Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-07
THE FORTy-THIRD SESSION of
THE SOUTHERN CONVENTION.
THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
opcning scrviccs-The Reports OF
the Home and the Foreign MISSION
pooras and the sunday-Srhooi
uonrd,-Good Exhibits.


secretaries proceeded to enroll the dele
gates. and It was found that there were
100 delegates present There will be
many more by tomorrow.
Judge Jonathan Harralson. of Alabama,
was unanimously elected president of the
convention. The following were elected
vice-presidents: II. II. Hickman. of Geor-
gia: c. c. Slaughter. of Texas; Joshua
lowering, of Maryland, and J. 1. Hen
derson. of Tennessee. Rev. Lansing
Burrows. Of Georgia, and Rev o. r.
Gregory. d. D.. of Maryland, were unan-
lmously reelected as secretaries of the
convention.
Ex-Governor w. j. Northen. Of Geor-
eia. offered resolution. requesting the
Presiden. OF the United States that in
the adjustment of matters in Cuba he
use all proper means to secure religious
liberty 10 every inhabitant Of the island.
He made a stirring appeal for the pas
sage Of the resolutions, which were unan-
imously adopted.
Rev. William +. Hatcher, OF Rich
mond, Va, was appointed TO present TINS
resolution to the President. The secre-
tarios of the convention were Instructed
10 communicate these resolutions TO all
religious bodies now in session or soon TO
be i'm session, with the request that they
ioin in with these resolutions.
Rev. NJ. b. Wharton, of Norfolk, made
an address of Welcome. He was follow
ed by Rev. A. f. owen and Hon. w. r..
Navo Mayor of Norfolk. All the adj
dresses were warm, hearty, and elo.
quent.
Rev. C. w Truitt. of Dallas, Tex. re-
sponded on behalf of the convention IN
few weli-chosen and happy words.
The following committee on order OF
business was appointed; Rev. r. D. Will
ingham. OF Virginia; Or. /. T. Tichenor,
of Georgia; Rev. j. NJ. Frost, of Tennes-
see, and c. II. Ryland, of Virginia.
AFTERNOON. SESSION.
The afternoon session was called to or
der at $3.50 o'clock by President Harrai-
son. and the convention was led in prayer
by Rev c. c. Cox, Of Newport News
Va. The report on order OF business was
presented and adopted.
DR.. Willingham read the report on for.
eign missions. The report is very en-
ccuraging. especially of China and Brazil.
In Japan, Africa, and in Italy, the work
shows steady progress. Mexico has not
shown as much progress as usual. though
in some of the missions the result is
gratifying.
I'VE went" says the report, Ito the
convention last year owing $500. 10,
while in 1896 the indebtedness was 81,
910.n. We are glad that this year we can
report everything paid and $2,975.96 in the
treasury Surely we have cause for great
gratitude TO God. This result shows US
that our people are not losing interest in
missions"
The total contributions to foreign mis-
sions for 1878 were $l24, 249.69, received
as follows:
Alabama s5,95O74: Arkansas. S2,114lO
| District of Columbia S,Ol9O5; Florida
81 600; Georgia. 81. 1896; Kentucky. 49,,
51446; Louisiana. $l.96S.Si; Maryland
| $5,659.7S; Mississippi s7,l&n; Missouri
| s.. 4Sl. 33; North Carolina. $7555.OS; Soutf
| Carolina, Nl,47O.5S; Tennessee. S6.SSl76
| Texas. Sl2,65953; Virginia, $2S,S1O.52; othel
sources, sl,5S6.52.
Woman's mission societies and bands
| for mission work contributed SZl'b5S.oI
| The report concludes:
| with grateful hearts We look bach
| over the past. Years ago our fathers laiC
! strong foundations. and we have entered
| into their labors. When we review sever
J vears-that is from 1891 10 lSsS-we fine
! that in 1891 we had 80 main stations, 2,S7
members. 361 baptisms, and the contri
buttons from the home churches Wer'
| Sll 6O003. Since 1891 our missionarie'
| have baptized APP protested belleVers
| This number is much larger than tn
/ entire membership in 1881. Surely W.
! have mere great cause for gratitude ant
great Indictment for more vigorous ef
| fort. Much has been accomplished. ou
! we are not yet doing what we might 90
| Let us remember that nearly two hundred
workers dncluding missionaries and ma
tive helpers) represent us on foreigl
fields God through them is leading
| on. Let us follow. Throughout our Dor
ders let earnest prayer go up TO God ina
this year may be one in when HIS poWe
and presence may be graciousiy mann
tested on us and in US for this grea
work"
HOME MISSIONS.
Rev. I. T. Tichenor. d. D., read the re
port of the Home Mission Board. Ihis
one Of the best reports made in years:
The amount raised and expended on tn
held for home missions this year is $54,
25lOi against si5.67ls2 last year. Their
has been collected and expended 4
brilding houses of worship on the fiel
|
year making a total of money raised o.
the field Sll0 $3.50 against total raised o.
the field last year of s97, 2lLS2, an in
! CREASE of Sl3,424.6S Total cash receive
bv the board from all sources has bee
SS6. SS7. q against Ss3, 1S4.3l, an increase O
3,70295.
The number of missionaries employe
this year was 467 against S72 last year
Beptlsms this year, l,7S9 against 4,1O9 las
year. Total additions 10 churches thi
YEAR. $500 against 1856 last year.
In addition 10 the $4,000 raised by on
Missionaries and expended in buildin
houses of worship on their fields, IN
board has invested more than $4,000 !
cash in places of worship.
SUNDAY SCHOOL BOARD.
DIR. ]. NJ. Frost read the report of II
Sunday-School Board. He pronounced
the best report ever made TO the CONVEX
ton.
The gross Income is something ov'
sixty-four thousand dollars.
All bills and expenses have been promp
lv met. and the business is presented
the convention with assets OF near
thirty-tbree thousand dollars, and pract
, cally without any liabilities.
The $4,000 reported last year as ST
due ON the house which had been pu
chased have been paid, leaving the nous
unencumbered II is valuable piece
property. and the experiment of dividir
out our printing and conducting the bus
ness AFFAIRS Of the board in its ow
s. house has proven satisfactory in svei
d way.
over SO. 500 as proceeds from missional
day in the Sunday schools, were 10