Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-21
r. STARTED A DISCUSSION IN THE
BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
NJ 7. NJ. Curry on Education-ife
Praises Washington as REPOSITORY
of scientific Treasures.
washington Post J

had exchanged views on NUMBER OF
the essential doctrines OF the church.
The report of the Committee on Dis.
,r,bution of Bibles and Tracts, submitted
Inv Rev DIR. c. c. Meador, recited tho
fact that while there had been no regu-
lar agency in the district for the work
of distribution, number OF Bibles and
many thousand pages OF tracts have
been eiyen away, principally by Rev. ).
r. White. The report, IN urging the
inheritance Of the work, used the phrase,
"the Bible and other Baptist publica-
TONS" III
Rev. Theron Outwater rose and, with
a smile. said he only wished to commend
tbe use Of that particular phrase. This
bropebt DIR. Meador TO his feet again to
remark that the words were used adj
yisedly. He believed the Bible to be q
Baptist book.
OTHER" BAPTIST PUBLICATIONS.
Hon. J. J.. NJ. Curry, who was among
the visitors. said he wished to take ex-
ception to the words 81 the Bible and
other Baptist publications" He doubted
the propriety Of the remark. lie was a
Baptist' but he did not know how lar
they were justified in saying that the b.
BILE was a Baptist book. lie did not be-
lieve the Old Testament was a Baptist
book.
Or. Curry said incidentally that bap-
tism was the last distinctive principle OF
the church, and Hon. A. NJ. Clapp had
some remarks to make on that point
He had become Baptist from reading
the New Testament, about John the
Baptist preaching IN the wilderness, ana
about Christ being baptized in the Jor-
dan. Baptism was the cardinal princl-
ple OF the Baptist church. Mr.. Clapp
spoke briefly of the necessity of more
frequent and larger Baptist publication
in the District. 1t could be done II o
number of the brethren would form q
stock company, and in this way paper
could he published in Washington that
would DO credit to the Church III the
District.
Rev. C. A. Stakely said that while ne
recognized the importance OF the act OF
baptism he could name number Of
other doctrines OF the church that were
more important. A more distinctive
doctrine was that OF O r0generateo
church-membership. The principle o.
religious liberty, of individual RESPONSE
bility to God, were of more Importance
than the act of baptism. He wanted
Baptist publications distributed as wide
ly rs possible, but he was thankful tol
every fragment of the Bible distributed
by other denominations.
Dr. Meador, Nh. 4. Richards, anC
others spoke on the subjects that haC
been brought up, and then DR.. Cuuy
explained his position again. Ills OBJ
lection was to the use of the language thai
might ofiend-and, he might add, justly
offend denominations that wer'
doing as much as the Baptists to distrl
butte tho Bible. He believed that th'
Baptists should go to the extreme o
courtesy and recognition toward othel
denominations.
STRIKE OUT "oTHER.
Or. Meador sud that the expression
used was not intended to give any OF
fence. He was, however, in favor o
distributing Baptist publications, and
that offended others he could not help It
He added that if there were no oh
lection he would strike out the wor'
"other," making the phrase read, eth
Bible and Baptist publications. Thl
was done, and the report was adopted.
Next came the report Of the Commit
tee on Education, submitted by DR.
King, OF Wayland Seminary. The re
port dealt chiefly with the importance o
promoting Columbian University ant
with the necessity of the Baptists takinl
advantage of their opportunities whll
other denominations are perfectlnl
plans to make Washington a centre o
education.
Hon. j. l.. M. Curry was Introduce
by the Moderator and made an addres
on the report. DIR. Curry, who was Min
lister to Spain under President ClevC
land, is the agent OF the Peabody fun
in the South, and is an able thinker an
speaker on educational subjects. O
the platform he is not persuasive, bu
forcible, carrying conviction by his yigC
of expression and delivery.
Dr. Curry said that his diocese we
from the Potomac to the Rio Grande, an
travelling over the territory he had muc
to see of educational work, especial
among the colored people, and in b
opinion no single object which con
mands the attention aud the contrib
tons of religious men all over the couI
try is more important than the educatio
Of young men to become pastors
colored congregations.
ADVANTAGES OF WASHINGTON.
Speaking only briefly ON the gener
subject of education, DR.. Curry a.
dressed himself to the advantages
Washington as tn educational centr
and the duty Of the Baptists to ava
themselves Of the opportunities oifere,
Thirty years ago. he said, he made &
address before the societies OF Colun
bian College. Great changes had o
CURED since then. The great-hearte
DR.. Lampson was then at the head of ii
college, and was trying to widen
scope Of work by founding the lay
school
The law-school of Columbian Tn
versity now has the record OF havin
been the most successful school OF ii
kind in the United States in point OF ii
number Of students, with the possib
exception of the University OF Michigan
Washington, said DIR. Curry, is gre
in wealth and beauty she has alwa'
been the political centre since h
foundation she is now becoming Il
scientific centre of the country. Thir
years ago a single clerk got out the agl
cultural reports. To-day the Departure,
! OF Agriculture is one of the great d
partments of the Government, by II
tural and proper evolution, so the Farl
ers' Alliance would say, anyway. All Il
departments OF the Government ha'
within them rich stores and collection
! for the study and teaching OF scienc
free to oil.
The only exception DR.. Curry ma
was the Post-Ofiice Department. /
did not know OF any scientific burei
there, unless il was for the study OF h
science of dropping heads into the ba
, ket with the least raip. Laughter