The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-27

Great Growth OF the Church-Ihe
PRESENT Year Seems Destined to De
d hammer One for Vast Meetings OF
Religious Organizations.
Copyright.
N.v York. Oct 25.-This has been en-
r-.. ally a year of great religious gath.
-rs The Presbyterians at PittsOurg,
-t- ioiscopalians at Minneapolis and the
"a raucs at Washington, have made his
-- ln their respective UNCONVENTIONAL
ves 1t IS now the turn of the Bap-
ts=.
Taeu- congress opens at Providence, r.
Il J.. on Sow Is next. 1t will be the most
..als representative body of the coun-
.lree and a half million commuui-
cal.- that has yet assembled. 1t will he
i composed of delegates, both clerical and
jan. from Baptist churches throughout the
4 country Much misunderstanding, even
among Baptists. exists with references to
Il Tie work Of the congress. because it does
not assume any governing power Its
chief province is in the regulation OF
matters polamical and in arranging TOR
d ss .ematl. method of evangelistic work
This years gathering promises to he
unusually important in point of repre-
sa-alon. Among the delegates is Jonn
II J.. Rockefeller, being very prominent in
ta church on account of his liberal en-
"A caTment of its education and elymosy-
nary Institutions. The clerical represen-
Jal9n is also imposing Rev H. NJ San
q d.rs. D. D.. and Walter Rauschenbuesh.
have been in correspondence for weeks
ST. and now their labors are bearing
fruit. Every prominent Baptist interest
n the United States is to be represented.
Home missions have assumed great i'm
Iortance. DR.. Thomas J. Morgan, who is
secretary OF the society in charge of this
Work, has prepared a report of unusual
interest upon which the congress win
,qAe rj aeuon' In the west and northwest,
me baptist church is making giant
n strides, but the lack of funds and men
Is a source Of embarrassment. The funds
W general are easily obtained, but good
men are by no means common. DR.. Nor
Gun IS the leader Of this mission work,
ana what he has to say on the subject
VIII receive great attention.
The missionaries throughout the coun-
q Wy nave IN not few cases attained
unusual eminence for denominationai
q workers. Among these are Rev. n. b.
Harden, who labOrs in Missouri, Rev c.
x Gonley stationed in Michigan, Rev.
D. - Meredith of Kansas, Rev. A. w.
4 ark OF Nebraska, and other noted mis-
2onaries throughout the western states.
from one point of view, indeed the con-
sless ltselt might also be termed mis-
The employment of home missiona-
nes' said Dr: Morgan, when asked for
lle Data relating to the subject, sis one
q the most important features of Bap-
ust work The work of personal evan
geization necessarily claims an immense
amount of time and labor in the newer.
more sparsely settled portions of the
country where as yet Baptist churches
are lew. Next in importance to preach
ing Is the missionary's work of organiz-
ns churches The new country is set
ted by immigrants from the older sec
ions who bring with them to a greater
or less degree their religious convictions
IN almost every settlement in the west
M 10 md
with proper encouragement and advice
may readily be organized into Baptist
4 church.
1t is very likely that the congress will
i take some action with reference to the
4 University of Chicago A very general
i impression exists in the public mind that
Il the university is in some manner or other
4 am official exponent of Baptist ideas. This
Il IMPRESSION, OF course, Is due to the great
financial obligations conferred upon il by
4 john d. Rockefeller, himself one of the
Il most prominent Baptist laymen in the
country This inference has been very
eisdSreea0le TO Baptsts everywhere, and
i the church mas been at pains to make ii
known that it has nothing officially to do
T W. mat Institution Of learning Should
Lapust doctrines that is its affair. In
lael it even transpires that Prof. Bemis.
VINO was forced out of the university for
Lis alleged radical views upon the labor
question, has received many letters OF
sympathy from Baptist ministers who re-
sgut any implication that their church is
ihs protector Of Mr.. Rock efeller's proteee.
one of the measures of a pressing ma
yuIe has to do with the condition of mil
mons 10 China. There is now before the
Protestant bodies of the world a PROPOSE
Lll from the Chinese government 10 eS-
ta1ish sort of protectorate over the es-
laouSlment OF the various missions. Con-
Leeteq with this proposition, however, is
yes OF conditions that is far from
pleasing to the more Independent of the
NiersE, who fear the Celectial bureaucracy
r-l9 undertake to dictate to the missions.
lle matter is one of great delicacy. and
a of oil
commission TO investigate and report
1he Of the most interesting features of
Pc congress will be the German cement.
may not be generally known that the
3aA-st church has what one might call
aFpe,al German department. The Ger
man l1aatistS have even a special univer-
sIIy m the land. 1t is intended to extend
sle influence of the church among this
gIemeht and a very considerable element
IA me congress will appear solely in its
.,eHaiI. As for the theological seminaries,
tlg1 are In a fourishing condition, and the
afforded to their alumni may be
J8-sed from the following figures which
snow n9" the latest results of the church cen
Be-ular Baptists, north ........... SO 500
n ar Baptists, south ........... I, 359 $50
ar Baptists co'ored .........1, $50 10
D0H-lsJs OF other bodies, about -. 275000
Total .......a........................8 .795,89O
+;tl@ latest reports show that the Bap-
y the north now have upward OF
tlurches, the south over 1900 and
toiored about 1900. The word church,
ef, includes organizations, ard
ore II is not meant that a separate
ai building exists in every case The
tf- o. the church property of the Bap-
~ the north now equals more than
",W The south, with far more Bap-
mas but S19,000O00 of church prop
r,, Sad the colored church a trifie more
og -o' 100000. The other Baptist bodies
SoIie S55,O0O.OOO in church property.
r church at present is fiourshng ex-
lnsly Nc. great conflict is raging in
latter of doctrine. The unity of
t ehurch is not threatened by any
Ism; There is a general harmony
~ lashout the church that augurs well
,ue future. Yet the temptation to make
-pdIisons is strong. There is a marked
lure from the administrative tradi-
S OF such a body as the Presbyterian
assem- bly,. There is no pretense
Such legislation as would be within
promise of the Episcopalian general
sr 9iuon. Stin more distinct is the
it from hat which permeates the gen
- cqnference of the Methodists
-,le Baptsts, indeed are not individual
iA!qng the rich of our republic. As a
, a4r.'i 4ihey support their churches through
Iderable personal self-sacrifces. At
same time their mo laar an fuo