The Denver star., 1917-09-01

taeks Validity of the Rev. Dr.. eoyd's
Claim to Ownership Of Publishing
soard-Thsre Is Only One National
Baptist Convention.
Chicago.-The enlistment committee
OF the National Baptist Convention of
America, the Rev. DIR. l.. X. Williams
of this city, chairman, issues the fol
lowing statement as to its findings ON
the condition of the field:
THE committee can in all truth state
that its observations confirm the cur
rent belief that majority of the peo-
pie in the United States are with the
National Baptist convention. Let none
hesitate to believe this, for it is abso-
lutely true"
The committee has found that the
people who are with the Boyd conven-
ton, many of them, are good meaning
Baptists, though misled and misin-
formed Many believe that DR.. Boyd
Is the father and sole patron CT the
publishing idea, that he began and
crystaliZed with his own brain and
money the enterprise and that the Ma
tional Baptist convention for these rea-
sons is cruel and heartless in its eff
forts to control the National Baptist
publishing board. They believe that
since he began the project with his
secuted man in all the world.
The committee has shown such per
sons that the convention began and
partly crystallized the publishing idea
and enterprise before it knew DR.
Boyd And as this has been shown
good people who have been misled and
misguided on this point have shown a
disposition to stand for denomination
al or conventional management or own
ership against board or individual
management and ownership.
Ownership of the Publishing Board.
The committee has found another
class of good people who think that the
publishing enterprise is already a de-
nominational or convention concern
and that there is no need of the pres
ent agitation. We have shown them
that the convention thought that the
| publishing board was a convention or
! q denominational affair. that DIR, Boyd
had so stated the same for years, but
be refused to obey the orders of the
| denomination. given through the CON
vention, and had at last refused to turn
over to the denomination the publish
ing enterprise as ordered by the con-
vention in its annual meeting in Chi
cago.
The committee has also found some
In the ranks Of the Boyd faction who
believe that peace can be obtained
through remaining there in watcLful
waiting and contending tor 4 compro-
mise. The committee has shown such
that 1t is the spirit OF Christianity to
strive for peace, but peace with JUS
tice. righteousness and the ascendancy
! Of truth. The committee has also shown
that after ten years OF efforts to ad-
just things DR.. Boyd first dragged the
courts of this city.
There is still another class In the
ranks Of the Boyd faction who is there
for the 'loaves and fishes'-the COM
mercial and purchasable class made
up of class of ministers who desire
honors and who have signally failed
In everything committed to their hands.
For instance, one of the most reputa-
Bile ministers in the ranks Of the Boyd
faction said the other day he was there
because he had some books he wanted
printed and some one had agreed to
print them for nothing II he would take
the stand he was then taking. Anoth-
er one said he could get his way paid
fn IN In, hs,f
q certain course. Another one said
the Boyd convention was the conven-
ton for little men. as all the big men
remained with the National Baptist
convention.
Confusion Exists In Several States.
The committee has also found that
local differences in certain states have
influenced few to ally themselves
with the Boyd convention. This is sig
niflcantly true Of Illinois and Texas.
The committee has also discovered that
not single regular state convention
has approved the Boyd convention.
They have formed small splits in some
states-namely. Mississippi. Oklahoma.
Tennessee and Arkansas-but in these
states or most of them 95 per cent Of
the Baptists remained loyal to their
respective old time regular state organ
hations. which conventions maintain
yet their allegiance to the National
Baptist convention.
I'm Texas the new convention, which
split OF from the regular convention In
DR.. Boyd's church In San Antonio some
years ago, the convention Of which DIR.
Boyd is yet a member. is with him
they say, out OF local pride and in self
defense. but many OF the men OF this
rom ranf}op C,s.Y man .po d;Splco cod