The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-11-22
BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION.
SYNOPSIS OF THE INTERESTING
PROCEEDINGS.
The Henderson People Entertained the
Convention EleSantlY--The Work Of
the Past Year.
Editorial Correspondence.


Fifty nine years ago the Baptist State
Convention was organized at Greenville.
1t was not large Convention then, and
the Missionary Baptists did not have a
very large membership. It's preachers
were earnest men Of God and they and
their successors have given themselves to
the work whereunto they were called
with such zeal and knowledge that Won
derful success has come to the denomina-
ton. The past year has been one Of marked
progress in all lines Of denominational
work. The statement was made that
during the past year over Is, GOO members
have been received into the church in the
State, and that one hundred churches have
been built east of the Blue Ridge, at a cost
Of from $500 to $4,000 each, aggregating
more than one hundred thousand dollars.
There have been 96 missionaries in the field
in the State and the Mission Board has
paid them $12, ,614 81 This department of
work needs still further enlargement and
$15, 900 will be raised for this cause du-
ring the coming year. The contributions
to Foreign Missions was Sc, III 40 There
are now thirty two North Carolina Mis-
sionaries Give of them are colored) in for
eign fields who were sent out by the Mis-
sion Board In the past year thirteen
new Baptist missionaries have gone from
North Carolina. Fifteen colporteurs have
been engaged during the year and 438
destitute families have been supplied with
Bibles free, and many Bibles and Testa
ments given to the poor, and sold to
others. For this work 81, ,587.19 was
raised For Sunday schools s., 516. S5 was
collected in the State; 81, 200 for the Bap
tist Orphanage; aud $125.35 for church
exclusion.
These statistics, thus condensed, tell
the tale of faithful work by a band OF
earnest, devoted, self sacrificing men and
women. Fifteen thousand new members
iu one year is marvellous, aud shows the
evangelistic spirit that has pervaded the
State from the mountains to the SEA shore.
These figures tell OF quickeued spiritual
life, new religious fervor, and pure ana
effective preaching OF the gospel They
speak more eloquent!y of the progress Of
this church and of its rapid g owth than
any words can do, Following as a natu-
raj result OF this large ingathering into
the church, comes the large increase n
the financial receipts Of the year. When
men are fully alive TO the claims God has
upon them, the purse strings are not
drawn tightly and money is readily turu-
ished to carry on the various operations
of the church.
For two or three years there has been
an agitation among some Of the leading
Baptists of the State to secure the estab-.
lishment of an endowed University for
women. At the last Convention a com
mittee, with Col. L. l.. POLK as Chair
man, was appointed to consider the mat
ter and select location. The committee,
recognizing the need of a University for
women and recommending its establish
ment. The committee was undecided,
however, as to location. There was 4 long
and earnest discussion of this question.
The report of the committee was adopted
without dissent though there is division
of sentiment in the Convention AS TO THE
ADvISABILITY OF ACTING NOW. However
there was no expressed opposition and the
speaking in favor of the Baptist Universe
ty for women was so able and interesting
that it would have required bold man,
indeed, to attempt to answer the s-rOng
arguments. I regret that | have not the
space to give a full report of the speeches
in behalf of helping the women. Col
L. L. POLK, as Chairman of the commit
tee, opened the discussion formally with
earnest remarks. Mr.. n. B. BROUGHT1N
was the first speaker after COL. Polk,
and he gave facts and figures contrasting
the cost of female education with the edu-
cation OF males, showing that it was much
more costly. REV. G. E. TAYLOR, D. D,
President of Wake Forest College, be
lieved the Baptists ought to provide for
the boys as well as the girls, and Thought
$50, 600 would be large enough amount
to start with. 1t would help Wake Forest
College. REV. THos. HUME, D. D., of the
University faculty, made an elegant plea
for lifting women from the position of
mere candidate for matrimony and giving
her the best mind training. | heard q
prominent gentleman say that DIR. HUME's
speech from first to last was a gem, AID
was the most elegant aud convincing
speech he ever heard. BISHoP HUFHAN
(at least he would be so-cai!ed il Baptis;S
had ordained Bishops followed IL TEL
ling speech for the University. He spoke
of the fact that the distressing results of
the war fell, not SO much upon the men,
as upon the shoulders of the women.
For Gods sake let Us relieve them
from their slavery" he said. The money
can be raised and let it be done. Rev.
BAYLUS CADE, (the inventor of the rail
way telegraph, who is regarded as the
humorist Of the Convention, made a
weighty argument for the University and
during his entire speech kept the Conven-
ton in roars Of laughter ard sympathetic
attention. He was followed by REV. Il.
W. BATTLE, whose weighty words made
an impression upon all who heard him, and
by REV J. S. Dill, who gave strong reasons
for it. The Convention unanimously de-
cided to establish the University, and ap-