The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-06-17
RAPTISTS CONSIDER
FOREIGN MISSIONS
NORTHERN CHURCH OPENS I'M
PORTANT CONVENTION At
BOSTON TODAY.

Boston, Mass, June 1.-THE gen.
eral convention of the Northern Bap-
fist Church assembled in fremont
Temple today, and will continue its
sessions until Thursday next. Thou
sands of prominent divines and lay
men of the church from all parts Of
the country are in attendance. No
fixed programme has been arranged
for the convention, but all the church
work, which includes the activities Of
the Foreign and Home Mission socie-
ties and the Publication society, will
be reviewed.
Unusual interest attaches to the
meeting of the Foreign Mission Socie-
ty. the one hundredth anniversary Of
which is to be celebrated at the con-
vention. The interest has been
aroused by certain proposed changes
in the conduct of the work of the
society. During the past five years
the church has accumulated debt of
$3.50, 900, largely, it is said, because of
the expense of the foreign missionary
work. A report recently made is to
the effect that Baptist foreign mission
airy work in China, supported by mon
ey given by American Baptists, is be-
low what 1t ought to be in efficiency.
Since the last meeting the managing
board has decided to abandon the mis-
sion in Central China, at Hanyang, on
account of the expense of maintain
ing 1t. This action has met with very
vigorous opposition in some quarters
and 1t is expected to furnish the sub
ject for some spirited debates at the
present meeting.
The general convention was opened
this morning with an address Of well
come by the Rev. Dr. Cortland Myers,
pastor of fremont Temple. The re-
mainder of the initial session was &C.
cupied largely with the business
meetings of the various state delega-
lions. The final session of the day
was devoted to the consideration of a
new plan of work of the Home Mission
Society.
Tomorrow will be devoted to bust
ness and the further consideration Of
Home Mission affairs. The Woman's
Home Mission Society will hold its
sessions Friday morning and evening,
with college and seminary alumni
meetings in the afternoon.
Saturday there will be missionary
centennial pilgrimages to Maiden, Sa-
lem and Andover. In the evening the
delegates will reassemble to listen to
addresses on Evangelism" by Rev.
DR.. ]. w. Brougher Of California and
Rev. J. D. Massee of Ohio.
The convention prayer meeting Sun
day morning will be led by Rev. DR..
A. G. Lawson of New York and the
convention sermon will be delivered
by Rev. DR.. Henry C. Mabie of Massa-
chusetts. Prominent divines Of New
York, Chicago and other cities will
address public meetings to be held in
the afternoon and evening under the
auspices of the Baptist Young Peoples
Union.
The sessions of Monday and Tues
day will be devoted wholly to the
business of the convention. Wednes-
day will be given over to the celebra-
ton of the centennial Of the Foreign
Mission Society. Among the speakers
will be several descendants of Rev.
Adoniram Judson, the first American
Baptist missionary. Thursday, the
concluding day of the convention, will
be devoted entirely to the considera-
ton of the affairs of the Foreign Mis-
sion Society.