Birmingham state herald., 1897-05-08
TIE SOUTHERN BAPT|STS Are in Session at Wilmington,
 N. G. in Their THIRTEENTH CONVENTION The Old Officers Were Reelected By the 721 Delegates Present-Today Will
 Be the Last Session.

Wilmington, N. C., May 7.--The South ein Baptist convention me- in the audi torium of the First Baptist church at 9 a. m. The president. Rev. Joshua Har- alson, of Alabama, called the body to order. There were 721 delegates present. President Harrison and Secretaries pr. Lansing Burrows, of Augusta, and pr. O. Gregory, of Baltimore, were reelected for the ensuing year. Addresses of well come were delivered, with fitting re- sponses, and the convention adjourned until 3:30 D. m.
 The convention was occupied in the afternoon in hearing Tepor,s from f1g- eign missions, home missions and Sunday school boards and the transaction of rou- tine business except for about an hour, during which the following statement and letters were read. The atement IS the official story 'of the board of trustees al its session night before last and thfs morning. The leter was writ,en by Rev. Dr. Whitsett on invitation of commit tee of the board of trustees:
 .The trustees of ahe Baptist Theologi- cal seminary assembled in their meeting in Wilmington, N. C., May 6, 1897, desire to submit to the Baptists of the south the following sta.ement in regard to the in- stitution whose inter tS have been com- mitted to their care and management
 First, we account this fitting occa- sion to reafiirm our cordial and thorough n adherence to the Fundamental articles adopted at the time whS n the seminary was established and to assure those in whose behalf we hold in trust and ad- minister the affairs of this insH;utl1 of our steadf,ast st purpose to require here aftsT. as we have in the past, with fun- damen al laws and scriptuarl doctrine embodied in these articles shall be faith fully upheld by those occupying chairs as teachers
 Second, that we cannot undertake to sit in judgment on questio in Baptist his; ory which do not impsTil any of those principles concerning which all Bapti5ts are agreed but concerning which serious conscientious and scholarly students are not agreed. We can, however, confident ly leave to continUd resarch and dis cussion the satisfactory solution of these queS; ions.
 Third, that believing the seminary to hold an important relation to the prosper ity and usefulness of southern Baptisss we consider it our duty. whie dema nding of those in charge ofsits departments of instruction the utmost patience in re- search and the greatest discretion in .ut- terance to foster rather than repress the spirit of earnest and reverent investiga- ton
 Fourth, that being fully assured that the tender affection which we cherish for this institution, founded by our fathers and rbequeathed by them to us Is shared by the -Bapt1StS Ot the south we can Sd1e- ly trust them as we ask them to trust us to guard it's honor, promote its usefulness and pray for it's prosperity" Ta Following is pr. Whitsett's letter: To the Board of Trustees of the Southern
 Baptist Theological Seminary:
 Dear Brothers:-I beg leave to return sincerest and heartiest thanks for the mo- ble and generous Urea tment that you have bestowed upon me. I have only words of affection for every member of the Hot ,.rit 41a1 mittee I have the following to say:
 First, that in regard to the articles written as editorials for the Independent I have long felt that is was mistake, and the generous action of the board of trustees renders 1t easy for me to make this statement. What I wrote was from a pedo-Baptist standpoint, with view to stimulating historical research with no thought that it would injure the Bap- lists and with no intention to disparage Baptist doctrines or practices.
 !" Second, that the article in Johnsons Encyclopedia has probably passed be- yond control. but it will be pleasing to me if can honorably procure the elimina ton from it of whatever is offensive to any of my brethren.
 "Third, regarding the charge that I expressed on conviction that kinswo- man of mine ought to follow her husband into pedo-Baptist church, that it was never my intention to indicate belief that family outranked the church of God. I believe obedience to its com -mands is above every relation of duty and people in every station of life ought to regard God rather than man.
 Fourth, in regard to the historical questions involved in the discussion I find myself in agreement with some hon. ored historians, but what I have written is the outcome of patient and honest re- search, and I cannot do otherwise than reaffirm my convictions and maintain my position. But if in the future it should ever be made to appear that I have erred in my conclusions, I would promptly and cheerfully say so. I am a searcher after truth, and will gladly hail ever helper in my work
 Fifth, that I cannot assure the bretf- ren that I am a Baptist than by the as- surance that I have recently declared my adhesion to the principles set forth by the laws of the seminary. am in &C., cord with my Baptist brethren in every distinctive principle that they hold.
 My h:ari and life are bound up with the Bapists, and I have no higher thought on earth than to spend my days in their fellowship and service in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 Respectfully submitted.
 GSigned) VIM. H. WHTTSETT."
 Th9 conclusion of the letter was the signal for such an outburst of feeling as will be long remembered by every one in the vast assemblage. The congre- gation sang song after song, while Dr. Whittsett was besie ged by handshaking and embraces from every quarter
 The vice-presidents elected were w. J. Northern, of Georgia; J. P. Eagle, of Ar- kansas: R. A. Marsh, of North Carolina, and J. lowering, of Maryla nd.
 The convention sermon at night was preached by Rev. Dr.. R. A.. Venab1e, of Meridian, Miss - ~
 The convention then adjourned until tomorrow morning.
 The Southern Baptist college confer- enca held it's last session this afternobn and listened to a prayer by Dr. James, of Roanoke Female seminary, Virginia.
 BIG DEPRECIATION.
 A D,o,,,;,,s,,,+ r-.l,, @an IT. .- ~ ,..<s