Bridgeton pioneer., 1905-08-31
CONFERENCE
OF THE BAPTISTS

The General Conference of the Sew.
enth Day Baptists of the World opened
at Shiloh Wednesday morning.
Preparations had been going on for
months, in fact the closing of one con-
ference means the commencement of
preparations in some other place.
Last year it was held in Nortonville,
Kansas, and before the present ses-
sion closes they will decide on place
for next year.
The Conference now has travel
ing outfit consisting of dining and
kitchen tents and many other things
needed in the entertainment of large
crowd. The audience tent is new
one and was put up by Philadelphia
parties.
Delegates have been arriving for
days. Tuesday over 200 came and
there are many more to follow.
A goodly number assembled for the
first session. Mr.. Walton Davis with
his large, well trained choir furnished
music, and Rev. E. B. Saunders. pas.
tor of the Shiloh church, gave a
bright, we'll meaning address of well
come which was worthy of the name.
Rev. Saunders speaks from the heart
and can make his hearers feel it.
This was followed by the address of
the President of the Conference, DR..
Geo. W. Post. of Chicago.
He said in part: The past year has
been good year. AS people we
have made progress in the service of
our Lord and Saviour. Signs of
new awakening are apparent on all
sides, and in every branch of our life
as a denomination. There is wide.
not doing as much as we ought to do,
that we are not accomplishing what
our Lord expects us to accomplish.
We meet at this time because the
Lord has given us work as denomi.
nation, has given us things to do
which are too large for an individual
or a church. For instance church
could not support foreign mission.
1t is appropriate at this time to get
definite understanding of the nature
of this assembly. What is your idea
OF what Conference ought to be.
Is it place for old friends and rela.
tives to meet and renew their ac-
quaintance? A place for general good
fellowship and kindly intercourse?
Or is Conference primarily devo.
tional gathering, where we can have
stirring addresses from our great ora.
tors, where we hear evangelistic ser.
mons and have many soul satisfying
prayer and conference meetings.?
Or is it the prime function of Con-
ference to get our people together to
inform them Of the work of our de-
nominational boards, to arouse their
enthusiasm, to enlist their sympathies
and to secure thier support?
How much attention should be given
to providing of program which shall
please.and instruct visitors, who may
attend out meetings?
Or is conference a meeting where,
after listening to the results OF the
past years work as reported by our
boards. we shall lay out the work of
the coming year and turn over each
perfect plan to the appropriate board
for it's accomplishments?
Each of these views has its good
points and its strong advocates among
our people. But conference should be
essentially business meeting, held. in
a devotional and social spirit and it's
main function is to plan the work of
the future.
The Woman's Board has raised over
$5, 600 the past year which has been
applied to various benevolent pur.
poses, including the support OF Miss
Susie Burdick in China.
In the afternoon the Seventh Day
Educational Interests were taken up
and in the evening Woman's Work.
The addresses and papers show great
care and thought.
Everybody is welcome at all OF the
sessions. They are especially interest
ing to Seventh Day Baptists but out.
siders would enjoy knowing something
OF this peculiar people.
Thursday, August Gath.
The extreme uncomfortableness of
the weather does not lessen the ardor
OF the Conference, the size of the
audience constantly increases.
The days are filled brimful of good
things. The "BibIe Study" hour was
scheduled for s O'Clock Thursday and
each morning following. The first one
Thursday morning was led by Rev.
l.. A. Platt. The subject taken up
was the Redepmtion in the Old Testa-
ment.