Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-09
SOUTHERN BAPTlSTS.
Three Thousand of Them in Chattaroo "a
Called to Order by Judge Harason.
Welcomed by Mayor 0chs.

Chattanooga, May S.-This city is in
the hands of over 5000 visiting Baptists,
present as delegates and spectators at
the sessions of the southern Baptist con-
vention. Chattanooga feels the mighty
impulse that a great religious gathering
imparts to community and for the
nonce the city is theirs. Hotels and hotel
corridors are crowded with visitors, while
1000 and odd delegates are being enter
tanned gratis in the hospitable homes of
citizens. The conventions officers are
all quartered at the Southern hotel,
which is the center of interest.
The last of the auxiliary bodies that
follow the lead of the big body finished
its sessions today. At a largely attended
meeting of the trustees of the Baptist
Theological seminary, located at Louis
vile, Joshua Levering, a millionaire cof-
fee dealer of Baltimore and president of
the board, made the seminary gift of
$4,000 for gymnasium, to be erected at
once.
DIR. ]. B. Cranfill of Texas, vice-presi-
Dental candidate on the prohibition tick
ct In 1892, presided over the session of the
Baptist editors, at which num-
ber of learned and interesting papers
were presented. The most trenchant
discussion of any topic was the paper on
the Baptist Academies" By f. w. Boat
right, the young president of Richmond
college.
The element of discord predicted at the
sessions of the Baptist Young Peoples
union, an auxiliary of the convention, by
reason of violent opposition in the de-
nomination to the existence of a southern
union apart from the Baptist Young
Peoples Union of America, did not mate
rialize, opposition to the union coming
from churches and not from members of
the auxiliary. Representatives from the
department of the green, the southern
wing of the international union were
present but being visitors tookno part In
the proceedings. The old corps of officers
was reelected by the union, to-wit: l..
o. Dawson of Tuscaloosa, Ala, president; ;
w. W. Gaines Atlanta, secretary; p. H.
Nell, Auburn, Ala, first vice-presdent
and c. L. Laws of Baltimore second vice
president. MIR. Laws resigned, however
giving as reason that his state, Mary
land, did not sympathize with the south
erD movement element, but would stay
under the banner of the international
society.
Birmingham was selected as headquar-
ters for the society and board of seven
local managers was appointed. j. w.
Bailey. chairman of the committee to Sc
lect a special board of managers to CO.
operate with the local board, reported in
favor of one member from each state in
the convention and general board of
seven named from Alabama.
The Southern Baptist convention, the
great center of interest, met at 10 o'clock
this morning in the First Baptist church
Amid an impressive silence President
Jonathan Haralson, associate Justice of
the supreme court of Alabama, opened
the session.
DIR. s. H. Ford of st. Louis invoked the
divine blessing on the work of the body
The roll call showed 767 accredited dele
gates present out of a possible 1922 enti-
tied to seats. Judge Jonathan Haralson
of Alabama was reelected president
without a dissenting voice, and Dr. Lam
sing Burrows of Augusta. Ga, and Rev
o. F. Gregory OF Baltimore were elected
again as secretaries. The president ap-
po nted DR.. II. II. Harris of Louisville
and the two secretaries a committee
on order of business. Ex-Gov. ]. P. Ea-
gle of Arkansas, DR.. w. w. Landrum Of
Virginia, ]. Fitzpatrick of Georgia, DIR. T.
s. Dunaway of Virginia and w. w
Dodge of Texas were put in nomination
for vice presidents, OF whom there are
four.
While the tellers were taking the ballot
Mayor George w. Ochs was introduced,
and delivered the address of welcome on
behalf of the city
Dr. r. b. Garrett, pastor of the First
Baptist church of Chattanooga. welcomed
the convention in the name Of the Bap-
lists of Chattanooga. An eloquent re-
sponse to the words of welcome was
made by Dr. w. w, Landrum of Virginia
An adjournment was then taken to 2