The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-14
Dr. Dawson Springs Sur
 prise Among BaptiStS
AS TO NEGRO PROBLEM
God Will Take Care of Mat
 ter, Says Alabamian.
It Is Nc Anair of the conve.tien Nsvs Gathered at Kansas City, Black Neither slave
 Nor ward.

Kansas City, Mo. May 12.-'Tt Is no affair of this convention to solve the socalled negro problem. It Is our duty to find our duty and recognize and discharge 1t. God will take eare of the problem"
 Dr. l.. O. Dawson. of Alabama, chair man of a commission appointed at the Nashville convention year ago to in- vestigate work among the negroes de- livered his report before the annual Southern Baptist convention now .n session in this city. The above dacla- ration, with which Dr. Dawson opened his report. caused something of surprise. and his report as he continued was listened to with unusual interest.
 Continuing the report said: No fixed policy can with wisdom be adopt ed by g convention dealing with a shift ing problem. 4 plan pre-emnientiy wise today might be foolish tomorrow In all our policies there should be an elasticity which would render juag- ment or entire change not only possiblt but easy.
 By far the greatest force In leading the negro up from savagery has been his varied contact with Christian white men and women. In this day in per- sonal contact with the negro. necessary to our Southern life. lies our greatest opportunity to help and herein Is found our chief duty. It should hc largely an individual duty vastly more ina- portant than any educational or mis- sionary scheme this or any other con- vention can adopt. By pulpit and press. by every force known to Chris tan endeavor, this convention should urge our people to perform this in- dividual, every day. home duty. Thia with fair and just treatment in all the affairs of life, will be well nigh the measure of our obligation. This will help to self help and to self respect.
 The Negro's Status.
 ''The negro Is no longer alave and should be no longer q ward Upon this point your committee rests It's chief emphasis and its most earnest recommendation.
 The Southern Baptist Convention should stand. as it has always stood. for the application of every possible uplifting agency to the negro situation and therefore should welcome every contribution from whatever source for the proper education of the negroes Chief among these contributions is the $1s0. ,000 paid by the Southern States through taxation for this pur- pose.
 Several other reports were presented to the convention. The report of tho 
 showed that the Southern Baptist de- nomination has in its Jurisdiction 20.- 400 white churches with 1,s32.e3s mem bers The contributions from all the churches for the year was s5,s7e,0sl.
 The presentation of a memorial signed by Baptists in Arkansas and Texas calling themselves Gospel mis- sionaries" or 'Landmarkers' evoked much discussion. 'Landmarkers'' ara opposed to the organized work cf the Baptist Church as it Is conducted ny the convention through boards. They especially object to financial basis of representation, insisting that tho churches as such shall elect all dele- gates. They object. too, to paid sec retaries and boards.
 While most of the protestors are "Landmarkers" it was said that the leading men known by that name ara heartily in cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention. The memorial was referred without com ment.
 Several men prominent in church work addressed the convention during the day on various subjects. Among them were Rev. J. R. Parish, Meridian. Miss; Dr. E. Y. Mullins. of L.ouisviles pr. T. M. D. Johnson of St. Louis and Dr. J. H. Eager, Baltimore. Weston Bruner. Washington. D. C.. read re- port from the Committee on Sunday School Board Work.
 Foreign Missions.
 Fourteen States and Territories repre- sented at the annual gathering of the Southern Baptist Convention in session in this city today contributed to total of S354.000 for foreign missions In addition a contribution of $5,O00 to the same fund was announced from a New York woman whose name was withheld.
 The States contributed sums as fol- lows: Alabama. $35.000; Arkansas. ST. 900; Georgia. $60.o00; Missouri, $22,oo0; Florida, S5,000; Louisiana, $S,o00; Ken- lucky, S35 ,000; Oklahoma, and Indian Territory, $2.000. North Carolina, $2s,- 900: South Carolina, $30,000; Texas. te.- O0o; Tennessee. $2O.o00; virginis. s4S.-