Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-11
HON. JONATHAN HARALS0N
Is Reelected President of the Body as Mat
 ter of Course.
HOW THE CHAIR WlNKED GRACEFULLY.
All the Reports Are Encouraging Mighty Strides Along the Line of Progress. President Cleveland Shakes
 Hands All Around.


 Washington May 10.-The first session of the Southern Baptist convention was held this morning at 10 o'clock at the First Baptist church, on Sixteenth street. The church was well filled long before that hour, and when at 10 o'clock Judge Haralson, the presiding officer arose and called for order, every seat on the floor was taken and the galleries were beginning to fill up. The people kept coming, however, long after every available inch of space was filed and standing room was soon at a premium The great heat caused the people to be very uncomfortable. Fans and folded papers and hats were utilized to create artificial breezes, but the morning was close and torrid, and the enthusiasm of the churchmen alone kept them in their places throughout the exercises of the day.
 The meeting was called to order promptly by President Haralson, and the religious exercises that preceded the regular order of the day were conducted by Rev. Dr. T. E. Skinner of North Car olina A hymn was first sung, and then Dr. Skinner read the Scriptures and of fered prayer. He then called for Sug- gestions for hymn from the people, and a voice was immediately raised to propose "I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord :" At once the singing was begun before the organ could be started, and before two stanzas the song was raised without any accompaniment whatever.
 Then President Haralson said that the meeting would go ahead to organize the convention, and until that was done no one would be regarded as entitled to the floor He turned the matter of effecting the organization over to the secretaries, who, he said, knew. more than he did about the details.
 Dr. Burrows the chief secretary, read out the lists, prefacing them with the statement that the maximum entitled to seats on financial basis was Sl3, the number of representatives Of assoca- tions elect 401, making total of all del- egatS of 1214
 He then gave the detailed list of each state as they were brought to the front footing up as follows: Alabama, enti- tied to 51, of whom 45 were present. Ar kansas, entitled to 13, present 9; Western Arkansas and Indian territory, entitled to 2, present 2; District of Columbia, en- titled to 5, present 5; Florida, entitled to Il, present Il; Georgia, entitled to 119, present 104; Kentucky entitled to 101, present 101; Louisiana, entitled to IT, present 10. Maryland, entitled to 73, pres ent 72; Mississippi, entitled to 30, present 26; Missouri, entitled to 20, present 20; Noftn Cafollnd, emitted to 4o, present 40; western north Carolina, entitled to 8, present 3; South Carolina, entitled to B, present 53; Tennessee, entitled to 30, present 39; Texas, entitled to 21, present 20; Virginia, entitled to 132, present 132. This made a total of S13 entitled to vote, with a total of 705 present.
 When these preliminaries had been completed President Haralson called for the election of officers, and Dr. Ellis at once placed his name in nomination. The nominations were closed immediately and Judge Haralson was unanimously reelected president of the convention, which office he has filled since 1889 He made brief speech, thanking the con ference for the honor and expressing his belief that the convention would be a complete success if every delegate would lend his cooperation to the officers He called attention to the rule which forbids applause, and declared that he would strictly enforce it. The time at the dis posal of the delegates is short, and there is more work than ever to do. In add- tion this is the first time the conference has ever met in Washington, and as fully two-thirds of the delegates have never visited Washington before it is likely that very many of them would want to go around the city and see the many sights.
 He feared that there might be neces- sity of cutting off one of the daily ses- SlOIs, elSe one Ol lWU tu11iBS nap pen; either the people would be deprived of seeing much they had come to see or there would be no convention.
 So the question of daily sessions would be referred to committee who would confer with pr. Stakey and announce their decision later
 Judge Haralson said he hoped the del egates would not make very long speech es and not try to entrap him in any par. liamentary tangles. In this connection he said he hoped for no other honor in this life than that which had been conferred upon him so frequently
 Judge Haralson announced the com mittees on order of business as follows: H. H. Harris Virginia; I. T. Tichenor, Georgia; B. B. Willingham. Virginia; T. B. Bell, Tennessee, and W. H. Whitsitt, Kentucky, and the committee withdrew to consult
 Nominations were then made for vice. presidents, four in number, as follows: J. Taylor Ellison of Virginia, w. J. Northen of Georgia, Rev. T. H. Fitzpatrick of Georgia, l.. B. Ely of Missouri, James P. Eagle of Arkansas, Joshua Lowering of Maryland, B. H. Carroll of Texas and J. T. Parks of Texas.
 Ex-Governor Northen insisted upon withdrawing his name.
 During the progress of the nominations Dr. Eaton of Louisville moved that the secretary be directed to cast the ballot