The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-08
pAPIISTs A LOVING BAND.
IN THE GREAT CONVEN-
TION.


lowed by an Outburst of Song and
shaking of HandS--A Letter Read
I-ulIy Explaining His Recent Ut
,erances That Excited Criticism in
certain Quarters.
wilmington, N. c., May 1.-The Southern
T9atst convention met in the audi
forum of the First Baptist church this
morning at 10 o'clock.
The president, Hon. Jonathan HARRISON
Of Alabama called the body to order. There
were 721 delegates present.
President HARRISON and secretaries. Dr.
Lansing Burrows of Augusta and DR.. O.
p Gregory of Baltimore. were reelected
for the ensuing year.
Addresses of welcome were delivered
with fitting responses, and the convention
adjourned until $3.50 o'clock.
The convention was occupied in the af-
t5rnon with hearing reports from the for
eign mission, home mission, 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 statement is the
official story of the action of the board of
trustees at it's session night before last
and the session this morning. The letter
was written by DIR. Whitsett on invita-
ton Of a committee from the board of
trustees. THE trustees of the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary assembled in
their annual meeting in Wilmington, N
c., May g. 1897, desire to submit to the
Baptists of the south the following state
ment in regard to the institution whose
interests have been committed to their
i care and management.
"First-That we account this fitting
occasion to re-affirm our cordial and thor
ough adherence to the fundamental ar
ticles adopted a the time when the semi
u nary was established, and TO assure those
in whose behalf we hold in trust and adj
minister the affairs of this institution of
"a our steadGast purpose to require hereafter,
as we have in the past, that the funda-
81 mental laws and scriptural doctrines en-
bodied in these articles shall be Faithfully
upheld by those occupying chairs as
81 teachers.
"Second-That we cannot undertake to
3 sit in judgment on questions in Baptist
history which do not imperil any of those
principles concerning which all Baptists
are agreed, but concerning which serious,
conscientious and scholastic students are
mot agreed. We can, however, confidently
leave TO continued research and discuss
ion the satisfactory solution of these ques-
tions
Third-That. believing the seminary to
hold an important relation to the prosper
&ity and usefulness of southern Baptists,
we consider it our duty, while demanding
of those in charge of its departments of
obstruction, the utmost patience in re-
search, and the greatest discretion in
#utterance, TO foster rather than to repress
#fhe spirit earnest and rpVarApt invaS-
tigation.
"Fourth-That being fully assured that
a the tender affections which we cherish
for this institution, founded by our faith
N ers and bequeathed by them to us, is shar-
cd by the Baptists of the south, we can
safely trust them,as We ask them to trust
us, TO guard its honor promote its useful
ness and pray for its prosperity
Following is DR.. Whitsett's letter: ITO
the Board of Trustees of the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary:
Dear Brethren-I beg leave to return
sincerest and heartest thanks for the no
II bic and generous treatment that you have
bestowed upon me. l have Only words Of
affection for every member of the board.
After consulting with the committee 1
have the following to say;
"First-That in regard to the articles
written as editorials for the Independent,
Fl nave long felt that it was a mistake and
the generous action of the board of trus-
tees renders it easy for me to make this
uatement. What I wrote was from a
Pedo-Baptist standpoint. with a view to
stimulating historical research, with no
hought that 1t would injure the Baptists
ana with no intention to disparage Baptist
doctrines or practices.
Seoond-That the article in Johnson's
encyclopedia has probably passed beyond
control. but it will be pleasing to me if I
gan nonorably procure the elimination
rom 1t of whatever is offensive to any of
NY brethren.
Third-Regarding the charge that ex-
PRESSED on conviction that a kinswoman
o. nine ought to follow her husband into
me Pedo-Baptist church, that it was never
my intention 10 indicate a belief that the
dinlly outranked the church of God
oeheVe that obedience to it's commands is
aooVe every other human duty and that
people IN every relation of life ought to
Ooey God rather than man
Fourth-That on the historical oues-
uons involved In the discussion I find nv
seI OUT OF agreement with some honored
historians; but what / have written is
We outcome of patient and honest re-
search and l cannot do otherwise than
10 reafhrm my convictions and maintain
my posltlon. But If in the future. il
should ever be made to appear that I
nave erred in my conclusions I would
promptly ana cheerfully say so. l am a
e,' alcler dtter truth and will gladly hail
very heper in my work.
tltth-That I cannot more strongly
assure the brethren that l am Baptist
man by what I have recently declared
win regard to the abstract of principles
tet iorth IN the fundamental laws of the
seminary / am heartily in accord with
my Baptist brethren in every distinctive
hIlnelpie that they hold. My heart and
IRE are bound up with the Baptists and
nave no higher thought on earth than 10
apehu my days In their fellowship and
service In the name of the Lord Jesus
christ. Respectfully submitted
William II. Whltsett"
Az the conclusion Of the letter was The
hgnal Tor such an outburst of feeling as
VIII long be remembered by every one In
tne vast assemblage. The congregation
sang song after song. while DR.. whitsett
vas oesieged with handshaking and am
braces from every quarter.
Inc vice presidents elected were: W.
). Northen Of Georgia, J. p. Eagle OF Ar
kansas. K. A. Marsh Of North Carolina