Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1897-05-13
FIRST DAYS SESSION
Of the Southern Baptist COnyen
tiOn Now in Session in vii.
mingtOn
Wilmington Star:

Wilmington Star:
The Southern Baptist Conven~
ton was convened in the audito
rinm of the First Baptist Church
at a. m yesterday. What this
meant in general way the peo>
pie partly knew in advance, as
they could we'll appreciate the
tinge of EXETER 1ut which the
presence of v-Ey large crowd
would give the atmosphere. But
they never knew until yesterday
what it is to watch the proceed
ings of the largest religious body
in the world, to look into the
faces of the recognz d represen.
tatives OF a denomination in some
respt Cts the most aggressive on
the globe. or t. feel the impulse
to righteousness ece ,sarily
aroused by intercourse with so
many good men aud true.
AT the beginning of the ses-
sion the auditorium was not
more than three>four tbs filled,
and the seats in the gallery were
many of them unnccupied. But
the delegates continued to come
in until soma of them we're oblig-
ed to find seats in the gallery.
Promptly al 10 a. N. the Pres 3
ident of the convention, Hon.
Jonathan Haralson, of Alabama,
called the body to order and ans
nounced that the devotional ex
ercises would be conducted by
Rev. DR.. Clarke L. Cooke, of
Virginia, who began by reading
the hymn Il Love thy Kingdom
Lord" the music of which was
led by Rev. DIR. W. E. Hatcher.
Of Virginia. After the reading of
Acts Xxx. beginning with the 18th
verse, the convention was led in
prayer by Rev. DR.. J. B Gam
brill, Of Texas.
The enrolment of delegates
was the first order of business,
and according to the announce
ment of the secretaries showed
delegates present as follows:
Alabama, entitled to 38; press
ent, 81; Arkansas, entitled to 10;
present 3: District Ct Colum bla,
entitled to g.; present. 6: Florida,
entitled to z: present Z: Georgia,
entitled to 130: present, 80: Ken
lucky. entitled to 78. present, 78:
Louisiana, entitled to IL: pres
ent, 4. Maryland i. entitled to 48:
present, 10, Mississippi, entitled
10 46: present, 80: Missouri, en-
titled to 43: present 13: North
Caralina, entitled to AZ: present.
AZ: Western North Carolina, ems
titled to 2: present, 2: South
Carolina, entitled to 66; present,
So: Tennessee, entitled to 35;
present, 81: Texas, entitled to
48, present As; Virginia, entitled
to ia: preseLt, ia: Western
Arkansas and Indian Territory,
entitled to 1: present, l, Mexico,
entitled 10 2. present, G. Making
a total of 576 delegates present
upon the financial basis. The
total number of all classes, fnan-
cial and assotional is 721.
The election of president was
the next business to occupy the
attention of the body and ex-Gov.
Northen, of Georgia, nominated
Hon. Jonathan Haralson for re-
election. The secretary of the
convention was authorized to cast
the ballot of the convention for
the nominee, and as the vast con-
gregation arose to signify thei1
choice, some on9 started the
hymn:
| "Oh, to grace how great a debtor
| Daily I'm constrained to be,
and every one joined with ar
emphas;s that showed how gener-
ally satisfactory the selection was
| President Haralson said that he
had been son preoccupied that h'
had had no time to prepare his
inaugural address. He expressed
| his appreciation of the honor ane
begged Il at the best of ordel
should be preserved and the rul
ings of the chair be needed.
Upon motion of Rev. G.. w
Gardner, of Georgia, the presen
secretaries, DR.. Lansing Burrows
of atlanta, an6 DR.. O.. f. Gre
CORY, of Baltimore, were reject
ed to serve in the .same capacit,
for the ensuing year, and the vot
of the convention was cast ac
cordingly.
The following members wer
nominated for election as vic
presidents; DIR. r. H. Marsh, o
| North Carolina: ex-GoI. w. j
Northen, of Georgia; Rev. Thos
S. Dunaway, of Virginia; Rev. j
B. Cranfll, of Texas; Hon
Joshua lowering, of Maryland
and ex-Gov. j. p. Eagle, Q
| ,,lz,