The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-22
PROMINENT Men
ADDRESSED THEM.
Baptist Congress Hears Timely Topics
Discussed.
ABLE PAPERS WERE READ.
Rev. Dr. ". L. L. SMITH Presents Able
Argument Important
Qaestion-Thc Days
Proceedings.
ABLE PAP Frs WERE READ.

The second days session of the
iSap,ist Congress OF America. was the
inos. interesting of the meeting, and In
cindsd some OF the most able and prom
inent speakers on the programme.
President a. J.. Montague called the
session to order yesterday morning at 10
clock at the First Baptist Church. With
out preliminaries the topic Tor discussion,
Wherein Lies the Eticacy OF Jesus
Work in the Reconciliation" was an
noancca and the Congress was soon en-
Gagged in the consideration of the CUES
ton at hand.
The attendance at this meeting was
excellent. and the closest attention was
Paid to the discussion.
Key w r. L. Smith, d. d, of this
City. led OF with an exceedingly inter
esting paper anu one that was thor
oughiy enjoyed. He said on the subject
OF atonenlcnt that the modern view Diff
fers from the old views, IN that the
direction of our Lords redeeminS work
IS conceived of as turning not on Satan
or on The Father, but on man. The more
acceptable theory is thar atonemcnt is
wrought not in legal and forensic rela-
tons. but in the region Of moral. con-
crete, personal relations. Net IN the
realm OF legal distractions, but rather
IN that OF the life and conscience. Jesus
sases not by any distinct act or sphere
o. activity, but by The potencies Of his
total, indivIsib!e human manifestation.
VITAL THEORY.
This is the statement CT what is called
the moral vital theory OF atonenent.
Ine legal theory IS open to the objcc-
ions OF unreaiity, mechanicaness and
artificiaiity. The vital theory recognizes
The direct and vital approach OF per-
son TO Il person; OF gracious heavenly
Father to his disobedient children. Ii
fl,.af ,oi lie tn Iva.
reconciled to The world, but that God
WAS in Christ Teconciiing the world to
himself. finaIity IN the philosophy OF
the atonement has not been reached
We are learners. But the prospect seems
70 be that the Vital theory will make
the conquest OF the human mind
FINE PAPER.
DR.. Smith was followed by Prof. w. T..
Poteat, of Wake Forest College, who read
j paper when is considered one Of the
finest ever heard in the church. He sa d
il part: Mans sin is the cause of the
breach between Cad and man; every man
Tor himself repeating the primitive gar
den experience. The penalty OF the vio-
Iation of the law of obei:en.e IS imposed
cd when the cause Of it ceases TO exist.
Th= essential and sufficient condition is
the change OF mans attitude, that is,
repentance. God himself bang already ia
vorable.
''Chrlst's sufferirlgs for the benefit Of
the guilty exhibits the Irrational and mon
strous character Of sin and the purpose
10 escape Its sway is born in this reveal
ton. His sacrifice exhibits the depth and
extremity of his love. which no peril could
turn aside from his purpose OF winning
men
Prof. Poteat was followed very closely
by the thoughtful men present and closed
with ringing applause
Dr. j. L. Sagebeer, Of Germantown. Pa,
was the first Of ;Lle appointed speakers
lie said that the only reason why he
spoke was that the two aole addresses
preceding had failed to explain the mode
Of the union in the Holy Trinity. lie
bai1 that this question has not Yet been
settled and probably never will be. lie
said TINT the Saviour himself never suS-
gested that his work in conversion was
all his OWL.
Rev. j. J. Taylor, D. D., of Norfolk,
was the next speaker. He held himself
10 the old theory of the atonsment Christ
made for sin or sinners. rs swept away
tie popu,a. theories OF U&iversalists. Uni
Iarians and others aid urged tn6 doctrine
CT hell ana datn1iat.on and the blood OF
cross.
Dr.. Z. H. johnson, Of crozier Theoioei-
cal Seminary, Pa, closed The discussion
ia a tsGi -minutes' speech
EVENING SESSION
The night session of the Baptist Con-
eress convened at S o'clocl, for the dis
cussion OF the question o. 'Ronmanist
Survival In Professionalism. The an
that DR.. William II. Whit
SIT, of Louisville Ky, one of The most
famous aud eminent scholars ana writers
in the Baptist church TO-DAY, would ope:i
this discussion. with reading OF paper
on the subject drew afe largest congre-
CATION of the session. waich gave tic
speakers the closest attention through
out the evening
After selections by the choir the open
ng prayer was offered by DR.. Willinsham.
Pref Mitchell, Of Richmond College, pre-
'ide1 over the session, and introduced Dr.. (,
.Nhftsitt. who spoke in part as follows:
The general tfasme OF the evening was +!
-Romanist Suryi.als in Professionalism |