The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-12-13
STRINGENT DIVORCE LAWS.
BaptiSts Join in War on This Evil.
Convention Hears Reports on Sum-
day Schools, State Missions and
Educational Interests.
Especial to Raleigh Post.)

Elizabeth City, n. c., December 9
The third days session of the Baptist
convention was called to order. in the
First Baptist church this morning by
President Marsh. Devotional exercises
were conducted by Rev. c. ]. Thomp-
son of Durham.
Resolutions favoring the enactment
of more stringent divorce laws by the
state legislature were adopted. a reso-
luton was offered and adopted that
President r. H. Marsh be appointed a
delegate from the North Carolina con-
ventiOn to the baptist Worlds Confer
enee, which will meet in London next
July.
The next matter to come before the
body was state missions. This occu-
pied the most of the morning session.
The report on state missions was read
by Rev. G. n. Cowan of Kinston. l.
vas most gratifying. showing that the
item of state missions had made great
strides during the past year. This re-
port was followed by an able address
by Mr.. Cowan, in which he emphasized
the Importance of this work among the
churches. A resolution, offered by Rev.
j. C. Massee, favOring an eVangelistic
committee of seven to assist in the
work of state missions, was upon mo-
ton Of Rev. Baylus Cade, referred to
the state mission board.
When the convention reassembled in
the afternoon at 3 o'clock the report of
the Sunday school committee was read.
1t showed great progress in the work.
Distinct advance has been made this
1900 - 49, l;-Aat r,,pr0rt Of tho in
stitutes, as contemplated by the COM
mittee, the board and the convention
The amount forwarded to Treasurer
Durham for the Sunday school work
from February 1 to December 1 was
$S3O.I3. 1t is believed that during the
coming year the department will be
entirely supported by direct offerings
TO sustain it. MI. H. C. Moore, field
secretary, spoke in behalf of the re-
port. He said that they hoped to have
a Baptist sunday school in every Bap-
fist church in the state and every
where one is needed.
The report on Baptist SCHOOLS was
read by Mr.. ]. w. Bailey. The great
est objection. he thinks. is the LACK of
a standard by which Baptist schools
could be designated. A number of in
situations were reported, some of them
claiming to be Baptist because of the
principals or owners being of that de-
nomination, and others because they
were under the direction of some Bap-
fist organization. The report urges
the adoption of a standard by which
the different schools could tell whether
or not they were really Baptist schools.
The adoption of this report concluded
the afternoon session.
The evening session of the North
Carolina Baptist convention was called
to order and devotional exercises were
conducted by DR.. VIM. 3. Lunsford OF
Ashevilie. Upon motion of Rev. c. w.
Duke a telegram was ordered sent Rev.
c. A. @. Thomas at Edenton, sympa-
thizing with him in his illness.
The evening session was devoted TO
home missions and the report was read
by Rev. c. \. Jenkins of Chapel Hill.
The report was very exhaustive and
called attention to the dangers from
commerciaIism and ndifferentism, and
the remedy was pointed out as the
Christian religion. There has been
$500 contributed to the mountain work
of the board, and $4,000 is needed
The subject of home missions was
openly discussed by Rev. A. E. Brown,
DIR. Gray and others. This discussion
concluded the evening session.