Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-19
ST. PAUL'S MECCA FOR
GEORGIA METHODISTS
Continued from Page One

SSAS~e@~N~-
serenitv of the convention of Georgia
Baptists came yesterday afternoon in
speech in which DR.. ]. ]. Bennett, secre-
etry of the State Mission board, gave
pointed reply to some criticisms made up
! on the board by ex-Gov. w. j. Mortimer.
The convention was considering state
missions, when the ex-governor rose to
make a speech. In the beginning 1t was
in the nature of an explanation of his po-
sition on the negro question. He spoke of
how he had been criticised by number
of the Georgia towns for trying to bring
about civic righteousness. He went to
| Boston and there met with the same
treatment.
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION?
! He had spoken in the Georgia Baptist
| convention and he saw by the way the
| brethren left that they were not in SYM
| pathy with him.
! AT the Valdosta convention he said.
"a resolution from the women was re-
ceived asking the board to inaugurate a
work among the negroes" He said moth
| ing had been done toward starting this
work and he knew that he was on the
side of God and the women even if the
brethren did differ with him.
He intended, he said. to keep up the
! fight for he felt that 1t was a duty put up
on him by God. So far as he was concern
| ed he would rather see a million negroes
| in the south soundly converted than to
see the conversion of two million Chi
nese, japanese or savages from some re-
| mote island.
1T would mean more to God and the
, people OF the south" It grieved him to
see that nothing was being done for the
negroes. Thirty-six hundred Baptists had
| been reported by the board for the year,
! but there was not a negro among them
! He could not understand why Georgia
Baptists were not doing something for
| the evangelization of the negro.
! Although the governor was very careful
and guarded In his remarks, it was a very
plain case OF criticising the state board
| for not attempting something looking to-
| ward the evangelization of the negroes.
| BENNETT MAKES REPLY.
| When he had concluded, DR.. ]. J. Ben
Inett, secretary Of the state board made
IA very dignIfied, but none the less Wig
torous reply. showing why the Valdosta
resolution had not been carried out. he
lpaid a tribute to the character of the
men who made up the board OF mis-
sions Their superiors could not be found
ne declared, and no men were more Ge-
voted to God than they were.
! When the board met, following the Val
dosta convention. he said, 1t was face to
face with the necessity for retrenchment
If the work was to be taken up among
1.-The negroes, a number of the noble men
who had been preaching Christ to the
people would have to be dropped and left
UNPAID, was his statement.
/ This the board was not willing to de-
| he declared, as there were men now in
the house who had ceased to work for
/ the board because there was no money
| tC pay them.
| DIR. Bennett said he did not think 1t was
| declined an offer of $500 per month to
stay at The university for far less.
The details Of a campaign in Soochow
to raise money for the enlargeme.-t of
| the medical department were outlined in
most interesting style. and 1t is partly
! for the purpose of raising s50.00S to COM
Line with that fund that DR.. Park is in
America
DIR. PARKS CONGRATULATED.
| Bishop Hendrix took occasion to con-
graduate Dr. Park very earnestly on the
great work he has done in the foreign
field; following which Rev. M. j. Cofer
made a strong appeal for a contribution
to the Soochow university fund. He de-
clared it peculiarly appropriate that the
members of the North Georgia conference
should have an opportunity to give with
open-hearted liberaltiy. as In the last few
years no less than four missionaries have
gone out from Georgia. A resolution
commencing DIR. Park was adopted by a
rising vote.
| DIR. E. B. Chappell OF Nashville, Sun
day school editor Of the NJ. E. Church,
South introduced to the conference the
details of a new system of graded Sun
days school lessons for use In graded
schools, and he urgently recommended
their Endorsement and adoption. Many
other striking improvements and inno-
vations in Sunday school literature are
being made, and DR.. Chappell pointed
out at some length the salient features
=. Of these thoughtful advancements.
EDUCATIONAL WORK.
| Following DR.. Chappells address, the
bishop introduced DR.. John d. Hammond
secretary OF the educational board of the
M. Z. Church, South, of Nashville He
made a report of work being done by the
board. Out of a church membership of
9O0.0 900. only $4,000 young people are be-
ling reached by all the Methodist schools
in the territory OF the southern church,
and DR.. Hammond, citing these figures,
urged the inheritance OF educational work