The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-05-15

SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION.
The Great Gathering OF Baptist Clans at
Asheville. n. {.
AsheriIIe. n. G. NAV 1910


To Tn FREE LANCE:
Boarding the elegant new Southern
train now operating through Frcdericks-
burg left home on last Wednesday at
noon. Without change of ears except
Mt Salisbury, n. c., we reached Ashevile
in n run of but little over , hours. The
southern system gives the best of accom-
modations to travellers, and has handled
the crowds turning to Asheville with
ease and comfort to each one. IL is in
deed a great throng that has flocked TO
this Land of the Sky" at this annual
gathering OF the Baptist clans. 1t seems
destined to be one of the greatest meet.
ings among Southern Baptists. The
place of meeting is ideal Ample ac.
commOdation in hotels and boarding
houses, a large commodious convention
hall with capacity for 1900 hearers,
and salubrious and delightful climate
with scenery unsurpassed this side the
great rockies. are the inducements with
which Asheville tempts conventions.
=
tion and are here 1900 strong. From
the Potomac TO Rio Grande they have
answered the roll call and are now
hard at work on the important concerns
that bring them together.
TIM Young PEOPLES MEETING.
Thursday was partly given To the
voun.. pan,Iafa ,,,,,-o...... n n
If Alabama, presided over this gathering
and there was many Indications of
rapid progress in this work. The adj
dresses were of high order and most
helpful and stimulating. The key note
was 1.-The great commission" DR.. Madi-
son Peters spoke upon the doctrinal as
pect OF the subject and made the most
memorable speech of the occasion.
The American baptist Education So
ciety was accorded the afternoon of
Thursday and held an enthusiastic meet.
ing. This organization embraces both
northern and southern Baptists and has
ior its mission the raising of funds for
our educational institutions. IL is
through this society that Mr.. Rockefel-
Ter gives his thousands to help BAPTIST
schools. There is evidently a great
educational awakening in our land. and
the large sums of money now given for
this purpose is one of the hopeful signs
of the times. It is evident from the re-
ports and addresses before this gather
ing that the Baptist people are alive to
this awakening and have "A part in the
blessings that come through this chan
mel
The convention proper was called to
order at Il O'Clock Friday The organi-
zatlon was effected by the election of
Governor Eagle, of Arkansas, as presi-
dent, and Drs. Burrows, of Nashville,
and Gregory, of Baltimore, as secreta-
ries. The reading of the reports of the
secretaries OF the boards consumed the
remainder of the day, except the night
session. which was given to listening to
the Introductory sermon by DR.. f. C.
Mcdonnell, of Atlanta, Ga.
1t is not the purpose of this letter to
give detailed report of the Convention,
but only mention matters of special in
terest
THE CUBAN MATTER.
The war in Cuba and the unsettled con
ditions there in political matters are CO.
incident with, if not causative Of trou-
bles in our important missions upon the
Island. The board of the convention
operating in Cuba has had serious com
plications with Mr.. Diaz, who for years
was our trusted apostle in the mission.
Especially has his management OF our
property been open to severe criticism
and has led to a separation OF official
relation between Diaz and the board
The board has at last secured accurate
titles to its property there but MIR. Diaz
evidently has the congregation and
they are influenced by his leadership
I The work OF the mission board in dis
tricts outside of Havana is well in hand
and in good condition. The present sit
uation in Havana is, to say the least
embarrassing, but not without hope o
solution. Mr.. Daniel, our present mis-
sionary there, is wise as well as energetic
and has the confidence of this conven
ton, Mr.. Daniel and Mr. O'Halloran {,
Cuban) both spoke to the convention
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