Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-03
THE BAPTIST HOST.
Yaey vii Assemble in Chattanooga
This Week In Great Numbers.
WORK FOR THE CONVENTION.
The Indebtedness of the Two Mis-
sion boards TO Receive Serious
Consideration-The Young Peoples
Question.
Question.

The Richmond delegates to the Southern
Baptist Convention are already packing
their vallses. Quite goodly number
will so. Most OF them viii take IT,
sleeper at the Southern railway depot
on the night OF May 5th. A few will 90
by other railroad routes.
1t Is highly probable that the session
at Chattanooga will be one OF unusual
interest. The Mission Boards OF tho con-
yention will. both OF them, report con-
siderable debt. The year has been ono
Of great trial and hardship in religious
enterprises. particularly in the South.
The general financial stringency has
most seriously affected tho southern peo-
pie. and, as Is not uncommon, religious
causes have suffered most therefrom.
This condition OF things will lend un-
usual interest TO the meeting at Chat
tanooga. The convention will face a sit
uation which is regarded by some as
| really serious. IL is not unlikely that
vigorous measures will be taken at tho
Chattanooga meeting 10 provide for tho
indebtedness Of the boards. and. IN view
of the debts and the hard times the
work. This, as Is well understood, would
be extremely difficult and considerably
expensive
THE YOUNG PEOPLES QUESTION.
Another matter OF absorbing interest
TO a considerable portion of the con-
stituency Of the convention is concern
ed with the organization OF the young
people. 1t will be remembered that a
conference was held at Washington last
| year on the day before the assembling
| of the convention there, to consider the
question OF a general organization OF tho
young people Of the South. That confer
ence decided against such separate or
| ganization. The matter. however. was
| later on renewed. and an organization
was perfected some months ago In At
! lanta. This body adjourned to meet I'm
Chattanooga on the morning OF May 7th,
the day before the convention. In tho
interim earnest attempts have been made
| to find common ground on which the friend
and foes OF separate organization for
| the South could stand without discom-
fort So far these attempts have been
abortive, but the hope is not yet sur
rendered. Dr. W. W. Landrum recently
visited Chicago, and had conference with
the managers Of the International Union.
| lie publishes I'm this weeks Religious
/ Herald statement OF certain modnca-
tions which the committee at Chicago
Is willing to make I'm its plan Of organi-
zatlon. These concessions arc ia the limo
Of granting more complete autonomy TO
the southern department OF the Interna-
tional Union. Some slight hope is in
dulged that this may be made satIsfac-
| tory at Chattanooga to the friends OF
separate organization.
THE PUBLICATION QUESTION.
Another matter which Is exciting con-
siderable interest, and which may pro-
! woke lively debate IN the convention,
! touches a proposition recently made by
the American Baptist Publication So
ciety. at the solicitation OF certain lead
ing Baptlsts in the South, 10 the Sunday
School Board, in Nashville. 10 undertake.
under certain conditions, the publication
| Of their series OF Sunday-school papers.
| This proposition has been considered by
the Sunday-School Board. at Nashville,
and declined but II Is still possible that
| II may be introduced into the cOnven-
| ton, and, II II Is introduced, the debate
will be very spicy. beyond question.
! In addition TO these matters OF special
/ interest. there will be that general In
| terest which attaches 10 a meeting repre-
| sentative Of SO great a constituency.
Rev. Charles A. Stalkely. ID. D., OF Wash-
] ington, I'm whose church the convention
met last year, is 10 preach the annual
sermon. He is a preacher OF great gifts.
1t is whispered that the address In re-
| sponse TO the speech OF welcome will be
made by the popular Dr. Landrum, OF
| this city.
Additional interest win attach 10 tho
meeting In Chattanooga, because OF ITS
proximity to Lookout Mountain and Mis-
slonary Ridge. Quite n large number or
the delegates will be quartered at Look
out Inn. The reports from Chattanooga
| indicate that the attendance will be some
| thing extraordinary.