The Portland daily press., 1882-05-25
THE BAPTISTS.
Annual Meeting Of the Denominational
Missionary Societies.

Annual Meeting or the DenOmlnat1Onal
Missionary Societies.
New YORK, May 24-The series of anniversa-
ry meetings of the National societies of the
Baptist Church was begun here yesterday at
the First Baptist Church, Thirty-ninth street
and Park Avenue, with the forty-ffth anniver-
sary of the American and Foreign Bible Socie-
ty. The sessions were three in number, and at
each there was a good attendance, delegates
being present from all sections of the Union.
There was apparently deep interest taken in
the proceedings and all allusions to the publi-
cation of "the only faithful translation of the
Bible from the original Hebrew and Greek"
(that published by the society," with "immerse"
used in place of baptize") were literally ap-
plauded. The meeting was presided over by
Capt. Ebenezer Morgan, OF Groton, Conn,
retired and wealthy whaler, whose gift to Bap-
tist societies and charities of various kinds have
made him well-known throughout the country
He opened the morning session with few we'll
chosen words of welcome, and was followed by
the Rev. William Robinson, of New Jersey,
who entered at once upon discussion now ag-
itating the Baptists, viz, the advisability of
abolishing the present society, and delegating
its work to other societies of the Church. This
he strenuously opposed as unwise, injudicious
and wrong The ground for the opposition to
the proposition was that the Baptist Church
could not afford to stop the issuance of the only
edition of the Word of God translated honestly
and faithfully direct from the inspiring texts
in Greek and Hebrew.
At the afternoon session the corresponding
secretary read the annual report of the board,
and the treasurer reported its financial condi-
ton, after which officers were elected. Rev.
A. L. Rose of Rangoon, Burmah, spoke of BIZ
bic work in Asiatic countries. The advantages
and necessities of having Bible published in
conformity with the views of Bapt1sts formed
the topic of the evening meeting. 1t was voted
to make special work of the establishment
of auxiliary societies and repositories. There
was also adopted preamble with accompany
ing resolution calling upon the committee re-
Gently appointed to consider the best method of
Bible work, to take such measures as will as
certain the true opinion OF people IN various
parts of the Union relative to Bible work, look
ing toward the establishment of a Baptist Ma
tional Bible Society to govern the publication
and circulation of the Bible. The Rev. @. W.
Koucher of Vermont, spoke of the necessity of
a continuance of the work of the American and
Foreign Bible Society, mentioning, incidental
ly, as objections to existing societies, that the
British and Foreign Bible Society. the largest
in the world, is circulating Papal Bibles in
which example they are being followed by the
American Bible Society, which, according to
its report, has circulated the Spanish Papal
Testament in New Mexico. The Rev. DR.. E.
T. Winkler of Alabama, presented the views
of the South on the Bible question. This
closed the evening services, and an adjourn
ment was had to Saturday at o'clock.
The programme for the coming week opens
to-day with the semi-centennial anniversary of
the American Baptist Home Mission Society,
three meetings to be held daily to-day, Thurs
day and Friday. The American Baptist Pub
lication Society will hold their meetings on
Saturday and Monday next, and the American
Baptist Missionary Union will meet on Tues
day al Wednesday OF next week. On Satur-
day afternoon of the present week there will be
another meeting of the American and Foreign
Bible Society. Sunday a number of special
sermons will be preached by several of the del
egates. The Rev. DR.. Thomas Armitage will
speak at $3.50 Sunday afternoon at the Central
Baptist Church, his subject being "The Bap-
tist Bible Principle and its Application" The
annual sermon before the American and For
eign Bible Society will be preached on Sunday
evening at 80 in the Fifth Avenue Baptist
Church by the Rev. Dr. Il. L. Winkler OF Mar
ion, Ala. The annual sermon before the Home
Missionary Society will be preached on Sunday
evening by the Rev. DIR. Pritchard. The annu-
al sermon before the Publication Society will
be preached by the Rev. DR.. Pepper on Sunday
afternoon, and the annual sermon of the Mis-
sionary Union will be preached in the morning
by the Rev. DR.. Weston of Grocer Theological
Seminary. Ali these sermons will be in the
First Baptist Church. On Friday evening the
Rev. DIR. Anderson, President of the Roches-
ter University, will deliver an address before
the Home Missionary Society in the Academy
of Music.
The address of welcome at the National Bap-
tist convention was delivered to-day at the
First Baptist church by Rev. DIR. Peddie,
President of the American Home Baptist
Missionary Society, which celebrated its both
anniversary. The report of the executive COM
mittee shows $415,619 collected last year. A
bebt of $29, $685. with which the society began
the year was paid and there is a balance in the
treasury of $7,515,70 Reports were then read
which referred to work in the western, chinese,
Indian Mexican, German, French, Scandi-
navian and Freedmen's missions. The obituary
committee reported that during the year IL
life directors and 81 life members have passed
away,