Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-13
SOUTHERN BAPT|STS,
The Convention an Unusually
Large One
GOV, NORTHERN PRESIDENT,
Re Shows Himself at Once a Master OF
Assemblies.
SEMINARY MATTER UPPERMOsT.
a Critical Moment in the History OF
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. College
Alumni Banquct-RepOrts on Mis-
sions.
SEMINARY MATTER UPPERMosT

WARREN MEMORIAL CHURCH,
KY, May 12.-(Special.)-
The Southern Baptist Convention was or
ganized this morning, with an unusually
large representation, Virginia and some
other States having almost the maximum
number of delegates to which they are
entitled
The convention. with great unanimity,
elected Ex-Governor Northen, Of Georgia,
president. He accepted this high office
in a thoughtful and appropriate speech,
and from the very beginning he showed
himself a master of assemblies.
WELCOME FROM DIR. JONES.
The Rev. DR.. Carter Helm Jones, pas
tor OF the Broadway Baptist church, with
which the convention is meeting, well
coined the great company Of delegates in
Enthusiastically graceful and charm
ing speech. During the course of his re-
marks he alluded to his affection for Rich
mond, where, as a boy, he saw for the
first time the convention in the First
ipdBAlNl AnulNis III ~ 4Hi % - p''| ~ -
necessary to have much of the work ar
ranged by committees, the most import
ant of which is that on order of business,
which serves an important purpose in
controlling and facilitating the business
of the convention. The craftsmanship or
the committee, which is, therefore, an
important position, was assigned 10 DR..
O. III. Ryland of Richmond.
SEMINARY MATTER.
Much of the first day was spent as
usual in effecting the organization, re-
ceiving reports. and other routine mat
ters. Up 10 this time the seminary has
in no way come up for consideration, but
it is evidently uppermost in everybody s
thought, and is overshadowing the real
objects of the convention. Groups OF
alumni and other friends are to be seen
on the grounds and in the offices earnest
Is talking over the situation. Many are
expressing regret that DR.. Whitsitt felt
il his duty To resign, and on the other
hand are feeling intense anxiety as To
what will be the action of the trustees
I'm selecting his successor. The strained
relations among the professors have be-
come more pronounced with every fresh
agitation of the question, until now ii is
impossible TO have a united faculty es-
pecially If one of their number be cho-
sen as president.
A CRITICAL MOMENT.
This Is unquestiOnably a most critical
moment I'm the history of the institution,
and it is feared that the choice OF a man
who is not acceptable to the progressive
membeA Of the faculty would throw the
seminary into confusion and be destruc-
tive of it's best interests. The Virginia
trustees feel the greatest apprehension
about the matter. and some think that
it may even become necessary TO abolish
the office Of president.
The afternoon session was occupied
with the report OF foreign missions by
Or. Willingham. and that on home mis-
sions by Dr. Tichenor.
RICHMOND COLLEGE BANQUET.
The Kentucky Chapter of the Rich
mOnd College Alumni gave an elegant
banquet this evening CT the Gait House.
There was a large gathering of the
alumni, and they had most enthusiastic
meeting. Speeches were made by DR.. 5.
Il. Woody, of Louisville; President f. w.
Boatwright, and Dr. William f.. Hatcher,
of Richmond. and Mr.. Henry SchmelZ, of
Hampton, Va.
An interesting feature of this delight
full entertainment was that a number of
excellent pictures OF the college, the art
hall, the new science hall. etc, were ex-
hibited. and the great company of loyal
sons were carried back in memory to
the scenes of their college days.
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
The report of the Foreign Mission
Board. above referred 10, was read by
the corresponding secretary, Rev. X. }.
Willingham, d. D., of Richmond, Va.
The report was an exceedingly encOur-
aging one. and gave detailed information
in regard TO the various foreign mission
fields with their missionaries.
The report showed that during the year
that has just closed sixteen new mission
aries were sent out by the board, and
thirteen others, who have been visiting
the home land Usually in search OF
health, were returned to the active
work. On the other hand, the board has
lost only ten missionaries one by death
and nine by retirement.
WORK IN CHINA.
An interesting feature of the report on
the work in China was the announcement
that there had been established a pub
fishing house. TO be known as the Chinese
Baptist Publication Society, with Dr. T..
H. Graves as president and Rev. r. T..
Chambers as sefetary. 1t is expected
that this will be a tremendous factor in
the evangelization of China.
Rev. r. f.. Chambers, II will be remem-
bered. Is graduate OF Richmond College,
and Mrs. Chambers was a Richmond lady,
having been "a member Of the Second
Baptist church, from which she went
out as a missionary 10 China.
The collections have been slightly
smaller this year than last, but this is
,lue 10 the fact that there were some spe-
cial collections last year. which helped
10 swell the amount. The following table
gives the contributions by States. II will
be noticed that Virginia leads ali the
Southern States by about five thousand
dollars: