Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-17
Atlanta Pastor Leeds
Move to Admit Baptist
Women as Messengers
Hot Springs Convention Az
firms Rule in Disappearing
of Applause Important Re-
ports Made to Members
BY ALEX W. BRALER.

HUI SRhlNGSs Ark. may AO-Of.
F. C Mcconnell, Of Atlanta, was one
Of the leaders who induced the southern
Baptist convention to admit women as
messengers. He made an imprisoned
speech following one from DR.. f. NJ
Mcconnell of Oklahoma. He said the
convention could not consistently shut
them out unless they shut them out
from all activities IN the churches and
allowed the other denominations to get
ahead of them.
DR.. r. c. Mcconnell said the women
would help TO broaden the vision Of the
Baptists and might teach something 10
the lordly brethren He did not like to
hear the Baptists compared to any 9TH
ers; they should be bound by nothing
but the stars. He saw women in khaki
driving trucks, in nurses costumes and
in all other classes of work and he
wanted to see them in the convention,
the strange thing to him was that Bap-
fists in this day of democracy were
refusing to be democratic enough TO
deal justly with the women. Those who
were afraid of violating the scriptures
need not be alarmed. A convention was
a different body from a church.
Paul, in forbiding the women to
speak in the churches was only pro-
tecting them from going into work that
would literally consume their sympa-
thetic natures. DR.. McConnelPs speech
turned the tide and admitted the
women.
Applause Prohibited
The Southern Baptist convention re-
affirmed an ancient rule today and put
its foot down on any sort of applause.
John D. Null, of Georgia, led the fight
TO keep in force the rule forbidding ap-
plause. If applause was in order. hiss
ing would he proper. z. u. Cameron, of
oklahoma, took issue with him. There
were only two things which could hiss,
a snake and a goose. Southern Baptists
were neither. They We're gentlemen.
The convention refused to repeal the
law. a suggestion was made that if
bretheren persisted in applaUding they
would call in the police.
President Cambren said the conven-
ton was not ruled by law. but by
grace. The admission of women to the
body as messengers by the convention
is creating much comment by Georgia
delegates. The assertion is being made
that the DrethTeren are voting some
thing to the women which they do not
want and OF which they will not take
advantage
will seriously cripple the work of the
Woman's Missionary union.
More Than 100 Delegates
Action Of the convention in giving the
women all church rights that are &C
corded men was considered to be a
forthwith action, and some states i'm
mediately accredited their women rep
resentatives. According to the official
records of tn convention, Mrs. A. H.
Bedoe. of Dallas, Tex, was the first
woman to receive her credentials and
appointment
More than LOO delegates are attend
ing the convention, which opened yes
terday, and an almost equal number
Of women are attending the sessions
of the Womans Missionary union.
Informal conferences were held this
morning at which the degree of in
sistence, the wording of a proposed res
olution deserving the rule against de-
nominational work in military camps
should contain, was discussed The reso-
lutions in connection with the work of
the church among the soldiers were
expected TO be presented during the
day.
Other important matters before the
convention today included a discussion
Of the home mission boards work dur
ing the last year, together with the
initial report o. the commission on min
Isterial pensions. The committee was
appointed TO investigate the ACCESSIBILITY
OF establishing permanent pensions for
widows and orphans of ministers and to
secure annuIties to aged ad dependent
ministers