Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-18
BAPT|sTs DENY women
RIGHTS AS DELEGATES
Question, Brought Up Suddenly, Re
fcrred to Committee for Re-
port Next Year.
FOREIGN MISSION REPORTS
Mrs. w. c. James, OF Richmond,
Urges Women to Encourage Re-
cruiting and Willingly Assume
Other War Burdens.
IRy Assn..iainh pr...

tBy Associated Press
NE" ORLEANS. May l1.-Women
members Of the Southern Baptist
churches were denied the right. for
another year at least. to serve as dele
gates to the annual convention OF the
denomination. by action Of that body
here late to-day. With less than 500
delegates in the hall. Robert H. Cole
man. Of Dallas. aroused those present
TO Keen interest by suddenly Offering
FOR adoption proposed amendment to
the body's constitution. making women
eligible TO the convention.
DIR. J. w. Porter. Of Lexington. Ky.
Immediately and vigorously opposed
the amendment. declaring Mr.. Coleman
was proposing. with only eleven min
utcs' time available for discussion to
oHerturn a provision Of the constitu-
ton which had stood for sevcnty-two
years. He moved to table the amend
ment. Numerous advocates Of wo-
mems rights to seats sprang up. and
warm debate developed the uues-
tion. Veterans in the denomination
said this was the first time the pues-
ton ever had reached n discussion on
the floor. When put to vote, DR.
Pnrtcr's motion to table the amend
mcnt was lost. 32S 20 :iS indicating
strong sentiment for giving women
equal privileges with men in the con
rcniion. \ parliamentary tanglc over
Interpretation Of requirements for
amending the constitution. occupied an
hours time. and finally the convention
adopted motion by y. w = Bacon
Parks. Miss. TO refer the amendment
TO a committee Of five. with instruc-
tons to report on IL a, next years
convention and the women lost their
chance TO serve as dclcrntcs nj this
time.
i5s CHURCHES IN FOREIGN
FIELDS. RAY REPORTS
T. e. Ray. Of Richmond for the for
"iSn mission board, reported tho
southern Baptists have ass churches
in foreign fields. onc-fourth Of which
oign members last year gave sI32.27l
for all purposes about onc-fourth the
amount the Southern Baptists expended
in their foreign fields.
resolution that committee be
appointed 10 suggest methods and
means for getting Baptist ministers
who so desired. appointed as chaplans
III the army and navy. was referred
20 special committee for action.
Personal reports were made by sew
cral missionaries Of the denomination
who have returned from foreign fields.
j. H. Davis. from Mexico. declared
the greatest need Of Mexico was not
United states armed Intervention, but
an army OF Christian missionaries and
an open Bible that the people can
read and study"
Scarcity OF food and distressing con
ditions In certain parts OF Japan. due
TO the war. were reported hy j. T.
Ray and T.. O. Mills. who declared an
appropriation Of $4,000 was necessary
to guarantee continuance of tho boards
school ut Fukuoka. Japan, and relieve
workers conditions
OTHER FIELDS IL URGENT. -,
NEED OF SOME HELP
Or. j. T.. Love, of Richmond. score
tary Of the foreign board, aroused
much discussion from delegates by the
declaration that there we're other fields
In which necessity for help was equal
~ as pressing.
1T Will be absolutely necessary for
the foreign board to rcnounce some OF
its work and missions unless il gets
larger resources for taking care OF IT,"
declared Or. Love
Aftcr many suggestions for raising
FUNDS had been offered. the convention
voted TO refer the matter to tho for
cign mission committee.
AT to-days sessions of tho womcn's
missionary union. an auxiliary of the
convention. the president, Mrs. w. c.
James. OF Richmond. in her annual ad-
dress urged women to encourage re-
cruiting for the army and navy and
10 willingly assume other burdens i'm
posed by the war. but not to decrease
their missionary activities.
Sixteen home and foreign mission
aries OF tho union reported on work
in their ecids. The union will elect
officers tomorrow.