Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-08
FOREIGN MISSION DEBT CANCELLED,
Altogether the Day Is Regarded as
the Greatest one I'm the Conyen-
,t,n,s Uistorv-Woman's Mission
nry Unfon-The Young People.

WILMINGTON, n. c.. May 7.-(special)
When Judge HARRISON. Of Alabama. for
some years president, called The conven-
ton 10 order. the large audience-room Of
the First Baptist church was packed to
.ts utmost capacity. The venerable
Charles L. Cooke, superintendent Of H0i-
Inns Institute, Va, led the devotional ex-
ercises in r very impressive style, and
Dr. j. b. Gamble, of Texas, led in fervent
praver for the presence and power Of
the Holy Spirit.
When the list OF delegates was called
Il appeared that Virginia was entitled to
the largest delegation, and that she had
present over 100 delegates.
Ex-Governor Northen, OF Georgia, in
nominating Judge Haralson for reelection
as president, expressed the confidence that
this was going to be one of the most
harmonious and every way best sessions
the convention had ever held. On his mo-
tion, Judge HARRISON was reelected by
a unanimous rising vote. Secretary Bur
rows. in announcing the vote, SAID:
Something less than 1000 have voted
ard Judge Haralson has received them
all"
In nominating Ex-Governor w. j. North
en-. Of Georgia, for vice-president, Dr. J..
William Jones said he named man who
while Governor of the great Common
wealth Of Georgia, and diligently attend
ing 10 his duties. always found time 10
attend his prayer-meeting or to speak
for Christ.
WELCOMING ADDRESSES.
Hon Ireden Meares, in making grace
ful address Of welcome, amused the dele
gates very much by making some mis-
takes in Baptist history and polity, but
made an eloquent speech.
The address of welcome Of Rev. w. Is.
Oliver, pastor of the church. was appro-
priate witty, and eloquent, and the re-
sponse of Rev. j. l.. White was earnest
and eloquent.
DR.. Jones. of Virginia, offered resolu-
lions TO abolish the free entertainment
plan and adopt for the future the plan
for the meetings. but by an overwnelm-
ing vote the brethren laid the resolutions
ON the table and decided that they would
continue on the free principle.
There were some pleasantries between
DIR. Gibson, of Georgia, and Dr. Hatcher.
OF Virginia, as to the relative gitts OF
their respective States, and good deal
OF enthusiasm was excited IN iaVor OF
ra,inp of AT once the debt of the Foreign
Mission Board. The matter was pos
nonod until the afternoon, in order that
ALLEGATIONS might hold conferences ana
do,errnine what they would give towards
.ha iio,idatiou Of the debt. In the after"
noor the report Of the Home Mission
Board was read
HOME MISSION BOARD.
Rev. DIR. J. r. Tichonor, corresponding
secretary read an ABSTRACT OF the "a ISpS. 70 :, =
vSich opens by saying that the board nas
vreaf reason TO feel at home IN Norh
Tarolina. where IL has in other Gays uOhv
a large and successful work, ,,-
IL details struggles OF me posru sio 30
tbe mast wear TO pay a debt or Sl3,iV ana
,neet it's current work, and tells now IL
bad done this, and had small balance
a. its treasury The following is It's sum-
mary OF work done during the past year,
Missionaries ........''.''.'''''''''' I, 0-S
Weeks of labor ..:..........'...''''.' lI'osSS 'ocS
churches and stations ........'..'.' d'so9ss
Sermons and addresses ...'.'''.'''' 5S'99o S'99o
PRAYER meetings .........''..''''''' % ~
Religious visits .........'s''''''''''' '5oS
BaDtisms ........... s''.'''''''''''''' f-ts
Received by letter ...'''.''''''''''' a'tff9 'tf
I0tai suu'S a'.. S~aorstituted ........... 139
Houses of worship built ........'. %,
Houses OF worship improved ........ I-'
Amount expended on houses Oh % o,o
sunday Schools organized .......... Sls
Teachers and pupils ............'... ~ ~ ~
Bibles and Testaments ....... '..''. S'e,,
Tracts distributed pages)...,.:... Sio.st0
The board has done good work IN chutS !
building; has collected claim OF 49,
from the Creek Indian nation mas usel
the state denominational papers very
frselv and realized 5000 from the MIS-
sion-Day in the Sunday schools cohduGlel
bv the ladies OF the Missionary Union.
The report OF the Missionary Union Is
piveu. showing that these earnest women
have collected for home missions during
the year S29,9Sl.3l. ,-
The report gives very interesting details
OF the work of the board among ine
negroes and among our foreign popula-
The The report has the following in refer
ence TO Cuba;
"The enforced removal OF our pastors
from that island more than q year ago
left the work in the hands OF the Douy ol
The membership. Many have removed te
this country. Some have joined the CON
tending armies. and the conditlohs nave
been extremely adverse 10 our cause.
but such has been the diligence aho
faithfuness. especially OF the women ma ,s
the schools have been continued. the
praycr-meetings and religious services on
the Sabbath day observed. ana quite a
number who have professed their iaisi
In Christ are awaiting baptism. win the
return OF peace we may connden,ly cA-
pect the renewal OF a prosperity not sur
passed by the brightest days in the MS
Tory OF our work In Habana.
The report then speaks OF the WORK ~
our cities. OF frontier missions, ana OF
work among the Indians.
The report concludes with an earnest
plea for enlarged benevolence.
The treasurcrs report shows casn re-
ceved during the year $s5.18i3l; amount
raised and expended on the iield for mis-
zion work, 1851 So amount for houses
OF worship, $Si.5i0. making grand total
OF $l6o.5s6.13.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL BOARD.
Rev DR.. J. NJ Frost. treasurcr-secre-
tary. read the report Of the Sunday School
Board, located at Nashville, showing very
great prosperity and success In six
years the periodicals OF the board have
paid not only all Of the expenses OF pub
llcation. but also all OF the running ex-
penses OF the board. and enabled II. be-
sides. 10 contribute 10 mission work
$s4703.13
Just at this point Rev. Dr. w. f. Hatch
er read the communication from the
Board OF Trustees of the Theological
Seminary. and there followed scene
such as is rarely witnessed. Drs. Hatcher
and Landr1m led and the vast congre-
cation rose and sang with Will How
Firm Foundation" while the delegates
pressed forward and gave the hand OK