The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1915-10-02
BAP1IS7S ISSUE
FINAL STATEMENT
Cause Of Trouble at Chicago
Meeting Explained.
HOW THE CONFUSION BEGAN

Largest Organized Body Of Baptist De-
nomination Divided on Question Of
Publishing Board Which Bears Its
Name - Legal Battle Stops Mixup
For Time Being.
After a lively week in Chicago the
national Baptist convention closed on
Monday evening, Sept 13, with the
election of DR.. E. G. Morris of Helena
as president, Rev. w. G. Parks, d. D.,
Philadelphia, vice president; Professor
r. B. Hudson, Selma, Ala, secretary;
A. ]. Stokes, Montgomery, Ala, treas
urer; G. ii. Parrish, Louisville, KY,
statistician; T. G. Ewing, Nashville.
Tenn, attorney; M. M. Rodgers. La
Grange, Tex, auditor. 1t was meet
ing fraught with many animOsities. A
faction headed by Rev. e. P. Jones
attempted to capture the convention.
and In the confusion DR.. Jones declared
himself elected to the presidency and
then went into court and got an in
junction against Revs. E. G. Morris, w.
g. Parks, L. G. Jordan, P. J. Bryant,
8. e. Griggs and A. Barbour. The
same day the Injunction was dissolved.
The convention has issued the fol-
lowing statement:
"The cause Of the confusion mani
tested at the national Baptist conven-
ton, Sept. 8 and 8, was the attempt
and purpose of the convention to con-
troll its publishing board, located at
Nashville, Tenn. BY reason Of the
popularity Of the laws of Tennessee
this board elects it's own members. al
though for many years the conven-
ton thought by electing it's own men,
bers in open session they really be-
came members of the board. To its
great surprise, in the course of time
It became known that no one was a
member of the publishing board un-
less elected by the board itself That
created distrust and suspicion, and the
convention at once began to make ef-
forts to come In possession and con-
troll of property that is really conyen-
ton property. The board, through
it's secretary, defied the convention and
refused to allow the conventions audi
tor to audit its books.
when the convention convened in
Chicago on Sept. 8 with impressive
devotional services conducted by Revs.
ID. M. Cohron Of St. Joseph, Mo-; A. d.
Williams, Atlanta, Ga. and w. D.
Carter, Seattle. Wash, the program
prepared by the executive board of the
convention was read. 1t was then
that the faction opposing the conven-
tlon started a confusion, headed by
the Rev. DR.. Brooks of South Caro-
lima. The resolution offered by DR..
Brooks provided for the transaction of
business before the enrolment Of the
delegates, and after some considerable
discussion it was ruled out Of order by
President Morris. 1t was after this
ruling that a faction, with DR.. e. P.
Jones Of Mississippi, attempted to take
charge Of the convention.
"Great confusion followed, it being
impossible to transact any business. A
motion was made that the convention
stand adjourned until time for the
afternoon session. The motion was
voted on and declared carried by Pres
ident Morris 1t was then DR.. e. P.
Jones declared himself chairman and
attempted to hold a convention. At
the time for the convention to meet in
the afternoon DR.. e. G. Morris was
there and attempted to call the con-
vention to order, but was prevented
by the disorderly crowd. Disorder was
kept up until the adjournment Of the
afternoon session.
'The second days session opened.
but before doing SO the enrolment com
mittee and finance committee were sta
toned at the door, and no one was al
lowed to enter the hall who was not
q regular delegate. wearing badge
When the delegates were seated DIR.
Morris called the convention to order.
and after the opening devotional serv.
ices and the reading of the journal DR..
Morris began the reading of his annual
address. 1t was in the midst of the
reading Of this address that DR. e. p.
Jones entered the hall, followed by
deputy sheriff. and interrupted the
speaker, and the deputy sheriff served
on President Morris an injunction is.
sued by Judge Smith. prayed for by
Rev. e. p. Jones. r. Fl. Boyd and G.
J M. Boyd.
''This was the turning point, because
many Of the delegates began to leave
the Boyd faction. declaring that he was
trying to destroy the convention. At 2
o'clock In the afternoon DIR. E. @.