The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-12
HEATHEN HERE AT HOME.
A BIG HAUL OF SOULS BY THE
BAPTISTS LAST YEAR.

tion Routine.
RICHMOND, VA, May 1l.-The Southern
Baptist Convention met in annual session
here to-day in the First Baptist church, and
was called to order by Prof Lewis B. Ely.
of Missouri, First Vice President, Rev. Dr.
p. Ii. Nell President, having died since the
last convention. Prof. Ely made a few
touching remarks in relation TO the do
ceased President, after which Rev DR.. J.
L. Burrows, of Norfolk, offered PRAYER, and
Rev. Dr. George Cooper, of Richmond
made an address of welcome
On the call of tho States, it was found
that 745 delegates were present, as follows:
Alabama 30, Arkansas Is. District of Column
bia II, Florida 3, Georgia 36 Indian Territory /,
Kentucky W, Louisiana 0, Maryland A, MiSsis.
sippi IL, Missouri Is, North Carolina l0l South
Carolina 100, Tennessee 10, Texas 52 Virginia
l69
THE OFFICERS.
The convention then organized by the
election of the following officers:
President (rising vote)-Rov DIR. ]. p.
Boyce, of Kentucky.
Vice Hesidents-Lewis b. Ely, of Car
rollton, Mo. Rev. John Pollard, of Rich
mond; Rev j. b. Hawthorn. of Atlanta
Judge Jonathan Harrison, of Selma.
SecretdrieS-H Lansing Burrows, of Au-
gusta, and Oliver +. Gregory, of Baltimore
The regular committees on the order of
business and religious exercises were then
appointed
The report of the Homo Mission Board
was then presented. The report described
the work of the board as never before so
prosperous. This is shown both 10y the in
crease of its receipts and the amount Of
work it has done. The report says the
needs of the board are greater than ever
The work in Cuba must be largely in
creased. That among the foreign p0pua-
tion Of the South and the colored people is
just begun. To eyangelize our own country
will not only save America but speed tho
conquest of the world.
ACCEssIoNs TO THE CHURCH
The number of accessions to the church
ana home mission field was Z, 1876, and the
cost of the work was $177, ,953 The prin-
cipal work of the board has been done in
Indian Territory, Louisiana, Texas and
Cuba
OF Cuba tho report says; "The whole
island is open TO the gospel. The persecu-
tions have been heavy, but the faith and
courage of our people are strong and un-
Lroken. The work done has not been sur
passed by any denomination in the history
of modern missions. Pray for Cuba
1.-The total issues of the Sunday school
publications will soon reach 5000 900. They
have received tho highest COMMUNICATION,
and are making rapid progress. They are
| the exclusive property of the Home Mission
Board, which derives an income from them
proportionate TO their circulation
FOREIGN MISSION WORK.
The report of the Foreign Missions Board
was also submitted. 1t opens by congratu-
lating itself on the honor of welcoming the
convention to Richmond, where was held
its first anniversary since its foreign work
has spread to every continent on the globe,
employing hundreds of laborers discipling
and gathering into the church thousands OF
hopeful converts, aud eliciting and combin-
ing at home the benevolent energies repre-
sented by 81 500, 900. OF the women's work,
the report says: From all the indications,
our Christian women were never more en-
listed, heart and hand, in Civ
ing the gospel to the perishing
AS this special work of our sisters does not
now como directly under the eye of the
convention, the board does not receive
regular reports from which to collect au-
thentic statistics Of what is accomplished.
The board would estimate the contributions
of the fifteen central committees as not
much short of 5000. 1t is hoped that the
fullest u d wisest encouragement will he
given to this jealous endeavor of our
women, whose work is not included in the
published reports. OF the 10000 women
missionary societies of tho Christian world,
which support in foreign lands 900 mis-
sionaries and more than $1,000 pupils, and
which contributed last year 81, ,22l ,640--an
amount nearly equal TO the whole foreign
mission contribution of the Southern Bap-
lists for forty years. There are almost as
many women as men III the foreign mis-
sions of the world"
HOW THE FINANCES STAND.
The Treasurers report shows that $50, ,3s5
has been received, and 1872 775 disbursed by
the board, leaving balance in the treasury
| Of $3.50. The liabilities reported (Sl SGD
were not discharged because they pertained
| to parties who prefer that only the interest
be paid. The whole balance, and all that
may be received before and at the conven.
ton, will be speedily consumed by drafts
of the second (April--July) missionary quar-
ter, which are beginning already TO ap-
pear The board calls attention to
tho fact indicated in tho Treas
urer's account that $43, l72 has
been borrowed at an expense of 1888 IS.
| This is the inevitable consequence of the
board paying its missions quarterly in nd
vance, while the churches pay not even at
the end of each quarter Nearly one-third
OF tine WnOie years TecclDL5 SSf ,toS, came
in during the last month of the conventional
year and about one-third OF the amount
was received on the last day of the last
moath of the year ending April 30, when tho
treasurers books closed. The fact is worthy
of the study of the convention and churches.
The home expenses of the board, exclusive
Of interest paid and publications ordered by
the convention, are about 10 per cent. Of
the gross receipts Of the board. Tho board
closes its conventional financial year with
profound gratitude 20 God.
WORK IN FOREIGN FIELDS.
The report then goes into voluminous de-
tails Of the work Of the missions in Mexico,
South America, Europe, Africa and China
giving most gratifying statistics and show
ing successful progress; also embodying the
opinions and suggestions of missionaries In
all Of those countries as TO the needs
and requirements for the advancement
Of the work. The board in making
official announcement of the death In March
last of Rev. NJ r. Yates, ID, missionary
to China, pays a glowing tribute 10 his
worth and works in tho missionary field,
and presents TO the convention the following
resolutions:
Rev. Matthew Tyson Yates, ID. d., the Southern
Baptist Convention has lost one Of It's Oldest,
most consecrated and efficient missionaries,
China one Of its most enlightened and philan-
throIic adopted citizens and the Christian
world man and servant OF God whose life and
character we're an honor TO his race, and whose
death Is a loss TO mankind
',2 Resolved, That IN honor 10 the memory
OF our noble dead, and IN justice TO our own
sentiments Of gratitude and grief, a call should