The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-12

savannah, Ga, May 9.-The Southern
Baptist convention devoted most of the
day and evening TO considering mis-
sionary matters. Foreign missions oc-
cup1ed the morning and afternoon Ses-
Slons, and home missions the night Ses-
Sion Last year at the Asheville con-
vention the foreign mission board ask
ed for 100000. 1t was given $21S,0
during the year. 1t was proposed that
the sum for the foreign mission work
should be not less than $250,000. After
the call was made $2SO,OO0 was quickly
pledged by the various state organiza-
tions. The announcement was received
with great enthusiasm.
Many addresses We're made ON foreign
mission work, among them notable
one by P. T. Bryan. a missionary in
China. Mr. Bryan dwelt at length on
the work in the field. He touched on
the Boxer uprising and showed how he
had done an immense amount of good
to the case. The uprising, he said, had
lifted China up to place where Chris
tlan influence could get at the millions
of those whom they had not been able
to reach before, and the Boxer agitation
mad opened to the missionaries every
door needed for the rescuing of China.
Prospects, he said, had never been so
good
Letters We're read from all parts of
the empire from those laboring there,
some of them for over forty years. The
key note of all of them was that now
of in
the empire and that the time was ripe
for more successful work than ever be-
fore.
BY states, the pledges for the foreign
missions fund during the ensuing year
were as follows: Georgia. $4,000; Vir-
$4,000: North Carolina, $4,000; South
Carolina. $4,000; mississippi, $4,000;
Tennessee, $4,000; Missouri, $4,000;
Maryland $4,000; Arkansas, $1,000;
Louisiana. $4,000: Florida, 81, 800; Dis
trict of Columbia, $4,000; Indian Terri
tory. $500; Alabama, $4,000; Oklaho-
ma, $500.
1t was announced by Secretary Will
lingham that 1t had been estimated
that $4,000 could be raised from other
sources. This gave a grand total Of
s2S0,0G0, an increase of 1,4S7.3S over
that actually raised last year.
An effort was made at the morning
Southern Baptist convention co that of
| the Baptist Convention of the United
| States. A resolution to that effect was
offered by Judge George HIllyer, Of
! Atlanta The preamble recites that by
| the express words of the constitution
| under which this convention was Or
ganized in 1S45, the whole United States
| and all persons of our denomination
| making necessary contributions, all
| constituent bodies of the same who CO.
| operate with US are invited to repre-
sentation in this body without reference
i to locality, or territory, or latitude, and,
| Whereas. IN naming this body the
| phrase Southern Baptist convention
| was used at the date above named to
suit the condition then existing, but
which has long passed away: therefore
| be 1t
Resolved, l. That the name of this
| body be changed from Southern Bap-
| tist convention to that of the Baptist
| Convention of the United States" so
| that the name may better harmonic
| with the true nature and opportunities
Of this body.
"2. That appropriate steps be taken
! for carrying this action into effect by
an appropriate change in the charter
| under direction Of d committee ap-
| pointed by the president: and that such
change OF name be operative Sc soon
| as said charter amendment shall have
been procured.
Under the rules the resolution was
sent to the table. 1t will be brought UP
at the next meeting.
The troubles of Rev. A. J. Dlaz, OF
| Cuba, came to the attention of the con-
ventiOn. 1t seems that a suit has been
Instituted in Havana by the members
of the First Baptist church there tC
Gust the Americans, and dispOssess the
home mission board of the Southern
! Baptist convention which supplied the
funds for the erection Of the church
DR.. w. w. Landrum. president Of q
commission that investigated the situa-
ton in Havana, made this report:
There are in Havana two Baptist
churches, one known as the Gatehse-
NINE church, Of which Rev. A. J. Diaz
is the pastor, and the second. known as
the Calvary church. of which DR.. c. D
Daniel, formerly of Texas, is pastor
The First Baptist church is composed
OF a Cuban membership exclusively
and is not in harmony with the South
ern Baptist convention. But it is al
lowed by the convention to worship il
, the building, which the convention
owns. The convention has now asked
the Gethesmane church to Withdraw
: from the building by January l, 1904.
The Calvary church is in perfec
, harmony with the Southern Baptis
convention, and after January l, 1904
, will have exclusive use of the church
edifice now used by both churches.
'Dr. Diaz is no longer in the emplo!