The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-10-31
BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION.

was OF necessity, somewhat of a fea-
ture, in the history of the church with !,
in the state. 1t was fairly we'll attend /
ed by preachers and delegates from .
various places, who were busily engage
ed in discussing different topics rela- i
tive to the church in general, touching
on foreign and domestic mission. also ,
the possible influence of the church in
regard to political, moral, and social /,
conditions. One feature, especially in
terestipg, was the speech held by Pro
lessor Foster of Chicago Tuesday even
ing. His subject was, 1.-The Ministerial
Student" wherein the speaker, by force ,
of good logic, presented some excellent
reasons why the subject of his discourse
should be considered entitled to support
from the church while training, and
preparing for the ministry. Dwelling
at some length on this portion of his
discourse and clearly defining the
duties of the church regarding the stu
dent, the speaker then reversed the
situation by enumerating obligations
resting on the student.
The sum total of his argument was.
that the student should be cared for by
the church, for precisely the same rea-
son that a salaried minister in active
service was cared for. Both are in
their respective conditions, public
servants of public institution For
illustration: The United States. or the
government of the same. supports and
maintains the cadets at West Point as
we'll as the trained soldier out in the
west. Both have one object in view.
the service of their country. The same
with preacher and student, the service
of the church. At the close of his able
arguments the speaker received
unanimous vote OF thanks, no doubt
from the very heart of those especially
interested, namely, preachers and pros
pective ministers.
Professor Fostor, doctor of philosophy
referred to by Boone newspapers as
special attraction of the convention as
an advanced thinker, in two subsequent
speeches somewhat marred the favor
able impression created by his first talk
in as much as he placed himself at a
somewhat grevious variance with good
sound Baptist doctrine. Whether or
not this fact is but the natural result
of the DOCTORS advancement of thought
vour corraspnndopt mill MT x,o,,%,,,, -
determine; one thing is certain, much
of his views we're too antogonistic to
those entertained by the church to be
gracefully received and will be consid-
cred excluded as far as the '.vote of
thanks is concerned.
| The time throughout the convention
was pretty well employed in making
speeches, short talks by various minis.
tiers, in the introduction, adoption and
voting on resolutions covering condi.
lions characteristic, notably so in their
variety. Wednesday afternoon the
assemblage was entertained by the
Rev. MI. Anderson, state missionary
among the Danish and Norwegian por-
ton OF the church. MIR. Anderson ap-
peared to be a man fully capable of
handling his subject which he present.
ed in way pleasing to his audience,
and in Its very nature of delivery and
earnestness not only claimed but posi-
lively commanded great deal of at
tention. In clear and convincing
manner the occupant of the pulpit
showed that the Scandinavian portion
of the church has assumed the position
of no mean factor within the folds of
this particular religious organization
throughout the United States. With
modest emphasis did the speaker pre-
sent, especially and particularly, his
Norwegian brethren "in the faith,'' as
earnest self sacrificing Christians, will
ing to let and to do anything within
the limit of their capabilities for the
advancement of Gods Kingdom, the
welfare of the church, and the interests
of Christianity. He concluded his re-
marks with a warning to the conven-
ton to take into consideration the pecu.
liarities Of his people, to present to
them the Baptist doctrines unalioyed
and asserted as his opinion that some of
the views presented by DR.. Foster
would forever destroy the chance of ac-
cess to the hearts and homes of the
Norwegian people.
That the convention was not wholly
devoid OF certain sense of humor is
proven by the following amusing Incl.
dent which occurred during the presen-
tation and passing of resolutions.
After the discussion pro and con re.
garding Sunday newspapers which at
times assumed very animated char
acter had been disposed of, and the
resolution had been carried by small
majority the next on the docket was
the entering of protest against the
seating of Mr.. Roberts, congressman
elect, of Utah. Upon the chairman's
inquiry for remarks, one member of
| the convention thought the resolution