San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-10
A BAPTIST JUBILEE.

WAsHINGTON, May 10. - The
meeting OF the Southern Baptist
convention, which is the largest
delegated ecclesiastical body in the
world, will begin here today to last
four days in the First Baptist
church. 1t will be Of especial in
terest on account Of the occasion
being the fiftieth anniversary Of
the organization Of the association.
Among the important questions
that will be considered will be the
cementing OF the bond OF union for
practical work in the South be-
tween the Southern and Northern
conventions (the latter body as
sembling in Albany, n. V, next
week and which has been pursued
on independent lines since the
separation OF the Baptist church
throughout the United States in
1915, but for which a plan Of union
was recently adopted. The conven-
ton this year is called the Golden
jubilee. Although this is the tif-
tieth year Of the Southern Baptist
convention, it Is only the thirty
ninth session, as no convention
was held from 1868 until 1866.
Semi.annual conventions had been
held up to 1868. 1t is proposed, in
recognition Of the golden jubilee
OF the convention, to make a spe-
cial effort to increase the contribu-
tions OF the churches to mission
work. The first session Of the
Southern Baptist convention
was held in Augusta, Ga, on
May 10, 1915. The convention
met last May in Dallas, Texas. The
total number entitled to seats was
l,l1J, and there were present 7l2
delegates.
The convention originated in a
withdrawal Of the southern church
es from the union and cooperation
with the general convention Of the
Baptist denomination in the Uni
ted States, which was popularity
known as the triennial convention.
The separation of the southern
Baptist churches from the north
ern churches was an aftergrowth
OF the anti-slavery sentiment
in the North. Thus was start.
ed the southern Baptist conven-
ton, which at once secured the en-
thusiastic support Of the churches
in the South. The general officers
Of the convention are as follows:
President, Jonathan HARRISON. l..
L. D., Montgomery, Ala; Vice
Presidents, Francis Marion Ellis,
d. D, Baltimore, Mr.. John William
Jones, d. d., University OF Nir-
ginia; Samuel Howard Ford, d. d.,
LII. D., st. Louis, No.; William
Jonathan Northern, LII. D., At
lanta. Ga; secretaries, Lansing
Burrows, Augusta, Ga; Oliver Full
Ter Gregory, Baltimore, Md. treas
urer, Mr.. George w. Norton, Louis
vile, KY. auditor, William Patrick
Harvey, Louisville, KY; secretary
foreign mission board, Rev. DR.. Il.
J. Willingham, Richmond, Va.
The convention at the time OF its
organization took charge of mis-
siOns in China, Brazil, Japan, Libe-
ria and Africa. Total receipts OF the
foreign board of the convention
last year amounted to $437,O37
The receipts Of the foreign board Of
the convention last year amounted
to $l06, 1872 SO, and the contributions
from native converts were S5.944.-
q. The receipts OF the home board
of missions the past year were $6I,-
1851.
These boards conduct missions
in China, Africa. Japan, Cuba, Next
CO, Brazil, Italy, among the
colored people, the Indians and
among the whites OF the mountain
region Of the south and on the
frontier.
The convention has connected
with it 6S4 associations, 500 or
dained ministers, 1886 churches,
1904, 397 members, and 1882 per-
sons were baptized last year in the
churches. The total white men,
bership is ,353,35l, and the total
colored membership is 1921 ,O46.
Bible Society Report.
New YORK, May 10.-The Amer