Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-18

these churches contributed $S,522, $50 for all
purposes. They have church property
valued at $346 900. They have 1900
Sunday schools, in which there are 1,50O,-
900 studying the Bible.
There are 1,S29, 900 negro Baptists in the
south. The total Baptist population of
the world is 100000.
Their enthusiasm raised to a high pitch
by a notable movement to the support of
the Southern Baptist Theological semina-
ry, over one thousand delegates to the
Southern Baptist convention late this af-
ternoon took a lengthy journey to Cave
Hill cemetery, only to have heavy rain
interfere with the unwilling Of a monu-
ment to the late Rev. T. T. Eaton.
BIG ENDOWMENT ASSURED.
Before they left the floor of the conven-
tion hall, over $4,000 was voluntarily
subscribed toward the endowment fund
of the seminary. 1t was an hour marked
by liberal unloosening of purse strings
and steadily mounting good spirits as the
total of their contributions rose higher
and higher. Here farmer rose to pledge
the fifty dollars from the sale of a COW
or horse; there a prosperous city dwell
er contributed ten or twenty times that
amount, but both were animated by the
spirit of the convention which had the
same need of hearty applause for the
mite as for the rich mans thousands.
No less than fourteen persons subscrib-
ed s. 900 each while contributions of 81 900
and 5000 were plentifully sprinkled
through a long list of smaller amounts
dwinding down to one dollar. The stu
dents at the seminary who attended the
session in a body topped off the scene
with a little surprise of their own, when
they announced that they had gotten to-
gether $4,000 for the endowment fund.
mr. A MI
When the last contribution had been an
nounced the delegates started for Cave
Hill cemetery to witness the unwilling
of the monument to DIR. Eaton, who dur
ing his life was a powerful factor in
shaping the course Of the seminary Ar
irving at the cemetery they found the rain
had increased to such an extent as to pre-
vent any formal exercises there and af-
ter a brief view of the monument a re-
turn was made to the armory where the
program, including appropriate music
and addresses by prominent laymen and
ministers dealing with Dr. Eaton's work
and life was carried out.
The early part of the afternoon session
was given over to miscellaneous reports
| from workers in the home mission and
llaymen's missions field. Tonights ses-
sion also was in the interest of home
missions and despite the bad weather
row will be given over entirely to exer-
cises of a devotional nature, the pulpits
of the Louisville churches being filled by
Visiting ministers.
CONVENTION CLOSES MONDAY.
The convention will re-assemble Mon
day when the remaining business will
probably be concluded. The most import
ant matter to come up on Monday will be
the selection of the place of next meeting
and although there is a well founded re-
port that a majority of the comnittec
having the matter in hand have record
ed themselves in favor of Baltimore, the
supporters of ST. Joseph, Mo-, declare
that the matter is not settled and that
they will press their claims on the con-
vention floor when the committee reports.
TRIAL FOR LIBEL.
Hon. E. w. Stevens, of Missouri, called
attention to the fact that Rev. W. NJ
Morrison and Rev. w. Fl. Shepperd, two
Presbyterian missionaries, had been ar
rested and were to be tried for libel. the
offense being that they had criticised the
cruelties practiced in the Congo Free
states. He offered aresOlution requesting
| the United States government to use its
best effort to protect these American mis-
sionaries in the exercises of their rights
The resolution was adopted by a unar1i-
nous vote. The convention spent the
evening in hearing from home board
workers.
| The work of the board in mountains
was given practical demonstration when
/ some of the strongest in the conven-
! ton were introduced as having come
| fro Ynthe mountain schools