Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-12-05
STATE BAPTIST CONVENTION.
Outline of the Proceedings Held In
Columbia Last Week.
For the Yorkville Enquirer:

NoluWpid LAST "ooNs
For the Yorkville Enquirer:
The eighty-fifth annual State Con-
vention OF Baptists I'm South Carolina
convened In the First Baptist church,
Columbia, on last Friday evening, De-
cember l, at s o'clock. The convention
was called to- order by the retiring
president, Mr.. Charles A. Smith Of
Timmonsville. who announced that the
Introductory sermon would be preach
ed by Rev. E. M. Poteat, d. D., presi-
dent Of Furman University, who was
the regular appointee. DR.. Poteat Is a
preacher Of marked ability as well as
a strikingly handsome man, and on
this occasion fully sustained his almost
ational reputation among Baptists by
giving his hearers a message entirely
appropriate as to time and place and
one that many Of them are not likely
to forget soon. Among other points
enforced was an earnest plea for en-
larged work, reminding his hearers
that while there had been great deyel-
opment along various lines, compare
lively speaking, the Baptists had not
increased their contributions to the
various objects fostered by the church
in proportion to their increased wealth,
and assigned as one reason the fact
that years ago they had gotten into the
habit Of excusing themselves and cas-
ing their consciences by crying hard
times" and the old habit in a large
measure still chung to them, notwith-
standing the fact that they were now
wealthy. s.
At the conclusion Of DR.. Poteats
sermon, which was listened to by an
audience which filled the historic edi-
fee, the enrolment Of delegates took
place. The total number enrolled was
about 400. To one not familiar with
conditions in the Baptist denomination,
but wro know that there are about
10000 white communicates In South
Carolina, the fact that only 400, includ-
ing preachers ahd laymen. attended the
annual convention, called for the pur"
pose Of comforting together and dia-
cussing the subjects Of education,
missions, etc, would seem rather
strange, but when told that attendance
Is entirely voluntary on the part Of
every oHe, be he preacher or layman,
and that as q rule he pays his own
expenses, the fact that so many actual
ly attended Is rather remarkable.
After the enrolment Of delegates had
been completed the convention organ.
lied by re-electing Mr.. Smith presi.
de-t. The president is layman and
a successful business man and has, In
Guiding this one, presided over the last
three conventions.
AS indicated above the object of
holding a State convention annually Is
for the purpose Of comforting together
as to the interests Of the denomina-
tional schools. the orphanage. foreign,
home and state. missions. The body Is
no sense legislative, and has no con-
troll or oversight over the individual
churches or their members, every
Baptist church being absolutely inde-
pc ndent Of all others SO far as discip-
line or other matters akin to church
government are concerned and none
are forced to contribute to any Of the
oiJt cts fostered by the denomination.
All contributions are entirely volun-
tary.
On Saturday the greater part Of the
morning session was devoted to read
ing reports made by the various
boards. These reports were full OF In
terest to Baptists and showed that
during the past year. there had been
marked increase along all lines, such
as increase in membership, attendance
at the various schools under the care
of the convention, and In contributions,
the latter for benevolence alone, such
as missions, the orphanage, old worn
out preachers, aggregating In round
numbers $4,000.
On Sunday practically all the Pro-
testant pulpits In the city, both white
and colored, were filled by visiting
Baptist preachers. In the afternoon at
the convention, church a notable ad-
dress on the subject of Foreign Mis-
sions was delivered by Rev. DR.. r.. ].
Willingham, secretary ard treasurer or
the Foreign Mission Board Of the
Southern Baptist convention. DR.. VII.
lingham is man of giant intellect and
has the ability of presenting the ordi-
nari,y considered dry subject OF For
eign Missions In such. q manner as to
command the undivided, yes almost
breathless attention Of any audience,
and on Sunday afternoon many who
had heard him often before were hatts-
fed that he had never before been
quite so eloquent or earnest.
A matter. that Ii being -agitated by
some of the Baptists at present, espe.
cially those in and around Greenviue,
sometimes designated by the more hip-
pant brethren as the Baptist Jerusa-
liem," Is the enlargement Of the Green
vile Female college. It Is claimed that
the buildings are inadequate and many
girls who desire to attend the school
are unable to do so because OF the lack
of dormitory room. The leaders In the
movement for enlargement have ar
ranged with Rev. L. A. Cooper, formerly
pastor of the church at Johnston, to
canvass the state for the funds neces-
sary to increase the facilities. While
the Baptists are great believers In q.
F. c. as the college is called and hum
dreds Of girls from Baptist families
all over the state have gone there In
years gone by and paid full prices for
board tuition, ETC., and are still doing
so, there are thousands OF Baptists,
and many Of them are liberal and have
money, who are not inclined to help In
the enlargement, and for. the reason
that they think that In view Of
the untold benefits the city OF Green
VILE has derived from having the
school there from a financial, social
and religious standpoint, she should
Willingly invest her own money In the
enterprise and not expect the Baptists
outside the. community not only to
send their girls there, pay full prices
for the privilege and In addition fur
nish even a part Of the money neces-
sary to enlarge the plant. While the
writer made no special inquiry as to
what other towns might do during the
convention, he did hear one brother
who is able to deliver the goods" say
III money Is what Is wanted, my
idea Is to make bona fide, guar
anteed irrevocable offer to locate the
college In any city or town In South
Carolina which will guarantee the larg-
est amount Of cash. am sure can
raise at least 100000 In a few days In
my town and we won't ask the Baptists
Of the state to do anything except send
US their girls"
The city Of Columbia invited the
convention to meet this year In Col
umbia and made extensive prepara-
tions for its pleasure. comfort and con-
venience. The delegates were evident
ly all pleased, each one having an ex-
preston on his face that indicated that
he believed that he had the most de-
lightful home In town. The hospitality
was boundless. =
AL TAE EAIlRCAEa