Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-25
BAPTIST HOSTS
WILL SOON MARCH
ON JACKSONVILLE
Southern Baptist Convention
Will Meet in Three Weeks
for its Annual Gathering.
important Session Forecast
BY REV. ALEX W. BEALER.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.,~ April a.
In a little more than three weeks, the
Southern Baptist convention will meet
in Jacksonville. Fla This is the first
time the body has ever met in the
Land, of Flowers Preparations on a
large scale are being made for the en-
tertainment of the messengers. and.
unless all signs fail. this promises TO
be a memorable meeting.
GOSSIP OF CONVE NTION
Some interesting gossip is already
going the rounds as TO who will be
elected to the different offices. There
seems to be a disposition to elect a
new president in the place of Hon
Joshua lowering, the millionaire cot
fee merchant of Baltimore He has
held the office for three terms and
some are of the opinion that the hon
or should be passed on to some one
else.
In the long ago it was the custom
to let a brother hold the office indefi
nitely. 1t was held for three years oy
William d. Johnson, of South Carolina.
who was the first president: for four
years by r. b. G. Howell, or Virginia;
for two years by Richard Fuller, Of
Maryland; for seven years by p. II.
Nell of Georgia, and after an interval
of eight years he held it for another
term of eight years. James p. Boyce.
of Kentucky, filled the position for
eight years, and then, after an inter-
regnum of eight years, he filled it for
another year Jonathan HARRISON, Of
Alabama, was president for ten years,
and then the desire for shorter terms
took possession of the brethren. VIII
liam j. Northern, a Georgian, held the
office for three years; James p. Ea-
gle. of Arkansas. for three; z. w,
Stephens, of Missouri, for three, and
Joshua lowering. the present incum-
bent. for three.
DR. Lansing Burrowes, OF Georgia,
who has been secretary of the body for
29 years. and the best one who ever
served his brethren, is being mention
ed ny many as the next president. They
think it would be fitting compliment
for his faithfulness to bestow this
honor upon him.
DIR. William E. Hatcher. of Virginia,
is also being spoken of for the place.
He is well known and very popular
among the brethren, and there is a SEN
timent to bestow this browning honor
upon him in his old age.
Another man who is being mention
ed for the place is DR.. Samuel Palmer
Brooks, president of Bayor college, III
Texas, He is not a preacher, but he
is a self-made man, a splendid presid-
ing officer, and he is from a state
that has done much for the organized
work of the convention, and yet has
never been honored by the presidency
of the body.
LANDRUM is MENTIONED.
Still another man who is being men
toned in connection with the presi-
dency is DR.. W. w. Landrum, now liv-
ing in Kentucky. but really Of the
whole south. He has given his life co
the work of the convention, he comes
from an honored family, many of
whose names grace the UNCONVENTIONAL
records, and with it all he is a man
of splendid executive ability. He has
a wide acquaintance among the breth-
rem, he is universally popular. and, as
it mas been many years since there was
> preacher, president, there is strong
probability that he may be called ~
his brethren to this exalted position.
1t goes without saying that DR.. Bur-
rowes and DR.. oliver Gregory will re
reelected secretaries of the conven-
ton, unless Dr. Burrowes should be
elected president. They have served
their brethren well and faithfully, ana
hard indeed would it be to find their.
equals in the difficult work committed
to their hands.