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THE CHRISTIAN INDEX ANtf SOUTH-WESTERN ■LPTIST: ATLANTA GA.-, THURSDAY, MAY 12,1870.
74
fate mi ffapifet
j. J. TOON, - • - - Proprietor.
PUBLICATION ROOMS —4 i 6 SOUTH BROADWAY.
Editor: Bev. D. SHAVER, D.D.
CORRESPONDING EDITORS:
Rev. J. J. D. RENFROE, Talladega, Ala.
Rev. S. HENDERSON, D.D., Fayetteville, Ala.
THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1870.
Southern Baptist Convention.
Louisville, Thursday, May sth, 1870. '
The Convention assembled in the Walnut
Street Baptist church, at 10 o’clock, a.m. PH
If ell, of Ga., President at the session of last year,
read the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, and prayer was
offered by T H Pritchard, of N. C.
The names of delegates to the Convention from
the several States was read as lollows:
Virgil ia— Geo F Adams, J L Burrows, J B Jeter,
A E Dickinson, J A Chambliss, A M Poindexter. H
W Dodge, J A Haynes, C H Winston, W H Wil
liams, J B Taylor, J B Taylor, Jr, J Wm Jones, Jobu
Poliard, C C Bradley, Barney Taylor, H H Wyer, J
W McCown, Josiah Ryland, N M Page, R B Bristow
C C Bitting, W S Penick, II H Harris, G G Exall,N
M Edge, J L Vass, W F Broaddus, C T Morris, W
P Willis and A M Simms.
Mississippi —J H Cason, W S Webb, T C Teas
dale, R H Whitehead, E D Miller, T G Sellars, E W
Henderson, T J Walne, T Whitfield, J W Lipsey,
J W Stein, J M Skelton, J H Collins, J A Hackett, C
B Young, J J Andrews, W H Caruthers, M R Leav
ell, A B Hardcastle and J M Lewis.
Missouri— A Sherwood, W P Yeaman, J H Luther,
X X Buckner, H Lansing Burrows, J W Warder, J
T Williams, R S Duncan, W R Painter, G W Hyde,
B G Tutt, S W Marston, D T Morrill, G J Johnson,
J F Smith, A E Rogers, A C Avery, John B Wornall,
E D Jones, A S Teas dale, G L BabingtOn, W A
Kingdon, R R Ridgeley and W M Elrod.
Kentucky — J S Coteroan, N M Crawford, L W See.
ley T G Keene, A T Spalding, J A Kirtly, S L Ilelm,
R L Thurman, J F Doss, R M Dudley, A S Worrell,
S F Thompson, W B Caldwell, DDowjden. J W Rust.
Arther Peter, C E W Dobbs, Geo Hunt, C Keys, L B
Wuoliolk, W W Gardiner, A B Miller, J H Spencer,
J C Maple, S F Gano, Henry McDonald, Gto
Vaiden, J M Bent, J M Weaver, V E Kirtley, J B
Harp J L Smith, J M Frost, II Talbird, C Lewis, G
Clay Smith, A D Sears, J M Jolly, N K Davis, A W
Chambliss, J Lawrence Smith, G W Burton, R E
Kirtley H G Crews, A C Graves, A W Meaeham, R
W Morehead, S T Trimble, C W Roach, E J Mur
phy J V Riley, B F Duncan, T J Stevenson, T J
Tenirins J W Brown, W H Williams, T C Stackhouse,
L A Holland, S P Fossy, N Long, E N Dicken, B
Winston, A G Slaughter. R A Massie, J M Dawson,
R H Alexander, B W D Seeley, J M Peay, Thos
Hall, A H Garrett, A B Knight, John Burnham, S H
Hicks, G F Bagby, N G Terry, W B Aryine, Robt
Williams, A D Rash, B 0 Branham, M E Hane, P S
G Watson, Gilbert Mason, J O Kirk, W F Norton, T
N Lyne, E G Berry, G A Coulson, J Pike Powers, J
W Brown, J S Gallon, A W Mullins, A J Miller, 1 M
Daniel, It S Henderson and A F Baker.
Texas— M N Smith, H Clark, F M Lard, M Cole.
William Holmes, Wm Howard, Wm Carey Crane, J
Beall, Josiah Leake, Giddings Buck.
Maryland —Hiram Woods, Edward T Norris, J W
M Williams, E C Williams, R B Kelsay, Wm Martin,
Wm Moody, A F Crane. R H Graves, (Missionary,
Canton, China,) R Ryland, J B Hawthorne, Wm B
Graves, James Tyler, Henry Taylor and Charles
Tyler.
Tennessee— T E Skinner, W P Jones, C K Winston,
W P Pilcher, J D Winston, Anson Nelson, M Ilills
man.DE Burns, S H Ford, J F Billups, E Dußose, D
B Ray, I R Branham, A J Hall, P J Freeman, J F B
Mays, J R Graves, J H Borum, J B Canada, G A
Johnson, R G Craig, P S Jones, M W Phillips,J M
Beattie. J Humphreys, T T Eaton, A Van Hoose,
Bradley Kimbrough, W A Nelson, M J Phillips, W
Huff, W B Inman, Enoch Wines, A D Trimble, W
G Miller, R G Kimbrough, W F Ussary, J J Wiseman,
W B Hovey. _ _ _ _
Georgia— P H Mell, J H DeVotie, D Shaver, R P
Zimmerman, F M Haygood, J H Kilpatrick, G R
McCall, T B West, J E Walker, C M Irwin, R D
Mallary, E W Warren, A R Callaway, G A Lofton,
J W Fears, F H Tvey, J R Seals, R S Jackson, G W
Giveng, A D Phillips (missionary to Africa,) 8 Earl.
T H Siout, E C Gordon, James Childes, N A Bailey.
Alabama— S Henderson, P H Lundy, G E Brewer,
E P Smyth, P M Musgrove, W A Welch, 0 H P
Gardner, 8 R Freeman, J P Shaffer, Wm Ashcraft, J
J D Renfroe, G F Williams, E B Hardie, Dr Pureloy,
W W Kone, A C Barron, Jos Shackelford, F D Os
borne, T W Tobey, Jos E Carter, A B Woodfin, Wm
Spence, T G Bush, W H Mclntosh, J B Fiquet, M T
Sumner, Porter King, D R Lide.
Louisiana— B W Blakewood, W M Fancher, J C
Carpenter, N F McCraw. „
North Carolina —J H Mills, N A Purifoy, T H
Pritchard, N M Berry.
South Carolina—J P Boyce, W Williams, C H Toy,
J L Reynolds. W D Thomas, Jas H Nash, John Rob
ertson, B W Edwards, F R Underwood, C W Biggs,
G W Tickett, J Culpeper. F W Eason.
West Virginia—3 B Hardwicke, J F Hardwicke.
W Vie, D D Johnson.
Arkansas—W D Mayfield, J K Murphy, A J Mont
gomery.
P H Mell was re-elected President, and returned
thanks for this expression of the continued confi
dence of the body.
Adjourned with prayer by G E Brewer of
Ala. »
At three o’clock, p.m., W C Crane prayed; and
the tellers announced the election of J R Haw
kins, of Ky., and E Calvin Williams, of Md., as
Secretaries.
Resolutions, by A M Poindexter, of Va., were
adopted to the effect, that since for the correctness
of our judgments and the success of our plans we
are dependent on the guidance and blessing of
God, and since at such a time as this there should
be a profound sense of this dependence, the mem
bers of this body during its session will endeavor
to maintain a devout, prayerful spirit, and the
time from 91-2 to 10 o’clock each morning shall
be spent in devotional exercises.
G E Brewer, of Ala., offered a resolution, in
relation to the response of the American Baptist
Home Mission Society to our fraternal messengers
two years ago, as follows:’ “ That we emphatically
reply to the Society that we cannot respond favor
ably to her overture ‘to unite heart and hand in rais
ing the millions of freedmen to the exercise of all
the rights and duties of citizenship,’ without viola
ting the plain teaching of God’s word. This we
have no right to do, for we must neither add to
nor take from that word. Neither can we recog
nize as exponents of true Baptist sentiments, those
who do either.” He was induced to urge the
matter because he thought that the report of our
fraternal messengers at the session of the Con
vention last year, committed the Convention to an
approval of that overture. The resolutions were
laid on the table.
The tellers announced the election of W C
Crane, of Texas, as Vice President The three
highest names of the brethren voted for but who did
not receive a majority of the whole number, were
declared as Vice Presidents, to-wit—J S Coleman,
of Ky., J P Boyce, of S. C., and A Sherwood, of
Mo.
M T Sumner, Cor. Sec. read the Report of the
Domestic Mission Board, which gave a resume of
its labors for the quarter of a century since its or
ganization : “ 1,189 commissions have been issued
to Missionaries and Evangelists in the department
of Domestic Missions. In Maryland, 23 ; Virginia,
100; North Carolina, 64; South Carolina, 74; Flor
ida, 48; Georgia, 169; Alabama, 201; Mississippi,
99 ; Tennessee, 95 ; Kentucky, 24 ; Missouri, 75;
Arkansas, 77; Louisiana, 34; Texas, 78; Cali
fornia, 15; West Virginia, 2; Kansas Territory,
1; District of Columbia, 10. These laborers have
supplied 8,917 churches and stations, preached
123,433 sermons, attended 27,893 prayer meet
ings, baptized 18,598 persons, travelled in per
formance of labor, 980,954 miles, made 146,577
religious visits to families, built 140 meeting
houses, constituted 268 churches, organized and
sustained by personal attention 1,344 Sunday
'schools, with 5,328 teachers and 50,285 pupils.
Seventy four commissions have been issued in ad
dition to the above, to missionaries, native and
foreign, in the department of Indian Missions,
who have supplied 321 churches and stations,
baptized 1,272 persons, preached 6,526 sermons,
attended 1,758 prayer meetings, constituted 20
churches, built 14 meeting houses, made 2,105
leligious visits to families, and travelled 112,275
miles in the performance of labor. The amount
of receipts in both departments, Domestic and
Indian, has been $782,926 19, of this $319,498 52
were in Confederate issue, making $163,427 67
in United States currency.” “At the close of the
last year, April 1, 1869, there remained in the
treasury a balance of $1,023 82. The amount
received from all sources during the year ending
April 1, 1870, is $21,549 73, which added to the
amount on band at the commencement of the
year, makes $22,572 55, at the disposal of the
Board. The amount paid out is $22,854 52, leav
ing a balance on hand of $219 03. The perma
nent fund consists of three notes, amounting to
$2,500, and bearing interest at 8 per cent.; add
to this balance of bills receivable, taken out of
each account, Dec. 31, 1869, $675. Total, $3,-
175. Some of the missionaries have made ar
rangements to afford religious instruction to col
ored young men entering the ministry; and it is
the instruction of the Board to all their appointees
that they shall furnish every facility to the col
ored people within their fields of labor, to acquire
a sound and religious training, as far as possible.
The disposition of the freedmen of the South to
hear the word preached from our white ministers,
is gradually increasing. The Baptists of Geor
gia are sustaining almost the whole burden of the
operations of the Board in the Indian Depart
ment.”
The Report of the Treasurer of the Board was
read and ordered to be printed.
On motion of A. F. Crane, ministering breth
ren present were invited to seats with us. On
motion of J. R. Graves, all lay brethren present
were also invited. The invitation was accepted
by Rev Dr Griffith and Rev Dr G W Anderson, of
Pa.; Rev Dr J M Pendleton of Pa.; Rev J B 01-
cott, Ohio; Rev H Smith, Ind.; Rev J M Pratt?
Ind.; Rev A B Smith, Ind.; Rev D F Cornelius,
111.; Rev B T Taylor, Ohio; Rev Dr Pratt, Ind.;
Rev S B Page, Ohio; Rev Mr Palmer, Rev T W
Beagle, Rev T Allen, Ohio ; Revs Geo W Broad
dus, T F Edwards, N B„Johnson, W E Chambliss,
and Jarvis Gilbert, of Kentucky ; Rev J Cham
plin, Ark.; Rev 0 B Stone, Ind.; J N Clark,
Ind.; Rev C R Blackall, Chicago; Rev W Elzie,
Indiana.
J B Taylor, Sr., read the Report of the Board
of Foreign Missions. The Report states that no
officer or member of the Board had died during
the year. The receipts for the year have been
$21,938 53. The circulation of the Home and
Foreign Journal has increased from 4,000 to
10,000. The necessities and the promise of our
work, in China especially, demand enlargement;
and there are tokens which invite the establish
ment of missions in Europe.
The hours of meeting were fixed as follows:
from 9 a.m. to 12 1-2 p.m.— from 3 p.m. to 5 1-2
p.m. The Pastors and deacons of Baptist churches
in the city were appointed a Committee on reli
gious exercises. Adjourned with prayer by J
Culpeper, of S. C.
At night, the Introductory Sermon was preached
by J L Burrows, of Va., from Isaiah lii; 1.
Fnib.tv, May 6th, 1870.
The Convention opened its morning session
with prayer by B M Kimbrough, of Tenn. De
votional exercises were led by A M Poindexter, of
Va., and prayer offered by C C Chaplin, of
Va., G E Brewer, of Ala., and Rev B Griffith, of
Penn.
The following Committees were announced: Past
and Future Operations in the Domestic Field: G
F Adams, W Williams, J K Murphy, W P Yea
man, A Van Hoose, R L Thurman, A R Calla
way.
Past and Future Operations in the Indian Field :
C Lewis, W Howard, B W Bluckwood, J J D Ren
froe, J H DeVotie, M llillsman, J B Jeter. The
Coliseum Place Baptist Church, New Orleans :
P King, J P Boyce, T J Freeman, A F Crane, J
W Rust, J A Hayne, J Beal.
China Mission: J B Hardwick, R H Graves, F
H Ivy, M J Skelton, H H Wyer, A D Sears, J
Culpeper.
African Missions: T H Pritchard, T H Stout,
A D Phi Hips, R Ryland, J Leake, P H Lundy, D
E Burns.
Extended Operations: J H Luther, J B Haw
thorn, C H Toy, S L Helm, L Shackelford, J L
Burrows, T E S r kinner.
The Report of the Sunday School Board was
read by T C Teasdale, Cor. Sec. The Report
stated that the depressing influences which the
Board so deeply felt at the last anniversary of this
body have, to a great extent, been removed. The
condition of the finances is healthful, under the
circumstances. Received for Kind Words, $4,-
517.23, and by contributions $3,308.95. Inabili
ties, $3,696.29 : assets, $7,023.66. The Board is
now ready to supply our Sunday schools gener
ally with Library Books. The Report was refer
red to appropriate Committees, as follows :
Mission Work: J W M Williams, J M Lewis,
S Henderson, D E Burns, R M Dudley, E W War
ren, C C Bitting.
Publication Department: W D Mayfield, J H
Mills, J R Graves, A E Dickinson, W S Webb, C
E W Dobbs, H Clarke.
Co-operation : J L Reynolds, S H Ford, J H
Kilpatrick, J M Weaver, J P Shaffer, J C Carpen
ter, J L Burrows.
Finances: A M Poindexter, A B Miller, A J
Montgomery, T B West, H Taylor, M W Phillips,
N A Purifoy.
An address on Sunday school work, why we
need it and what we need in it, was made by E
D Jones, of Mo.; and Committees were appointed
on Credentials, on time and place of next meeting,
and on a communication addressed to the Conven
tion with regard to a conditional legacy from the
late J C Crane.
J P Boyce spoke in behalf of the Southern The
ological Seminary, at Greenville. The Seminary
is based on the Baptist theory of theological edu
cation. The ministers sent out from it are not
colder in heart and worse pastors than if they had
not been trained there—which sets the Institution
free from the popular predjudice against Institu
tions based on different theories. The receipts of
the Seminary for the past year met its expenses ;
and while the money promised for the next year
is scarcely sufficient, if paid, to bear the Seminary
through it, the Board of Trustees have decided to
proceed on that financial basis. For the support
of students, some S9OO were contributed by
Northern brethren year before last, and some
$1,500 last year. Funds are needed for the pur
pose ; and if we had them, two years would gather
two hundred students into the Seminary. The
Board has decided to raise SIO,OOO during the
year—which would meet all the expenses of 50
students, and reduce the average of the cost of
theological education (salaries of professors) from
some S4OO for each student, as it has been, to some
S7O. Pledges are secured to the amount of $2,-
455.
Adjourned with prayer by C M Irwin, of Ga.
The afternoon session opened with prayer by E
Dodson, of Tenn. S H Ford moved to take from
the table the resolutions of G E Brewer, but the
motion was lost. The Convention adjourned to
give time for the Committees previously appoint
ed to prepare their reports. Prayer by E W
Warren.
At night, a Maas Meeting in behalf of Domes
tic Missions was held, addresses were delivered by
J J D Renfroe and M T Sumner, and $2,625
pledged to cancel the entire indebtedness of the
Board to its missionories for 1867.
Saturday, May 7th.
Prayer was offered at the opening of the morn
ing session by D H Selph, of Tenn. J B Jeter
conducted devotional exercises, and M N Smith, H
W Dodge, J E Carter offered prayer.
R H Graves, returned missionary from China,
was introduced to the Convention by J W M
Williams, of Md. He said that he had been,
called to spend the greater part of his life alone—
passing often long months without speaking a
word of English or seeing a single white face.
How great the joy of this meeting to him ! But
no—in China, he had not been alone: in want,
in bereavement, in isolation, the Saviour had been
with him. He rejoiced to bear this testimony for
Jesus. At the close of his remarks, the mem- j
here of the Convention came forward and gave
him the right hand of fraternal Christian love.
J B Jeter offered the following paper: Whereas
we believe that a restoration of fraternal affection
and co-operation of the Baptists North and South,
if it can be secured without any sacrifice of prin
ciple or self-respect will be promotive of the best
interests of the denomination and the glory of
Christ; and whereas our Northern brethren have,
on several occasions and in various ways, indica
ted a desire for the renewal of fraternal intercourse
with ns; and whereas we believe that the integ
rity of our Southern Baptist institutions is essen
tial to the development of our resources and the
culture of our proper field of labor: Therefore,
Resolved, That this whole subject be referred to
a Committee, to report whether any, and if any,
what action should be taken in the premises by
this body.”
The mover of the resolution said, Certainly it
was not his intention, and he did not know that
it was the intention of anybody to give up South
ern Baptist institutions. He did not know that
anybody in the North desired this. All that was
desired by him was harmony of Christian feeling
and mutual encouragement in the great common
work, the promotion of Christ’s Kingdom. He
wanted to co-operate with all who were seeking
to advance the Redeemer’s Kingdom. After the
war some men who had been broken down came
to him and asked his advice relative to taking
service under the Northern Boards, and he had
advised them to do so, since the promotion of the
cause of Christ was not sectional. They did so,
and had been since laboring efficiently for Christ,
being sustained by Northern brethren. So some
brethren, whose churches had been burned down
during the war, North to get help to rebuild
the waste places, and were liberally aided, and
came back rejoicing. In these artd other ways
co-operation was going on. Northern brethren
had in many ways shown their readiness to co
operate and harmonize, and he wished to see
them met in the same spirit. He wanted co-op
eration so far as the glory of the Redeemer’s
Kingdom requires. The North desired co-opera"
tion, and on both sides we must forget some
"things—must ignore the past, or we can never
have harmony. Old wounds can’t be healed by
constantly irritating and tearing them open.
There was formerly a Mason and Dixon’s line;
perhaps it was obliterated by the war, but it
never ran through the Kingdom of Christ. Po
litical divisions should never divide the Kingdom
of Christ. Let us forget all past trouble—God
knows we have had much of it. We have com
plaint enough to make against our Northern
brethren, and they may have much against us.
We have no confessions to make. We thought
we were right. We have no pardon to ask, but
we should take things as they are. Bro. Jeter
concluded by detailing the warm, fraternal, most
hospitable manner in which the Southern delegates
to the Educational Convention had been received
at Brooklyn. Their feelings were not in a single'
instance wounded by anything said by a North
ern man. The Northern brethren did not even
allude to the war. The Southern brethren did
more than once, and it came properly from them,
but the Northern brethren only evinced the
warmest Christian sympathy. The separation
from our Northern brethren was made by us.
We took that step because we considered it justi
fiable. That renders the present step proper to
evince our Christian sympathy and willingness to
co-operate.
J Wm Jones, of Va., wished to explain that,
in moving to lay Dr Jeter’s resolutions on the
table the other day, he meant not the slightest
discourtesy to the venerable brother whom he
had been taught from his youth to respect and
J look up to. He simply wished to get rid of the
discussion which he believed would tend to widen
rather than “ heal the breach.” He had voted
with pleasure to invite visiting brethren from the
North to seats on this floor; would welcome them
to his home and church and bid them “ God
speed,” as far as they preached Christ. But he
was so thoroughly persuaded that it was best for
us to have no organized co-operation ; that he was
unwilling to even consider a question looking in
that direction. The speech of his venerable
brother had afforded a striking illustration of the
propriety of letting this question alone, for when
he told of Northern money sent to huild up our
waste places he had forced some of us to remem
ber that Northern soldiery, sent by these dear
brethren, had burned our churches and caused
our desolation.
W C Crane, of Texas, had been one who, with
fourteen others, in 1851, had taken such a stand
for the South as had given his name a place in
McPherson’s “ History of tha Great Rebellion,”
but he was so far reconstructed as to work with
any one for the truth. He would co-operate with
any Christian where there was no sacrifice of
principle, of our tenets or of our responsibilities.
He wanted co-operation with all who were work
ing for Christ, but we are not prepared for organic
co-operation. He wanted union, not only with
all the Baptists of the United States, but of the
world. He was himself a Baptist, warp, woof
and filling. He was Southern in his sympathies
and feelings—but he was more Christian than
Southern. Co-operation with the North was no
surrender of our Boards, nor of any of our work,
nor of a single office, or position, or man. We
must forget the past. He had had sorrows almost
as great as any other man—the memories of
which harrowed his soul, and he had no bitter
regrets for what he had done on behalf of the
South. He never expected to be reconstructed
that far, but he had a warm wish to harmon
ize with all Christian brethren. He had made,
perhaps, the last speech in favor of the Confeder
acy, and subscribed heartily to Dr John A Broad
us’ remark at Brooklyn: “ The North thinks she
has much to forgive the South for, the four years
of the war. But the South has far more to for
give the North for the /our, years since the war.”
He plead for co-operation without concession.
C K Winston, of Tenn., said that this question
would be agitated until it was finally settled —and
a settlement, to be final, must be on fundamental
principles. Every Christian must have fraternal
feelings for Christians the world over. He want
ed all Baptists to harmonize. The Baptists of the
North held the same great principles as those of
the South. They believed in Faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ—in repentance before God—in the
immersion of believers in water by recognized
administrators. There should be affiliation and
co-operation, each working in its own field. We
have been affiliating, indeed hugging and kissing,
ever since the meeting at Baltimore. He wanted
the matter left thus. If they attempted to do
more than let this brotherhood grow by mutual
kindness, sympathy and good offices, there would
be no end to the agitation. To attempt to do
‘more in the Convention would only induce end-'
less discussion. The true plan to bring harmony
and co-operation was to treat the matter as a
surgeon would a broken limb —bandage it and let
it rest.
W D Thomas, of S 0., had no position to de
fine and no personal explanation to make. The
division occurred before his day, but he never
heard any question of “fraternization” before
the war. We were then divided. Are we any
nearer together now ? The fact that we live un
der the same government is no argument for con
solidation. Neither the body nor the chqrcfi of
Christ is divided, even though we had forty sep
arate organizations. It had been said that no one
was in favor of organic co-operation, but he ar
gued this is the only kind we, as a Convention,
have anything to do with. He argued that the
very tendency to consolidation in these times calls I
in trumpet tones upon the Baptists of the South
to stand as a breakwater against it. I
to know how andjrhelS- ort hern Bapdsts had
tendered “co-oper®|K’ and reviewed the past
action of their that this was not
so. “How together except they
be agreed?” TfiWjKre radical differences as to
our methods. All Torced co-operation is prema
ture. “Let us rest and wait patiently for the
Lord.’* He earnestly exhorted that Baptists of
the South should stadfT united on this as on all
other questions. Thematter had not feeen, and
would not have tieejyytroduced into this body
by those who him; and if division
and strife the responsibility will
rest upon t h° s^B|§®; 'e so persistently pressed
this question He had the
very highest respect (he might say veneration)
for his “ Father in the Gospel,” (Dr Jeter.) From
his earliest childhood he had been taught to honor
and follow him, but his conscienttoffs convictions
would compel him tWyote against the resolu
tioiH J J
Adjourned with pfayer by C pewis.
After prayer, at 3 o’clock, ly W Ashcraft, of
Ala., the discussion jppfesu mod and E W War
ren spoke. He wished the question, after free,
full and untrammelj|»<L-discussion; to be settled
once for all. Let it joe decided merits, and
the right embraced, whatever garter—for
good out of NazerethUwjust as good as if it were
out of Jerusalem. rmy>?ould have a vot kfor the
perpetuity of the P and no vote agaikst. co
operation with —for the latter vote
would be tnisunder^HPyjr~
/'Culpeper, of SfW, was in favor of the resolu
tioq—as it refers the whole subject to a commit
tee. The breachJßßjflen. between the North and
South now, than it ms two years ago —the ijlsult
of political scheming and slander. If diffi
culty were surmounted, and the part«s could
coine together with oblivion of the past? and mu
tual love, he would cheerfully acquiesce in the
movement.
W F Broaddus, of Va., offered this substitute
for the resolution:
Whereas, Many .of our brethren, both North
and South, are desirous of attempting by some
suitable means to secure organid connection be
tween the several Boards of the Baptist denomi
tion North and South :
Resolved, 1. Tha* in the judgment of this Con
vention, any attempt jo this direction would, in
stead of tending to drawptogether Baptists of the
North and South, ten<| rather to keep up strife
among the brethren. J
2. That while vvs»waesire to cultivate fraternal
feelings toward our Northern brethren, we recom
mend to the several organizations now existing in
both sections to pttiaßttte their own work by such
means as the providence of God may put into
their hearts, bidding eabh other God speed in the
work of spreading the’ gospel throughout the
whole earth. * \
S P Jones, of Tenn.goffered this amendment to
the substitute: /
Resolved, That thffc question of co-operation with
our Northern brethrep be referred to a committee
of one from each State embraced under the opera
tions of this body, with instructions to report the
character and method 1 of co-operation, if any, that
is desirable and practicable.
A M Poindexter, of Ya., spoke in favor of the
original resolutions. He showed that the resolu
tions were based on matters of fact, as that there
was a general for fraternal relations with
Northern brethren and a universal conviction that
our Southern organizations must be maintained in
their integrity. Hejshowed that fraternal co-ope
ration did not mean amalgamation or organic
union, and said tha:lt there was nothing to show
that the North or stybody desired the abandon
ment of our The field was large
enough for all, and#Tfll should work in brotherly
harmony. lie'wanaKhis matter to be submitted
to a committee of tlje best minds in the Conven
tion, so that ft might go properly before the world.
He was a Southern (man—Southern independence
had been the subjeettof his prayers. It had been
watered by his tears and been nourished by the
blood of those dear to him. In receiv
ing the hospitalities of Northern Christians he
had not admitted that he had been wrong. He
had there in the stood up and said, “Meet
me as I am, as a man, a Christian and a Baptist,
just as I was in the war and in the time of sla
very.” If we meet on common ground, recogni
zing the Christian manhood of each, I am willing
to unite and work with our Northern brethren
hand to hand and heart to heart. Union thus is
mere co-operaticn. It has nothing of consoli
dation. If there is such consolidation as some
suppose going oh in politics and in other
churches, all Baptists should be united to oppose
it. We are all bound to sustain our own Boards,
but we must rise above Southernisin, rise above
self, and do all we can for the truth and for
Christ.
The resolution wps laid on the table to hear the
report of the com/rii.ttee on Co-operation, as re
spects the Sunday School Board, which was read
by the Chairman, J LReynolds, and unanimously
adopted, as follows:
This subject embraces two distinct topics, “ the
hearty co-operation of all the Sunday school or
ganizations within our bounds,” and “ co-opera
tion with Northern societies in our Sunday school
work.” With reference to the former there ex
ists little, if any, necssity either lor further argu
ment or persuasion. Your committee would,
therefore, merely commend to the consideration of
all who are employed in this sphere of Christian
action the facts atkd reasonings of the report itself,
and to the practical suggestion, which is submit
ted in one of the.resolutions appended to this re
port.
As to the other topic, co-operation with North
ern societies, yoar committee would express their
judgment with the frankness becoming so grave a
matter. The disciples of Christ rests
exclusively uponjfneir concurrence in the inter
pretation and pt)ictice of revealed troth. It is
elevated far abovpturbulence of human pas
sions, and the collision of temporal—and there
fore transient—To permit the feeling
engendered by political dissent, or sectional strife,
or unextinguished personal animosity, to inter
vene between thefee who love and serve one Lord,
and thus to keep them apart, would be a grievous
wrong done to our common Christianity and the
sacred name whe-ewith we are called. It is, there
fore, our duty to “ endeavor the things that make
for peace” with all Christians, and especially with
those of them who agree with us in the faith and
practice of the gospel. Co-operation to this ex
tent we have hitherto maintained, and desire to
do so for the future.
If, however, bv co-operation be meant the amal
gamation of the Sunday School Board with any
other Board or Swiecy, or its withdrawal from
any portion of the field entrusted to it by this
Convention, your committee cannot advise it. For
reasons apart from the action of any other body,
past or prospective, and growing solely out of the
condition and wants of the South, it is deemed
eminently wise aad proper to maintain our exist
ing organization, and devote our energies to the
development and nurture of our own resources.
Our people need the training which your Board
supplies, and the animation and zeal which it in.
fuses; whilst the very restriction of its operations
within the bounds of Itae Convention is well suit
ed to enlist the sympathy and combine the ac
tivity of your constituents in promoting the reli
gious instruction of the young.
In a denomination like ours, diffusion—not cen
tralization—is the true law of progress. The ad
vance of the Baptists of America has been mark
ed, not by the collection of their forces at a com
mon centre, but by the erection of new centres of
influence, from which the light and power of truth
have radiated and spread over their ever widening
domain. A healthful growth in the future may
demand the increase, but never the diminution, of
the number of such organizations,
Your committee recommend the adoption of the
following resolutions;
Resolved, That the Sunday School Board be in.
structed to solicit the co-operation of all the Sun
day school workers within our bounds; obtain
reports of their doings; and prepare, annually, a
table of statistics, showing the number of schools,
teachers, scholars, etc., actually engaged in this
work.
Resolved , That the Board he encouraged and
urged to cultivate the entire field entrusted to
them by this Convention, by supplying the wants
of Sunday schools, including both teachers and
scholars, and furnishing them with all the imple
ments which are needed for successful work.
Resolved, That the Board be requested to main
tain, as heretofore, fraternal relations with those
of our brethren beyond our bounds who are de
voted to the cause of Sunday schools, to be always
ready to reciprocate acts of Christian courtesy,
and to give and receive counsel and aid, so far as
may be compatible with the work assigned them
by this Convention.
The resolution was again taken from the table,
and after remarks by W F Broaddus and J P
Boyce, adopted. It was voted that the commit
tee should consist of one person from each State
represented in the Convention ; and the following
were appointed: J B Jeter, of Va., J W M Wil
liams, of Md., J B Hardwick, of West Va., J H
Mills, of N. C., J L Reynolds, ofS. C., W D May
field, of Ark., A Sherwood, of Mo., S P Jones, of
Tenn., C Lewis, of Ky., F M Law, of Texas, C M
Irwin, of Ga., W H Mclntosh, of Ala., W S Webb,
of Miss., and B W Blakewood, of The Con
vention adjourned.
At night, a Mass Meeting in behalf of the Sun
day School Board was held, and addresses made
by J W M Williams, O R Blaqjcall, of 111., and
T C Teasdale.
Monday, May 9th.
The Convention began its session with prayer
by R B Kelsay, of Md. A paper from the Foreign
Mission Board, with regard to deeper interest and
more vigorous effort iu that department, was re
feried to the Committee on Extended Operations.
J L Burrows urged practical attention to the mat
ter, from the fact that the cities in China which
are the sites of our mission stations have been re
linquished to us by all other Baptist Organizations,
and we have pledged ourselves, therefore, to do
the entire work in these cities. G F Adams, of
Va., thought the missionary spirit had declined
among us, and, in view of the reflex influence of
that spirit on the interests of the cause at home,
urged pastors of feeble churches to its cultivation
in their flocks, as belter for home interests than
scolding sermons or immediate revival sermons.
J F B Mayes, of Tenn., believed' that the decline
of the missionary spirit was due to the want of
active agents in the field and the neglect of pas
toral attention to the subject. The same direction
was given to a paper from the Baptist ministers
of Baltimore to the Board, with reference to the
establishment of a mission in Ireland.
The Report of the Committee on the Past and
Future Operations of the Domestic Board was read,
amended and recommitted. It spoke of the effi
cient service rendered to the cause by the Board,
especially in the help given toward the establish
ment of efficient churches at centres of influence,
and commended the work to the liberality of the
churches and the sedulous care of pastors.
The Report on the Past and Future of the Indian
Work, argued from the marked success of our la
bors iu that field before the war, that ids are the
people most efficiently to originate and sustain
missions among the red men. It was adopted.
The Report on Extended Operations in the For
eign Field urged reinforcement of our forces in
China, and indicated Italy, Spain, Mexico and Ire
land as eligible spheres of effort, when the re
sources of the Board shall admit of the opening of
new missions. To this end, increased contribution
was solicited from the churches. H McDonald, of
Ky., who was bom in Ireland, rejoiced in the hope
that his first native country, where many impor
tauf changes invite evangelistic effort, was about
to receive spiritual aid from his second. He held
that Baptists alone can meet Romanists. The op
pressions of seven centuries plead for help for Ire
land. J B Hawthorne, of Md., had originated tlve
plan of a mission in Ireland, as adopted by t{ e
Executive Committee of the Association of tlmt
State. He believed that; a grand crisis in tins
work is upon us, and that if we “ strike” now, the
fruits of Foreign Mission would be greater in the
next ten years than they had been in the last fifty.
H L Burrows had for twelve years felt a deeper
interest in Foreign Missions than in any other
form of evangelization. He believed that the true
sphere in which to further the extension of opera
tion abroad, is in our district Associations, our
churches, and our closets. We do not pray
enough for this work. A dollar a year from each
Baptist in the South would give us more than half
a million for Foreign Missions annually—and we
ought to have it. AM Poindexter said that the
tone of complaint and despondehey in relation to
our contributions to Foreign Missions and the diffi
culty of procuring missionaries at present is not
justified by a historical review—by a comparison
between the receipts of the Board and the procure
ment of reinforcements since the war and for the
first ten years after its organization. Show, by
giving, that the work has touched your hearts, and
you will get all the men you need. S Henderson,
of Alabama, thought that agents are necessary to
secure this giving. The grandest idea of the Bible
is that in the commission of Christ; and we must
burn this idea into the hearts of Christians to se
cure the mightiest forth-putting of zeal and energy
in work for Jesus. The Foreign Mission spirit
vitalizes all other forms of Christian effort. B
Kimbrough, of Tenn., concurred in the view as to
the necessity of agents. He held that agents should
visit the churches and stimulate systematic benefi
cence there. J L Burrows believed that the Bap
tists of the South are able and willing to give
$200,000 a year to each of its Boards. They do
not do it because they have no opportunity—be
cause the channels for conveying their benefac
tions to the treasuries of the Boards are not opened
by systematic arrangements, by pastoral effort and
the labor of agents. Who will devise a plan for
this end ?
Adjourned with prayer by A E Dickinson.
In the afternoon, after prayer by J W Brown
of Miss, and remarks by T Whitfield, of Miss.,
and T E St. inner, of Tenn., thk report under con
sideration ai the hour of a Ijournment was
adopted.
A report was adopted, urging the Sunday School
Board specially to prosecute its mission work,
and the churches liberally to support the Board
in that work. Remarks by T C Teasdale, Cor.
Sec., and pledges and payments to the amount of
$1,185.
The Committee reported in favor of St. Louis,
(Third Baptist church,) as the place of meeting
next year. New Orleans (First Baptist church)
was also nominated. The former was chosen.
Wm Williams, of S. C., to preach the Introduc
tory sermon: G Hunt, of Ky., alternate.
The Report of the Committee on Credentials, and
on the nomination of New Boards, were adopted.
Foreign Mission Board, located in Richmond,
Virginia.
President—J L Burrows-
Vice Presidents—Hiram Woods, Md.; JL M Cur
ry, Va.; ft Furman, S, O.; W M Wingate, N. C.:
Hepry McDonald, Ify-; Moses Green, Ark.; C M
frwni, Ga. i T WilNams, Mo.; F Courtney, La.;
S Henderson, Ala.j William Howard, Texas; J S
Baker, Fla; J M Lewis, Miss.; Matt. Hillsman, Tenn.
Corresponding Si crelary —J B Taylor.
Treasurer—Edwin Wortham.
Recording Secretary—W H Gwaibmey.
Auditor—U T Wortham.
Board of M anagers —J B Jeter, A B Clark, A Snead,
H K Ellyson, A G Woriuam, A E Dickinson, C H
Winston, J F Keesee, J B Watkins, Well. Qoddm,
John U Williams, J A Chambliss, T J Evans, N W
Wilson, J R. Garlick.
Domestic and Indian Mission Board, located in
Marion, Ala
President—W H Mclntosh-
Vice Presidents—J W M Williams, Md.; W Hoop
er, N. C.; M P Lowry, Miss.; E T Winkler, S. C,;
E S Dulin, Mo.; C K Winston, Tenn.; E L Com
pere, Ark.; H W Dodge, Va,; P H Lundy, Ala. ; R
H Browne, La.; J H DeVotie, Ga.; H C Clark,
Texas; Green Clay Smith, Ky.; W H Fiquet.
Corresponding Secretary—M T Sumner.
Recording Secretary—W H Fiquet.
Treasurer—J B Lovelace.
Auditor—S H Fowlkes.
Board of Managers—J F Bailey,Torter King, C C
Huckahee, L C Tutt, J Moore, W T McAllister, D R
Lide, E A Blunt, A J Battle, W W Wilkerson, S R
Freeman, E Q Thornton, I B Vaiden, J H Lee, A B
Goodhue and T J Dill.
Sunday School Board, located in Memphis,
Tennessee.
President—S H Ford.
Vico Presidents—J C Carpenter, La.; B Manly, S.
C.; A F Crane, Md.; W 3 Webb. Miss.; W D May
field, Ark.; J T Williams, Mo.; W T Brantly, Ga.;
George Hunt, Ky.; B W Justice, N. C.; F M Law,
Texas; A P Abell. Va.; Joseph Shackeliord, Ala.
Treasurer—R G Craig.
Recording Secretary—J L Norton.
Auditor—E G Wicker.
Corresponding Secretary—T C Teasdale.
Board of Managers—J R Graves. A Hatchett, D E
Burns, Marcus Cooper, W S Taylor, G W Norton, M
W Phillips, J L Verser, N S Bruce, P S Jones, James
Beattie, S M Jobe, S C Rogers, C V Voorhies, W D
Andrews, Dr J C Rogers.
The conditional bequest of J C Crane to this
Convention, on recommendation of the Commit
tee in the case, was relinquished upon payment
of S2OO by his son, H R Crane.
Adjourned with prayer by J H Kilpatrick, of
Ga.
At night, the Treasurer reported $754 35 cash
on had, and was instructed to divide it equally
between the Boards. ' G W Norton was re-elected
Treasurer and N Long Auditor.
The report on Past and Future Operations of
the Domestic Mission Board was submitted anew
to the Convention, and adopted. D M Breaker
thought that only about 50 out of the 30,000
Baptists of East Tennessee labor for missions, and
that the contributions to that cause from the
whole section are scarcely more than should come
from a single church. The fault lies, he believed,
in the absence of agency work there. S. Hender
son considered the state of the in East Ten
nessee as more hopeful than represented by the
last speaker; and appealed for proof to the many
members of this body who hail from that region.
The fault there, as elsewhere, lies in the want of
spiritual life and power in the churches.
At this point, the speeches were limited by
vote to five minutes. M T Sumner traced the
fault to what he supposed to be fact, that not
more than one out of five among the ministers
assembled here have'worked in their churches for
the Boards of the Convention. He besought their
co-operation. W F Broaddus, of Va., referred to
a mission field in Arkansas, and W Howard to
similar fields in Texas. J L Reynolds thought
that the denomination has steadily advanced, and
that the tone of this meeting is too despondent.
J R Graves, of Tenn., heartily sympathized with
the view of Bro. R. He believed that the bap
tisms in the denomination at the South, the past
year, averaged a thousand every Sabbath. F M
Haygood called attention to the prostrate condi
tion of our church at Tallahassee, Fla. The re
port was adopted, after an amendment referring
to the past work of the Board in country churches
and localities in all parts of the field of its opera
tion.
The Board of Domestic Missions was instructed
to collect, tabulate and present with its annual
report, a list of all the missionaries employed by
State and district organizations, the salaries paid
them and the fruit of their labor.
Adjourned with prayer by S R Freeman, of
Ala.
Tuesday, May 10th.
At 9, A. M., prayer was offered by B Taylor, of
Va.
The Report of Committee on Coliseum Place
Baptist church, N. 0., was read by J P Boyce.
The report announcing the transfer of the pro
perty was adopted, and finishes up the relations
existing between the Convention and that church.
A motion was made to reconsider the action of
the body adopting the Report of the Special Com
mittee on the Treasurer’s Report of the Sunday
School Board. S P Jones, of Tennessee, urged the
reconsideration, because the report seemed to/re-
bake or censure the Board. He thought tjjiey
could vindicate their actions in all things, and ex
plain all seeming difficulties. He said that while
the report was liable to create the opinion that the
Board has a dozen salaried agents, the truth is,
that brother Haygood is the only one. A M Poin
dexter, who wrote the report, claimed that the
members of that Committee were the friends of
the Board, but that the Committee thought there
were things that needed explanation. The Secre
tary of the Board and brother Jones had been
urged to meet with the Committee, which they
had not done, except the latter, once. What he
(Poindexter) does, is always done out and out.
There are discrepencies. The Board has refused
to notice the instructions of the Convention. He
will not recognize the right of any one of the
Boards to disregard the orders of the Convention.
There is seeming neglect in the Board’s affairs,
and want of business management. There are
paid agents —brethren working for a per centage,
etc., —amounting to at least $9,000. S P Jones
said it was necessary to pay a Secretary, and,
as they had thought the Secretary would be
worth more in the field, they had to employ a
book-keeper. They had not thought of brethren
who were working for a per centage as salaried
agents. It was, as they supposed, the easiest and
cheapest way to get money and sell books. They
expected, in that way, to get all they needed. He
believed they raised their money as cheaply as any
one of the Boards raised theirs. J P Boyte said
the members of the former Board intend that their
relations to the Memphis Board should be most
cordial, but they wanted their records of their re
lations to this matter should be kept straight. We
are in precisely the same condition we were at the
last session of this body. He was satisfied that
the Board had labored under gr&it difficulties in
receiving the transfer of the Board. He did not
want a Sunday-school Board, but the Convention
has willed otherwise, and he goes with them. He
thinks all difficulties can be explained, but it has
not yet been done. We of S. C. and Greenville
are co-operating with this Board. We ask for
such an adjustment as will show that both the old
and the new Boards were composed of honest busi
ness men. S H Ford said he could not understand
tne matter. It was hard for him to get a financial
proposition in his head. When the Board came
to Memphis It brought a department with it. The
first Memphis Secretary was not efficient. This
had involved them in ‘rouble. The last year he
had not bdeff>able to get up stairs where the Board
met. He thought they had not paid their editors,
and agents, and secretaries, too much. Their pre
sent Secretary is efficient. He had doubted whether
they were able to employ the associate editor of
Kind Wordt. All our appointments and officials
cease; their term of office closes at this Conven
tion, unless re-appointed. He did not endorse
every act of the Board, but it must be remembered
that hitherto the work has been new to us—an
experiment. He believed the Board would bo
prudent.
JWM Williams said, Two weeks ago he began to
pray for the grace of silence. He had not made a
speech. But this Board is the agency that takes care
of the children. When he saw them attacking the
mother, he felt like speaking. He was glad this ex
amination had occurred. He wished the same thing
would occur in regard to all the Boards. He could
see how this Board must need more money than
either ot the other Boards. He feared there was a
suspicion against this Board. He thought these'
brethren bad made all plaio. He liked the spirit of
this Board. They are not waiting for something to"
turn up. They have gone to work to turn up some
thing. Live men have to he paid for.
T C Teasdale said; There is no individual on this
floor who is more gratified that this discussion has
arisen than he was. He thought all difficulties could
b« removed. He hoped the report would not pass.
He hoped a substitute would be adopted, simply ex
pressing satisfaction with the Board. It is easy to
complain of the Boards. The Sunday School Board
is composed of godly and business men, who have
the children of the whole South on their hearts. He,
as Secretary, had appointed no agent on a salary
other than a commission on what was raised, except
brother Haygood, of Ga., who was appointed by the
Board. They are acting under the most rigid econo
my- They stand obligated to displace any book tha
our brethren may condemn. They ask that the ert
rors of the books may be pointed out. They give
brother Haygood $1,200 per year.
J P Boyce (Sec. Teasdale having invited criticism)
expressed the opinion that the Board is not getting
enough for the use of its stereotype plates.
A M Poindexter said, that the facts elicited justify
his report. It has been said that the mother of the
children has been attacked, and our tears are sought.
He thought if he had a tender little infant, and should
find that the mother was pulling its hair, pinching it,
and spanking it, he would take it away from her.
J R Graves said: Doubtless, all this mystification
has resulted from a tailure to itemize the Treasurer's
report. The same difficulty rflay be raised with re
gard the other Boards. He never heard of publish
ers publishing on brother Boyce’s plan. He has no
connection with the South-Western Publishing House.
The report was reconsidered, and then recommit
tea. •
J B Jeter reported from the Committee raised upon
his co-operation resolutions, substantially in accord
ance with the report adopted on Saturday. Report
adopted unanimously. It reads:
Your Committee, with all the light before them ou
the subject submitted to their consideration, after a
careful comparison«of thetr views, have but little to
add to the counsel presented in the report of the
Committee on co-operation with the Sunday School
Board, adopted by the Con vention on Saturday. The
policy recommended for that Board is proper for all
the Boards. All are agreed that the Convention and
its Boards should be maintained in thelf integrity.
No measures which endanger their existence or di
minish their efficiency are to be tolerated. All the en
ergies of Southern Baptists should be directed to
their support and the increase of their usefulness.
Your Committee do not recommend that any meas
ures be adopted in the direction proposed in the pre
amble and resolution referred to them, beyond those
heretofore sanctioned by this Convention ; and be
lieving that the further agitation of a subject which
has absorbed so much of the valuable time ol this
body, at its last three sessions, tends only to disturb
our own harmony, without promoting fraternal rela
tions with other bodies, your Committee respectfully
asks to be discharged from its further consideration.
Adjourned with prayer by J R Craves.
In the afternoon, prayer was offered by R C. Kim
brough, of Tenn. The Report of the Committee ou
the China Mission was read. The report recom
mended the transferring of the China Mission in Cal
ifornia from the Domestic to the Foreign Mission
Board. J R Graves read an interesting letter from C H
Hendrickson, of California, addressed to this body,
appealing for a missionary to be sent to the Chinese
in that State—asking specially for the sending of R
H Graves to them. The report was adopted.
The Report of the Committee on Publication of
the Sunday School Board, recommended the Homeand
Foreign Journal and Kind Words, and approved the
publication policy of the Board, and urged a vigorous
prosecution of this work. The report was adopted.
The Report of the Committee to whom was re
committed tfca report on the report of the Treasurer
of the Sunday School Board, was read and adopted.
It expressed approval of the spirit of the Board, as
free from all intended error, and hope of its enlarged
efficiency.
The Report of the Committee on African Missions
was read. The report stated that not less than one
thousand conversions have occurred in connection
with our previous work in Africa, and recommends
the sending of colored missionaries to that country.
The report was adopted.
Resolutions were adopted requiring the treasurers
of the several Boards to submit, hereafter, a more full
report of their transactions, and congratulating the
Boards on the success which has attended their la
bors, and expressing the confidence of the denomina
tion in these Boards.
A resolution was adopted advising that the delega
gations from bodies represented in this Convention,
be restricted to brethren from the territory of the
given bodies respectively.
Upon motion of W S Webb, of Miss., 2,500 copies
of the minutes of this meeting were ordered.
The usual resolutions of thanks were passed.
W F Broaddus led in prayer, and the Convention
adjourned without day.
Last Days of John E. Dawson, D.D.
HIS EDITORIAL CAREER.
When the question of connecting tbe nitne of
Dr. Dawson with the religious press was first
agitated, (which was, we believe, in the spring
and summir of 1859,) his first desire was, in such
an event, to give this, his last services, to his
Georgia brethren. To carry out this wish, appli
cation was made to the authority of that State
that controlled the Christian Index. Other ar
rangements, however, had so far progressed as to
make this impracticable, and left him frae to as
sociate his name with the South- Western Baptist ,
then published at Tuskegee, Ala. The senior
editor of the latter paper, desiring to vacate the
position to give himself more fully to his pastoral
work, offered it to him, and he accepted it. He
entered upon these duties with many fears, origi
nating in his want of experience in a field of labor
he had never occupied. But the strong confidence
his brethren expressed in his ability overcame his
timidity, and he entered, heart and soul, into the
service. To say that he answered the expecta
tions of friends in this respect, would be too tame
an expression to indicate the brilliant success of
his editorial career.
Dr. Dawson brought to his new field of useful
ness a mind and heart thoroughly trained by the
reading, observation and experience of over
twenty-five years. He had been associated with
the leading spirits of Georgia in all the relations
of the ministerial office. He had shared the com
panionship and confidence of Mercer and Sanders,
Thornton and Mallory, Lumpkin and Law—all
that noble band of devoted ministers who, under
God, had made the denomination in that State
what it was and what it is to-day. Os course such
associations must have exercised no little influence
in shaping the theology and moulding the Chris
tian and intellectual character of brother D. In
the period of his ministerial career,—from 1828 to
1860, —there was a mas3 of pulpit power and effi
ciency among the Baptists of Georgia which we
believe'no State in the Union surpassed. We re
member the first time we met the Baptist Con
vention of that State. It was at LaGrange, in
1842, the spring after Mercer died. Dawson was
then the pastor of the Baptist church at that place,
and, by special request, he preached the funeral
sermon of deacon Andrews Battle, a brother of
the venerated Dr. Cullen Battle, now living in
Tuskegee. This was the first time we had ever
met him, and his sermon made an impression upon
our mind that time has never effaced. Deacon
Battle was one of the best friends he ever had
he loved him as a brother—and the occasion called
out the full measure of his strength. But we are
wandering—WS only desired to indicate under
what circumstances and influences the massive
character of Dawson was formed.
We shall attempt no exhaustive analysis of bro
ther D. It would be unbecoming these unpre
tending reminiscences. Avery few observations
upon the more salient points of his character is
all that we shall attempt.
The first quality of his style we mention, is tbo
clearness, precision and force with which he could
state principles. There was something in his very
manner of stating such principles, that, to a mind
accustomed to think, superceded the necessity of
argument or illustration. They bore the very im
press of truth as they came from his pen. This
remarkable perspicuity and power captivated
every reader of the paper. Ilis editorials resem
bled a succession of paintings, executed by some
master artist, in their sharply defined distinct
ness. No man could mistake a single utterance.
He seemed to prostitute language to conceal, ob
scure or mistify subjects to meet an emergency, or
confound an opponent, for he was the very soul
of honor. He acted upon tile maxim that error
only sought the subterfuges of sophistry and con
cealment, —truth unadorned was most poworful.
We remember that when our Conventions, Boards,
etc., were under discussion, as to whether they