Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1905-05-19
BAPTISTS ARE
NOW UNITED
Form at st. Louis One Organize.
For This Country.
COVERS ALL AMERICA
Rev. Call Burns Causes a Sensation
by Declaring That Infants Must
Publicly In FIXTURE BE DIED.
icated to God.

/ st. Louis, May 19.-The organization
OF a permanent body to be known as the
General Convention of Baptists Of
North America was perfected by the
election of the following officers: Pres
ident, E. w. stephens. Columbia, Mo-;
first vice president, E. N. Dresser.
Ohio; second vice president, Joshua
lowering. Maryland; third vice presi-
dent. J. y. Trotter. Nova Scotia; sec
rotary, ]. S. Prestidge. Kentucky; as
sistant secretary. w. II. Geistweit
Illinois. and treasurer. II. Kirk Porter.
Pennsylvania.
Executive Committee-J. v. Martin
p. p. Egan. Kentucky; S. A. Crandall,
Minnesota; II. II. Moorehouse New
York; G. c. Whitney. Massachusetts,:
| G. ID. Reese. Pennsylvania; w. Z.
Hatcher. Virginia; ]. 3. Gambrell.
Texas, ]. S. Dickerson. Illinois; ]. W..
Conley, Nebraska; c. c. Morris, Ark
ansas; C. c. Hill. California; w. w.
Manahan, Georgia and S. 3. Meeher.
Michigan.
After the business incident to the or
ganiZation of the general convention
had been concluded. Rev. Call Burns q
Massachusetts. in an address on THE
Unity of the Baptist Mission" made
what is regarded by his fellow Baptists
as a radical utterance on the question
of infant baptism. which Is opposed by
the Baptist teaching. We have In
sisted, " said DIR. Barnes. "on Individual
instead of collective obedience to God
so have had TO insist on baptism by
personal action instead of baptism by
proxy. But at the mouth of the whole
battery of the worlds scholars and at
the point of bayonet of common sense
the forces of infant baptism have been
turned until there is nothing left for
them but an act of infant dedication.
and the sooner we turn, too. and pub
licly dedicate our children, the sooner
we shall have taken away the last prop
of edo-baptism.'
Rev. DIR. Edward Judson of New
York. son of Adonisam Judson. who
was one Of the first missionaries of the
Baptist church. made "A motion that the
report of the committee favoring union |
be adopted. ut seems TO me to be in |
harmony with st. Paurs pronuncis- |
mento of peace" said he. land find In |
II no deep laid plan to undermine the |
faith. 1t seems to IN. a noble formula
ton of Baptist brotherhood. Tkd |
comes to me my fathers great love Tor |
the south and / rejoice today that the |
bitterness between the north and south |
passed away with the war and we are |
now dwelling together and mingling |
with unity and love. Today we are not |
producing Baptist brotherhood. but we |
are simply giving II definite form and |
therefore favor the adoption of this |
report"
The motion was seconded by Rev. DR.. |
w. L. Hatcher of Virginia. Il think |
there is wisdom and strength and po-
tency in the adoption of this ,,lan of
uniting the Baptists OF the north and
SOUTH" he said. This action sends q
message TO the outside and tells |
friends and critics alike that so far as
the American Baptists are concerned |
there is an infinite difference between
separation and division. We are sepa-
rate in our work, but this meeting and
this action will declare to the world
that we are not divided. There are now
no causes that stand in the way of our
union of heart and cordial fraternity
In closing want TO say. although I am
n Democrat, / think that the power OF
one man to unity this country toward.
effectinR a unity OF the world has been
the supreme event in the American his
tory. ] feel that we must be united
together not only in the church for the
one great purpose that may lead to the
salvation of the nations. therefore
with great heartiness and cordiality
second the motion TO adopt this COM
mittee'z resolution"
Imme6 .ately upon the conclusion Of
DR.. Hatoher's speech the convention
spontaneously burst into the singing
of "All Hail the Power of Jesus Name
The report of the committee recon-
gending perm nent organization I;
designated as the General Convention
Of Baptists of North America. The
geOgra phical scope OF the organization
is TO be North America and its islands
There IS 10 be a president three vice
presidents. a secretary and treasurer
Churches, local. state and territorial or
CARNATIONS are to have representation
II is not to interfere with the affairs of
either Of the existing organizations
The next meeting is to be held in 1906
and after that conventions are to be
held triennially.
1t was decided to install permanent
headquarters for the general conven-
ton at Louisville KY. In regard to
representation at future conventions.
the regulations Of the constitution and