The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-08-09
THE BAPTIST CONGRESS.
ssasus of Negro Baptist Delegates, and
the English View of the Negro.
A North Carolina Negro
Adrift in London.
Bye. c. Brown.

London, England. July 20 1905.
Doubtless some one will soon be
asking when propose to have word
to say about the great Baptist con-
eress. and am ready to make answer
now. The folks at home will all be
disappointed by the reports that
come to them for the simple reason
That no man can make an adequate
report. Our congres is net law
making body. Among Baptists there
lis no such thing. Each church makes
It's own laws, according to the New
Testament, and is not called upon to
look to any superior head for instruc-
lions. Our church polity is absolute
H democratic, and the people rule.
This congress will not venture to
pass rule nor make law OF any
Hind. It is simply the coming to-
Eether Of men from all parts OF the
world, to discuss living issues, an1
TO seek to make survey of the whole
field of operation. It has brought
into one body large part Of the
aearning and scholarship Of the Bap-
fist churches. We here meet, shake
hands, and tell each other how the
work fares in the land from which we
come. Nothing has been said about
any. distinctive Baptist doctrines. In
many matters we all disagree, and
soon the harmony Of our disagree
nent is charming to look upon. A
man who joins Baptist church is
not questioned about doctrinal de-
tails. The essentials could be written
IN less than hundred words, and be-
.yond these we ask no questions and
set mp no sort of inquisition about
creed. The matters assigned for dis
eussion are large and comprehensive.
The papers here tell US that some Of
our English friends have had long
drawn out debate during the last few
DAYS as to how man shall be cloth
ed IN administering the ordinance Of
The Lords supper. Such a question
Eouid be impossible among US. We
see no good to come from debates
roncerning matters purely external.
The congress has given itself to such
questions as these:
<.The Place of Baptists in the Chris
tan Curcn J. d. Freeman, Of
Toronto, Canada.
aThe Iaadequacy of Non-Christian
Religions to Meet the Needs of the
world-By R. Glover, of Bristol,
England.
..woman's Work on the Foreign
FIELD Mrs. waterbury. of Bos-
ton, Mass. ct win be noticed, if you
please, that in this congress the wom-
an are not subdued unto silence.)
.The Awakening Of China and ia
pan Several spoke on this topic,
and DR.. Chas. S. Gardner, lately Of
South Carolina, took the palm for
the simple reason that he made a
good speech, striking out from the
shoulder, while the others saw fit to
read their productions.
On Friday, the 14th, the whole
morning was given to the discussion
pf constructive Work in Biblical
Theology" Dr. Mullins read a fine
paper on the Friend Of Modern
Thought but the fact that he read
1t robbed it of much of its power and
failed to show Mullins at his best.
On Friday afternoon and during
fhe whole of Saturday missionary
topics were before the congress, such
as "Self-support and self-propaga-
fion Of missionary churches" High
er Education in Missionary Schools, :"
and "The Printing Pres and Christian
Literature as Missionary Agencies
In front of the great platform there
are many reporters. A complete Ste
nographic report is being taken, and
every word said will eventually come
out in book forra. This being true,
one can readily see how useless it
would be for any writer to papers
to seek to give his views as whole.
Tt would require pages of writing and
hours of time which are not now IT
his disposal.
I am sorry for the people who will
be called upon to read in any paper
q hurried hash made out Of the frag-
ments one can gather here as he sits
and listens During all these days
my rule has been to be on hand tc
hear certain men: in the interim, /
oG