing for eighteen long years that God
would send them teacher in tho plaoo Of
tho ono who had left them, and sent once
each yoar 10 tho seacorst to sec il
the missionary had come, and Il,
the end Of the eighteenth yoar tho
whole band started out to meet the
man of God, and, hundreds of miles away
from any settlement, met him (Mr. David
in the depths Of forest. The scene was
an affecting one. The delighted little baud
time and ogain embraced him and then
returned thanks to God for having answered