The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-12-14
THE BAPrISTs IN SESSION.
The State Convention Being Held a.
elizabeth City


| Special Correspondence of the Sentinel
ELIZABETH CITY, Dec. 7.-Leaving
Winston at AS a. M, we landed here
i the next morning at $50. | was sur
prised te find at Greensboro every
thing white with snow. From
Greensboro to Raleigh it looked like
winter in full blast, as the snow was
from four to six inches deep. Near
Goldsboro there was a large sleet
which did great damage to the shade
trees on the streets of the town At
Newbern we boarded the elegant
steamer Neuse which runs between
Newborn and Elizabeth City. This
is a long ride Of l65 miles on water
1t is not until one travels over the
State that we fully realize how big
the Old North State is as to its boun-
daries, resources, etc.
This down country" has many con-
mendable features about it, but after
all 1t Will not come up to the hill
country in point of desirableness for
living. This black mud and low
marshy land makes one sigh for such
things as the neat, clean sidewalks
and macadamiZed streets of the Twin
City.
Elizabeth City is not attractive to
the eye 1t reminds one of new
cloth on old garments" There are
some new houses but they are crowded
IN among old dilapidated buildings so
as not to appear TO advantage. The
hospitality OF the people here is sim
ply superb L think they have the
fattest fowls | ever saw. Fish and
oysters are abundant. Your humble
scribe has already been compelled to
apply at the drug store for digestive
agencies.
THE CONVENTION.
DR.. j. W. Carter preached the in
trOductory sermon from Revelations
lib. The theme discussed was
Christ in the Church." 1t was SER
mon of geat interest, delivered with
earnestness, pathos and power. 1t
was received with many manifesto
tlons of appreciation by the congre-
cation.
After the sermon the convention
was organized by spontaneous and
unanimous reelection of the old
old ofifcers-Rev. r. III. Marsh, of Ok
ford, for moderator, and Rev. n. b.
Cobb and n. B. Broughton, of Raj
eigh, for secretaries. In less than
half an hour the convention was
ready for the business interests # the
body.
ihCiC "cIC lOO uSIeSdLcS CnFOlleQ at
the organization. Many others are
expected today. The indications are
that the session will be one OF great
interest. l never saw a more cordial
greeting or Misunderstanding than was
witnessed last night. There seems to
be strong band of unity among the
Baptists of the State. Large ingath-
erings into the churches are reported
from every section and the denOmina-
tion is in fine trim for aggressive
work. One hundred and five mission
aries were under appointment by the
State Mission Board.
A large number of the strongest
and best men in the denomination
are present and besides large num-
Der of distinguished visitors from
other States, consequently some very
fine speaking is in anticipation.
The Baptists have here large and
elegant house of worship well-arrang-
ed for the purpose OF d convention.
From Rev. n. B. Cobb, the compiler
of the Baptist Almanac, l give the
following statistics OF the denomlna-
tlon, as taken from the United States
census: White members, I53, Gas: col
ored, 1876, S56; total, 290, ,504. We have
494 (whlte) ordained Baptist minis
ters in the State. Associations, II:
number OF churches in the conven-
tlon, ], ,238, Sunday schools, LOCO; new
churches constituted, II: new Sunday
schools organized, -; houses of Wor-
ship finished, 81: number now build
ing, 6S; cost OF these houses, $25, 600;
other churches not under the mission
aries costing about S46,0 600. One
thousand and .eighty-siX persons were
baptized by the missionaries. 1t is
estimated that between ten and fif-
teen thousand have been baptized
during the year and added to the
white Baptist churches in the State.
About twenty thousand dollars have
been paid for State missions. A debt
of about $4,000 is reported. There are
thirty-fve beneficiarles at Wake For
est studying for the ministry. On
this work debt of $500 is reported.
.