The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-05-22
Tn. sou,hern baptist convention.

The forty-fourth annual meeting of this
body was held in Memphis, Tenn, May lO-ll.
There were 694 DELEGATES present. represem.77 present.
hundred visitors. The convention held It's
session In the First Baptist church. and as
this building could seat only about SOO, IL was
generally crowded 10 oxernownSg nove Ssd anu ia
preaching and other services were helu Ill
A considerable part of the first day was
consumed in enrolling delegates ana IN ihe
election Of officers. Until the organlZation
by Hon. l.. B. Ely, Of Missouri, one OF the
Vice Presidents of last year. A number OF
prominent brethren were nominated lot fres-
ident, some OF whom requested thelr names
to be withdrawn, and the first ballot result
ed In the election Of Judge Jonathan Haral-
son, an eminent lawyer of Alabama, who
has for several years presided over the Bap-
tlst Convention Of that state. The wisdom
of the convention in choosing Judge Haral-
son for this position soon became manifest.
He has good knowledge of parliamentary
law. and rules with ease, promptness ana
kindly spirit.
Is not an ecclesiastical court. According TO
the democratic church polty Of the Baptists.
the Individual, local church Is the highest
church court. The churches voluntary aSso-
ciate themselves In conventions to carry for
ward organized religious work. So the bust
ness of the Southern Convention Is chiefly
to consider the work of the Foreign and
Home Mission Boards of the Convention.
The annual report Of the Foreign Mission
Board was read by corresponding secretary
Upper. The receipts had been sos. 600, an in.
crease of $4,000 over the previous year.
Twenty-siX new missionaries had been ap'
pointed during the year, and the Boards
work on five continents was never so promis
Ing MS now.
the Home Board has missions in several oi
the Southern States, in the Indian Territory
and in Cuba.
The work done by the Board has amounted
to S155.OOO. 1t employed last year 325 mission
aries, and the additions to Its missions were
Si02 persons.
The convention sermon was preached this
year by DR.. J. p. Greene, OF st. Louis. His
subject was Christ the Power of God Q) ir
Salvation and ~ in Service. 1t was logical
direct aud strong gospel sermon.
Saturday, the second day Of the convon tior
was devoted mainly to the consideration o.
different phases of tho Foreign work, Many
able and interesting speeches were made, ant
sonaries added much to the occasion.
Several English Baptists had come over tc
meet with their American brethren in this
Convention, and II o'clock on Saturday was
the hour set appart to hear them.
DR.. Edward Parker, President Of the Bap
list College of Manchester and Mr.. Wm d.
Shaw, Treasurer Of the College, were the
speakers. Their speeches showed. that they
ment, and with hearty appreciation and af
fection for their brethren across the sea. Or
John A. Broadus, Of Louisville, replied tc
them in q very happy way.
At night mass-meetings In the Interest o
Foreign Missions were held at the First ant
the Central Baptist churches About So 00t
was raised ct these meetings for the Foreign
| work.
except the Catholic and Episcopal, were sup
piled by ministers from the Convention, ant
the people OF Memphis were delighted will
the many able sermons they heard.
On Sunday afternoon large congregation
assem- bled in the spacious house of the Cum
berland Presbyterian church to attend me
| mortal service Of DR.. j. P. Boyce, who wa.
President of the Convention last year, ant
and interesting addresses were made by Rev
Drs. Tucker, of Atlanta, Luther, of Tex
as, Dargan, of Charleston. All present were
impressed with the great purpose, persever
who left MS his enduring monument th,
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary o
Louisvile-one OF the very best In the land
| Monday was largely taken up with the con
| Many earnest speeches were made by breth
rem from different sections, urging the i'm.
portance of meeting the incoming tide o
Foreign populations with the saving anG
afternoon there was q stirring discussion O
the Catholic question. At night two mass
meetings were held in the interest Of Home
Missions. Rev. a: J. Dlaz, native Cuban
VINO mas ucen CHllet Tue ApOSlle vi OuDd
managed to speak at both Of these meetings
In three years there have been 1900 converts
on that island as the result of his work
About Sc 900 was raised In cssh md subscript-
ion to help pay for his church in Havana.
| The condition and work Of the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary were presented
| In the speeches by ProfS. Broadus, WhitSitt
and Kerfoot. The Seminary has invested
| funds and real estate amounting to ovel
S500.O00 1t has this session l65 students, prob
abl y the largest number ut any theological
| institute in the country.
After pleasant and inspiring meeting, the
| Convention adjourned on Tuesday. May nth
to meet next year at Fort Worth. Texas.
]. a. 3.