Evening star., 1895-05-11


resolution was offered favoring the es-
| tablishing of a Baptist mission in Pales-
| tine, with headquarters at Jerusalem. Tho
| resolution was opposed by Rev. Mr.. Ker-
| foot, who said that while the sentiment 1t
| contained was very pretty one, yet from
personal observation he was satisfied that
Palestine as mission field is greatly over
| fields. The resolution was finally referred,
| without recommendation. to the board of
| foreign missions.
A brief report from the treasurer G. w.
Norton, was read by Secretary Lansing
Burrows, and on the latters motion Mr..
| Norton was reelected treasurer and w. p.
Harvey auditor of the convention.
Memorial Services.
The special committee on a memorial SER
vice announced that arrangements had
been made for an appropriate service to be
| beld at the First Baptist Church tomorrow
afternoon at 4 o'clock, in memory of the
late DR.. John A. Broaddus, president of the
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who
passed away since the last session of the
convention.
The hour for the special order of the day
having arrived, Rev. DIR. w. H. Whitsitt
was introduced to deliver the annual his
| torical sermon to the convention. Dr.Whit-
slit is the recently elected president of the
theological seminary and one Of the most
popular preachers in the Southern Baptist
Church. The exercises were opened with
| OF Thee Are Spoken" and a brief prayer.
The Historical Di.ceurse.
From the text, Speak unto the children
| of Israel that they go forward" Exodus,
14:15 DR.. Whitsitg said, in part:
THE earliest general organization among
| American Baptfsts way the general mis-
| sionary convention Of the Baptist denomi-
ration in the United States of America for
| foreign MISSIONS organized by thirty-three
delegates, representing eleven states, in
| the city of Philadelphia, on the 18th OF
May, 1sl4 Baptist people throughout the
eEtlre country co-0perated with this body
| fer a period of thirty years In 1S45 a d.
vision occurred between the Baptists of the
ncrth and those of the south The. South
| ern Baptist convention was organized at
Augusta, Ga, on Thursday, the Sth day OF
May, of that year. Just fifty years have
elapsed since this important event. and we
have met in the capital Of our country to
celebrate our jubilee The separation that
| fifty years ago took place between North
ern and Southern Baptists was happily
circumscribed' in extent
1t related exclusively to the missionary
operations which had hitherto been con-
Quoted in common. The fathers of that day
were solicitcus that this point should be
clearly understood and that the extent of
the dlsunfon should not be exaggerated.
The official address sent forth by the con-
vention declared that Northern and South
ern Baptists are still brethren. They diff
| fer in no article of the faith. They are
order. We do not regard the rup-
ture as extending to foundation principles,
nor can we think that the great body of our
northern brethren will SO regard it."
Though the division related to nothing
| else than foreign and domestic missions, it
was, nevertheless, unavoidable
| In many respects the separation has
| been of signal advantage. 1t was of ad-
vantage to our northern brethren beca use
| 1t promoted their peace and union. 1t was
or advantage to southern Baptists especial
| ly because 1t developed their missionary
| enterprise and activity.
II Is also matter of sincere rejoicing
| that the separation was a peaceable one
The negotiations were marked by dignity
and moderation. 1t is likewise a special
mercy of Providence that in all the fifty
years of our history there have been no
| conflicts touching the boundaries that
should exist between Northern and South
ern Baptists.
Three Historical Periods.
The first half century of our conventions
history may be divided into three separate
| periods. each of which has a well-defined
character Of its own. DIR. Whitsitt then
rapidly reviewed the historical periods of
which he spoke.
almost every interest connected with
the southern section of our country" he
| said, began to display marked energy
after the year 1879. Our convention took
a new lease of existence. The Theological
Seminary, which it was apprehended
1 a.
of its session in May, $780, found deliv-
erer in the person of Governor Joseph E.
Brown of Georgia. In March, 1885, he
bestowed upon ii gift of $4,000 coupled
with the condition that within a specified
period the amount should be raised to
$20O,0OO and this kept forever sacred as an
endowment fund. Here was the beginning
of progress. The fund of 500. 600 was duly
completed, and proved to be the founda-
tion upon which in the past sixteen years
large superstructure has been reared.
Our seminary is one of the most important
Baptist institutions of theological learn
ing in the country.
The receipts of the foreign mission
board began to grow apace with the year
and 1879 this board received. from all
sources, s999,377.23. In the sixteen years
that have elapsed since that period it has
received s1,411, ,52914.
The home mission board, which had so
loBg been in an enfeebled condition, began
to receive new favor after 1879 In the
year 1882 ii was reconstructed at Green
Vile, and, under DR.. T. Tichenor, started
upon a career of prosperity that has been
the joy and the marvel of our recent his
tory.
"One of the best consequences of the
new and firmer hold on life which we have
gained in the prosperous period of our
history has been the increased repose and
dignity which have thereby been encour-
aged. Especially have our sentiments
grown more kindly and fraternal toward
our northern brethren. The fact that our
footing has become more secure has like
wise operated to increase our interest in
our colored brethren, and II Is possible
that in coming years II may be given us to
do more to elicit combine and direct their
energies for their own advantage than
We have ever accomplished in the past.
COmpa arison With a Moral.
81 have chosen as the motto of my his
torical discourse the word of the Lord unto
Moses: Speak unto the children of Israel
that they go forward and 1 must needs
return to II in my closing sentences Last
year the Baptists of the southern states
contributed only eight cents per member
to promote the cause of foreign missions
1t is presumed that a similar or even
smaller amount was contributed for home
missions and other objects, but as / have
not the facts at hand ii will be desirable
to speak only of foreign missions
I'VE have made great progress since the
opening year of the convention. Our reg
ular contributions have advanced some
thing like ten-fold, while our membership
has hardly increased above five-fold. But
we still much behind our privileges and
our duty. The other great popular dcnomi-
nation of our section the Southern Meth
odists, contributed last year the sum Of
IS cents a member for foreign missions.
A comparison between them and ourselves
is for several reasons more Just than can