Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-17
Broader Vision, Greater
World Influence and Bet
ter Sense of Unity Results
of Success, Dr., Mullins
Says

of Success, DR., MuIIInS
Says
! The rs million campaign OF
southern Bartists has given the
denomination a new sense of unity,
a new sense of power new po-
sition of influence in the world,
and a new world vision, DR.. E. Y.
Mullins, president of the Southern
Baptist convention, told that body
in his annual address "Wednesday
at the initial session of the con-
yention's annual meeting.
Speaking on THE Mission Of the
Southern Baptist Convention" Dr.
Mullins called upon Southern Bap-
lists to bring the rs million cam
paign to a successful conclusion
this year, emphasizing the import
ance Of carrying through a project
of such vital interest to the de-
nomination and so necessary to the
development Of religious endeaVor.
He declared Southern Baptists
should strive for the demonstration
of religious democracy, for chris
tan unity, the true relation be-
tween spiritual cause and effect,
and for the sacrifices Of a great
PEOPLE for a great cause.
DIR. Mullins Address
His address follows:
"It is a good time to consider the
mission of the Southern Baptist con-
vention. In the Is million campaign
we have made great gains. Among
them are the following: First, a new
sense of unity Second, new sense
of power. Some one says the most
depressing expression in the Engllsh
language is the phrase, I cannot,
and the most inspiring the phrase,
T can We have learned the mean
ing, in a measure, of both. But the
new sense of power has come, be-
yond all question. Third, a new posi-
ton Of influence in the world we
have challenged the attention OF
mankind by q sublime undertaking
a heroic venture, a challenging and
daring committal Of faith. Fourth,
we have achieved a new world vi
sion. We have been like some
watcher OF the skies, when a new
planet swims into his KEN We have
come also to a new epoch in the
organized expression Of our life, and
this has brought new and complex
problems to be patiently solved.
1.-THE mission Of the Southern Bap-
fist convention can be defined best
in the light of the spiritual need
which gave it birth and which 1t
was designed to meet. In 1914 in
Philadelphia, under the stimulus of
the thrilling appeal of Luther Rice
for missions, 26 ministers and seven
laymen from II states and the Dis
trict of Columbia, formed the old
triennial convention. In 1915 in Au-
gusta, Ca, 80 messengers from
Maryland, Virginia, North and South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisi-
ana, Kentucky and the District OF
Columbia organized the Southern
Baptist convention. Thus the con-
vention was the lineal successor Of
the first general national Baptist
convention Of the United States. 1t
was founded on the missionary mo-
tive. 1t established two boards, one
for foreign and the other for domes-
tic missions. It sent out an ap-
peal to the brethren in the United
States, to the congregations con-
nected with the respective churches,
and to all candid men, AS thus or
ganized and as thus spiritually I'M
PEELED, this convention has had
great history. It's mission today, as
it confronts it's present and future
tasks, may be expressed in five prop
ositions.
Baptists' Mission Recital
"First, the mission of the South
ern Baptist convention is to be the
organized embodiment of the major
motive of the gospel for the largest
single group of Baptists 3n earth.
That motive is expressed n the Sreat
commission of our Master: to preach
the gospel to every creature ana
teach the principles of the Kingdom
which the gospel brings to pass on
earth. That motive is restated IN the
preamble of the constitution of this
body az the purpose of carrying INTO
effect the benevolent intention of cur
constituents by organizing n Ian Tor
eliciting, combining and directing the
energies of the denomination for the
propagation of the gospel. The de-
sign is further stated to be to pro-
mote foreign and domestic missions
and other important objects connect
ed with the Redemeer's Kingdom.
Thus it appears that the convention
is threefold in it's function: first, to
elicit, or draw forth Or develop the
energies of the denomination; sec
ond, to combine these energies in
unified plan to accomplish given
object. Third, to direct these ener-
gies towards their proper ends by
the joint wisdom of Il vast corSt-t-
uency. So also is this convention
threefold in it's scope. It is south
wide in it's constituency. It il king
dom-wde in it's agencies and methods
and it is world. wide in it's vision.
I'm the secOli place, the mission
OF this body Is o be the dcmonstra-
ton of the SUCCESS OF religious de-
mocracy on the largest scale l'r"wn
in Christian hist ory. l use the
phrase reliSio:s democracy IN the
Baptist sense, rhe meaning IS Ge
mocracy of the local c1urch. 1T is
expressed in the one word, self de-
termination, or autonomy. We may
profitably contrast our SYSTEM with
Presbyterianism. If the Southern
Baptist convention Ne:e a general
assembly; if state conventions were
synods; if district associations were
presbyteries; and il local committees
were sessions, we would have a sim
pie solution OF our proh.oms. These
graded courts could hand up Or hand
down decisions to be finally adiudi-