Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-18
JOSHUA LEvER|NG
AGAIN At HEAD
OF BAPTIST BODY
Millionaire Coffee Merchant is
Reelected President of South
ern Baptist Convention at Lou
isville.
By Rev. Alex. w. Bealer

LOUISVILLE, KY, May 1.-THE nifty
fourth session of the Southern Baptist
convention opened in the Armory last
night. An audience of 5000 people was
present. After many of the old-fashloh-
ed hymns were sung Joshua Leverlng'
the millionaire coffee merchant was ie
elected president.
7 r. Marvin, of Kentucky; T. G..
Bush, of Alabama ]. A. Scott, of Okla
homa, and B. F. Riley, of Texas, were
elected vice presidents of the conven-
ton.
Rev. Lansing Burrows, of Georgia, and
Oliver H. Gregory, of Virginia, were cleo
ted secretaries. George w. Norton Oh
Kentucky, was reelected treasurer, and
w. P. Harvey, of Kentucky was re-
elected auditor.
WELCOMED BY DIR MULLINS.
DIR. r. Y. Mullins, president of the
seminary, welcomed the convention 10
Louisville, and the response was MADE
by Dr. j. L. White, of North Carolina.
Dr. E c. Dargan, of Macon, was applau-
ded when he was presented to preach the
annual convention sermon. His text was
from the Sth verse Of the 18th chapter
of the epistle to the Hebrews, Jesus
Christ. the same yesterday, today and
forever" His subject was The Place Of
Jesus Christ in Modern Life" He spoke
of Christ in the world of science, in
the world of morals and in the spiritual
world 1t was an able presentation OF
great truth.
At the conclusion the great congrega-
ton joined in singing How Firm a Foun-
dation, We Saints of the Lord" One
of the problems that confronts the city
preachers is what to do with the prayer
meeting service.
It will not come before the convention,
but it is disturbing the brethren might
| lily. / heard a number OF them discuss
| ing the question today and they all
agreed that the mid-week prayer meet
! ing was really a waste of time In the
| city. There never was more than
| handful of people present and it was the
| consensus of opinion that the churches
! did not want prayer meetings and there
| was no sense in the preachers trying to
] keep them up.
/ READY FOR DECISIVE ACTION.
4 officers having been elected and order
| of bushes adopted without demur, the
Southern Baptist convention, in progress
! in Louisville, is prepared for decisive ac-
I ton on the business to come before IL
! during the three days remaining before
adjournment. Though it's first session was
! held only last night, the gathering of
prominent southern religionists showed
that it's capacity for detail was large, and
/ that it could waive technicalities with
all the skill of congress.
Excepting the Woman's Missionary
union. all the auxiliary bodies of the con-
vention had finished their labOrs when
President Joshua lowering called the
convention to order last night. Important
among those achievements was that Of
! the Laymen's Missionary movement
which. declaring that it took cash. to
spread the gospel, pledged the follow
! ing sums to the movement in few min,
I utes:
Alabama, 81 800; Mississippi, $500; Ken
tucky, $500; Georgia. $500; South Carolina,
! $3.50.
| Louisiana, Virginia, Oklahoma and
North Carolina will add equal amounts.
| 7. G.. Bush, of Birmingham, declared that
! he stood sponsor for what Alabama would
do, and others voiced the loyalty of their
states in order.
FOREIGN MISSION WORK
The report DR.. r. ]. WiHingham, Sec