The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-20
THE CON,V EN- TON
AT HOT SPRINGS.
Southern Baptist Convention a Note
worthy Meeting.
The PAY PLAN COME TO STAY
The Asscmblage Will Long Be Re-
membercd for Its Eluqucnce-Re
markable Speech by !, Colorcd
Missionary to Africa.
THE PAY PLAN COME TO. STAY

HOT SPRINGS, ARK, May 14-special.-
The session of the Southern Baptist Con-
vention at Hot Springs. Ark, in 1860, Will
long be remembered. It has been no.
table meeting. In some things the high
water mark has been reached. With this
session the pay plan Of entertainment
has probably come to stay. On every side
satisfaction is expressed at the accomno-
daiions found here. The Southern Bap-
lists have held a great "house-party' in
the splendid Eastman Hotel, which has
captcity for 1,0o0 guests.
Its dining-room has seen spread an
unusual feast, a feast spiritual. It's
dancing hall has heard women pleading
and praying for the heathen in their
darkness. Its lobby has been a great re-
ception hall, where every one has met
friends and where there has been from
day to day practical proof Of the bless
edness Of the tie that binds in Christian
love- For food for the body, all feet
have turned towards tic handsome dining
hall of the Arlington Hotel
Old-time eloQuence has been heard in
very many speeches. Yet it has been elo-
Guence watch has had a practical aim and
end
THE KEYNOTE.
The Keynote was set in the introduce
tory sermon preached by DIR. Taylor, of
Norfolk, Va, and the high standard es-
tablished by his sermon has been often
reached and often Appropriated to by
many of tile speakers.
DIR. Carroll delivered on Sunday, which
was observed as Century-Day, an address
on 1.-THE Baptists a Century Ago re-
markable for its realistic picture OF men
and manners a hundred years ago and
for its fine grasp upon the seed thoughts
and deeds which have in our day floWered
and borne fruit. Indeed all of the eight
addresses of Century-Day were excellent
and it is we'll that they are to be printed.
Southern Baptists this week have turned
their eyes to the past to do honor to the
fathers" who labored and suffered, doing
foundation work. But retrospect has
been only that the forward move might be
the more enthusiastic. Southern Ba.ptists
have their faces towards the future. AS
never before they seem TO realize the
solemn responsibilities and great oppor-
tunities that are upon them.
a GIANT.
TIE denomination with its million and
half members is a giant. Perhaps until
now the giant has been only half awake.
1t seems now as though the giant were
arousing himself for high and holy en-
deavor. Enthusiasm has more than over
burst forth in the convention, but 1t mas
the marks Of deep purpose and systematic
effort.
Once since the opening hour last Friday
decided difference of opinion has appeared.
The proposition to establish Committee
of Cooperation coming from commit
tee of one from each State, met with strong
opposition. TIE discussion was able and
warm being participated in by Drs. ker-
foot, Hatcher, Bell. Mr.. Joshua Leverlng
and others. It finally passed The COM
mittee is 10 be of nine members. three
from the Home Board, three from the
Foreign Board and three from the Sun
day-School Board. This committee will
strive ITO elicit and combine" the energies
of the denomination. And in order to do
this Will appoint general secretary. This
general secretary will work to secure gifts
for missions from the LOCO Baptist
churches in the South which now give
nothing to this cause.
CENTURY-DAY.
The century-Day of last Sunday is to
have echoes throughout the South for the
next year in State Conventions, District
Associations and local churches. Bap-
list history and heroism, Baptist prin-
ciples. Baptist potentialites are to be laid
upon the hearts of the Southern Baptist
brotherhood by preachers and laymen IN
thousand sermons and speeches. And TINS
is planned. not for Boosting nor in bras-
CART spirit, nay rather through deep
realization Of the work that remains to be
done. The work Of foreign missions has
received due attention, and amidst tears
and songs yet with strong earnestness. the
convention resolved the coming year to
raise 500 900 for the great work. Wnile
missionaries do not now arouse the IN
terest they once did. they are loved no
less. nay perhaps more really, for While
there is less demonstration over them'
there is more systematic endeavor 10 help
and support them.
THE MISSIONARIES.
Quite a number of missionaries have
appeared before the convention: Miss
Claudia White. of China: DR.. r. Z. Sim
mons, of China; Rev. c. E. Smith OF
Osbamostlaw, Africa: Rev. Mr.. Watkins.
of Mexico One of the very brightest
and most captivating speeches was mace
by Rev Mr.. Morris, a negro, and a ms
sionary TO Africa, sent out by the Goiorea
BAPTIST Convention. His speech was adj
mirable and thought by some to be the
| best speech Of the session. A hat collection
at the suggestion of DR.. Eaton was taken
for this Brothers work, and over a nun
dred dollars raised
During the convention two chapel cars,
belonging to the American Baptist Publ
cation Society, have been sidetrackeo mere
They have been visited by many delegates
and services have been held in them.
This session of the Convention is con-
sidered one of the best, perhaps the best
that has been held for many year Whlle
the attendance has been smaller than
usual. this is accounted for by the fact
that the place of meeting was so far
west The reports of the three Boards
of the Convention and of the Seminary
were encouraging in a high degree, and
plans for expansion and enlargement We're
set on foot.
| The next convention goes to New
Orleans. -Asheville made strong flght
and it is thought that if a large number
of the delegates had not left for home
before the vote was taken, AsheviNe
would have won. AS it was the majority
for New Orleans was only "a. st. louis
W., in 1909