The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-05-06
THE BApT|STS MEET
Convention Opens at Ashe-
Vile May the 9Th.
Perhaps the Largest Representative kvargrl'
ical Gathering That Ass mbles. It's
Purposes Explained.

This body, which meets in Asheville
| May the 9Th, is. perhaps. the largest con-
vention OF its kind that meets on the
| earth; that is. there is no other evan
gelical gathering representing 50 large a
membership.
There are in round numbers five mill
lion Baptists in the world, and three
million Of these-more than half-are IN
the bounds OF the Southern Baptist Goa
| v~ention. This is not the convention OF
"The southern Baptist Church" a name
frequently given TO us by the press, es-
| pecially the secular press. There Is no
such thing, and according TO our polity
there can be no such thing as The
Southern Baptist Church Every local
Baptist church is a little republic in
itself, governing its own affairs, amena-
Bile to no higher earthly power. This be-
ing the case, the Southern Baptist Con-
~vention is not an ecclesiastical court.
No time is taken UP with heresy trials.
The action OF the local church is final,
from it there is no appeal. Neither is
the convention a legislative body. They
cannot hand down any opinions, or enact
any laws that would be in the least de-
| gree binding Upon any local church. This
being true, the term "delegate' does not
convey a correct idea of the functions OF
those composing the Southern Baptist
Convention, as no power is delegated to
| them by the churches of which they are
members. The word messenger would
express more exactly the way in which
the local churches are related to the
convention, by those sent to represent
them. Some may be curious to know
| what is the object of this annual gather
ing, and why such a body, with no judi
e.@or, So 1or;r1,+;-o @r-or 0xic+c II
is simply a great missionary meeting,
whose object is TO promOt the interests
Of home and foreign missions. The first
clause Of the constitution gives a clear
idea of the great mission OF the conven-
ton: we, the delegates from mission
airy societies., churches, and other re-
ligious bodies of the Baptist d~enomina-
ton in various parts of the United
States, met in convention in the city Of
Augusta, Ga, for the purpose Of carrying
into effect the benevolent intentions OF
our constituents by organizing a plan Of
eliciting, combining and directing the
energies Of the whole denomination in
one sacred effort to the propagation Of
the gospel, agree to the following rules
etc:
Article 2 CT the constitution distinctly
states that the rights Of the churches are
HOJ 10 De lOtFlISoQ upon. 1HlS is the
language. 1T shall be the design Of the
convention to promote foreign and do
mestic missions, and other important
objects connected with the Redeemer's
kingdom. and to combine for this pur-
pose such portions Of the Baptist denomi-
ration in the United States as may de-
sire a general organization for Christian
benevolence, which shall fully respect
the independence and equal rights of the
Churches The convention is merely an
advisory body. 1t can pass resolutions
and make suggestions, but the churches
can reject these suggestions, if. In their
wisdom they see fit so to do. What has
been said about the Southern Baptist
Convention in its relation to the church
IS holds good in regard to State conven-
tons and district associations.
Each State within the bounds OF the
Southern Baptist Convention is entitled
to one delegate from every district as
sociation, and one delegate for every
$3.50 raised for the objects Of the con-
v%ention. This gives North Carolina
ftty-seyen associational delegates. and
~sixty-fve delegates on the money basis.
1t will be borne in mind, however, that
for the money raised and expended in
our own State We get no representation
in the Southern Baptist Convention.
In our denomination there are no
ranks in the ministry, and in our con
v%entjon ministers and laymen stand on
an equal footing. For q number of years
the presiding officers of the convention
have been laymen. The prospects are
that the attendance at Asheville next
week will be the largest in the history
Of the convention. Asheville is a very
attractive place. and the railroads,
hotels and boarding houses offer special
rates. Many will seize this opportunity
20 visit our beautiful Land of the Sky