Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-06-01
NATIONAL BAPTIST ANNIVERSARIES.

AsBURY PARK, n. j., May 90, 1SS6.-At
the close of the Anniversary meeting of the
American Baptist Missionary Union, on
Thursday evening, the presiding officer, DIR.
Judson, passed the gavel to Mr.. Samuel
Colgate, of Orange, n. ]. This wealthy
christian layman is the President of the
American Baptist Home Mission Society.
This body was then called to order. This is
the fifty fourth annual meeting of the soc,
ETY.. It's object is to send missionaries into
destitute fields in the North and in the
West and among the freedmen in the
South; also to erect educational institutions
for the freedmen, and build houses of wor-
shin for feeble churches. 1t may give
YOUR readers somo idea OF the vastness ofthe
work this society is doing when the state.
ment is made that during the year just
closed, four hundred and .Ufyfrc thousand
and iwcnty sir dollars and thirty three cents,
have been collected and expended
by this society in UNCONVENTIONAL
work. The field Of It's operations embraces
Mexico also.
The sessions of this body are spirited, in
terestiug and profitable, because men OF
known ability are chosen before hand to
make addresses on the various reports that
are presented, and these addresses, though
cut and dried. are anything but dry. They
sparkle with wit, wisdom and pathos; they
are packed with information, aud they stir
the hearts of tie vast audience whose deaf.
ening applause gives evidence that the SEN
timents OF the orators have found lodge
ment in head and heart.
The first day OF the meeting Of this body
was almost wholly devoted to the loss the
society had sustained by the failure Of John
III. Deane, of New York, more than year
ago. This was an affair unpleasant in the
extreme but the denomination demanded
to know the true inwardness of the matter
and the investigating committee performed
its stern duty, and in its report unmasked
tho ugly business. The amount directly
chargeable to Mr.. Deane, at the time Of his
assignment, and belonging to the society,
was S13l ,52l75! This amount was not
leaned TO Mr. Deane. He was member OF
the Finance Committee and was intrusted
IS the society's counsel to attend to the legal
business pertaining to Investments, and thus
became the medium Of communication be-
tween the society and mortgagors. When
the latter paid of their mortgages MIR.
Dean received tho payments, which he de-
posted to his own credit in bank. There
has evidently been laXness in the techni-
cal observance OF the financial affairs of the
society, but this may have arisen i'll conse-
uuence of unlimited confidence in one
who was universally esteemed and whose
official word or act as counsel of the
Financial Board in regard to invest
menls was considered ultimate and right.
Some of Mr.. Dcane's friends tried to make
a compromise and keep the report Of the in
vestigating committee from the ear of the
Baptist public, but it was decided that as Il
denomination we could better afford 10
make up the loss than coudone the dishon
est irregularity and deliberate fraud of this
great Baptist layman. So the report was
read. The New York dailies came out in
sensational reports next day, and the action
of the society was severely criticised and
censu.ed hut this Christian UNCONVENTIONAL
body put itself on record as opposed to bus
mess dishonesty, and refused to use the
white wash brush.
There is great deal Of tho Lords money
contributed by the churches lying around
loose without security, which, in case OF
death or failure Of trusted friends or agents,
would be lost. 1t is needless to say that
this costly experience has caused the society
to adopt new rules and regulations that will
forever prevent another such catastrophe.
The annual sermon before this body will
bo preached on Sunday in Agricultural
Hall, by DR.. Henson Of Chicago.