Le MeschaceÌbeÌ. [volume] ([Lucy] La.) 1853-1942, 1895-05-18
SOUTHERN BAPTISTS
First Days Session Of the Con-
ference at Washington.
A GREAT RELIGIOUS GATHERING.
The Election of OTcers and the Reports
on tho Different Lines OF Work
Were the Principal Fea-
lures pi the Day.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE first ses-
sion of the Southern Baptist conference
was held yesterday inorning at 10
o'clock at the First baptist church on
10th street. The church was we'll allsd
long before that hour anss: when at 10
o'clock Judge HARRISON, the presiding
officer, arose and called for order evefy
seat on the floor was ta.sen and the gal
leries were beginning to I'LL 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. FATS
and folded papers and hats were util-
lied to create artificial breezes, but the
mefning was close and torrid and the
enthusiasm of the churchmep etehe
kept them in their places throughout
the exercises ef the day.
Meeting Called to Order.
The meeting was called to order by
President Haralson, and the religious
exercises that preceded TIE regular or
der of the day We're conducted by Rev.
Dr.. T. e. Skinner, of North Carolina.
A hymn was first sung and then DR..
Skinner read from the Scriptures and
offered prayer. He then called for sns.
gestions for hymn from the people,
and voice was Immediately raised to
propose Il hove Thy Kingdom Lord"
At once the singing was begun, before
the organ could be started, and for two
stanzas the song was raised without
any accompaniment whatever.
Then President Haralson said that
meeting would 60 ahead to organize
the convention, 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.
DIR. Burrows, the chief secretary, read
out the lists. prefacing them with the
statement that the maximum number
entitled to seats on the financial basis
was s1s, the number of representatives
Of associa tions elect 4O1, making total
of all delegates of 1,214.
The Election OF Officers
When these preliminaries had been
completed. President Haralson called
for the election of officers. and DR.. El-
lis at once placed his name in nomina-
tion. The nominations were closed i'm
mediately and Judge Hnralson was
una nimously reelected president Of the
convention which office he has filed
since 1889. He made brief speech,
thanking the conference for the honor
and expressing his belief that the con-
vention would be a complete success if
every delegate would lend his cooper
alton to the officers.
Judge Haralson announced the COM
mittec on order of business and the
committee withdrew to consult.
Nominations were then. made for the
vice presidents, four in number. The
convention unanimously reelected Doc
tors Lansing. Burrows and @. F. Greg
ory as secretaries.
President Haralson then introduced
Commissioner Ross, who made brief
address of welcome.
DIR. C. G. Meadows, of the district con-
ference, spoke in welcome in behalf of
the Washington churches. He was fol-
lowed by Rev. DIR. ]. r. Sampey of Ken
tucky, of the southern seminary, who
made ringing address in response to
the hearty welcome extended to the
delegates.
Reports on Different Work.
The committee on order of business
reported in favor of two sessions for to-
dav, q morning and evening session.
No recommendations were made as to
Monday. The report was adopted and
q committee was appointed to arrange
for memorial service to be held Sunday
in memory of Dr. Broadus.
Rev. DIR. Fl. L. Morehouse, cores
ponding secretary of the American
Baptist Home Missionary society, was
invited to the platform and made an
extended address on the subject OF
work to be done among the colored
people in the south.
Reports were then called for. 7. P.
Bell. corresponding secretary and treas
urer OF Gn6 C6UUdtA EStAOOA oo1eos p
sented his report. 1t showed that the
receipts have been $53,0 ,034, as against
$4s. $50 last year.
The work of the foreign missions
board was presented by R. 7. Willing
ham, corresponding secretary, and re-
ferred to committee on papal fields,
pagan fields, and financial policy. The
total amount given for the cause in the
past year was over 1926. 900, but ex-
penses for collecting it in che state re-
duced the receipts Of the board to
sls5.4l7. This was more by $4,000
than the receipts of the previous year.
satisfies OF the Convention.
Il. 7. Techenor reported for the Home
Mission board as follows: Missionaries,
4o5: increase a, and more than in any
wear of the boards history. Baptized
5.aet: increase 1.45i. and 57a more than
have been baptized in any one year
since the organization Of the conyen-
tion. Cash receipts Dds. $40, being Slo,-
500, larger than last year.
The general statistics OF the conven-
tion were given in compilation made
bv Secretary Lansing Burrows. 1t
showed the following totals: District
associations 7o2; ordained ministers
8 9o7: churches II ,eo3; members iwhite)
L Ia &s or :