Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-05-14
PRICE. 5CENTS
THE BApTIsTs IN SESSION.
Rev. DR.. Mitchell Reelected President.
Many Delegates Present.

The thirty first annual session of the
State convention of colcred Baptists
opened Wednesday at 10 O'Clock at the
Second Church, Byrd street near Sec
oDd, and will continue in session until
Sunday. The convention is the largest
colored organization in the State, aud
is composed Of some Of the leading
colored preachers and members of the
Baptist Churches of Virginia, 1t re-
presents the educational work among
the Negroes, so far as denominaticnal
schools go, having charge and sup-
porting the Virginia Seminary. Lynch
burg; the Spiller Academy, Hampton,
and assists in the work of the Harts-
horn Memorial College. for colored
girls, Richmond, and the Richmond
theological Seminary.
DR.. Ii II. Mitchell. Of Norfolk pre-
sided. Revs J b. Smith and M. ID.
Williams conducted the devotional
exercises, which they did. These were
followed by the welcome address de-
livered by Rev. M. E Gerst, who, rep
resenting the colOred Baptists and cit
izens of Richmond, assured the paF-
tors that they we're welcome to the
city, the church aud homes. The ad-
dress was resp .nded 70 by the Rev. b.
w. Tyrrell, OF the Virginia Seminary,
| LyDchburg, Va who assured the peo-
pie of Richmond that the welcome was
accepted by the delegates in the man
ner as given, and they were proud to
meet in the historic city. he conclud-
ed by making some reference to 60 the
educational work as conducted in the
city.
The Rev DR.. Graham, of the Fifth
i ST. Baptist Church, presided while
president Mitchell reviewed the WORK
i - fhe.w - L
and made some practical recommends
tions and suggestions for the consider
alton Of his brethren. He urged that
more mission work be done in the fu-
ture, both home and foreign, and made
q charge against some OF the organiza-
tions raising money for missions, say
ing that the poor missionaries in Africa
did not receive q cent Of money in Af-
rica, although the organization report
ed great work accomplished through
the public press.
DIR. Mitchell also referred to the as
sistance rendered them by the white
people of the State and by the Home
Mission Society, which he said was
blessing to them. He said the Negroes
of this country had much to thank God
for, and as they were on the eve OF bid
ding farewell to the nineteenth centu-
~, he recommended that special SER
. vices be held at the next annual ses-
sion of the convention.
|, The Committee on Credentials re-
!. ported. shwing over 20 delegates pres
I ent, and after appointing several COM
mittees recess was had for dinner.
In the afternoon, the folio wing ofi :
GERS were elected. Dr. II. 81. Mitchell,
Norfolk, president; w. f. Graham.
. Richmond: L. Watts, Petersburg
, Isaac Lee. Cherriton; l.. r Bail, Lam
Z caster vice pre- residents; A. Binga, Jr
Manchester, recording secretary E
! w. Merchant, FarmvIlle, lstatiscaI Sec
: retary j. w. Kirby, Richmond, corre-
4 spending secretary; ID. N. Vassar,
I Richmond, treasurer. Some time was
spent in hearing reports and eIectinp
missionary, church extension, educa-
tion4I, Bible and Publication and State
o boards, and then recess was had.
81 Wednesday night. Rev DR.. B. F. Fox
r of Salem, delivered an able annual SER
mon which vas listened TO by ], 500 per-
4 SONS