Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-15
Great Debate PreCedes De-
cision at Macon ConVen-
tion-EduCationaI InstItu-
tons Ask for More Money
BY LOUIE ID. NEWTON
EDITOR of The Christian lndeXl

BY LOUIE ID. NENIUN
Editor of The Christian Index
MACON. c., Dec. 12.-The Geor-
gia Baptist convention voted at
1890 o'clock Wednesday afternoon
to adopt the amendment offered 10
| the report of the executive board
committing the convention to a pa
sis Of fffty-fifty division of funds III
the next general campaign of the de-
nomination. This means that by the
decisive vote of 240 to 67, Georgia
Baptists will continue to give as
much to causes outside of Georgia
as they keep at home for the inter-
ests of the Georgia Baptist conVen-
| tiOn. The vote came after one Oh
the most intense debates ever wit
messed on the floor of the conVen-
ton, The closing address OF the de-
bate was by DIR. F.. c. Mcconnell,
of Atlanta, who favored the fifty
| fifty percentage.
The convention resumed its work
in the afternoon with a further dis
cussion of the exact amount of the
funds kept within Georgia to be dis
tributed to the various institutions
Mercer university and Bessie Tit
college along with the other Baptls+
schools and colleges of the state
were to make a strong appeal 1of
, increased budgets with which TO
carry on their expanding programs.
1t was expected that the convention
will reach a vote on these, matters
during the afternoon.
Another matter to be taken up
during the afternoon session is the
report of the holding commission
about which there has been keen an
ticipation on the part of the con-
vention This report will be read
by Willis Evans, chairman, of San
dersville.
At the opening session Tuesday
afternoon, DR.. John D. Nell, of
Athens, Ga, was unanimously re-
| elected president of the convention
| to serve his thirteenth consecutive
term. DR.. 3. D. Ragsdale, of Ma
con, was reelected secretary to
serve his twenty-eighth consecutive
year in this office. Both were elect
ed by reclamation.
The vice presidents elected were:
Rev. N. G. Christopher, Rev. j. B.
Rabun Rev. John Dawson, Rev w.
r. Owens: the latter of Macon.
Etheridge Speaks
| Frank S. Etheridge, of Atlanta,
who recently gave 100000 to Mer-
Ger university. addressed the second
session of the pastor-laymen's con-
| ference held at the First Baptist
church Tuesday. He said that he
believed God had purpose for each
of the inhabitants of the world to
fulfill, and that when he gave the
money to Mercer he did it in order
| to feel the rapture that one feels
when he serves Gods purpose.
'All my life 1 have felt that God
was leading me, and all my life l
have felt the need of an education.
| You have not chosen me, but have
| chosen you,'" he quoted. He stress
ed the need of Christian education,
pointing out the dangers of nom
| Christian education.
The minutes of the last meeting
were read and adopted, and all min
| listers who have been ordained since
the last meeting and who have
moved to Georgia since the last
meeting were introduced and wei.
coined.
DIR. Ham Upholds Bible
The principal sermon was preach.
ed by Rev. John w. Ham, of At
| lanta. He stressed the need of
spiritual religion, and said that Bap-
fists have great opportunity to
bring spiritual religion to the
| world.
He deplored the worship of the
great American God, Success" In
answer to those who have made
known their fears for the future of
the Bible, he said that the only de-
Tense the Bible needs is an open
book. When the Mayf1ower an
chored on the coast of America, the
greatest thing in her cargo was the
burden of principles, Those people
brought with them soul liberty, and
they stood for an open book" he
said
Rev. Ham then touched on the
Baptist 75-million-dollar campaign.
This campaign is a challenge to
even greater things" he said. Tho
campaign is the miracle of what
people can do when they set their
hearts to it. Babies of all nations
and races speak the same language.
They have the same cry. The world
also has the same cry. The cry of
human needs. Regeneration as we'll
as education is needed, Witness
Germany, a nation educated and
without God"
Most favorable comment has been
heard among the messengers con.
corning the progress of Mercer uni
Versity as shown in the annual re
port to the convention.
Mercer Report
c1 =
assets for the year ending June 80
1918, were 1888, 31125; that the ex
penditures for that year were $71,
1888, while the income was $61,
367.S6, a loss of $1O.065.97. The as
sets FOR June so. 1929 Wers 81,