The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-05-27
THE sAPTIsTS AT SARATOGA,
They Settle the Great Bible Controversy
and CIcave 20 tho Baptist Version.

Aaey bettIc tno areat b1DIo controversy
and CIcave 10 the Baptist Version.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, May 26.-whether this
place is the Mecca or the Jerusalem OF religious
resort or whether 1t is Babel OF denomina-
tional doctrine for the present week. is one Of
the puzzles which may vex the unbelieving
stranger. Just now there arc many hundreds
Of Baptists and Presbyterians. After their de-
parture tho Congregationalists will take their
turn. These good people all have as hearty
appetites as the caterpillar and the palmer
worm OF the days OF the Prophet Joel. But the
clearinghouse keepers Of Saratoga can stand
II. for the delegates all pay their way. The
great hotels are not yet Open nor have the OK
tOrtioners come who charge ten prices for all
the rubbish they sell during the summer sea-
ron. The religious crowd In attendance on the
spring meetings Is not composed Of the sort OF
people on whom expensive practices may be
tried. Saratoga was selected because 1t Is
largely composed Of boarding houses. and at
this time of the ycnr board and lodging are to
be had on worry favorable terms. Tho old plan
Of auartcring Christian assemblies and con.
them for nothing has had it's day. 1t originated
IN that text OF tho Bible which says something
about entertaining strangers on the s chance O
entertaining angels unawAres." The clever
people VINO did the entertaining found that for
every angcl there were nifty borcs. who cuIne
only for tho free lodging and inexpensive liunt-
fhs Bantis,s anu the Prcsbyterians arc
s%Saiiy dsniisd. r. c S bS,h la these f %
pOrtHnt gatherings ut once would no too much.
Let the Baptists claim prior attention.
Baptist Church in regard to tho Bible question.
There have been two distinctiycly denoinina-
tho s sSs Nshsr Of Iess H Hns tho
American Bib!e Society is regarded by tho
Rant tsN.. N
which does not trouble itself about the correct
Interpretation of the Greek word baDtizo Thero-
ssTs hsf sStn BSs GF nG
GENTLY vigorous basis to publish n correct
Bib.e 10 the English language, and also correct
IN which Baptist MISSIONARIES preach tho
Gospel to tho heathen. The missionaries have
been in tho habit Of making from time to time
with what accuracy they have translated tho
original Scriptures into the various tongues
difference OF opinion. But it is believed that.
whatever o. her errois they may have made
taDlizo into something which corresponds with
the idea OF immersion or dipping rs opposed
to,pouring or shrinking.
first two days of the Convention the much
rs to be forever at rest. should the Baptists
have society specially for Bible work. or
should they do their Bible, work through
that large majority We're in favor OF having
tho work done by the Publication society. as
sisted by the Home and Foreign Mission Soce-
ties. But iow expected snrh an overwhelming
vote rs was polled 1897 to 80.
The discussion was both spirited and able.
The spacious church was packed like New
York street ear. Looking from the upper gal
lery upon the delegates. 1t was evident from
that n majority of mon of mature years Ind
been delegated by the Conventions OF twenty
three States to come aud sit ip. Judgment on
Gov. Howard Of Connecticut. is II gentleman Of
about sixty. with lron-Eray hair and exceed
iyn. who took the chair when Mir Howard be-
cnme too hourse is n dark brown haired man
OF about fifty. largo hSar;cd Christian, but, n
s,anch dc.nominationaiist. Chef among the
Baptist Bib,c work are Doctors Eyalts and
SGrlcs. both men OF advanced years and Of
horses Dir. Snrles made the opening speech,
which ab2undcd in history and argument pr.
Oh urch. followed on the Other side. DIR. Eyarts
made q vigorous md bri.,!ins appeal for the
slne @y b"It hrt sey His Soss
n n"%s-oE" S #!llam 'M. "l and thy Sere
t+r more nssye Fssre xss %9f ih Fax yery
this clement was more. than made UP by vigor
Utica. who is both aged and powerful. followed
Dr. Eyaar,s and usn ID "R hi- nrsnmePts one by
in speech which. like Dr. Coiey's caused the
brethren in the pews 10 pound tleir boot heels
upon the floor and raise clouds OF dust 10 les-
witty DR.. Wnylanl. editor of The National
B1P',s'. made one Of the most telling speeches
Of all. and kept even his most pronounced
adversarics in merry humor as he held up to
do the work which already existing societies
could do II great 'lral better aud cheaper. Up
TO the time oi taking the vote. there was some
Of The liyelirst sigrr.hg thai religious ccnnvo-
4 "a GOOD u "a H.
uted to the b"nthccnt influence OF vast guam
titles Of The, various, spring waters which the
some Of the brethren could be immersed in
these waters instead OF merely drinking them
lie much Of the benevolent effort which as yet
has come far short OF its purpose OF convert
The result Of tho vote astonl.hed everybody.
Nobody had supposed thnt the Baptists wou d
be SO nearly ununi nous. few hard heads
held out against, entire unanilnty. but this was
victory that the two old and Gillette societies i'm
mediatciy made signs Of glvln. UP the ghost IN
sble. Ono of these concerns has property to
the extent OF about s250Oo which will prob
cioiy. Tho other has. been living in large part
on experted legacies from men who are not yet
dead. It indicates its willingness 70 mako a
Never in the history Of the Baptist Church
Sex s py tie
pushes on with its anpiversary, work, Foreign
missions. homo missions. and publication in
terests arc heard from and looked after: The
only big controversy expected was in re-
gard to the alleged grievances of some Of the
missionaries III India. who claim that In paying
their salaries there has been q shortness OF
rupees. and. consequently, considerable loss to
them. Tho question is not entirely one of
religious arithmetic; One or two officials have
made themselves obnoxious to some OF those
who hold the balance Of official power. A few
words OF explanation happily sutflced to right
all that was said to be wrong. and there Is now
no reason to fear any more trouble from this
source.
As TO money whcrewith to carry on the Gospel
work Of the Baptist Church. there is an alum
dance OF wealth in the hands OF men who are
sonnet mes very liberal with It,. The Baptist
Church numbers among its members some eX-
ceedingly generous giyers. On the other hand
there are great many who are content to put
nickels into the collection boxes and then thank
the Lord that their religion has cost little. =,
the minimum price OF lodging and feeding
healthy Baptist in Saratoga Is IL dollar a day
AZ this price the beds are not luxurious. nor is
tue fare sumptuous. For 50 n day the board
Ing house keeper furnishes bill of fare in
comparably superior to tho locusts and wild
honey with which John the Baptist stayed his
stomach In the wilderness Of Judea.
A (lervymnn's Had NJ emorv