Evening star., 1898-05-07
OFFICERS CHOSEN.
southern Baptist Convention mt Nor
folk Effects Organization,

iOik Enects Organ fEatfOn,
Special Dispatch to The Evenin, Star
NORFOLK, Va, May The forty-third
annual session of the Southern Baptist con-
vention, which began in this city yester-
day, was organized by the reelection of
PRESIDENT Jonathan HARRISON of Alabama
for the tenth term, and also of Rev Dr.
Lansing Burrows of Georgia and Rev. Dr.
o. f. Gregory of Baltimore, Nd, as sec
retaries, each of whom have served in the
same capacity for many years.
The following were elected vice presi-
dents: H. f.. Hickman of Georgia, j. 7.
Henderson of Tennessee, Joshua Levering
of Maryland and c. c. Slaughter of Texas.
me report of the committee credcn-
tlals showed that 190 delegates were pres
ent as follows: District of Columbia, O.,
Maryland, 81; Georgia, Ia; Kentucky, los;
louisiana, 13; Arkansas, IL; Missouri 81;
Alabama, IL; Texas. -; Virginia, 1874; Ten
nessee, 81; South Carolina, ~; North Caro-
ma, 81; Mississippi, So; Florida, 3.
The board of trustees of the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary, through Mr.
LeNerinS of Maryland, submitted a report
requesting the convention to name three
candidates from each vacancy in the board
from which the board Will make seec-
tons to fill the vacancies. An interesting
discussion on the report was participated
by DIR. t. T. Eaton OF Kentucky. who asked
that the delegation from that state be al
lowed to fill the vacancies from Kentucky.
Dr. Eaton is the leader of the fight against
DIR. Whitsitt of the Southern Baptist Theo-
logical Seminary, and his attitude on the
report was regarded as a matter of much
Importance. The report was finally laid
on the table.
Amid much enthusiasm a resolution Of
fered by former Governor Northen of Geor-
gia was adopted, requesting President Nc
Kinley to take steps in adjusting the af-
fairs of Cuba to secure to every individual
on the island absolute religious freedom.
The annual sermon was preached last
night by President B. L. Whitman of Co
lumbian University.
The following paper in reference to Rev.
DIR. Whitstt will be laid before the con-
vention today or on Monday, and is ex-
pected to provoke much debate. The paper
embodies the action of the trustees of the
Theological Seminary at a meeting held
yesterday. and is as follows:
Having received certain communications
from Baptist bodies within the bounds Of
the Southern Baptist convention touching
the management of the seminary and be-
lieving that the communications are en-
titled to their most respectful considera-
ton, the board of trustees, sensible of the
grave responsibility which rests upon them,
now in their annual session at Norfolk, Va,
make the following statement: Inasmuch
as the communications refer only to issues
which were settled by the trustees at their
last meeting, it is proper to say that after
twelve months of mature and prayerful re-
Election, we can find no reason for modi
Tying in any degree our statement made
az that meeting, but, on the contrary, we
feel constrained by our convictions of duty
to reaffirm our adherence to the action
then taken. In this connection the trus-
tees desire to render profound thanks to
God for the gratifying measure of pros
perity which has attended the seminary
during the last session, and to testify
gratefully to the ability, efficiency and
worth which every department of this in
stitution has been conducted since our last
meeting"
officers of several auxiliary societies Of
the convention were elected.