The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-05-14
The Baptists of the South.

AUGUSTA, May 6.-Ihe Southern Bap-
tist Convention met in the First Baptist
Church in this city this morning. The
Convention was organized in the same
church forty years ago, in May 1S45.
When the Convention assembled to-day
there was large audience in attendance.
The pulpit was beautifully decorated
with flowers, and a white dove with
wings outstretched foated above.
The Convention was called to order by
DR.. Nell, the Moderator, whowas elected
in 1868, and has held the Office ever
since. The first Moderator was the Rev.
W. B. Johnson, of South Carolina.
After the Convention came to order the
audience sang Crock of Ages" The
Moderator then read the 1880 Psalm:
"Behold how good and pleasant for
brethren to dwell together in unity"
DR.. Basil Manley, of Kentucky, made the
opening prayer, and the roll was then
called by States by the secretaries, DR..
Lansing Burrows, of Augusta, aud the
Rev. o. F. Gregory, of Louisiana: Over
seven hundred delegates answered roll
call. Among the delegates from Arkan-
sas three ladies were reported. A motion
was made and carried to refer the ques
tion of their admission to committee Of
FIVE, composed of Messrs. Jones of Vir.
ginia, Manley of Kentucky, Fitzpatrick OF
Georgia, Wharton of Alabama, and Car
roll.
After deliberation the committee pre-
sented two reports. The majority report
signed by the Rev. Basil Manley, Rev.
NJ. B. Wharton and Rev. ]. L. Carroll
being in favor of the admission of the
lady delegates, and the minority report
signed by the Rev. J. w. Jones and
Rev. j. Fl. Fitzpatrick being against
their admission, an animated discussion
ensued.
DR.. Manley desired the Convention to
construe its constitution strictly, and if
this was done the ladies would be admit.
ted. He would admit that if he had
been in Arkansas when the question of
selecting the delegates came up, he
would have opposed the selection of the
ladies; but as they had been selected
this Convention had nothing to do but
admit them.
DR.. Jones vehemently opposed d the ad-
mission of lady delegates. "lf,"said ne,
eve admit these now the Convention will
be flooded with women next year." He
was in favor of standing by old customs
by the Word of God-and therefore
the rejection of the female delegates"
DR.. Wharton said ;. "The question is
not whether the women wanted their
privileges, but one of loyalty to the con-
stitution. Shall we exclude legally
elected delegates by an er post facto law Z"
Judge Stewart and Mr.. Fitzpatrick both
objected to female delegates.
The Hon. J. P. Eagle, of Arkansas,
thought the ladies should be admitted.
They not only contributed more to the
Church, but did more mission work than
the men. MIR. Eagle is Speaker of the
Arkansas House Of Representatives, and
his wife was accredited as one of the
delegates from Arkansas.
DR.. Hawthorne, of Atlanta, opposed
the admission of female delegates. 1t
would be an error and wrong in princi.
pie to admit them. Of course he under
stood why Mr. Eagle favored admission.
"If my wife," said DR.. Hawthorne. "was
knocking at the door would be the last
to raise my voice in opposition"
The Rev. Mr.. Howard and the Rev.
Mr.. Early, of Arkansas, spoke in favor
of the majority report. 1t was moved to
substitute the minority for the majority
report of the committee. This was
adopted, and pending discussion on a
motion to adopt this report, the delegates
from Arkansas withdrew the names of
the lady delegates, 1and this settled the
vexed question.
DIR. F. II. Nell was reelected Modera.
tor and the Rev. Lansing Burrows, of
Georgia, and Rev. o. F. Gregory, of
Louisiana, Secretaries, and pending the
count of the votes for vice. Presidents the
Convention adjourned until $3.50 p. NJ
Ne,Us and Courier.