The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-05-22

In Georgia alone last year the various
Women's Mission societies OF the Baptist
what men cannot.
a NEW DEPARTURE.
One Of the sensations OF the convention was
an invitation OF the Chicago Baptists, through
Rev. G. &. Lorrimer, ID. D., TO the convention
TO hold its next session in May, 1889, in that
| city. There were not a few advocates Of this
| new departure. While the charter Of the con-
| vention is silent as TO the place OF meetings,
| still il has been acted on and tacitly construed
to limit its meetings within the ecclesiastical
| territory Of the convention. The invitation
was not accepted, and Memphis, Tenn,
selected by an overwhelming majority as the
| next place Of meeting.
| SUNDAY SCHOOL LITERATURE.
| Another lively discussion was had on the
| last day of the session. The cause which led
up to it may be stated as follows; At tho ses-
| sion Of 1885 held at Augusta, Ga, the conyen-
| ton instructed the home mission board to be-
| gin the publication Of a series of Sunday-school
helps. The board carried out the instructions
of the convention and began the publication Of
Sunday-schoOl literature equal in the opinion
of competent judges to any published in the
world. This being the work of the convention
through its agents and trustees and having
been started in order 70 carry out the policy OF
the convention, and being in fact part of its
work it has been Endorsed by several conven-
tons and the committee to whom was referred
the report OF the Home Mission board com
mended the publication, whereupon some of
the friends Of the American Baptist Publica-
ton Society, Of Philadelphia, sought to have
the Sunday school publications of that society
likewise Endorsed.
The convention thereupon, without dis
sentng vote, Endorsed the publications Of the
Home Mission board and strongly recommend
ed their use by our Sunday-schools OF the south.
FRATEREAL MESSENGERS.
One Of the social features of the convention
was the large number OF visiting Baptists from
the north and west. There was, among others,
Rev. &. g. Lorimer, D. d., and Rev. Justin
Smith, ID. D., of the Standard. of Chicago,
H.. Rev a. II. Strong, ID. D., President Ro-
chester Theological Seminary, n. Y. Rev. G.
G. Biting, d. D., and Rev. b. Griteth ID. d.,
OF Philadelphia, and among the prominent
lay men may be mentioned Messrs. VIM.
Buclfnali and j. II. Kendrick, OF Philadelphia,
and many others, both clerical and lay, whose
names do not now recall. Some of these
came rs fraternal messengers from the north
ern Baptist societies. All received q cordial
Christian greeting.
All the churches were well filed on Sun
day, Other denominations rendered the use of
their houses to the Baptists. l do not recall
all the names of those who preached. / at
tended DR.. Hays (Presbyterian) church and
heard DR.. Strong, president of the Rochester
Theological Seminary An eloquent, able
sermon repaid me. DIR. Strong is ono of tho
most learned men in the denomination. Drs.
Mcdonald and Tucker, OF this city, were each
assigned to fill ian important appointment.
semblcd to hear Rev. j. IL. Hawthorne, ID. ID.
who was appointed to preach at II a. IN. at the
First church, with which the convention met.
The capacious building, which will seat at least
loo i'll the main auditorium and gallery, was
crowded to the utmost long before the ser
vice began, and hundreds were turned away
from the door. Many ladies stood through tho
entire service. The doctor was at his best.
Those who know him can interpret this state
ment.
SIDE LIGHTS.
One OF the side lights of the convention was
the assembling OF representative Baptist wo-
men from all parts of the south. The object
OF their coming together was TO form an ex-
ecutive committee as an auxiliary of the con-
Vention in its mission department. Some of
the most earnest and intelligent women of the
denomination were present and participated in
the deliberations of the meeting. Ii is graft
Tying TO the denomination at large to know
that these good women have perfected
All organization whereby they can
do more for the cause of missions. A consti-
tuition was adopted, and it is understood biat
the work will be carried ON in connection with
and i'll aid of the convention.
Miss Mcintosh, Of South Carolina, was
elected president; Miss Armstrong, of Bati-
moro, corresponding secretary; and Mrs. Gre
cory, of Baltimore, treasurer. One vice presi-
dent, chosen from the representative women
OF each state, was elected.
REFLECTIONS.
INDUCED the following reflections while
hearing the reports Of the committees on the
work of the board; The cities throughout the
country are the great centers of religious
power ana Influence, and all eyes are turned TO
the men OF means and piety in the cities to
take the initiatory and push forward all the
enterprises for the building mp of the power of
religion at home and abroad. This results
mainly from two causes:
First Wealthy men, rs rule reside only in
the cities.
Secondly reason of their systematic bust
ness methods. they arc better able to formulate
successful plans for raising money and carving
on religious enterprises ! would not underrate
the Christian zeal or tho true missionary spirit
Of those who reside in the country. 1t is n
question of ability and opportunity rather than
wall OF appreciation of the subject.
:. While the progress OF reli yion within the
last forty years has been great, and wonderful
results from the labor of the Baptists may be
pointed to- as well rs from the labors OF other
evangelical Christians, still am forced to adj
init that they have fallen short of the measure
of opportunity and are in fact insignificant in
comparison with what might have been, and
must eventually he, accomplished. Ii has
been furty-thrcc years since the Southern Bap-
fist convention was organized. At that time
there were but few railroads in the United
States, The facilities for commitment
ing with the outside world were
mCager in the extreme. 1t then re-
Qutlcd NJ least six months to communi-
cate with ary part of China and receive reply
by mail, and about the same time to Communi-
cato with san Francisco. European news
rarely ever reached United States until il
was three weeks old. Tho magnetic
telegraph was considered mere experiment.
The thought OF a submarine cable had not en-
tered the head of the most sanguine inventor
Since then mary eious inventions and changes
have startled the world, Electricity and steam
have become the most plant and indispensa-
bic agents OF commerce BY reason of the
easy facilities for reaching any part OF tho
globe, and the profit resulting from the inter-
change of commodities commerce has pushed
It's way over every sea and into
every land, making the advent easy
for Christian civilization, when II is not already
established.
Tho pertinent question is have the churches
availcd Themselves of the door thus opened to
pagan lands, and have they been rs aggressive
as they might have been? The answer is, no.
We need more men. more women. more
money and, above all, more of the Holy Ghost
). BaptiStS and other evangelical Christians
cannot oveyeStimate the Importance of open
ing up closer and moro fratornal relations with
the colored people of the south. l assert il to
be fact that there is less skepticism and in-
fidelity among the negro population than there
is among any other population of civilized poo-
pie on earth. Negroes are religious and their