North Carolina Baptist State Convention
By R. D. Cross, 1897On the evening of December 9, 1897, in the handsome Baptist church in Oxford, one of our beautiful and cultured towns near Piedmont, North Carolina, the sixty-seventh anniversary of our Convention assembled. At the first service the large house was crowded to its utmost capacity, and this continued almost throughout the entire session.
Dr. A. C. Barron preached the Convention sermon; announced as his text, Acts, 1:8, "The work, the field, the power." It was a sermon of power, dealing not with the dead Christ, but with the living Christ.
The house was called to order by Dr. R. H. Marsh, of Oxford. Committee on Credentials reported 203 delegates, and others came later. The same officers were elected, viz.: Dr. Marsh, President; N. B. Broughton, and Height C. Moore, Secretary; John E. White, Corresponding Secretary, and Hon. J. D. Boushall, Treasurer.
Secretary White's report showed that this had been the best year in our history. More than $16,000 has been raised and paid out for State Missions. We raised more than $9,000 for Foreign Missions, nearly $6,000 for Home Missions; all objects of education, more than $14,000; Orphanage more than $13,000. For all objects we have paid $128,600. The harder the times, the more money we raise for the spread of the Master's Kingdom.
To our great delight, we learned that "we are at peace." The brotherhood is undisturbed by factional strife. Our work has been prospering all along the line. Many new churches have been established, and thousands of souls converted.
Visitors present: Drs. Tichenor, Seymore, Dickerson, A. T. Robertson, and many others.
Friday morning Dr. Robertson conducted devotional exercises. Rev. John E. White, Corresponding Secretary, ofiered a resolution demanding Dr. Whitsitt to resign his position as President and Professor of our Theological Seminary. Many of our people thought the whole matter should be left to the Board of Trustees, and keeping with this, a motion was made to table the resolution, but this lost by a small majority, and the matter was referred to the Trustees, 88 ayes 77 nays.
Although the discussion was spirited, it was perfectly courteous and fraternal.
The report on Home Missions was read, and discussed by Dr. I. T. Tichenor. He stated that last year our missionaries organized 169 churches. We have built 57 houses of worship, and repaired 129 others.
Then we were addressed by Dr. Seymore, of the American Baptist Publication Society, who spoke on Sunday-school publications. He told us about the work of Diaz, as colporteur in Mexico.
In the afternoon Dr. Purinton, of Nashville, spoke on the work of the Southern Board. He we should patronize our Board: first, it is our only means of reaching the children; it is suited to our needs, and the profit goes to our other work. More than $64,000 have gone to our other work from this Board. He magnified the Bible-work of the Board.
A resolution was offered and passed that we raise $4,000 for Home Missions by April 30th, the close of the Southern Baptist Convention year. And also, that we raise $9,000 for Foreign Missions this year.
Bro. W. C. Tyree read the report on Ministers' Relief Board, showing this year $200 more than last year. Thirteen have been helped.
The report on Foreign Missions was read by Rev. W. M. Jones. Dr. A. J. Barton, of the Foreign Mission Board, said the Board does not regard itself, primarily, a collecting agency, this must be done by the pastors. We are a bureau of information. This is done with the Foreign Mission Journal, and tracts, and maps we are preparing. Eight cents on the dollar cover all the expenses. We have 89 missionaries on all our fields, and 128 assistants. There were more than 600 conversions reported, but some of our missionaries are here and we are not able to send them back, and many others are waiting to be sent, but we cannot send them.
State Missions was ably discussed, and a collection of $350 was taken to liquidate the debt on that Board.
Rev. J. B. Boone read the report on Wake Forrest College. It showed 269 students were there last year, but 41 graduated in June, and we lack a few of having as many this year. We decided to raise $15,000 for State Missions next year.
In the evening session the report on Sunday-schools and Colportage was read by Dr. Pinnick, who has recently come into our State, and discussed by Dr. Pinnick and Rev. W. B. Spilman.
Then Dr. A. T. Robertson, of our Theological Seminary, presented the Students' Aid Fund. He said the Seminary stands for three things, viz , Sunday-schools, missions and education. Half of our churches have ho Sunday-schools, and three-fourths pay nothing on missions. At the close of this eloquent address we received $650 to aid North Carolina students.
Saturday night the entire services were given to the Female University. Speeches were made by President Boatwright, of Richmond College, Virginia, U. B. Broughton, and the indescribable Stringfield, the Corresponding Secretary of the institution. He spoke as only he can speak. At the close of his magnificent address a collection of $4,800 was raised for the institution.
Sunday night we had an orphanage mass-meeting. The report showed that, since 1887, 484 children have been in the Baptist Orphonage [sic] at Thomasville, and that there are 164 there now. A collection amounting to $1,260 was taken for a home for the general manager.
Monday morning we heard ministerial education. The Board paid more than $3,000 in helping young preachers.
Thus closed one of the most prosperous sessions of the Convention. We paid $128,000 to all objects of the Convention, and fully $15,000 to the endowment of Wake Forrest, and a further amount to the Female University.
============= [From THE BAPTIST ARGUS, DECEMBER 23, 1897, p. 4; via SBTS digital documents. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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