The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-05-13
THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST
CONVENTION.
A Great Assembly.

yentlon was held in Raleigh. Since
that time many changes have been
wrought in the South, and the Baptist
denomination has experienced changes
commensurate with those which have
affected the South otherwise than re-
ligiously.
The Southern Baptist Convention
which met last week in Wilmington is
now one OF the largest deliberative bod.
les in the world. It has membership
of more than 700, representing sixteen
states and no ADLER body of men can be
found anywhere. When it was decid-
ed year ago to hold the session in
Wilmington, there was some doubt ex-
pressed as to whether or not Whining
ton could accommodate such gather
ing But any one who attended the
convention in that hospitable city, had
personal proof that no more royal en-
tertalnment has ever been given any
assembly than the good people of Will
mington gave the Baptist hosts of the
| South.
There were several meetings in the
city at the same time: The Baptist
Young Peoples Union, auxiliary to the
Convention ; the Woman's Missionary
Meeting; the meeting of the Trustees
of the Theological Seminary, and the
Convention proper.
Thursday, May 9th, was given to the
Young Peoples Union. We have new
er seen more work packed into one day,
and we have never witnessed more
interesting and entertaining meeting of
any kind. The address of welcome to
the Young Peoples Union was deliver
ed by Mr.. J. w. Bailey, editor of the
Biblical Recorder, Raleigh. The adj
dresses were all most instructive in the
line of work for young people; and
ADLER addresses we never have heard.
The Young Peoples Union closed at II
O'Clock on Thursday night and the Con-
vention was opened Friday morning at
10 80.
Mr.. Iredell Meares, resident lawyer
of Wilmington, delivered an address of
welcome to the Convention. He was
followed by the pastor of the First Bap-
list church of Wilmington, Rey. w. B.
Oliver. The welcome was responded to
by Rev. J. L. White, of Macon, Ga, a
North Carolina boy, and the Conven-
ton went to work in earnest.
This report can not embody the pro-
ceedings in detail, even if it were mat
ter of interest to all our read
ers. The best of feeling prevailed du-
ring all the sessions of the body, and
the great host OF Christian workers
seemed lifted upon high plane OF SER
vice to God and filled with the spirit OF
true and unfeigned love one for the
other. 1t was not only great deliber-
ative body but it was devotional body
as we'll.
The cause of missions, home and for
eign, was greatly quickened and the
work of the entire Convention was most
pleasing to all who participated, as we'll
as to the visitors and the people of
regardless of denomina-
tional interests. It was the best session
the body has ever held and the host of
ministers and other Christian workers
have gone back to their work in the va.
.ious Southern States with light hearts
md joyous antlcipations of what they
nay do the coming Convention year for
God and for humanity.
To the editor of THE G. COMMONWEALTH
t was an unspeakable pleasure to meet
lid school fellows and college mates
Who, for some years, have been scatter
ID throughout the South and some of
hem In the North. One of the most
pleasant features of the occasion to us,
vas the meeting with our old preceptor.
Rev. William Brunt, now of Baden
ounty, whom we had not seen for per-
laps fifteen years.
NOTES.
Wilmington fully met the emer-
,ency in entertaining the Convention
nd all who went. Delegates to the
were entertained free, and
theirs got good homes for from ST. to
2 per day.
The writer was fortunate in securing1
in the home OF Mr.. E.
lilly, 5O4 Orange street, and more
leasant entertainment we have never
njoyed. Everything that could be de-
lred in well-ordered and well-furnlsh-
d home was at the command of all his
uests, while Mrs. Lilly was thoughtful
lmost to fault to provide delicacies
t for king.
The guests in Mr.. Lilly's home we're
lost agreeable indeed. Among them
ere Rev. B. Craig, OF Norfolk Mr..
nd Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Duncan and ,
lev. Mr.. Vallandingham, OF Kentucky {
[r. Brantley, of Tampa, Fla. and Rev. ]