Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-12-12
THE SOUTH CAROLINA sApIIsTs.
8Oth Annual Convention at Greenwood Pro.
ceedngs Of The Body.

"
Carolina Baptist State Convention con-
vcned here tonight in its oightieth an
nual session. 1t has for years been the
annual custom to have the minister's
conference meet on the night and morn.
ing preceding the formal opening of the
convention proper. Last night the large
church was crowded to witness these
services, which were conducted by Rev.
J. ID. IIuggins. The exercises began
with tho singing Of tho hymn, "Wo're
Marching to Zion"
Mr.. Huggins read lesson from tho
Psalms, basing his rcmarks on tho text,
GLOW amiablo arc Thy tabernacles."
Tho election of officers followed, and
Rev. B. f. Corloy, senior Baptist minis
ter of South Carolina, in active service,
was elected president, with Rcv. j. A.
Brown, secretary.
The opening prayer was made by Rev.
DR.. w. Il. Derieux, now of Richmond,
who could not resist tho inclination to
meet his brethren again. Rov. ii. G.
Scaifc, by request Of tho conference,
offered earnest words of prayer for Rev.
George a. Wright, of Newberry, "Thy
servant, called by grace, to tho ministry
of that grace"
Tho regular conference programme
was then begun, Roys. w. j. Langston
and j. ID. Pitts making strong and i'm
prcssivc remarks on the subject assigned
them: "rho Devotional Element in tho
Pastors Life"
PROFESSIONAL EVANGELISTS.
This was followed by scathing ar
raignmcnt of the $50 called modern pro-
fessional evangelist" the subject boing
The Evangelist as n Factor in Church
l 1 sE.,' 1,. 1..1 4. 4
cussion, and he thought tho evangelist
was without training, literary or other-
wise, and boasting of his ignorance, unin-
formed, rude and even vulgar in tho pull
pit; stirring hysterica emotionalism
with crratic doctrines, pet theories, pecu-
liar and questionable methods. His con
cluson was that, though there wcro somo
very few exceptions to this rulo, tho
trend of evangelical preaching led away
from tho highest and best interests Of
church life"
Rev. +. G. dickson followed, and ho
polished of what ho called "thc tempo
rary apostle with worry little reservation.
llc contrastcd tho Scriptural evangelist
with tho lattcr-day product, who, he
said, respected tho opinions of no one,
with utter disregard of all others but
soon coming when ovangelists would for
sake their present advertising methods
and adopt tho circus poster style.
MINISTER'S CONFERENCE.
At half-past 8 O'Clock this morning the
ministers conference again convened.
Rev. Mcssrs. L.. NJ. and NJ. b. Foreman
opened a discussion on "Forogloams Of a
Great Religious Revival" Then "rhc
Sway of New Testament Principles over
the Present Trend of Religious Thought
received scholarly attention from Rev.
9. 5. Gardner, ID. d., who was followed
by Rev. j. G. Browne and several others.
Manaway then discussed tho next sub
icct, missionary Triumphs." All of
these topics were earnestly considered.
GOOD "oLD UNCLE NED"
Seated among hundreds of his white
brethren was whitc-haircd old black
man, tho Rev. Edward Starkc. "Oltl
Uncle Ncd' was presented to tho con
ference by Mr. w. l.. burst, and several
ministers testified TO tho strong charac-
ter and godly life of tho old colorcd man,
who is most remarkable character.
Old Uncle Ned is from "Olo Virginny'
and is now in his l0lst year. On motion
he addressed tho conference, and seldom
Was purcr faith evidenced by moro i'm
prcssivc speech His voice was firm and
clear, his words we're well chosen and
natural, even though he "got education,
but cant read dc print. Intelligent etlu
cation from God is dc best education any
nan can git, and dat what | got. De
w,ls ting got to fight is ole Uncle Ned,
and always fitin' him. Uncle Ncd's
presence and remarks wcro very touch.
ing and, on motion u collection, amount
ing to $50, was presented to tho faithful
old traveller ovcra long road of many
and strange vicisstudcs. His review Of
his life was most pathetic, and his tribute
to his mother, simple and beautiful,
could not well have been improved upon.
RETROSPECTIVE.
The first Baptist State Convention of
South Carolina met at Columbia i'm 1921
president. This convention was com
posed of only three associatons--Ch Char
lesion, Savannah and Edgcticld, and very
few members were present. Now the
convention is composed of thirty five
llouriShing associations, as is evidenced
by the fact that there are, approx imatcly
speaking, now 100000 members of this
denomination in South Carolina. The
0I lest Baptist church in the South is the
.rsL Bap,ist church Of Charleston,
which was established in 1892. The
Charleston Association is the oldest Bap-
tiSt district association i'm tho South
ana this association was originally com
posed OF the associations OF tho First
BAPTIST church, of Charleston, tho Ash
Icy River Dong dcfuncD, and the strong
old Welsh Neck, of Darlington county
1t is also fact that the first agitation
for dcnominational colleges and cduca-
tional institutions among the Baptists
originated in South Carolina in the year
1870 Three failures marked these first
attempts which were successful i'm other
States before they were in tho State
where this important movement orgi-
mated. The first attempt to establish
such an institution saw its rso and fall
1T Edgcfcld in 1926, and this was soon
followed by two failures in the "IIigh
Hills of Santcc." in no wise dauntcd
the noble work went on, and now flour
iShing old Furman, with increasing vigor
and honorcd years, enters her semi cen
tcnnial with over 200 studcnts-the best
testimony to this early inspiration and
later years Of faithful labors. Tho first
woman's central committee, auxiliary
church workers, was organized at old
Welsh Neck church, Society Hill, Dar-
lington county, by the sanity John
stout in 1871.
HAS 0l3 CHURCHES.
With membership of about 100, 900,
this denomination owns 39l churches i'm
south Carolina. Their State Mission
'''''' hi'S chllfcly III oOutn caro-
lima, with Dir. Il. NJ. Bailey as Il CORE
spending secretary, has ono hundred
missionaries and has organized 800
churches. The Woman's Missionary
Union compoScs strong mcmbc, ship of
efficient co-laborcrs, with 23G various
adjunct local societies
The Connie Maxwell Orphanagc is now
very valuable piece of property, whore
10 poor little homeless orphans arc
cared for and educated.
The Aged Minister'S Relief Board