Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-07
CHURCHMEN IN COUNCIL.
MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN
BAPTISTS AT AUGUSTA.


A Debate on the Admittance of Ladies
as Delegates Results in a Negative
VOte-The Session OF the state EpiscO-
palians at Macon Commenced.
AUGUSTA, GA, May 6.-The Southern
Baptist convention assembled in the Bap-
list church to-day, and was called to or
der at 10 O'Clock by Moderator 2. Ii. Nell.
The morning was consumed in admitting
State delegations. Two ladies were in
the Arkansas delegation, and commit
tee of five, consisting of j. W. Jones of
Virginia, Basil Manly of Kentucky, j.
H. Fitzpatrick of Georgia, j. NJ. Carroll
of North Carolina, and NJ. B. Whar-
ton of Alabama, was appointed to
! report on the question of adj
mitting the delegation. Majority and
minority reports were presented-the for
mer for admitting and the latter for eX-
cluding the ladies. The ladies in the Ar
kansas delegation are Mrs. NJ. ID. Early
and Mrs. j. 2. Eagle, wife of the Speaker
of the Arkansas House of Representa-
tives. Delegates are present from Ala
bama, Arkansas, California, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland,
| Mississippi, Missouri, North and South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and
West Virginia. The delegates number 440.
vention to order, the delegates joined in
singing "ROck of Ages" The Moderator
then read the One Hundred and Thirty
third Psalm: "BehOld how good and pleas
ant it is for brethren to dwell together in
unityV DIR. b. Manly, of Kentucky, made
the opening prayer, and the roll-call was
proceeded with by the Secretaries, Rev.
Lansing Burrows, of Georgia, and Rev.
.. +. Gregory, of Louisiana. The majority
and minority reports concerning the adj
mission of lady delegates from Arkansas
were discussed at length.
THE ADMISSION OF LADIES.
The convention had a novel question to
consider. and the debate was very spirited.
DR.. Manly, in behalf of a majority of the
committee to which the question was re-
ferred favored strict construction of the
organic law and the admission of lady
delegates. He SAID that if he had been in
Arkansas he would have objected to the
selection of lady delegates, but he thought
that the convention had no right to object
to their admission.
DR.. Jones, Of Virginia, in support Of
the minority report, opposed the admis-
sion of ladies. He said: ''If the cOnVen-
tiOn favOrs the admission of women we
will be flooded with them next year." He
favored standing by the customs of their
fathers and the word of God. He hoped
Rev. b. NJ. Wharton, of Alabama, said
that the question was not whether wo-
men wanted the privilege of being dele
gates, but one of loyalty to the cOnstitu-
ton. ''ShalI legally elected deleG ates,"
he asked, ''be excluded by an e1 post fGct0
lawW
Judge John d. Stewart and Rev. J. H.
Fitzpatrick opposed the admission of Ia
dies.
Hon. j. p. Eagle, of Arkansas, whose
wife is one of the delegates, foIcibly ad-
VOcated the admission of ladies, who, he
said, not only contributed more, but did
more mission work than men.
DR.. Hawthorne opposed the admission
of ladies'. He thought that it was an
error and wrong in principle.
LADIES EXCLUDED.
Rev. NJ. f. Howard and Mr.. Early IA
Yored their admission. A vote was taken
and the minority report was substituted
for that of the majority. The Arkansas
delegation obtained consent to withdraw
the names of their lady delegates, where
upon the report adverse to their taking
seats was also withdrawn.
Rev. DIR. p. II. Nell. who has been Mod
orator since 1868. was reelected.
Revs. Reuben Jones, of Virginia, j. IL.
Furman, of South Carolina, Redding An
| drews, of Texas, and II. T.. Wallace, Of
Missouri, were elected Vice Presidents.
The following hours of session were
adopted: From 9 O'Clock in the morning
/ to / 80 o'clock i'm the afternoon, from $3.50
O'Clock in the afternoon to $3.50 O'Clock IN
/ the evening, and from s o'clock in the
| evening till adjournment. At the opening
of the afternoon session Hon. J. G. g.
Black delivered an eloquent address of
welcome, which was responded to by DR..
| W. +. 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 the special order for
Thursday evening and Friday morning.
The historical address, by DR.. Burrows
of Virginia, one of the first members, will
be delivered Friday at noon.
The report Of the treasurer of the board
OF foreign missions shows $1,144 balance
on hand, and the report Of the treasurer
Of the board of home missions shows a
balance on hand Of 81 6l3.
An annual sermon was delivered to-
night by Rev. j. l.. NJ. Curry. Of Virginia.
The convention will hold three sessions
daily. The secular and religious press is
well represented. Gov. Mcdaniel and
Senator Brown, Of Georgia, and DR.. j. l..
NJ. Curry, Of Virginia, and DIR. j. p.
BOyce, Of Kentucky, are among the
prominent delegates. The people Of
Augusta, irrespective of denomination,
extend a cordial greeting TO the conven-
ton and its members. Everything will
be done 10 make their stay here pleasant.
EPIsCOPALIANS AT MACON.
A New Canon Proposed for Adoption