The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-31
WoMAN'S WORK FOR MISSIONS
ANNUAL SESSION OF THE BAPTIST
WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION.

IIenddcn and j. l.. White-Dr.
Marshall Sounds Warming Note
Against the MOrmOns-The ses-
sion Largely Attended-AmOunt
of combinations for the Year
s15.4O4.31.
The Woman's Baptist Missionary Union
OF Georgia began It's annual session with
the Duffy Street Baptist Church yester-
dav morning There was a large attend
ance. seventy-two delegates answering
to their names. A business session was
held in the morning and another In the
afternoon.
A missionary mass meeting was held
at night. Another business session Will
be held this morning and a meeting for
the children this afternoon, after which
the mission convention will adjourn. The
reports from the officers and the com
mittees were very satisfactory and much
interest was manifested in the meeting.
The mission mass meeting was very
largely attended, all available room being
taken. Rev. ]. D. Jordan of the First
Baptist Church presided and addresses
were delivered by Or. A. a. Marshall of
Atlanta, DR.. r. 3. Headden Of Rome and
DR.. j. l.. White of Macon. All three prov
ed to be both interesting and entertain
ing takers. The subjects to which they
responded had been selected for them by
the union and there responses were more
than satisfactory.
DR.. Jordan. In opening the meeting, said
that his experience was that the best
chairman was the one who did the least
talking himself and gave the most OPP
portunity to others to talk. He therefore
contented himself with a few BRIEF re-
marks on the subject of the meeting, af-
ter which he introduced Dr. Marshall.
Or. Marshalrs subject was Mormon
ism" The subject, he said, might be con-
edered an unusual one for a missionary
mass meeting. In view of the fact, how
ever, that Brigham Roberts. an avowed
polygamist, has recently been elected to
Congress from Utah, and IN view of the
extraordinary activity now being manifest
ed by the Mormon Church in seeking con-
Verts to its doctrines, the subject was
timely one for discussion. 1t was well
that the Christian people of Georgia. he
said should know what Is being done by
the Mormon hierarchy, and that Chris
tlans everywhere should be placed on their
guard. The Mormon church IS now con-
Quoting a missionary campaign OF its own
upon large scale having 2400 mission
aries in the field. OF this number 400 are
in the mountains Of Virginia, North and
and South Carolina and Georgia. In ev-
cry county I'm Georgia there are at least
two Mormon missionaries.
This country DR.. Marshall said, has
always been noted for religious liberty and
the Baptsts especially believe in and en-
phasize this doctrine. There are certain
reasons, however, which render it advis-
able that the same consideration should
not be extended 20 these people as to those
of other faiths. One of these reasons is
that the Mormons believe in the union of
church and state. Their ideal OF govern
ment is an absolute theocracy. They be-
lieve that the authority of the priests is
inherent and supreme, and that they are
guided by direct revelations from God.
Everything is made subservent to the
church. and church and state are one to
them. The growth of these people has
been a marvellous one. Sixty-nine years
ago there were only six adherents of this
faith. In less than fifty years later they
had secured million converts. The Nor
mons contemplate obtaining control of
this government. This may be laughed
at now, but, In view of their rapid
growth, the aim is worthy of serious con-
sideration.
Speaking of the Mormon faith, DIR. Mar
shah said 1t Is a strange combination Of
Orientalism, Romanism and theosophy. 1t
stands for that relic of barbarism, that
strange Oriental plant of polygamy. 1t Is
not true that polygamy has ceased TO be
an issue with the Mormans. Those best
acquainted with them know that this prac-
tice Is still secretly maintained, and the
best evidence of this is that Brigham Rob-
erts. who now seeks admission to the
American Congress, Acknowledges living in
the marriage relation with three women.
The family is the unit of civilization. The
home is the basis of all that is good and
true and noble In civilization. This doc
trine of polygamy strikes at the home and
the family.
1t was well that Christian men and wo-
men should know the truth concerning
the Mormon Church. DR.. Marshall said,
in order that they might exert all their
influence, moral personal and legal,
against the further inroads of It's per-
nicious doctrines.
solo, Pilgrim, Be Not Afraid" was
beautifully sung by Mrs. c. d. Mize.
What Woman Has Accomplished In
Mission Work" was the subject of very
entertaining talk by DR.. r. B. Headden
OF Rome. SO many good deeds had been
done by woman, DR.. Headden said, that il
~ AhpOSslDle TO put them all on record.
To even attempt TO enumerate all the good
works which should be placed to her credit
would be a labor too lengthy for the oc-
casion. The wonderful things which have
occurred in wOman's work for missions
was in itself a sufficient subject. 1t was
the cry from the imprisoned women of the
Far East which gave the first inspiration
TO this womans work for missions, he said.
That cry was heard in England and Amer
Tea by the women of these two countries
The work was begun in the COS, but II
was not until the '70s that il was fully
organized At first the efforts of the or
ganization were devoted solely 10 foreign
missions; now its field is the world
The result of its work has
been a wonderful development in
the contributions to mission work. The
women's mission organizations together
now raise as much annually for missions
as was given by all the churches when
this work was begun eighteen years ago
In some denominations the women's so.
cieties are giving more to mission work
than the entire denomination wac given
before the reorganizauons were effected