The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-04-26
BAPTIST CHURCH CENTENNIAL
Dr.. Hateher's Splendid Address on
THE Baptists and-The Future"

The BaPtists and ne Futu'e'
A fine audience greeted Rev. Or. VIM
r.. Hatcher, of Richmond, at the Baptist
church Friday night. He was introducec
by Rev. X. A. Williams the pastor. foI
an address, as arranged on the program
of the centennial celebration.
DR.. Hatcher, who Is "a iavorite here, had
for his subject, "The Bsptists ana the
Future" aud In most interesting STYLE
did he speak OF the future work 81 the
denomination. The congregation gave
him their closest attention aud the
address was greatly appreciated.
DR.. Hatcher said in part;
Thanks To the church for associating
me with its centennial. Have known
church during my public lie, especially
under the imperial reign of my fine old
fri. md. Thos. S Dunaway. You have often
honored me by claiming my services on
other representative occasions, and am
touched by this renewed evidence OF your
affection, but am united Tor the theme
which you have chosen Tor me. IL would
be difficult for me 60 tell the history OF
the Baptists Ia the past. IL is quite be
yond me to forecast their future. not a
prophet nor son of prophet
There is one notable inspiration In my
subject-it deals with things TO come. IL
eleyates me into the worlds loitiest oh
se-vatory and bids me to peer into the
future and tell what the signs OF promise
are.
One thing we may be sure Of it takes
neither prophecy nor presumption to
say that the future will be peopled with
| Baptists. II the enginry OF the past has
failed to exterminate the Baptists in
their weakness, now that they are a
great host and the old enginry is ont OF
order. their worst enemies can hardly ex-
pect their extinction
Baptists are bound to live. The are
on the program OF the ages and must BE-
on hand to answer. The fact H. they
have large contract on hand-uniin-
ished business-snd they must stay over
aud attend to it. Not lew OF their dis
tinctive doctrines held 10 the past have
been accepted by Others and incotpora-
ted into their systems Of beliefs; but they
still hold views, at once Scriptural and
peculiar, some of which are misunder-
stood and Others are established but in
part.
|. Sovereign authority OF Scripture
over ereeds and confessions.
2. Converted church membership.
3 Baptism in their order and full sym
bolic meaning.
4 Independence OF the local church
and the single order of the goepel minis
try
are doctrines which in our belief have
not found their exact setting IN the
Christian system OF the world, aud TO
bring these things up to their proper
place is the work which waits Tor bap-
tists
With this statement and with all mod
esty. submit the follow forecast OF our
UNCONVENTIONAL future.
|. Baptists of the future will be a sur
yival. Baptists are always survival,
though all Baptists do nOtsurvive. Some
are whipped away by change OF resi-
dence, social ambition, commercial aspl-
rations. matrimOny and q passion Tor
worldly amusements. Some enter into
our ranks without conversion, and OF
course these must sooner or later weary
of the relation and take their departure.
10 spite OF us. people enter our churches
without intelligence and without stable
convictions and they fed they are not al
nome. From these and other causes
there is alwa y leak age from our churches.
The fact appalled, me when first discOv'
eIed il. but 1t no longer moves me. The
power to eliminate unworthy elements
is one OF the very strongest points IN
Baptist church.
Ii looks now as il this drift toward
Worldliness aud rtualism may be
stronger than ever, but be not dismayed;
all will not go The best will not go and,
5 a ule, none will go except such as IL
is best TO have go. Oar strength aud
tfiumphs will be in those who survive
and stay.
III. The Baptists OF thefuture will stand
solidly upon the gospel commission. a
dismal fact in our history Is that 80
many OF our people have misunderstood
Christ's order for evaDgeliz4'ion. Ihey
built'o on the rock OF the Word, but never
understo ID our Lords bOundless pas
sion for humanity. fragment OF our
brotherhood still ignores aud antago'
nizes che commission. They hug their
icy creed 10 their bosoms aud wound
thei- own hearts with its isgs and edges
One of the most pathetic figures ~ the
world today Ia the missionary bap.
tist His brethren have gone forward
and left him alone. lchabod Is inscribed
ON his banner, and he had about him the
desolation OF the last citizen oil the de-
serted village.
Baptists entered the new century m.
pacted and unified with two great vital
I - "A. 10 nj a q
and vet not two thoughts but one. Ed
ucstion is largely preparatory ana de'
signed TO equip our people Tor the Cnris'
tian conquest of the world, Education
is getting ready TO take our part 10 the
world wide business OF evangelizstion.
We have not risen yet TO the height OF
the great argument. As yet, we see only
ia part. but our seers and prophets, who
walk the heights and see afar, hear but
one sound and that's the call OF the com
mission: but one Baptist army, and
that's our vast Baptist host holding
sloft the Christian banner and moving
ont with the message OF salvation Tor
the world. The wondrous growth oil
the Baptists and their forward move.
ment simply means they have the go
OF JUt
tible impulse within them Tor the redemp-
ton OF men. go.
III. The Baptists of the future will be
knit together by the principle Of cooper
alton. In one respect the Baptists have
been sorely misunderstood, and we need
not be surprised at It We have been cut
into different sects and branches and our
critics have claimed that there was no
coherency, no consistency In u.s. They.
have charged that we are mountain OF
sand, blown and driited and scattered
every where We admit the charge. The
principle Of Independence recognizes the
sovereignty Of the individual, An un-
tutored Baptist is not ftfor individuality
and under provocstion sinks into indi-
viduaIism. Aerevoltsirom control, rebels
against opposition and is likely, in the
homely phrase OF the times, ITO kick out
and quit" This marks the primary and
immature stage Oi Baptist life and OF
= AT md a..hf