The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-17
BAPTISTS
ORGANIZE
Very Interesting Movement
That is Now on Foot.
A WHEEL WITHIN A WHEEL
A Report Made Yesterday by a Com
mittee Appointed a Short While
Ago-Plans are Not Yet
Fully Formed.
A WHEEL WITHIN A WHEEL

Plans are now cling projected for an
organization among the Baptist churches
OF Richmond and Manchester, somewhat
similar to a district association. which
will, however. In no way conflict with the
existing arrangements with reference to
the Dover. in which all the local congre.
|. cations hold membership. The new body
will be in the nature Of wheel within
a wheel. the outer rim Of which will be
tho present association, and the inner
the organized body OF the Richmond and
Manchester churches.
UP to this time the eighteen or twenty
local Baptist congregations have been SD
many entities. separate and distinct
with no central body around which they
could gather in concert OF action. Tho
Dover Association. 1t is true, meets once
each year. but the Dover has In 1t many
churches besides those in Richmond and
Manchester. A large number Of these
churches are country churches. Many
things interesting and important to the
Richmond churches are altogether indf-
ferent to the others, and, therefore, they
could not come up In the association.
Hence, there became, from time to time
felt more and more, q need for an or
Eanization which would cover the local
field, but go no further, through which
these city churches could unite in the
peculiar to them
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
A short while ago the Baptist Minis.
ters' Conference appointed q committee
to look into the situation and submit
a report recommending something. The
gentlemen of the committee are DR.. r.
II. Pitt. chairmans DR.. George Cooper,
DR.. w. r. L. Smith. DR.. j. B. Hutson
DR.. c. s. Gardner and Rev. =. V. Badly
Tryt-. - IT.
the meeting Of the conference yesterday
presented q verbal report recommending
meeting to be held In the near z,!ture
for organization. The report was unani-
mously adopted. The proposed meeting.
it Is understood. will be held on Thursday
of next week. probably at the First
Church. The pastor OF each church In
Richmond and Manchester and three
representative laymen from each congre-
cation will be present. A special pro-.
gramme, to be prepared as soon as pos
sible. will include addresses explaining
the new organization to- be formed. set
ting forth It's advantage and so on.
WHAT DIR. PITT SAYS.
Just what will be the character OF the
new organization is a matter which seems
yet to be unsettled. Dr. r. H. Pitt,
chairman Of the committee. was seen yes
terday about the matter. He said in ef-
feet:
THE new body will be as large as
some Of the associations in the State,
But 1t will not be an association in the
ordinary acceptation of the term among
Baptists. 1t will not conflict with tho
Dover. in which the Richmond churches
hold and will continue to hold member
ship. But there are various matters OF
local interests and Importance IN which
the Dover. as a body. could not unite
The Richmond churches want some CEN
trail body through which they can prose-
cute these matters, one of which is city
missions. AS a result Of the organization,
we can get together and act in concert,
The city mission work will be one OF the
chief features Of the new body. In con
nectton with this matter. Dr.. c. c. Bit
ting. OF New York. appeared before the
conference yesterday and made an ad
dress. In which he set forth how the
work Is carried on in New York. Much
enthusiasm was aroused by Dr.. Biting.