Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-05-30
$4,000 Baptists 10 Take
Part in Stupendous CeIe-
bration Lasting Four Days,
June 8 to 6
BY LOUIE d. NEWTON

The Georgia BaptlSt convention
will observe it's one hundredth an
niversary in a celebration covering
four Jays, June SO inclusive. This
celebration is to be the expression
Of the 100000 white Baptists in
Georgia and promises to be one of
the most stupendous affairs of the
sort ever known in the state.
In the spring of/1S22 the few
scattering white Baptist churches in
Georgia assembled at the old Powell
ton church and organized the
Baptist convention of the state of
Georgia" 1t was not until after
long and careful debate by the few
leaders who saw the need of coop
GRAFTON that this organization was
perfected.
Jesse Mercer, the founder of Mer-
Ger university and otherwise a re-
markably a versatile pioneer of
those early days, was elected presi-
dent of the assembly and it was
upon his election to the presidency
of the convention that he delivered
a most unusual address on personal
liberty and the obligations Of So
cial relations. After this address
there was unity in the denomina-
ton on the principle of a CO.
operative medium.
In the little church house at Pow
elton where this convention was Or
ganized many of the most illustri-
Gus men of the day gathered and
spoke on the great question of
church and state. Governor Will
liam Rabun and Governor William
Lumpllin along with William Stokes,
Thomas Stocks, Josiah Penfield,
Joseph Clay and others made fire.
quent visits to Powelton where most
Of the statewide Baptist assemblies
were held for decade.
The original building has been
torn down and a modern house now
stands in it's place Georgia Baptists
will make a pilgrimage to this spot
Sunday, June 4, and there mem
orialize the great men and women
Who established the convention
which now represents the greatest
single Baptist constituency in the
world.
Thousands Expected
Rev. z. M. Leverette is the present
pastor of that church and in coop
Il elI1Ol1 Will I11S O"C1IOI1 COIlS1SSd-
ton and the surrounding churches
are making extended preparation for
the huge crowd that will assemble
on that day to hear the address of
the occasion and have a part in tho
celebration. 1t is expected that
three or four thousand people will
be at Powelton next Sunday. Many
auto parties from every section of
Georgia are now planning to make
the trip. Railroad facilities will be
ample to care for all who ride Oh
the trains. Persons may be met at
Mayfield, Crawfordville or Sparta.
The distinguished men who will
speak at PoWelton next Sunday are:
DR.. John D. Nell Of Athens, presi
dent Of the Georgia Baptist conven-
ton; DR.. John F. Purser, president
of the Home Mission Board of the
Southern Baptist convention; Rev.
z. M. Leverette; DR.. E. J. Forester,
pastor of Sparta; Dr.>W. w. Land.
rum, pastor at Russellville, Ken,
and Professor in Bethel college; DR.,
p. A. Jesup, of Eastman; DR.. B. D,
Ragsdale. of Mercer University, and
Judge Walter f. George, of Vienna
On Saturday, June 8, there is tc
be a celebration at Kiokee, near
Appling, in Columbia county, which
is the site of the first Baptist church
ever established in Georgia. It was
just one hundred and fifty years
| ago that Daniel Marshall came into
| this state and gathered a few PEG
| pie about him under an oak tree or
| the banks of the Kiokee creek and
| organized that first church. Since
1872 that one church has grown
until today there are twenty-five
| hundred white Baptist churches in
| Georgia.
| Rev. J. K. Hutchings is the pastor
| of Kiokee church at this time, anC
he announces that ample provision
will be made for the great attend
ance expected there for that day
People who travel by train will bt
| met at Thomson and other nearby
stations to Appling. Many will
| travel by auto and will be cared
for in the homes of that community
and adjoining communities. The
| great majority of the people who 81
! to Kiokee on Saturday will journey
on to Powelton for the celebration
there on Sunday.
The program at Kiokee on Sat
urday will include the following wei
known Baptist leaders: DR.. John D
Nell, Rev. J. K. Hutchings, DR.. T
J. Beck, DR.. w. w. Landrum, judi
w. H. Davis, of Waynesboro; DR.
Arch c. Cree, executive secretary o
the Georgia Baptist Convention, anC
Rev. Walter M. Lee, Cochran.
Tribute to MERGERS Site
Monday, June 5, it is planned t.
take an auto party from the celebra
ton at Powelton by way of Penfield
where tribute will be paid to Mer
: | nn,.,s o,.iciral site Merear WAS aS