Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-14

The statement that the three large societies
OF the convention-the American Baptist
Missionary Union, American Baptist Home
Mission Society and the American Baptist
Publication Socety-would decide to unite
at the meeting to be held Thursday even
Ing Is declared to be without foundation.
What is Proposed.
In speaking of the matter today Rev. Dr.
Howard d. Crosse, editor Of the Baptist
Home Mission Monthly of New York, said:
THE meeting of the Baptists Thursday
evening and Friday; about which SO
In response to a call issued by the
secretaries of the three general Bap-
list societies-the Home Mission Society,
the Missionary Union, which conducts the
foreign mission work, and the Publication
Society. Since many leading men of the
denomination In Chicago, Boston and else
where have expressed desire for some
general medium through which the Baptists
of the north might express their convic-
tons on great moral issues or on denomina-
tlonal matters, meeting to discuss the
subject was gladly given place in the ami
versary program by the representatives Of
the societies. If the, proposed organization
of northern Baptists takes place the new
body will be advisory and not legislative,
and will not interfere in any way with the
UNCONVENTIONAL societies now In existence.
These are Incorporated bodies, with lega-
cies and trust funds and endowments, and
they could not legally be replaced or united
In a common society, even were such q
proposition made. That there is much which
a general convention could do for the de-
nominational life is evident. and as the
constituencies of the missionary and pub
fishing societies are practically the same
the new organization would combine them
for discussion of general questions which no
one Of the three societies could individually
deal with. Take the proposition of union
between the Baptists and Free Baptists as
q case In point. There is now no central
body Of Baptists before which this propo-
stion can be brought for discussion and
recommendation. A northern convention,
such as is proposed, could not legislate in
such matter, but its expressed opinion,
as a representative body would doubtless
carry the matter to successful conclusion.
thing like the national council OF the Con-
gregational churches, which is Also adyis-
DRY only, but exerts a tremendous denomf-
st. Louis, one of the ablest speakers In the
denomination and ardently In favor of the
new organization, will open the discussion
Thursday evening. There is strong con-
sentative element also, and a live debate
may be expected. Nothing revolutionary or
sensational. however. is proposed"
Home Missionary Society.
The meeting of the women's Baptist
Home Mission Society last evening in Cal
vary Church was attended by a large num-
Der of the members OF the organization.
Mrs R. 8. Macarthur of New York presided.
The guests were welcomed to Washington
by Mrs. r. r. West, president of the Wom-
ems Baptist Missionary Association of the
District of Columbia, and after the report
of Mrs. r. Mapleston OF Brooklyn, the re-
cording secretary, had been heard Miss Bur-
dette, the corresponding secretary, told of
the work accomplished during the past year.
The progress of the work of the society In
the erection of new training school for
girls in Chicago was taken up and dis
cussed at length Miss Burdette also stated
that $4,000 of the money required for the
work has been subscribed.
Fellowship Meeting.
At the fellowship meeting late yesterday
afternoon Mrs. r. II. Donnelly presided
In place of the president. Mrs. Grouse, who
was unable to attend. The members dis
cussed informally the work accomplished
this year. The fact that women are some
what reluctant to pray in public caused
Mrs. Macarthur of New York to direct the
attention of the members of the society
to 1t. She declared that they should cling
to the traditions Of the mothers who were
never averse to public prayer.