Southern Baptist Convention.
This body assembled in
Savannah on the 10th inst., and was called to order by
Dr. Richard Fuller, who, it will be remembered, presided over its deliberations two years ago in
Richmond.
Revs. Wm. C. Crane and
Geo. B. Taylor,
Secretaries, were in attendance.-- Eleven States are represented in the
Convention.
The delegates from
Virginia are Rev,
J. B. Taylor,
Rev. A. M. Poindexter, D. D.,
T. D. Toy.
From
Maryland,
Rev. Richard Fuller, D. D.,
Charles Stevenson,
Rev. G. W. Samson, D. D. From
North Carolina,
Rev J. L. Pritchard,
J. H. Ivey,
J. W. Williams,
A. T. M. Handy,
J. M. Russell,
E. W. Henderson,
W. Rives.
W. H. McIntosh, Charles Manly,
M. B. Harden,
H. S. Haynes,
S. A. Creath,
J. J. Cloud,
Rufus Figh.
The following officers of the
Convention were elected:
President--
Rev. Richard Fuller, D. D., of
Maryland.
Vice-Presidents--
Messrs. B. Manly, Senr., of
Alabama;
Thomas Starks, of
Georgia;
R. B. C. Howell, of
Tennessee; and
P. H. Mell, of
Georgia.
Secretaries--
Messrs. Wm. Carey Crane, of
Louisiana, and
Geo. B. Taylor, of
Virginia.
Treasurer —
W. Y. Leech, of
South Carolina.
President's Address.
Beloved Brethren: You require from me no expression of gratitude for the honor thus conferred upon me the second time.
Were it proper, I could say much, for my burthened heart would, I know, be cheered by your sympathies.
But there are times for brief speeches and vigorous action; and as I wish to impress the truth upon you, I will set the example.
Let me but utter this reflection, that as we are in the midst of perilous and most exasperating times, so we ought to give the more earnest heed to ourselves, lest at any moment we forget the spirit of Jesus, which ought to breathe in all our actions, and words, and feelings.
If any minor differences have unhappily insinuated themselves into this body, let the present strifes and hostilities around us calm and heal these discrepancies, and bind us more closely together.
The world has never seen-- Heaven has never wept over — a more mournful phenomenon than that now exhibited — I grieve to say it-- at the
North, where not only politicians and bad men, but Christian editors, and pastors and churches are breathing out slaughter, inciting to fury passions already terribly inflamed, and seemingly thirsting for fratricidal carnage.
Let us watch and pray, lest we forget the example and spirit of Him who has taught us to ‘"bless them that curse us,"’ and to ‘"do good to them that hate us and despitefully use us."’ As we hear the ministers and churches of the
Prince of Peace crying out for blood, let us exclaim: ‘"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,"’ let us say: ‘"Into their secret, my soul, enter not thou; unto their assemblies, mine honor, be thou not united."’
Above all, let these alarms and perturbations elevate our thoughts to that other world whither we are hastening, and with which we have much more to do than with this present evil world; let them inspire us with more earnest aspirations after that Rest which remains for the people of God, and into which we shall soon enter.
General Business.
The Bible Board, through
L. W. Allen, Corresponding
Secretary, made their report.--The Board, whose duties are to distribute the
Bible and other religious books of the
Publication Societies throughout the
South, report that reasonable progress has been made by the Board with their important work in the States, Territories, and among the
Creek and
Cherokee Indians.
Like everything new, however, the Board have been much embarrassed, first by the indifference of friends; secondly, the confounding of the Board with other kindred enterprises, thereby diverting funds that might otherwise have been realized; and thirdly, by the revolutionary condition of the country, which has well night, for the present, paralyzed their labors.
The State Boards have done much in a similar work, and this Board hope that they may take the entire labor within the States upon themselves, leaving to the Southern Board the
Territories, Indian Tribes, and the semi-barbarous countries of
Mexico and
Central America.
The report was referred to a committee.
The Treasurer's report was then read by the
Corresponding Secretary.
On motion,
Resolved. That a committee be appointed to recommend such verbal changes in the
Constitution and Minutes as may be necessary, growing out of the recent formation of the Southern Confederacy.
The Board of Domestic Missions reported, through
M. T. Sumner, Corresponding
Secretary.
The report is very elaborate, embracing a vast amount of Christian labor and pecuniary expenditure.
This, like all other interests of the
Church, has suffered from the short crops throughout the
South, and existing political troubles.
The report was referred.
In the afternoon a letter was read from
G. W. Samson, delegate from the District of Columbia, regretting the impossibility of his attending, on account of the distressing political condition of his immediate section, which he fervently prayed God would overrule to the good of the people and His own glory.
The report of the Board of Foreign Missions was then read by
Rev. J. P. Boyce.
It represents most of the missions in a flourishing condition.
The Treasurer shows a receipt of $45,284.87, disbursements of $40,204,48. Balance on hand $4,990.39.
The Committee on Constitutional Changes reported as follows, through their
Chairman,
Mr. Taylor:
‘
"The committee to recommend such verbal changes in the
Constitution and Minutes as may be necessary, growing out of the recent formation of the Southern Confederacy, report:
"In the preamble, for '
United States,' substitute 'Southern States of
North America' In the
Constitution, Article H., for '
United States,' substitute '
Confederate States and other Southern States.' The reports to conform to the above changes.
George B. Taylor,
Julius J. Fleming,
R. B. C.
Howell."
’
Nothing else of importance occurred the first day.
