The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1893-04-05

from Georgia.
"He is wen, - was the reply.
ole eXerts a great influence in your
state, said Or, Staughton
Yes, his word is law" replied the
Georgian.
II am sure" said the doctor, sit is
more, it is gospel
He bought the Christian Index, pub
| lished by Brantly at Philadelphia in
/ 1888 and removed it to Washington, Ca,
where he edited it fa some time, and
1 then presented it to the Georgia Baptist
convention in 1910, since when iC has
been the organ of the Baptist church.
! Mercer University was named in honOr
of Jesse Mercer, and received $4,000 in
donations, etc, from this eminent Baptist
divine
When the first settlers came over with
Ogle.horpe they brought with them the
rigorous laws of the mother country and
it was II enry Halcombe, really the first
president of the body now known as the
! Convention, who originated the peniten-
! tiary system in lieu of death for many
minor offences.
Men who have held to the simple ten
cts of the Baptist religion have adorned
every gift within the suffrage of the PEG.
pie.
! Among those was Ex-Governor Lump
kin, who was of Methodist parentage but
after reading the Bible closely allied
himself with the Baptist church, and in q
few years his parents followed in his
footsteps Subsequently all the adults
of the family adopted the new denOmi-
nation. Gov Lumpkin exercised a
strong influence over The deStinies of the
! Baptisrs, and at his death was the oldest
Baptist in Georgia.
! Governor Rabun was one of the old
time Baptists, and like his worthy sue
cessor, the present governor, attended
the conventions and aided them by his
advice and experience.
He, while Governor of the State, acted
as chorister and clerk in Powelton
church.
| In state as well as we'll as church he
was resolute man, and an independent
thinker.
| In reply 10 one Of Andrew Jackson S
naughty letters he said: "Wheu the lib
critics Of the people of Georgia shall have
been prostrated at the feet of a military
dcspotism, THEN AND NOT TILL THEN
will your imperious doctrines be sub
mitted to. Among the striking charac-
tiers that loom up in the history of the
Baptist church in Georgia, and especial
lily of this convention, none is more i'm
i posing than the lamented P. II. Nell, a
man of culture, refinement and pieUy,
and occupying he vantage point at
chancellor Of the University. He has
left his imp ess on the minds of young
men throughout tue entire state, and every
boy who cherisheS The University as an
alma mater cherishes with pride the
memories If this noble old Roman.
Dr. Mell's parliamentary practice has
regulated the proceedings Of this con-
vention for years and as a presiding Of
ficer he has exhibited pre- eminent eX-
celence, which has been recognized by
! his repeated reelection to the presiden-
! cy of the Southern Baptist Convention,
and of the Georgia Baptist Convention.
A Baptist of note who made Georgia
! his home, and encouraged the organiza-
ton of Baptists throughout the state
which eventuated in the convention, was
! Morgan Edwards, a Welchman of most
refined manners. To him more than any
other are the churches indebted for their
! institutions Of learning.
While in Georgia he prepared his Ma
| terials Towards a History of the Bap-
lists" which is considered unto this
day the most valuable Baptist records in
the country. Hon. Joseph Z. Brown,
whom the people of the state have 50
oftentimes honored, is a follower OF the
simple faith of the Baptists and has been
"power o. strength to them in the
! hour Of need.
| Another Baptist who enters the con-
| yentiOn h ais with the mOdeStY of any
other layman, is the present Governor of
! Georgia, Hon. w. J. Northen. His
counsel is listened to, and his admOnitiOn
| needed; he here exhibits the same I'M
| bounded interest in the advancement and
progress OF the people, socially and re-
! ligiOusly, that has heretofore character
| lied his actions as chief magistrate of
this. the Empire state of the South. The
convention which meets this, the list
wear since its organization, will De pre-
sided over by a worthy successor to the
parliamentarians who have regulated Its
proceedings.
The present presiding officer, Rev.
James Hines Fitzpatrick, of White Plains,
came of good old Baptist stock. His
father, Rev. ]. Z. Fitzpatrick, was, in
his day, one of the pillars of the church.
j. H. Fitzpatrick is quiet aGd unObtru.
sive, but ever ready to maintain his con
victions with ability.
In his private life he is simple in his
habits, atfable in manners and pleasant
in socialfntercourse he is also Of lit
Lrary turn of mind, and has contributed
some very able articles TO the Christian
Index.
He has always, since having attained
his majority, occupied Appointment po-
stion in both the Georgia Baptist and
| Southerpt Baptist conventions. Upon
the death Of DR.. Nell he was elevated TO
the presidency of the convention, and so
well has he filled that position that there
is little likelihood of a change for years
q onr,no E1ectinns are animal hut IL is