The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-05-21
BAPTISTS HAVE ADJOURNED.
MISSIONARY FROM AFRICA Is
GIVEN A HEARING.
He Made a Strong Appeal for the Ne
gro Race and Made Good
Impression.

Hot Springs. Ark. May H-Another
Booker Washington appeared at the last
moments of the Southern Baptist con-
vention this evening He was Rev.
Charles s. Morris, a young man of brown
skin and with eloquence that thrilled the
big assemblage. He Is missionary
among the blacks of Africa and had
been granted few minutes for the pur-
pose of making a plea for missionary
work on the Dark Continent A half
dozen other missionaries had just told of
their labors, and while the convention
listened with great interest II remained
for the negro to stir the great gathering
to tumultuous enthusiasm, when, with
splendid eloquence. he told his hearers
that Carey was not the first modern
missionary, but that the pioneers were
the godly women who took charge of
the slaves when they landed I'm Old Vir-
ginia and clothed and fed them and gave
them the gospel. The thousand in the
audience overwhelmed him with their
applause.
1t was some time before Ex-Governor
Northen, the president, could obtain ST.
lence.
Brethren" said he, II am In sympa-
thy with. your applause. but it's against
the law"
The crowd saw the smile on his grizzled
face and broke forth into fresh applause
Crowds pressed forward and struggled TO
get near enough to throw money on the
platform. Several hundred dollars in sill
yer and notes were at Morrfs's feet. He
said not to give money to him. but to
turn IT over to the treasurer and have II
used to send messengers throughout the
south to arouse the Colored people to CO.
operation in the mission work in Africa.
The outpouring of money was so sponta-
neous that even after the eloquent black
orator had refused 1t. IT was flung at his
feet. There have been several great
speeches and two other remarkable
scenes during the four days of this gath
erlng of Baptists of the south. but the
speech of the African missionary and the
Incidents attending It formed the climax
of highly enthusiastic convention.
It adopted a resolution by Rev. DR.,
Cranfill. of Texas, to report on the rela-
lions to the convention sustained by tho
denominational papers. There was a good
sized collection taken up for the south
ern Baptist Theological seminary. The
hance report showed an increase of
more than Is per cent for foreign mis-
sions over the previous year and the
number of baptisms in foreign lands in
creased 80 per cent The report was dis
cussed by ten prominent delegates and
the Rev. DR.. Pitt, of South Carolina.
read the report on the advance move
ment. They brought forth many ami
mated speeches urging that at least $780,
600 be raised for the century movement.
Rev /. ]. Van Ness read the report of
the work among the negroes. One OF the
most serious questions. he said. is the
negro problem. and can we afford TO
despise or ignore this people?
The report pointed out that Baptists
everywhere must show the negroes that
they will get justice and consideration.
that they must be encouraged to learn
trades; pastors should give sympathy
and counsel to negroes when opportunity
presents, and, lastly, all should CO.
operate with the home mission board In
all its efforts to help the blacks.
Rev. w. VI. Vines Of AshcVillc. y. e.
submitted the report on frontier work,
and Rev. T. = Potts. OF Memphis. pre-
scented the report on cities. while REV j.
f. White of North Carolina. made Il re-
port on the work in the mountain regions
Rev. NJ. j. Breckner. OF Missouri. reported
on the work in Cuba. ana Rev. Dr. L. j.
Holt, OF Tennessee. submitted report on
the enlarg .nent OF homo mission work
Tho report recommended mat SIJo'Vp DC
raised Tor home missions.
Ex-Govetnor Eagle. OF Arkansas. N a
report on V omans work. said tho women
are the best workers in the church. Kew
+. c. Mcconnell of Lynchburg, Va. de-
cleared that the foundation OF the future
work must be laid by women. Many mis-
sionaries were introduced 10 the conven-
ton.
L.. Il. simmons. of South China, said he
had been in emma for thirty yeats. lie
told of young man whom nc pdpClHcd
anu who has since baptized 200 Chinese.
r.. {. T.. Sm.,n. Of Area. showed some
OF the idols he found among black tribes
there. They were images OF the GcNl, lhe
god OF increase. the twin god ana ;he god
OF lightning. tie said the natives Wor-
shipped NOT the IDOLS but the sp.ri.s
wltn4n.
couraging account of the WORK in that
country and il was then that the conVen-
ton was captured by the negro, Morris
from Africa. but VINO is graduate OF
lowaru university. ~ the wl"d-up oI
the enthusiastic speech. he raised much
laughter.
why, you have more iesrect for a ne
gro than for your own people" said he as
the money was shOwereu On him.
The committee to select the place and
time OF holding the next convention lee
commended Ashevile. n. c.. but the dele
gates selected New Orleans. and the Fri
day before the second sunday of next
May as the time. Rev. DR.. Mullins. presi-
dent of the seminary was elected TO de-
liver the convention sermon next year.
with Rev Dr. J. 5. Felix. Of louisiana,
as his alternate.
The convention was invited by the min
istcrs' alliance Of st. Louis to meet in
that city In 1902 and the invitation was
spread upon the minutes.
Rev. Dr. Mcconnell thanked the people
of Hot Springs for their courtesy, and
Rev. DIR. a. L. Williams. on behalf Of tho
city. gave the convention a twenty years
invitation to return to the valley OF many
waters
Then The convention adjourned