Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-05-14
THE SOUTHERN BAPTISTS.

THE SOUTHERN BAPTISTS.
The Southern Baptist Convention, num-
bering 512 delegates, assembled in the Bap-
tist Church at Augusta, Ga, on Wednes-
day, the 9Th instant, and was called to order
at 10 o'clock by Moderator P. H. Nell. The
morning was consumed in admitting State
delegations. Delegates were present from
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland,
Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and
West Virginia. Two ladies were in the
Arkansas delegation, and committee of
consisting of j. NJ. Jones of Virginia,
Basil Manly of Kentucky, j. H. Kilpat-
rick of Georgia, J. NJ. Carroll of North
Carolina and NJ: B. Wharton of Alabama
were appointed to report On'the question
of admitting the delegation. Majority and
minority reports were presented, the for
mer for admitting and the latter for exclud-
ing the ladies. The lady delegates were
Mrs. M D. Early and Mrs. J. P. Eagle, the
latter the wife of the Speaker of the Arkan-
sas House of Representatives.
The majority and minority report con-
cerning the admission of the lady delegates
were discussed at length. The Convention
had novel question to consider, and the
debate was very spirited. DIR. Manly, in
behalf of the majority of the committee to
which the question was referred, favored q
strict construction of the organic law and
admission of the lady delegates. He said
that if he had been in Arkansas he would
have objected to the selection of lady dele
gates, but he thought the Convention had
no right to object to their admission.
DIR. Jones Of Virginia, in support of the
minority report, opposed the admission of
the ladies. He said: eff the Convention
favors the admission of women, we will be
flooded with Them" He favored standing
by the custom of their fathers and the Word
of God. Hehoped the lady delegates would
be rejected.
Rev. R. M. Wharton of Alabama said
the question was not whether women want
ed the privilege of being delegates, but
one OF loyalty to the Constitution. s'Shall
legally elected delegates" he asked, "be
excluded by an er post .facto law?"
Judge John D. Stewart and Rev. j. II.
Fitzpatrick opposed the admission of the
ladies.
Hon. p. Eagle of Arkansas, whose wife
is one of the delegates, forcibly advocated
the admission of the ladies, who, he said,
not only contributed, but did more mission
work than the men.
Dir. Hawthorne opposed the admission
of the ladies. He thought it was wrong in
principle.
Rev. M. E. Howard and Mr.. Early favor
ed their admission.
A vote was then taken and the minority
report was substituted for that of the ma
iority. The Arkansas delegation obtained
consent to withdraw the names of their
lady delegates; whereupon the report ad-
verse to their taking seats was also with
drawn.
Rev. DIR. Nell, who had been Moderator
since 1868, Revs. Reuben Jones of Virginia,
J. G.. Furman of South Carolina, Redding
Andrews of Texas and H. G. Wallace of
Missouri, were elected Vice Presidents.
At the opening of the afternoon session
Hon. J. C. G. Black, delivered an address of
welcome, which was responded to by DR..
w. E. Hatcher of Virginia. The afternoon
was consumed in reading reports of the
Boards of Home and Foreign Missions,
which were referred to special committees
and made special orders for Thursday even
ing and Friday morning.
The report of the Treasurer of the Board
of Foreign Missions shows 81, 144 balance
on hand and the report of the Treasurer of
the Board of Home Missions shows bal
ance on hand of S1,613.
The annual sermon was delivered on
Wednesday by Rev. J. L. M. Curry of Vir-
ginia. :,
On Thursday the Convention was called to
order by Vice-President Reuben Jones, of
Virginia. Reports of the Presidents
were received, and the reports on foreign
missions were referred to select committees.
A resolution to consolidate the home and
foreign mission boards was introduced, but
was ruled out of order. An address on
ministerial education was delivered by DIR.
Manly, of Kentucky.
DIR. J. w. Jones of Virginia, offered a
resolution referring the question of the eligi-
bility of women to seats in the convention,
to committee of one from each State. The
resolution was adopted.
On invitation DR.. B. Manly, Of Ken
lucky, addressed the convention on min
isterial education. He offered a resolution
expressing the sense of the convention that
an earnest prayer should be made for more
laborers to be sent into the harvest. He
had not come, he said, to ask for money,
but men to work and qualify themselves for
higher work; men called of God who would
devote themselves to work, men who have
truth in themselves. This is the great
need of the church, and we should not neg
lect the opportunity in our reach. Our mas
ter requires US to pray to the Lord of the
harvest to send forth more laborers. Men
may make themselves Presidents and other
high officials, but true ministers of the gos-
pei get their appointments from heaven.
Prayer offered by US implies our readiness
to seek out those whom God has appointed
to do his work, and help them prepare for
it, and to support those who are engaged in
it. A seminary has been established to help
those whom the churches have presented as
in their opinion is called to this work.
DR.. Manly's resolution was adopted.
Rev. T. C. Teasdale, of Mississippi, who
was president at the meeting at Providence,
R. l., related incidents of that meeting
from which the Southern members with
drew to organize the Southern Baptist Con-
vention, in August, 1S45. The brethren
present then were asked to stand up and 10
rose in their places. They were: DIR. P.
H. Nell, of Georgia; Reuben Jones, of Vir-
ginia; j. S. Bledsoe, OF Texas, S. b. Dur
ham, +. Watson, Jonathan Miller, S. II.
Getsen, #. P. Smith and j. A. LaWton, of
South Carolina; E. r. Carswell, of Georgia;
J. L. Burrows, of Virginia; H. W. Mcln-
tosh and S. G. Hillyer, of Georgia, Z: r.
Irwin, and Henry Talbot, of South Car
olina.
Hon. w. Buchnell, president of the
American Baptist publication society, made
practical address on mission work and ad-
vocated the cooperation of women in the
work.
DIR. Bidding, secretary ofthe society, made
a stirring address upon Bible work.
The afternoon session was taken up with
Il discussion on foreign missions. The COM
mittee to which the question of the future
work of the foreign board referred report
ed cOunciling renewed efforts and the eX-