Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-09
SOUTHERN BAPTISTS.
The Convention Opens This Morning
With an Immense attendance.
Delegations From Over all the south-The
SCOPE and aims Of the Organization.
The Womsn's Mission Societies.


and it is in many respects the most important
religious gathering, that has ever assembled in
the South.
All day yesterday the committees of 1ecep-
tion, arrangement and entertainment were kept
busy by the delegates pouring into the city by
the hundreds and trainload. The Baptist train
alone brought TO the convention nearly
900 of the most prominent people of that
denomination in the Sonth. Last night the
hotel Hobbies and the streets were packed wi tn
ministers of all sized salaries. And they re
membered, many of them, the old saying that
st is not good for man to be alone, so they took
along their, wives and some OF them brought
entire families. From all appearances now it
held.
The Southern Baptist convention has the
largest constituency of any Baptist body in the
world. 1t was organized in the city OF augusta,
Ca, in 1915. and at that time the Baptists were
q feeble folk but to-day they number more
than 900, 900 souls in the United States, three
fourths OF whom in the Southern states, the
field of this convention.
The Baptists haRe been foremosts in the great
modern movement Of missions. They were not
only the first to organize for evangelizing the
heather, but they have far more, converts in
mission fields than any other denominAtton-of
Christians. =
The convention has two prime objects in view,
the pronseti on Emissions and of theological edu
cation. The missionaries of the convention have
made enviable records in Italy, Africa, China,
Japan, South America and India. Their most
phenomenal success OF recent years has been
witnessed in the work of Mr.. Powell and his CO.
adiutors in Mexico, and in the marvellous work
of Mr. DiRz, an apostle in spirit and work in the
island OF Cuba, This native Cuban apostle is in
attendance upon the present session of this body
priest who was baptized by the Second church Of
Atlanta last Sabbath night and Will soon be Or
dained to the full work of the ministry and be-
come partner of the labors and rewards of Mr..
Iyaz
The Raptists are doing a noble work also
among the negroes and Indians, to both ofwhom
the W hite race owe a debt that could not be
more appropriately paid than in Gospel coin.
The one great institution upon which the
heart OF Southern Baptists is set, and upon
which IS being poured the yellow tide OF beneyo-
lent contributions, is the Southern Baptist The
olodieal Seminary, located at Louisville, Ry:
This is their one school OF the prophets, -
that. more than any other one influence, has
supplied the churches with an intelligent and
progressive ministry. Dr. Boyce, who was its
wise founder and muDidte1t benefactor, and its
first president, has worthy, successor in the
person OF DR.. John A. BTpadus. Fhis prince Of
Southern Baptist scholars is one of the'most in
teresting and attractive characters in this great
body OF Southern men.
Since 1866 this convention has wrought wisely
aud well in establishing and bringing up to
such an enyiable height of success and useful
ness, "The Kind Words sefies of Sunday
school publications In the wisdom of the body
they have seen fit TO provide their children witD
Sabbsth-schooll teraturey the product OF South
eTn brains and Southern hearts.
Il is understood that the question Of the con-
tinuanoe and establishment of this Sunday
school series will be the main question upifor
discussion and settlement at this important.
meeting. While some difference of opinion ex-
lists as TO what is the w1sest policy. whether to
continue work so well begun or 20 yield to the
overture of the society. at Philadelphia to
sell out 70 them and tr'tnster the obliga-
iion and profits of this immense and immensely
important business beyond their bounds, and
control, the opinion seems to prevail that thea
slaiwart Southern Baptists will continue to do
N
ting the Southern convention and the Southern
mission boards, home and foreign, and the
Southern Baptist seminary for their young
preachers, they have committed themselves TO q
policy that seems 10 many 20 reauire Southern
series OF sunday school publications. Is,
1t ought to be borne in mind that this cone
vention neither claims nor exercises any eocles-'
iastical power Whatever. 1t being simply sys-
tenn OF general cooperation in missionary and
educational enterpfise-surely mighty corpor-
alton of intellectual, moral and spiritual power.
The work will begin this morning in earnest.
territory covered By the convention. which
takes in every state south of Maryland, ViT-
ginia and Kentucky inclusive. II is estimated
that there III be thousand delegates in the
convention, which is the legislative body of the
convention. The programme for the work has
not been laid out yet, Tor. as Rev. DR.. Burrows
unpFogrammatcal body in the world.n: But
probably the order of business for the day will
ereises the. convention will organize by de-
termining the roll of representatives who are
chosen on the basis OF the moneys turned into
Of officers win follow and then the reports
OF the home and foreign boards by
the secretaries, Rev. Drs. J. T. IieheIier- and
II. A. Topper, will be presented. This work VIII
probably consume the entire morping. :
In the afternoon the different standing COM
mittees win be appointed and the work laid out.
There win be a number of these dealing with
missionary work, educational, church extern
sion. publication, Sunday school and other de-
Al night the annual sermon before the body
will be delivered by the Rev. j. W. Carter, ID.
D., of Raleigh, N. @. Right there lies one of
the convention. Everyone will have q chance
10 hear and see the methods Of the brightest sud
best men OF the denomination.
The auditorium OF the First Baptist church
has been reserved for the legal delegates TO the
convention. They will occupy both the main
floor and the gallery. II is expected that the
church will Just about accommodate the number
in attendance. Those who have come to attend
the convention, but are not delegates Of which
there are a large number, have reserved for
them the Sunday school room to the east OF the
auditorium. Al are invited to attend and be on
hand ut the opening exercises this morning at
Another body which must not be overlooked is
the Woman's missionary society, which is aux
Hilary to the Baptist convention. and which
meets in the Cumberland Presbyterian church at
the same time as the convention. This society
takes its delegates from thirteen states, with an
great many ladies outside of the dele
cations are on hand and viii be in |
pays its money for missionary work, both home
and foreign through the board VI the South
ern Baptist convention. They however prefer
TO keep up a separate organization otherwise
because it brings the questions home forcibly
10 them ana interests a large number |
in the work that would not under other condi- |
tions take active part Not only the ladies OF |
the Baptist denomination are invited to attend, !
but all OF whatever creeds. This is the seventh |
annual meeting OF this auxiliary body and the |
officers are Miss NJ. +. Mcintosh, president; |
Miss Annie W. Armstrong and Mrs. James |
Pollard, secretaries, and Mrs. J. +. Pullen, |
treasurer.
The meeting will open this morning at 10 |
o clock, under the charge Of Mr.. F. B. Davis of
this state, and the order viii be as follows:
1.-Appointnent of committee on credentials,
plan of work, nominations and resolutions.
Address by the president.
s.-Report of committee on credentials.
s.-Report OF corresponding secretary.
5.-Report OF treasurer.
6.-Music.
state reports.
s.-New business.
s.-Confsrenoe on band work. L
10 Recommendation of foreign boards.
n.-Music.
illuminated business social half hour and
adjournment at i;S0 O'Clock.
The rest OF the delegates who did not arrive
" hich had 10 take the roundabout route through |
4 rkansas is due at the Union Depot this morn
ing before light, and the delegates numbering |
about $50, viii remain there until the
reception committee meet taem there b.
this morning. But few of the Texas
delegation came in yesterday and they are ex-
pected every train to-day. It was esti-