— OF — Hapfisf iortal Snians, HELD AT THE \ Athenaeum, Brooklyn, N. Y. December gth and ioth, 1874. Avery Arc hitectural and Fine Arts Library Gift of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library CONVENTION OF BAPTIST SOCIAL UNIONS AT THE ATHEN£UM, BROOKLYN N. Y. December 9TH and ioth, 1874. New York: L. H. Biglow & Company, Printers and Stationers, No. 13 William Street. 1875. .CC Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/conventionofbaptOOdurs PRELIMINARY. At the regular meeting of the Brooklyn Baptist Social Union, held May 19th, 1874, the following resolution offered by Mr. Churchill H. Cutting, was unanimously adopted : Resolved, That the Secretary is requested to correspond with the officers of the several Baptist Social Unions of the country, suggesting a meeting in this city of delegates from such Unions, for conference on questions which may be of interest to the Unions themselves and to the denomination, and especially with reference to the present duties of the denomination in respect to education. In accordance with this resolution the following circular letter was addressed to the several Social Unions : Brooklyn, July 6th, 1874. It was a happy suggestion which brought together the first Baptist Social Union, for the forming and maintaining of Christian acquaintanceship among brethren of the same faith and sympathies, and for consultation on matters of local and general interest to the Baptist denomination. It was a happy circumstance that the good example of our Boston brethren was follow- ed in other localities, and our common pride and joy that there is now a con- siderable number of such Unions spread over a wide extent of our country. Keeping still distinctly in mind that the object of these Unions is to pro- mote acquaintance and fellowship, and to receive and profit by information and suggestions with reference to denominational progress, the question arises whether any further measures can be taken for the promotion of these ends. If the acquaintance and fellowship of brethren in restricted localities are de- sirable, why are not a wider acquaintance and a wider fellowship equally de- sirable ? If information and suggestions in respect to matters of interest in such localities are important, why are not such information and suggestions important, when bearing on topics which concern equally the whole Baptist family ? These questions suggest their own answers, and they prompt the further inquiry whether the full measure of the usefulness of our Social Un- ions has been reached, and whether that inquiry might not attain a solution by the union of counsels? It is a singular fact, not very creditable to us Laymen, and not the fault of our Ministers, that in a denomination whose cardinal principles establish 4 Proceedings of Convention » X the equality of all Christian brethren, and rest the claims of the ministerial office to consideration and reverence, on character and good \yorks, we have fallen into the habit of leaving our denominational affairs almost exclusively in the hands of our respected and honored pastors. To a limited extent only do our Laymen attend our great denominational gatherings, or share in the counsels in which our great movements are originated and carried on. Our Social Unions are a first step towards the correction of a habit to be lamented. Perhaps a further use of these Unions might serve still further to bring our lay brethren into greater prominence in the grave and responsible methods of our denominational activity and progress. Moved by these considerations, the Brooklyn Baptist Social Union takes the liberty of suggesting a meeting of delegates from the several Social Unions in the country, to be held in the month of December next. This Union will take great pleasure in tendering hospitality to such a meeting, and will make the necessary preparations for its convenience and efficiency. It would suggest a meeting of two evenings and the intervening day. Thankful to any Social Union for suggestions as to topics for consideration, it would itself sug- gest that these topics should em brace, first, the composition, spheres and meth- ods of Social Unions themselves, and second, those great interests which con- cern the power and progress of the denomination in the various departments of evangelization and education. The invited guests would therefore naturally and necessarily be the representatives of our great societies and the chief rep- resentatives of our educational institutions. In brief and pertinent addresses from many and various sources, there might be gathered a large amount of useful information and suggestion. And, finally, on the second evening there might be a great denominational re-union, combining social and public demonstrations, to be alike a high Christian privilege, and an incitement to higher Christian service. We beg to offer these suggestions to the help of your prayers and your counsels. If you shall approve, we ask you to appoint delegates, assuring the attendance of at least three of your number. Please inform us as early as practicable of your decision, and when we have received a favorable response from a number of our Unions sufficient to justify the measure, we will issue the necessary invitations. In behalf of the Brooklyn Baptist Social Union, H. E. WHEELER, Secretary. During the summer vacation, many of the Social Unions did not meet ; but early in October responses were received from a sufficient number of the Unions, cordially approving of the proposed convention, to warrant preparation for it. According- ly, at the regular meeting of the Brooklyn Baptist Social Un- ion, held on the 15th October, the recommendation of the Ex- ecutiYe Board, that the convention be held on the 9th and 10th of December following, was unanimously adopted, and the whole matter referred (with power) to the Executive Board, and a committee of arrangements, consisting of Messrs. A. B. Cap- well, H. E. Wheeler, C. H. Cutting, and J. P. Douglass. Baptist Social Unions. 5 LIST OF DELEGATES TO THE CONVENTION OF BAPTIST SOCIAL UNIONS. Hon. Francis Wayland, .Conn. Baptist Social Union,. . .New Haven, Conn Jas. L. Howard, do. . Hartford, Conn. .Rhode Island Social Union,. .Providence, R, I. Prof. Benj. F. Clarke, . . do. do. J. C. Hartshorn e, do. do. Ansel D. Nickerson, do. .Pawtucket, R. I. George Lovis, .Boston Bap. Social Union, . . . Dedham, Mass. H. S. Chase, do. .Boston, Mass. : do. do. Timothy Merrick, .Soc. Union of West'n Mass.. . D. H. Brigham, do. .Springfield, Mass. J. H. Walker, .Worcester Bap. Soc. Union,. .Worcester, Mass. do. do. Rev. Henry S. Burrage, .Western Maine Soc. Union,.. .Portland, Maine. John Hamilton, Jr.,... .Western N. Y. Soc. Union,. . . Fredonia, N. Y. B. Griffiths, D. D., .... .Philadelphia Social Union,. . .Philadelphia, Pen do. do. Hon. Horatio Gates Jones, do. do. Prest. Jas. C. Welling, LL.D., Washington Soc. Union, .Washington, D. C Rev. J. W. Parker, D.D., do. do. W. W. Evarts, D.D.,. .Chicago Baptist Soc. Union,. .Chicago, Illinois. Lemuel Moss, D.D., • do. do. T. J. Morgan, D.D., . do. do. W. W. Huntington, .Minneapolis Social Union,.. .Minneapolis. E. B. Galusha, do. do. Nathan Bishop, LL. D.,. .Manhattan Social Union, New York, N. Y. Hon. Geo. H. Andrews,. do. do. I no. P. Townsend, do. do. O. D. Baldwin, do. do. do. .Elizabeth. do. .New York, N. Y. do. do. J. B. Colgate, do. do. do. do. George Tuthill, do. do. D. C. Hays, do. do. J. H. Deane, do. do. By a resolution of the Brooklyn Baptist Social Union, all its members were requested to sit with the Delegates. 6 Proceedings of Convention INVITED GUESTS. NAME. RESIDENCE. Rev. C. W. Anable, D. D North Adams, Mass. Martin B. Anderson, LL.D.,Pres't Univ'y of Rochester,. .Rochester, N. Y. Rev. Galusha Anderson, D. D., Brooklyn, N. Y. Rev. Thomas Armitage, D. D., New York, N. Y. Rev. Jay S. Backus, D. D., Brooklyn, N. Y. Rev. John F. Bigelow, D. D., do. Prof. George N. Bigelow, do. Prof. Geo. R. Bliss, Crozer Theo'l Seminary, Upland, Penn. Rev. Jas. P. Boyce, D. D., . .Bap. Theo'l Seminary Louisville, Ky. Rev. Edward Bright, D.D.. Ed. Examiner & Chronicle, .New York City. Hon. Wm. Bucknell, Philadelphia. Gardner R. Colby, Orange, N. J. Samuel Colgate, do. Isaac Cole, D. D., Westminster, Md. Charles Coleman, East New York. W. \V. Cooke, Whitehall, N. Y. Rev. S. S. Cutting, D. D., Brooklyn. Hon. Geo. Dawson, Albany, N. Y. Hon. John Eaton, Commissioner of Education, .Washington, D. C. Rev. Henry C. Fish, D,D., Newark, N. T- Rev. J. N. Folwell, Brooklyn. Prof. Norman Fox, New York, N. Y. Rev. Justin D. Fulton, D.D Brooklyn. Hon. Wm. Gaston. Governor of Massachusetts, . Boston, Mass. George Gault, Orange, N. J. C. Griffin, New Jersey. Rev. J. C. Grimmell, Brooklyn. Hon. P. E. Havens Essex, N. Y. Rev. J. Hendrick, Havana, N. Y. Rev. E. T. Hiscox, D. D Brooklyn, N. Y. Rev. D. C. Hughes, do. Hon. John W. Hunter. . . . .Mayor of Brooklyn do. W. B. Jacobs, do. Rev. Reuben Jeffrey, D. D., do. Rev. D. C. Litchfield, do. Rev. R. S. MacArthur, New York. Rev. David Moore, D. D., Brooklyn. II. T. Mulford Pres't Trust. So. Jersey Inst., . Bridgeton, N. J. Rev. J. N. Murdock, D.D., .Secy Am. Bap. Mis. Union, . Boston, Mass. Rev. J. W. OLMSTEAD, D.D., Ed. Watchman & Reflector, . do. Rev. A. S. Patton, D.D., . . .Editor Baptist Weekly New York. Baptist Social Unions. 7 H. A. Pratt, President Peddie Institute,. .Hightstown, N. J. J. H. Raymond, LL.D Prest. Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. James D. Reid, New York. Rev. Christopher Rhodes, Brooklyn. W. F. Richardson, Cambridge, Mass. Thomas L. Rogers, Editor Christian Era Boston, Mass. Rev.E.G. Robinson, DD.LLD.Pres't Brown University, . . . .Providence, R. I. William N. Sage, Rochester, N. Y. Smith Sheldon, New York City. Rev. J as. B. Simmons, D. D Brooklyn. Rev. C. E. Smith, New Haven, Conn. Rev. L. E. Smith, D.D., . . . .Examiner & Chronicle, New York, N. Y. Prof. O. S. Stearns, D. D... .Newton Theo'l Institute,. . . .Newton Centre, Ms. Rev. H. K. Stimson, Kansas. Rev. A. H. Strong, D.D., . .Rochester Theo'l Seminary. .Rochester, N. Y. Hon. Samuel J. Tilden, . . . .Governor of New York, . . . .New York. H. K. Trask, Principal So. Jersey Inst Bridgeton, N.J. Rev. J as. Waters, New York. Rev. H. L. Waylaxd, D.D., Editor National Baptist, . . . .Philadelphia, Penn. Rev. Wm. N. Wilbur,. ..... .Vermont Academy, Saxton's River, Vt. H. B. Wiggin, Orange, N.J. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION. DECEMBER gth, 1874. The Convention was called to order at 8 P. M., by Mr. A. B. Capwell, of Brooklyn, and upon his motion the Hon. Francis Wayland, of New Haven, was elected President, and conducted to his seat by the Hon. Horatio Gates Jones, of Pennsylvania and Mr. S. S. Constant, of New York. The President upon taking his seat, made a brief speech in acknowledgment of the honor conferred upon him. Upon motion, Mr. J. F. Wyckoff, of New York, was elected Secretary. The President then announced that the address of the evening would be delivered by Martin B. Anderson, LL. D., President of the University of Rochester, upon "The Laymen of the Baptist Church." Mr. Chairman — By your programme I see that I am ex- pected to say a few words to-night concerning the Laymen of the Baptist Denomination. With your permission I will change a word in that programme, and speak of the Laity of the Bap- tist Denomination, using the word laity as a general term, in- cluding the whole body of the spiritual elements of the Christ- ian Church exclusive of the ministry. At the beginning of the French Revolution, when the States General was about to commence its Session, the Third Estate, which had been accustomed in former centuries to occupy a IO Proceedings of Convention separate house apart from the nobility and clergy, asserted its right to sit in the same building, and to form a constituent part of the body, having common privileges with the other two orders. Relatively to this controversy, the celebrated Abbe Sieyes Avrote a remarkable pamphlet, entitled " What is the Third Estate ?" The point of his answer was, " It is the French nation, minus the nobility and clergy." So I say in regard to the laity of the Baptist Denomination. It is, generally speak- ing, the whole body of men and women in our churches, minus the clergy. When I speak of the laity of our body I do not consider them a class apart from the ministry — for we are all brethren, sons and daughters of one common father; united to each other by virtue of our antecedent union to the Lord Jesus Christ. In the language of scripture, as spiritual mem- bers of a Christian church, we all of us claim to be "kings and priests unto God," — kings with a right to take part in the func- tions of government; and priests in the New Testament sense of that term, with the right to teach and pjopagate religion, and to bless mankind by extending its influence. We have, however, those who are specially set apart for the preaching of the gospel, and for administering the ordinances of Christianity. These we call, collectively, the ministry. Those who are not thus set apart for continuous labor in preaching and pastoral care, we call the laity. The laity and clergy then are co-ordinate members of a common body de- signed to be mutually limiting and controlling forces, and both alike are required by the Almighty to co-operate in bringing out the best possible results in the salvation of men. We believe it to be wrong to separate, by any broad line of distinction, the clerical from the lay order. The road which leads from one class to the other ought always to be open. For many may believe themselves called to preach the gospel who will afterwards find that God has not called any congregation to hear them. The way should be open for them to drop back with untarnished reputation into the lay body, and do their Christian work therein. We believe, also, that any layman who finds himself endowed with the gifts of thought and utterance, accompanied by a burning desire to preach to his fellow men, may be, at any time in his life, set apart and ordained to the work of the pastor or evangelist. Teacher as I am by profes- sion, I hope the cime \\ \\ never come when the ministry shall cease to be recruited from men of mature years in the ranks ot Baptist Social Unions. the laity. Men with business habits and business common sense, whose hearts are filled with the love of Christ, — men who have developed their natural powers of thought and expres- sion in the Sunday-School and the Prayer-Meeting, frequently make most healthy and efficient additions to the clerical body. Such men, when they are sound in the faith, and have sufficient education to preach the gospel with power and clearness, should never, from the lack of professional training, be shut out from the ministry. The drawing of a sharp line of distinction be- tween the clergy and laity is fraught with evil, and has been so from the beginning. It was the germ of the first serious apostacy from the simplicity of the gospel. During the time of persecution large amounts of property, from weekly gifts and permanent endowments, were put into the hands of the clergy for the support of the suffering poor. That these funds should be raised was a matter of necessity, but their administration and control should have remained in the hands of a joint body of clergy and laity. Unfortunately for Christianity, however, this control passed into the hands of the clerical body alone. When persecution ceased and Christ- ianity became a State religion, this property increased immense- ly in amount. The clergy, having by custom and prescription the control of all property, and being compactly organized as a separate order, soon became entirely independent of the body of believers. They claimed for themselves to constitute the church, for all purposes involving the settlement of doctrine, modes of worship, and the exercise of power in discipline and administration. We believe that this separation of the clergy from the laity, and the assumption by the clergy of all those rights and privileges which were the joint property of both, were the main elements of corruption, in the early church. This principle finds illustration all along the track of Ecclesi- astical History, from the time of Cyprian, when the hierarchical system first began to receive its distinct form, down to the late Vatican Council. The health and efficiency of the general Christian body have always suffered, just in proportion as this line of distinction has been marked and stringent. The clergy and the laity are co-ordinate and constituent elements of the visible body of Christ. These elements should always inter- penetrate, act, and react upon each other. They should be joined together in organization, in sympathy, and in work. They should be mutual checks and balances, among the forces of Proceedings of Convention Christ's Kingdom. This is God's law, and " What God has joined together, let not man put asunder." As a denomination, we need strenuously to guard against that distinction between the ministry and the laity which shall lead the laity to assume that all religious work is to be done by proxy — handed over to a professional class. It is possible that there may be danger from the growth among us of what may be called professionalism in the clerical body — the idea that all guidance, leadership, settlement of doc- trinal beliefs, and church practices are to be restricted to those who have received special professional training. It is certainly the business of the ministry to give doctrinal and moral instruc- tions ; but these have divine authority only so far as they are shown to be in accordance with the Divine Revelation. It is the duty of the laity to repudiate, and set aside, all clerical teaching not thus sanctioned. The right of private judgment secures the privilege to the laity of comparing for themselves the instructions of the pulpit with the teachings of God's word. Our ministry is not a spe- cial priesthood, to mediate between God and man, nor has it, either individually or collectively, the right to speak for the body of the faithful, without the consent and co-ordinate ac- tion of the membership of the churches at large. The idea of an authoritative priesthood assuming the power and dignity belonging to the whole Christian body lies at the basis of the entire system of the Canon Law, through which, and out of which, the Papacy was developed. The fundamental idea of the Canon Law is, the recognition of the priesthood, as the sole medium for conducting spiritual blessings to the hearts of men, as controlling the gifts of divine grace, as having power to re- peat the great sacrifice made once for all, and direct its benefits according to their own pleasure. This system has left its impress on every government ot Europe. It was incorporated into the whole theory of Medi- aeval missions. Those who converted the barbarians to Chris- tianity went among them as priests, remained as priests, with functions apart from the great body of believers, assuming au- thority to control the laity in all spiritual matters without ap- peal. Whenever, during the Mediaeval period, anything like a revival of religion took place among the laity, it was immedi- ately seized hold of by the clergy, and the subjects of it were organized into a religious order, put under the control of a Baptist Social Unions. 13 general or superior, who was himself under subjection to the authorities at Rome. If the members of those orders were at first laymen, they were made subservient to the increase of power and dignity in the clerical order; and ultimately came to be an army of propagandists, helping to strengthen the pow- er of the hierarchy over all Europe. In our own time the growth in the English Church, of what was at first called Puseyism, and which of late has taken the name of Ritualism, had its origin in the disposition to increase the dignity and power of the clerical order, and to assume for it the authority of a special priesthood, constituting the only channel through which the blessings of God should flow to man, and authorized to legis- late for the lay conscience in all matters of doctrine and practice. The same leaven is working in the High Church party of the Lutherans in Germany. We saw it cropping out a few weeks ago in the discussion on the confirmation of a Protestant bishop in our own country. Fortunately, as it seems to us, lay representation is permitted in the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States ; and it was this lay element which brought the late Convention to put its mark of reprobation upon Ritu- alism, by refusing to confirm the election of Dr. Seymour to the bishopric of Illinois. The analysis of the votes at that Con- vention shows, that the clerical portion of the Convention would have confirmed Dr. Seymour in the office ; but that the lay votes saved that able and dignified body from a course of action, which could not have failed to be prejudicial to our common Protestantism. In England the power of the Ritualistic movement, which has furnished so many recruits for the Church of Rome, has not been limited or controlled by lay representation in convo- cation, but by the simple fact that ecclesiastical questions are decided not by clerical, but by a lay court. Within a short time the lay judgment and conscience has expressed itself also through an act of Parliament in strict condemnation of the movement. Among the Non-Conformists of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the influence of the laity was distinctly manifest, and almost always for good. It was the rank-and-file of our Baptist Churches, plain men and women who feared God more than they feared either man or devil, that stood up for the truth against the persecuting spirit of the English Establish- ment. Men such as these formed those churches, which held meetings in barns and forests, shifting their places of worship 14 Proceedings of Convention from Sabbath to Sabbath to escape their persecutors. Many of the Non-Conformist clergy of that period cherished an ill-con- cealed longing for the church which they had left. Such excel- lent men as Bates, and Baxter, and Howe, always looked for the time, when concessions would be made which would enable them to resume services in the Establishment. After the pass- ing of the Test Act, every one elected to office was obliged to take the Communion in the English Church, in order to be qualified to discharge official duties, and enjoy official honors. The Non-Conformists had separated from the Establishment on the plea of conscience. To go back to it — to participate in one of the most solemn rites of our religion for the sake of the honors and emoluments of office, was an admission that con- science, on their part, was conditioned by ambition and self-in- terest. As a matter of fact, it broke the power of the Non-Con- formist protest. For the ambitious and worldly reasoned thus: that if it were justifiable to conform once a year for worldly ends, the same reasons would justify conformity all the year round. Those familiar with the history of the time, will remember the curious controversy on this subject between John Howe and Daniel DeFoe. One of John Howe's congregation, elect- ed Mayor of London, went to the English Church and partook of the communion, in order that he might legally hold the office. Howe defended the act. DeFoe denounced it. He said, in substance, that by taking such a course the Mayor was false at the same time to religion, to conscience and to political liberty. He insisted that, if it was right for a Non Conformist to unite with the English Church in this most distinctive church ordin- ance, it was right for him to conform in all other particulars. If lie could conform once a year for the sake of office, the prin- ciple was yielded, and separation from the Establishment could not be justified on the plea of conscience. Howe replied, de- fending the action of his parishioner, and was obliged, in the course, of his argument, to take up the defence of the English Church in spite of its alleged errors and persecuting tendencies. DeFoe replied " Serve God or Baal." If a man is a Christian, let him be a Christian. If he is a Turk, let him be a Turk ; but let him not try to be both at the same time. If you secede from the English Church on a matter of conscience, it should cover the whole year. Either separate from it entirely, and give vigor and point to your protest, or go back altogether and become loyal members of the Church of England. / Baptist Social Unions. 15 This controversy was a remarkable one, and very signifi- cant, as it regards the character of the combatants. My impres- sion is, that DeFoe was right. This " occasional conformity " broke the whole power of the Non-conformist protest. It is a historical fact, that it had a tendency to diminish very rapidly the number and vigor of the Non-conformist body The worldly-minded and ambitious among them accepted the logi- cal significance of the example sanctioned by Howe, and went back to the Establishment in numbers. Those who loved office, emoluments, and social position, more than they did principle, found in Howe's pamphlet an argument, not only for occasion- al, but for perpetual conformity. This occasional conformity, defended by the clergy in the person of John Howe, and opposed by the laity in the person of DeFoe, teaches us an instructive lesson. There is a tenden- cy growing up among certain of our own people to break away from the time-honored principles and practice of our fathers, in order to avoid the charge of exclusiveness and bigotry — forget- ting, that the frequency and ceverity of these charges is the measure of the effectiveness of our protest against error. We look for the force which will rebuke this tendency to the Dan- iel DeFoe's among the sober, thoughtful, and clear-headed laity of our denomination. The Roman question that is always in the process of being settled and never gets settled, would, in my judgment, be dis- posed of in one year, if the Roman Church only had a real laity with a recognized right to speak and act. But the Roman Catholic Church, by its constitution and the principles of the Canon Law, is made up of the clerical body alone. The laity has no voice. It cannot vote nor act in settling the relation which the Church shall sustain to the State in which it exists. Now, this Roman question that agitates Italy and threatens its future; which shakes the newly-formed Empire of North Ger- many to its centre; which is the great issue in Spain, on which the whole matter of the freedom of that country depends; which is deeper and more pervading than all other questions in France is an issue between the laity and clergy. If the laity of the French nation could make itself heard in the French Church,' there would no longer be a divided allegiance among Frenchmen. The trouble in France is, that it has two governments. Ever since the time that Henry IV. bartered his conscience for his crown, there have always been two sover- i6 Proceedings of Convention eigns ; one in Paris, and one on the Tiber. The interests and aims of these two governments have seldom been the same, and France has found no rest. When two men ride on one horse, one must ride before and the other behind. Justinian, in one of his letters to the Patriarch of Constan- tinople, said : Divine Providence has bestowed two great gifts upon men, the Sacerdotium and the Imperium. The one serving in divine things, the other presiding over human affairs." When this Sacerdotiu?ji and Imperium grew up side by side, the relative supremacy in power of the two soon came to be debated. Out of this sprung the Avars belween the Holy Roman Empire and Holy Roman Church. The great conflict of Cavour in Italy, and Bismarck in Germany, are but modern repetitions of the old War of the Investitures. They are the final result of that separation between the laity and the clergy, which signalized the earliest apostacy. The laity then, the great body of men and women in the Christian community, has a historical and scriptural place in the economy of Christ's kingdom, and it has great duties to discharge. One of these duties is to bring business common- sense to bear upon the professional habits and modes of thought likely to prevail in the clerical body. I have sometimes thought that the relation between the clergy and the laity is somewhat similar to that existing between the judges and lawyers, and the common law jury. The effect of the jury system is ahva} s to modify the tendencies of judges and lawyers to introduce abstract distinctions and technicalities into the administration of justice. It is incumbent on lawyers to make their points of law understood by juries of common men, taken out of the body of the community. They must divest themselves of all abstract and technical forms of expression, and make their cases obvious and clear to the average mind. This prevents the law from being embodied exclusively in a system of abstract tech- nicalities, and maintains a certain mental intercourse and sym- pathy between judge, lawyer and juror. By this means the average man is able to understand many of the great principles of law and evidence, in their application to right and wrong, between man and man, and the law is prevented from running into refinements which might defeat, in their application, the ends of substantial justice. Such is the relation between the clerical and lay orders. They mutually act and react upon each other, and a constant Baptist Social Unions. 17 harmony between the two is requisite to the healthy condition of both classes. The ability of the clergyman is best measured by the amount of thought and work which he incites among his people. The congregation, in like manner, acts upon the clergyman ; and many a young minister has been saved from heresy, cured of mental and moral idiosyncrasies, and kept on the right line, in his high field of duty, by the influence of an intelligent and devout laity in his church. This is the true relation between the pastor and his flock. They ought to feel as members of one body — the pastor becoming the more powerful, both as a preacher and as a leader, in proportion as he makes available the experience and spiritual knowledge which he obtains from the private members of his flock. This is the fundamental idea of pastoral visitation and of meetings for conference and prayer. In these relations the pastor can become familiar with the temptations and trials incident to the daily life of men and women, and also with their spiritual thought and experience in old age, suffering, sorrow and care. They should have the principal charge of the financial ad- ministration of our churches and Christian charities. These duties are growing daily more vast and complicated. The prob- lems of charitv are imperfectly understood, and the time has come when the Christian Church, as a body, must study these great problems of human misery in their laws, relations and bearings. Christian congregations often do great wrong to them- selves and to society, by nursing the very pauperism which they are seeking to relieve. It is the business of the laity to be the almoners of the church's bounty, and it is their duty to obtain an intelligent mastery of the economical and moral laws which should control its application. It is their duty, also, to attend to the great matter of the erection and care of church edifices. They should limit the natural ambition of the clergyman for the erection of costly structures for the purposes of public wor- ship. They should have an important part in the control of Christian Missions. This work has assumed in late years an enormous magnitude. Very few of us realize how vast and com- prehensive are the merely business interests connected with the various organizations for the spread of religious truth. Very few among our laity understand how much property, real and personal, is possessed by our missionary organizations at home or in foreign lands. Very few know by what titles this property is held, or specifically how the finances of these societies are i8 Proceedings of Convention administered. It is very easy for property to accumulate in sums sufficient to render those who are charged with its admin- istration, entirely independent of their constituents. This is precisely the way as we have seen that the clergy by having sole charge of church property, became independent of the laity in the Mediaeval period. These great financial interests should be held under discreet supervision and control, and this is the function of the business men among our laity. I do not wish to throw the faintest shadow of suspicion on the management of any of our great societies. In fact none are more anxious that our laymen should do their duty in this respect, than the immediate mana- gers of these organizations. The laity have been sadly delin- quent in this matter. In alluding to this possibility of danger, we have in mind not what now is, but what may be. The ten- dency of such property is always to accumulate, and its control ought always to be in the hands of the class from whose contri- butions it comes. The laity also must have the main control of the Sunday- School. The power for good wielded by the Sunday-School is vast, and yet how fearful is the lack of able, clear-headed, well- trained teachers ! It would sometimes seem that the benefits ot this institution are in danger of being neutralized through this deficiency of Christian men and women, who are worthy and competent to teach and train the young. This is a lay work, and the laity must be prepared for it, or the work will fail in its high purpose. The future of our own, and of all religious bodies, will depend greatly upon the character of the instruc- tion given to the young in the fundamental principles and doc- trines of Christianity. We need for this work persons of broad mind, whose views of Christian doctrine and practice are clear and well defined, who understand and love our denominational principles, and know how to expound and maintain them. Again in our meetings for conference and prayer, the lay element has an important place. The Plymouth brethren are accustomed to say that a church never thrives under a " one- man ministry." There is an element of truth in this statement, though mingled with fundamental error, regarding the func- tions of the ministry. We believe that no church can have the 'most vigorous health unless there is an interchange of religious feeling and thought among its members. The whole body must have a deeper experience of life, and a broader outlook upon Baptist Social Unions. 19 truth than any one man can compass, however acute and schol- arly he may be. From the common body of believers much may be heard, worthy to be listened to by the most learned and able minister. If the laity of our churches could reach the highest plane of intellectual and spiritual capacity, how much of breadth of conception, and grasp of truth might be given to the exhausted and overworked pastor. Above all, the care and support of Christian education ought to devolve mainly upon the laity — Christian education in the broadest sense of the term — that kind, the necessity of which I have just hinted at. We educate the clergy that we may give them additional power for good. The same law which makes it necessary that the clergyman should be educa- ted, applies to the laity. There is just as strong an obligation resting upon them to educate themselves, to study the Bible, to secure knowledge and intellectual power generally, in order to qualify themselves for being the benefactors of their fellow men, as rests on the Christian pastor. They are bound to understand the moral principles which underlie their daily business ; to be able to discharge all the duties which rest upon the man, the citizen, and the Christian, in all the relations of life. The clergy, as it seems to me, have not done their whole duty in enforcing this obligation. I have for many years been a listener to sermons, and I have yet to hear from my pastor the first sermon impressing upon the average man and woman of the church, the duty of educating themselves to the highest degree possible, so as the better to serve their generation. I have yet to hear from my pastor the first sermon enforcing upon -Christian men and women the duty of giving to their children the highest education which the children may be able to receive, or which it is in the power of the parent to provide. I say this in deep sorrow. I have heard other men urge this duty, but a pastor never. We hear a great deal said about the importance of educat- ing the ministry. In this I heartily concur. I believe in searching out those who are called to the ministry, and giving them the highest education which they are capable of receiving. But I also believe in searching out the poor boys and girls, who are to be the laity of our churches, and giving them such an education as shall render them sources of blessing in the com- munity where they are to live. The fact that we have heard so much about educating the ministry, and so little about educat- 20 Proceedings of Convention ing the laity, has brought about this result : that whenever the word education is used, the thought associated with it is, not Christian education for all, but for the ministry exclusively. So much has been said and written on the subject of ministerial education, that it has come to fill the whole horizon of our peoples' thought. Xo religious body can grow healthily with- out an educated laity, as well as an educated ministry, and to- day we, as a denomination, are in greater need of an educated laity than of educated ministers. In this respect we are behind our fellow Christians of other denominations. Our ministers may now be compared favorably with those of an}' other Pro- testant denomination. They are able, they are learned, they are eloquent. Our professional teachers and scholars, if I may be permitted to say it, have among them the peers of any on this continent. But we are deficient as a body in this respect, that we do not adequately realize the importance of general educa- tion, in order to wield the power which belongs to us, in con- sideration of our numbers and wealth, and the services we have rendered in the moral emancipation and spiritual eleva- tion of man. What is needed everywhere among us is an edu- cated mind, permeated by Christian thought and feeling. We are bound by every moral consideration to enhance the power of our churches, by giving their members, lay as well as clerical, the greatest available breadth of intellectual and moral power. We have of late done nobly in respect to the professional education of the ministry. We have between Chicago and Boston, in the Northern States, five Theological seminaries, — everv one of which is well and ably manned, every one of which, with possibly one exception, has its faculty paid from the interest of endowments already secured. But the colleges, having charge of that portion of education, which is sometimes called secular, have been too much neglected, both in respect of patronage and endowment. This is very natural. When people hear nothing about education but what relates to the ministry, they naturally assume that it has reference to profes- sional education only. They forget that fully two-thirds of the time spent in the education of a minister is passed, not in a professional school but in the academy and college. They forget that from the variety of its branches and the cost of illus- trative apparatus, the expense attending the adequate equipment of a college is very much greater than is required for a Theologi- cal seminary. They forget that the demand for learning, vigor Baptist Social Unions. 21 and ability in the chairs of instruction in a college, is equally imperative; and that even a higher degree of tact and adminis- trative and governing capacity is required, for a college teacher than for an instructor in a Theological seminary. I rejoice that my brethren who are engaged in imparting Theological in- struction are so relieved from the eating cares and wearing anxieties which, by reason of inadequate endowment, press so heavily upon those connected with what are called secular insti- tutions. But I recall, in this connection, the Saviour's words : This " ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other un- done." We have made abundant and liberal provision to aid young men in a course of study for the ministry, but little or none for the help of young laymen. For more than twenty years I have had yearly under my instruction between twenty-five and thirty poor young men — earnest, upright, religious — who were labor- ing in the face of the greatest difficulties to obtain an education ; but who were not definitely looking forward to the ministry. There is no society to assist such men as these. And yet, from these very young men, have been brought forward some of the finest students whom it has ever been my fortune to instruct. They have been, to some extent, aided by gifts and loans from the few noble-minded persons who responded to appeals on their behalf. No class of young men excite my sympathies more strongly than these. Very little provision is made for them in the way of scholarships or loan funds. I verily believe that there is no charity which commends itself more strongly to the thoughtful and Christian mind, than provision by endowment to aid such students as I have described. Many of these young men, too conscientious to decide upon a profession in the early years of their course, afterward with mature minds, and slowly-ripened purpose, pass into the Chris- tian ministry. I have in my mind now men of this class, who are among the ablest and most conscientious clergymen within* my knowledge. It is dangerous to put before a man the tempta- tion to study for the ministry in the form of a promise of im- mediate support. Could I control this matter I would select persons to be assisted in a course of education, with regard to their mental, moral and religious character; and I would con- tinue to aid them in their education so long as they gave prom- ise of doing good, whether in one department of life or another. This view may seem, in the present state of public opinion, im- 22 Proceedings of Convention. practicable, but I cannot do justice to my own convictions with- out here giving the result of my experience. At Harvard Col- lege, the sum of $20,000 has been expended in a single year, in assisting poor young men in getting through their college course. In addition to what comes from the funds of the college, large amounts are given by private persons to students who are needy. Young men of special promise are sometimes sought out while in the academy, and have secured to them a support during their entire college course at Harvard, even to provision for their travelling expenses during vacation. The same pro- visions are made at Princeton, and at all our large institutions of learning. A similar policy prevails in England. It is well known that the English colleges at Oxford and Cambridge are large or small in numbers, just in proportion to the amount of endow- ment they have available for the assistance of poor young men. Guide books are published to inform students of trie average amount produced by the endowed fellowships and scholarships in these colleges. This in a large number of instances deter- mines the selection of a place of education and by consequence the number of pupils in a given college. The same system affects the patronage of our American institutions though not precisely in the same way. When the public who support and endow our institutions wake up to this fact, and add to the requisite provision for professors,- the sums necessary to aid promising and worthy students, we shall have the benefit of a proportionate increase in the number and power of the men whom we train. Until they do this, we who are teachers shall work at a disadvantage. The institution that has not endowments to support its teachers well, and in sufficient number, is placed at a similar disadvantage. Men cannot always be found who will work at a sacrifice in the cause of education. The natural tendency of .insufficient salaries and overwork is to drive able men out of the teachers' profession. The public cannot afford a state of things which does not secure an able college professor one-half the salary of a city clergyman, or a fourth part of the income of an average lawyer or physician. The best test of a country's civilization is the condition of public instruction. If the ser- vices of a teacher are estimated at a lower price than those of any other profession, it proves, that culture is at a discount, and high education not appreciated. Baptist Social Unions. 23 The question arises sometimes in my own mind, do our laity believe in colleges ? You may say that it is a very singular question, but it weighs upon me continually. It has forced itself upon me with great weight often, when tempted to leave the profession of instruction. The question pressing upon the teacher is, do your brethren want your services ? Well, a great many of them do, and show it by their deeds. God bless them for it ! You and I know who they are. I need not name them. They will form a part of the history of our institutions of learn- ing for all coming time. Scholarship will hold their names in everlasting remembrance. Those who have stood by me in my hours of trial, I can never forget. Would that such men were more numerous. Do you here to-night believe in the kind of work that I and my brethren are doing ? Is it a work for Human- ity ? Is it a work for Christianity ? If you believe that it is. so answer us, that we may be able to do our work more vigorously and efficiently than ever before. We have, some of us, been wait- ing many years for the answer to this question. Is it to come in '76 ? We have strong hopes that more than that select and honor- ed few who have supported these institutions of learning hitherto, will come up to aid us in this work. ^Ye want young men to begin to-night, and consecrate themselves and their earnings to this cause of education. Those of us who are laboring underground as pioneers, it will deliver from a bondage of anxiety and care, more galling than that which was borne by our fath- ers, when they rose in their might and shook off the grasp of Great Britain. May God put it into the hearts of this great body of Christians to which we belong, — who are so honorably associated with that great triumph of our modern civilization, the privilege of worshiping God according to the dictates of conscience, — to devote themselves anew to the work of training the young in all that is ennobling in Christian culture .' Our denomination has had its birth and nurture in scholar- ship. Our indebtedness to it is great, and our impression for good upon the world of the future, will, in a great measure be conditioned by what we do now for liberal education. Excuse me for having put into this address so much that is personal. If I know my own heart, I have no disposition to over-estimate the importance of the duties which God in His Providence, has laid upon me. Many a time during the past twenty-two years, but for a strong sense of duty I would have 24 Proceedings of Convention. thrown this burden off my shoulders. It would have been done with a feeling of relief difficult to describe. My New York brethren gave me in charge a portion of their educational work. I have done the best I could with the resources at my disposal. How much greater and better work could have been done with adequate endowment is not for me to say. In behalf of myself and my brethren in charge of our edu- cational work, I ask for such a response to our appeal as shall give to our institutions in the future a completeness of equip- ment, a reach of influence and an intenseness of activity, such as they have never attained in the past. If the year 1876 shall bring a response adequate to the greatness of the work we have in charge, our brethren in another century will celebrate the year 1876 as marking an era of our educational progress second only in significance and importance to that which now we are about to celebrate with our thank offerings of gratitude to the Giver of all blessings. The President : That we may not pass immediately from the subject of this address to our ordinary business, I call upon Dr. Galusha Anderson to lead us in prayer. A prayer followed, by the Rev. Dr. Anderson, of Brooklyn, N. Y. The President : Not only was the happy thought of as- sembling the Unions entirely due to the Brooklyn Baptist Social Union, but we have had reason to thank them for the very hospitable reception we have received. In addition to that, the Brooklyn Baptist Social Union desire, through their President, Mr. Dorman, to convey to you a more formal reception. Mr. M. H. Dorman : Brothers, it is my very pleasant duty, in behalf of the Brooklyn Baptist Social Union, to extend to you our hearty welcome. It is a token of increased interest in the cause of Christ, when so many representative men, from sections of the country so widely separated, gather together to concentrate practical thought on practical subjects ; to con- sider again in a clearer light that old question which puzzled our fathers so many years ago : — " What shall we do that we may work the works of God?" Upon your counsels the eye of the denominat ion is fixed. Baptist Social Unions. 25 I would like to state, with reference to our meetings, that to-morrow evening, the Brooklyn Baptist Social Union will hold its annual meeting, at which tine a collation will be pro- vided, and the delegates to this Convention are respectfully invited to be present. Those members of the Convention who desire the services of the Hospitality Committee will find them at this platform at the close of the exercises. Tickets to the collation to-morrow evening, will likewise be furnished to the members. It is expected that Governor-elect Gaston, of Massachusetts and Governor-elect Tilden, of this State, will be among those who will address you. Brethren, we welcome you to this City of Churches, to this City of Baptist influences, to our homes and to our hearts. (Applause). Upon motion of Mr. Jones, the hour of meeting for the next day was fixed at 10 A. M. The Chair announced the following as a Committee of Arrangements : Horatio Gates Jones, Pennsylvania. Joseph H. Walker, Massachusetts. S. S. Constant, New York. William N. Sage, Rochester. Hezekiah S. Chase, Massachusetts. Churchill H. Cutting, Brooklyn. Dr. S. S. Cutting : — I hope that besides the topic which is to be discussed to-morrow morning, the topic for discussion in the evening will also be borne in mind. The topic in the morning is a very important one. There have arisen all over the United States, in many of our chief towns and cities, Social Unions. What are the purposes which they may be made to subserve ? The subject is an interesting and important one and well deserves discussion during the hours of the morning. I do not suppose that the committee of arrangements will vary from the order of topics proposed for discussion in the after- noon. The first of these topics relates to our Evangelizing Agencies, with the relations thereto ot the laity of our churches. The second of these topics relates to the subject of Education. 26 Proceedings of Convention The title of the paper which is to be read by Dr. Moss, Presi- dent of the University of Chicago, is — " The place of Educa- tion in our denominational activities, with special reference to the present duties of American Baptists." It is a topic which covers the whole breadth of education, our institutions — theo- logical, collegiate, and academic. It covers the education of our ministers and of our laity, the question of endowments, of scholarships, all matters of all kinds which may relate to the promotion of this cause. There are here present a very large number of distinguished gentlemen connected with Boards of trust in our various institutions of learning, and educators con- nected with Faculties of instruction, and we may depend upon a most interesting and important discussion. I hope there will be a large attendance, not only of the delegates and invited guests, but of our brethren and sisters generally. I was happy at that modification which the President of the Rochester Uni- versity made in his topic this evening, so as to make that topic embrace the women of our churches. Composing, as they do, a most essential part of our laity, it is certain that if the cause of education in the Baptist denomination ever rises to the dignity and importance which properly beiong to it, it must be in large part by the co-operation of our women, the mothers of our children. (Applause.) I hope, sir, that all these topics will elicit a large amount of attention, and large attendance on the part of ladies and gentlemen to-morrow. A few announcements were made, and the Conven- tion adjourned until 10 a. m., to-morrow. Baptist Social Unions, MORNING SESSION. 27 DECEMBER 10th, 1874. At ten o'clock, the President called the meeting to order. The Doxology was then sung. Prayer was offered by Dr. James C. Welling, President of the Columbian University. In the absence of the Secretary, Mr. J. F. Wyckoff, Mr. Geo. C. Whitney, of Massachusetts, was appointed Secretary, /rn3 cause, we all have the same right of private judgment, let there be no strife between us, for we be brethren." Thus Baptist Social Unions. 99 shall we bring into play, one great principle of government, by a love born of a sense of allegiance to Christ, rather than of al- legiance to the church or the denomination. But you err if you think you can control Baptists by ecclesiastical law. You can control by love, by sympathy, by the union which love and sym- pathy produce .In these lies our only power. Anything else for us will be fatal. One great office of these Social Unions so largely re!presented here to-night, is to foster that spirit of mutual Christian regard of which they are themselves but the simple and natural expression; and one special method of fos- tering it is by gathering around the supper table. One of the essential elements of all friendships is gastric juice. Wherever you find true friendship and fellowship, there is always an eating together. You may take it as an invariable rule, that where there is no supper there is no Social Union. But, brethren, to pause and to pass to something more seriour, just as the supper is essential to the Social Union, so> also, a provision for the social element of our natures, was one deep reason why our Lord broke bread and drank of the cup, and said, " As often as ye do this, do it in remembrance of me." One great purpose of this is, a provision for the social element. We need to rid ourselves of the Romish idea that the sacred sup- per is a kind of sacrifice requiring priestly consecration. It can- not be so regarded, except by an abominable and unchristian perversion of both its nature and design. But the coming together, socially, of those who believe in a common Lord, and their fellowship in eating and drinking together, in commemor- ation of Him as dead, but risen, is emblematic of that immortal union of believers with one another, and with their common Redeemer, to which all alike are ever looking forward. We are all brethren. Let us do what we one and all can, to arrest that fearful tendency towards disunion, that bitter spirit of de- nunciation and discord, now making such rapid strides to- wards a hopeless separation of brethren. May God avert our threatened calamities. We are one in name, let us remain one in spirit and purpose, indivisible in Christ, now and forever. (Applause). Upon the motion of Mr. Howard, of Conn., it was resolved that the proceedings of the Convention should be printed in pamphlet form, under the supervision of the Brooklyn Baptist Social Union. Members, in IOO Proceedings of Convention answer to inquiries as to number of copies which would be required, ordered as follows, for their respective Unions : Boston 300. New York 300. Connecticut .. 150. Worcester 100. Springfield,.. ..100. Washington. .. 25. Rhode Island.. 100. Philadelphia ... 150. Cincinnati.... 100. The President : — The hour of adjournment has arrived, unless some other business is offered. Mr. George H. Andrews, of New York: — I think there is one more resolution which ought to be passed, with very great unanimity. I move a vote of thanks to the Brooklyn Baptist So- cial Union, for what has passed, and for the elegant manner in which it has entertained its sister unions. The President : — I am sure we are all very much obliged to Mr. Andrews. I will not insult the convention by calling for the noes. The motion was adopted unanimously. The President : — It is moved and seconded that the Con- vention do now adjourn. The motion was adopted, and the Convention ad journed sine die. Baptist Social Unions. 101 THE REUNION. Upon the adjournment of the Convention, the mem- bers assembled for a social reunion. A blessing was asked by the Rev. Dr. Thomas, of Brooklyn, after which a collation was served. Address of Welcome. Mr. M. H. Dorman, President of the Brooklyn Baptist Social Union : — Ladies and Gentlemen : This meeting is the Sixth Anniversary of the Brooklyn Baptist Social Union. It is no longer an experiment, for such organizations have shown them- selves to be no mere luxury, but a necessity in our denomina- tional activities. Yet, in this enlightened age, and in this en- lightened community, there still are those who ask, " What is the good of it ?" just as there are men who think that good pur- poses can flow in only two channels, the prayer-meeting, and raising money, or, when we step outside of the act of worship, every organization must have a moneyed centre as a rallying point or battle ground, or it will not succeed. That we may best give helpful sympathy to one another, we need personal acquaintance. Locally, the churches supply this, but when the arms reach out farther, without the Social Union, and in this direction, almost entirely it ceases. These organizations of Social Unions have rendered this Convention which has just closed, a possibility, and because of it, men go out from here to-night into every section of this country, who have been made more strong, more purposeful, more firmly united, for, like Paul at Apii Forum, they have u met the breth- ren," and they "thank God and take courage." In this Conven- tion, the same unerring voice that roused the prostrate Saul, of , Tarsus, has spoken with command as clear to every Baptist lay- man of America, " Rise and stand upon thy feet." We have I only begun to learn and to see the forces of infinite power laid 102 Proceedings of Convention. out before us in Christian work, just as we have only begun to use the forces of nature which hold themselves ready to do the bidding of Him who is able to command. It was a great thing to harness the lightning and the steam, and make them the mes- sengers of mankind. It is a greater thing to seize the powers of social influence, and mould them into the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. In that old Scotch legend, when the herald, with fleetest foot, bore over the land that bloody, fiery cross, the sig- nal of war, his only commission was, " Speed forth the signal !" As he entered the halls of greatness, where the marriage bells were rung, bridegroom and guest heard the voic j as he cried, " Speed forth the signal !" and they obeyed the command to rally for the conflict. As he entered the house of mourning, where bitter tears fell over the loved and the lost, he cried again, " Speed forth the signal !" and the bereaved son obeyed. And when our pastors and teachers hold up the blood-stained cross, the token at once of conflict and of victory, crying " Speed forth the signal!" may we heed, too, the command, "Organize! Organize!" for the conflict between light and darkness, between the powers above and the powers beneath. Let us organize in the direction of social influence. Will you not stand by the Social Union ? (Applause.) Mr. Dorman : — I have the pleasure of introducing to you, the Honorable Samuel J. Tilden, Governor-elect of the State of New York. (Applause.) Mr. Tilden : — Ladies and Gentlemen : I am under a vow of silence for three weeks, (laughter), so I have come here to-night to join in the appropriate pleasures of the evening, and not to make a speech. I came after a weary day, but I have listened to the very interesting and instructive address of President Rob- inson, and so clear was his language, so clear in his thoughts, that I rested as I listened to every word he had to say. Ot course, I don't attempt to controvert anything he had to say. I should have found that laborious and fruitless. I congratulate you, ladies and gentlemen, upon this festival, to me so novel, so peculiar, and so interesting, as you join, on this occasion, social observances and social pleasures with the religious and educational objects that have assembled you together. I am quite sure that you have wisely chosen a method to conceive and carry forward the great and serious object to which you are devoted. I am glad to find here representatives Baptist Social Unions. 103 from all parts of the Union. Of course, I understand that it is the peculiar and crowning glory of your denomination, that from its first institution, you have worked among the lowly. (Applause.) You have sought to teach, to instruct, and to lead onward in the paths of right and religion, the poor and the humble, more, perhaps, than any other denomination. Those whom the Great Teacher sought to teach, it has been the peculiar honor and peculiar service to mankind and to human- ity, of the Baptist denomination, likewise to lead, to instruct, to cultivate and to elevate. I hope you may remember, on this fes- tival occasion, and on all other occasions of a similar descrip- tion, that the circle of holy charities and Christian fellowship is to be extended to all parts of the United States. In that vast region that lies in the southernmost part of our union, there is a missionary field that you, perhaps, more fitly, more success- fully, and more ably than anybody else can cultivate. I wish, therefore, to invite your attention in that direction. I wish to inculcate upon you, on this occasion, the great, the interesting, the solemn, the glorious duties, and the high aims which will be before you. It will bring back the relations which existed half a century ago with the people of that section. I am quite sure that you will discover that this is a work to which you are peculiarly called. After ten years of peace, ten years of peace so far as the clash of arms is concerned, I hope that you will all see that this section must have a real peace. The people must be united in the bonds of Christian fellowship, in order to make a real union, a real peace in any country. Ladies and gentle- men, thanking you for your kind attention, I beg your indul- gence. I have already said, perhaps, more than I ought, cer- tainly, more than I intended, and I will now yield to the gentle- men who are to come after me. (Applause.) Mr. Dorman : — I have the pleasure of introducing to you the Honorable William Gaston, of Boston. He, too, is one of the elect. He is Governor-elect of Massachusetts. Mr. Gaston : — Mr. President, and Ladies and Gentlemen : I thank you as I come within the limits of your great common- wealth, for the kindness of your welcome, and I am quite con- scious of how much of it I owe to your regard for the State from which I come. (Applause.) But although it is not my privi- lege to speak for Massachusetts other than as one of her cit- izens, yet, I will venture, in that capacity, to thank you for the io4 Proceedings of Convention respect you have shown to the State, and the kind manner in which you have welcomed me within your limits^ I am not, ladies and gentlemen, under a vow of silence, but, perhaps, if I should continue to any length, you would wish that I was. I did not come here to make a speech, but I did bring an attentive ear, for I was assured that if I came here I would find able and eloquent gentlemen, who would instruct me, and for that pur- pose, I am here. Now, being ready to listen, I yield to that eloquent gentleman whom I was promised I would hear, again thanking you for the kindness and generosity of your welcome. (Applause.) Mr. Dorman : — I have called upon those who are to be in authority — I will now call upon one who is already in authority, Mayor Hunter, of Brooklyn. Mayor Hunter : — Ladies and gentlemen, from all parts of this country : I am only here to bid you welcome to this city. It is called the city of churches, it may be called the city of generous hearts. Probably you will find it so. You will find the protection of the municipal power of the city, if you ever need it. I was only asked late in the day to come here, as the Governor of Massachusetts said, to listen and to learn. I have learned this, that you come here banded together for Christian work and development. If Christianity is not a development, I should like to learn what it is. If it is not a development of man's kindness towards his fellowmen, to learn better and bet- ter how to enlarge that, I should like to know what else it is. I think you have taken that lesson deeply into your hearts. You have banded together here for what? Not for the social tea party, but for doing some higher good to your fellow men. Whether you can do it as a sect, is a matter upon which I am not going to quarrel with you. I suppose you, as all sects are doing, are running a through train, and will take anybody who will go with you. I hope you will be successful, as well as all of them. (Applause.) Mr. Dorman : — Governor Tilden has spoken of the South. We have one brother here to-night, a representative of the South, who has made great personal sacrifice in the cause of theological education. I refer to Rev. Dr. Boyce, of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Boyce : — Ladies and gentlemen : It seems to me, that you have begun the night very well — two democratic governors, Baptist Social Unions. one democratic mayor, and now, a reconstructed rebel. (Laugh- ter.) I hope that the digestion of this body will not be seriously affected, but that they will be ready to go forward to the nicer delicacies which have been prepared, and which will, in some respects, be more congenial to this hour. I am very glad that I have been here during this meeting. I got my invitation a little late. I didn't know exactly why. I knew that my shoul- ders were somewhat broad, but I came to the conclusion that my brothers had been seeking for some one whose shoulders were " Broadus" still, and as they could not get the one, they took the other. I didn't know but perhaps there had been some- thing produced by a certain sermon, which was peculiar in some respects, though not in others, and perhaps it might have been imagined that it would not do to introduce one who had been connected with the Southern party. But I can show a pretty good record. Do you remember that there was a certain gentleman, a clergyman of this city, whose boast it was, that on a certain occasion, he had the privilege of sleeping with a col- ored clergyman of Boston, and the remark that was made, that perhaps he was darker still than the clergyman with whom he slept. I want to make an explanation of my own condition. I might say something, as we all can in the South, of somewhat similar experiences, when we were loyal folks. But I am speak- ing of the laymen now. Read the book called Pickwick Papers. You will remember when a person was watching in the garden, and saw a sight which was wonderful to him, and walked up to the old lady who was sleeping in the arbor, and said to her, " I wants to make your flesh creep." Of course, she was alarmed. " I wants to make your flesh creep," he said, and then he began to tell what he had seen. " What do you think I see in this very arbor last night ?" inquired the boy. " Bless us ! — what ?" exclaimed the old lady. "The strange gentleman — him as had his arm hurt — a kissin' and huggin' " — " Who, Joe, who ? None of the servants, I hope." " Worser than that," roared the boy as he told her that it was her own daughter. I have been some- what in that predicament. I have not had the opportunity of sleeping with a colored clergyman in the past, but it has been " worser than that" in my experience. Why, sir, at the Sunday School Convention, in the city of Cincinnati, I had the pleasure of sleeping with the excellent clergyman who was darker than the colored clergyman himself. Under these circumstances, I make a better reconstructed man than any man in this house, io6 Proceedings of Convention and have a better right to be here. I don't choose to call atten- tion to the point that in the heavenly hosts above, there are those who are nearest to the throne, who have been recon- structed rebels. I claim the right on my merits. Having my rights, I rejoice that my brothers recognize them, and invite me here to-night. I feel under extreme obligations to many of the brethren whom I see before me to-night, for the most liberal response made by them to my brother Broadus, at a time when the Seminary I have charge of was in great difficultv. I contend that there never has been a contribution made as a contribution such as that in which they were at that time engaged. Remem- ber the circumstances of the past year. Remember the opening of that year. Remember the impoverished condition of the Southern people. About a year ago we sent out circulars ask- ing for $75,000, without having paid a single personal visit, ex- cept visiting the Convention of the State of Georgia, and the Convention of the State of Mississippi, and in Texas; by means of letters, instead of getting $75,000, I raised $94,000 for that Seminary. And, Sir, I tell you that a most thrilling thing in connection with it, was when we received first a telegram and then a letter, telling us how generously the Northren brethren, assembled in Washington, in twelve minutes had raised $12,000. I see many around me who were engaged in it, and I thank them most heartily. I think your work is a good work for the denomination and for the Lord Jesus Christ. I say to you, raise your millions and endow your institutions. Help us it you can in this matter. I say to you this, — the Lord Jesus Christ has brought us to a real crisis in the history of our de- nomination. In the past what have we been able to do? Why is it that God kept down our powers, but that we might present ourselves as a power at the time of the birth of this great Amer- ican Republic. Beginning only a hundred years ago, with only a few thousand members, we have so grown that we have now within our limits over 1,700,000 Baptists, 13,000 ministers, and 17,000 or 18,000 churches throughout our land. Now I believe that God has heard us in the past. It now needs only a little impetus to bring our work to the knowledge of the world, and advance the kingdom of Christ. Therefore there is a duty upon us to seize the opportunity and go forward with energy. I wish that the portion of the denomination that I belong to in the South, were able to stand by you. They will stand side by side Baptist Social Unions. 107 with you, so far as their ability goes. As President of the Southern Baptist Convention, I say to you, that we shall have a meeting next year at Charleston, S. C. Let us have a grand celebration and get together again, and go out to our Fort Sumter, and let us talk it all over, and let us have peace. (Ap- plause). Mr. Dorm an : — We have heard from two Governors-elect, from one Mayor, and from one President; I will now call upon an ex-President, the ex-President of the Connecticut Social Union. I now introduce Mr. James L. Howard. Mr. James L. Howard: — Mr. President, I am somewhat re- bellious to-night. — I am not prepared with a speech. I spoke fur Connecticut this morning, and now that I am called upon again, I hardly know what to say. I have been filled with the importance of this Convention. I have been filled with the sub- ject of education, and with that Centennial work which we pro- pose. I have felt as though we were indeed entering upon a great work as Baptists; that there was a work that we should do, and as such I have felt proud that I was a member of the Baptist Social Union. I think we shall be able to carry forward this great work. I must not forget that I was " originally " born in Vermont, and I may state that I am not the only one who came from Vermont, for there is my friend Dr. Cutting who was born in the same State. (Laughter). We came from the town of Windsor, celebrated for having the State Prison there, and for having given us birth. I thought what had been done was by a little quiet leaven working around in the mass, but I feel proud that it originated with my fellow townsman Dr. Cutting. He is powerful in a good many ways. A little incident w T as related to me this evening, — as he is not present — I will tell it. I was on my way to Washington where I met Brother Cutting. Brother Chase had a little bill to get through, and it was within two days of the end of the session. The bill was lying in the package on the Vice-President's desk, sticking out two or three inches beyond the rest. It was called up, and a Senator arose and made a speech in favor of it. Another arose and spoke against it very earnestly. Brother Cutting said to brother Chase, — "Are you interested in that?" He said, — "Yes, — pray for it Doctor." The bill was passed, and I could not make Brother Chase be- lieve that that was not in answ T er to the prayer right on the io8 Proceedings of Convention. spot ! But I am not going to encroach on your time for fear you will find out that I have not anything to say. Thanking you for your attention, I will bid you good-night. Mr. Dorman : — I now have the pleasure of calling upon a representative of the press, the Rev. Dr. Edward Bright of New York. Dr. Bright : — I suppose you are aware, sir, that the tend- ency of the editorial profession is to beget a very remarkable degree of bashfulness, and it is a pretty severe trial to call upon a modest editor to stand here and say anything about the press. And yet I understand perfectly why these Social Unions wish to have the press magnified. I recollect that the press gave to Columbian University its President. President Welling would never have been in that chair had it not been that he was first an editor. And then I remember, too, that the Jupiter Tonans of our Presidential line, was himself made the Presi- dent of Rochester University through the education he obtained in the press. And everybody knows that if it had not been for the training he obtained in the press, our friend Moss would not have been in the position he occupies in Chicago to-day. All these examples show the effect of the press in the cause of education. But there is still one more illustrious example of what the press has done for the cause of education. You all know our gifted and magnificent centennarian — no, not that — our gifted and magnificent centennialist. Where did he come from ? How did brother Cutting come to be what he is. How is it that he has given this great inspiration throughout this entire land, to this, the sublimest of all our denominational enterprises. Of course, it was the training he got as an editor, that made him what he is. Now, it is not necessary for me to say anything more with reference to the press this evening. I know not what will be the next development of this work of training with Dr. Cutting, but it certainly will have to be something great to keep pace with what it has been hitherto. I will simply close with this declaration, that I thank God to-night, sir, that there is such a thing as deep, genuine, consis- tent, Baptist conviction. (Applause.) And I rejoice, further- more sir, that there is a mighty host of Baptists who count it their highest honor, their highest glory, their greatest joy, to promulgate this conviction, with malice towards none, with charity for all. (Applause.) And while they propagate these Baptist Social Unions. 109 convictions with unfaltering determination, they hold that the brother that is not living up to and walking consistently with these convictions, that he is a brother who is scarcely worth the having. Mr. Dorman": — I will now have the pleasure of calling upon a brother from the centre of civilization, General Eaton, United States Commissioner of Education at Washington. General Eaton : — Ladies and gentlemen : I have been made the recipient of this courtesy, and I suppose that one cause for it is that the figures on education which are annually gathered at Washington are scattered abroad for your benefit. But it has been a great favor to me to receive this courtesy. I often meet with the names of these eminent doctors here in the statistics of their institutions, and it has been exceedingly agreeable to come here and see them transformed to living persons, those who are guiding and training in these institutions, to which men with a conscience in them have given their means for their foundation. (Applause.) Yes, there is a centre ; yes, there is a circumference, and it is to my mind fortunate that there is a connection between the centre of this great work and its out- lying circumference. Morning by morning you read the weather reports. You accept their lesson, gathered from a knowledge of the movements of the currents of the air, and telegraphed all over the country. In education, there are great currents in motion, and if I understand my work, it is in the collection of these figures, which indicate these movements in the college world, in the academy world, in the public school world, in all the departments of education, to gather and incorporate the ex- perience of its workers, and give each the benefit of what has been done by all. Of course, the reporter of the weather, at Washington, can only communicate what he receives from the various observers. This is all I can do, and if these reports have the value which you, gentlemen, who are judges, have ex- pressed, it is due to the reports which have come from all quar- ters, all classes and grades of instruction, only summarized, giving the result of wisdom which is possible nowhere else in the world, because nowhere are there so many diverse extremes of all forms of instruction in one nation, among one people, that can be possibly gathered, as with us, and there is a certain agreeableness between the genius of this movement and the genius of this meeting, as I have understood it. It is an appeal no Proceedings of Convention to reason from the force of facts, and facts only. It has received no authority but that of experience. If, now, there has been a great experiment in the matter of endowments, if there have been certatn errors in bestowing money on institutions, certain errors of limitation, certain looseness, certain defects of man- agement of these funds after their bestowal, these experiences, instead of benefiting one class, or one institution, may benefit the whole, and I have been interested in thinking, to-day, as you have been discussing various points here, one busied with one thought, another with another, all working harmoniously into the great whole, of how much there is to aid in these points, which is outside in the experience of somebody else. Now, this denomination would do the cause of education an immense ser- vice, if it would gather the experience of all the endowed insti- tutions, secondary and superior, and spread it abroad over our country. You may have noticed, that there have been two or three great commissions gathering these facts. These public ministries would be a great thing for the millionaires of our country, who wish to give of their wealth to these institutions. I came to learn a lesson here to-day in education. I am thankful that I have seen the movement of thoughts, and feel- ings, and energy here, for I feel that here is hope, here is assu- rance of forward movement. And when I reflect that this is only one denomination, and look around and see that you are gathered in this house to move forward, not as antagonists, but in competition with other bodies, I feel the strength of the edu- cational sentiment of the country. I am again assured as I turn to other organizations in the country. There is another pleasing thought. You comprehend so much of the country. You come from so many quarters, and I have thought that your coming together has brought here all the wise men among you. I remember when Dr. Cutting be- gan to talk to me of his Educational organizations. He said he thought he would throw over the late unpleasantness, an edu- cational bridge. You see what is coming from it. I have seen it too — not only in these theological organizations, but in the institutions of learning in the South. I have noticed that the death of a child will make great enemies friends — I have noticed when the Chinaman comes to my office, or the Japanese or the Parsee, no matter whom he may be, — from the remotest parts of the earth, to talk about the child, we come together. And so in our country, we have so many races of men, from so many na- Baptist Social Unions. 1 1 1 tions of the earth ; and so the American people by advancing their education and bringing to themselves the advantage of the best experience and methods of the world, become peculiarly sympathetic with all the races of the world, and it is pleasant to hear it responded to by those foreign races. Said Baron Sch- wartz to me the other day — " we are one people, only we speak diffierent tongues." (Applause). Mr. Dorman: — I now call upon the Rev. Dr. Strong, ot Rochester. Dr. A. H. Strong : — Mr. President, the hour is late, and as I have already taken some slight part in the exercises of the day, I think that I can conclude this brief address in no better way, than by telling you of a certain bachelor clergyman of England, who always took his revenge on the marriage relation in this way. After he had married a pair, he would refuse any fee, saying — "No, you poor wretch, I have done you harm enough already." (Applause). Mr. Dorman : — I have the pleasure of calling upon a broth- er to whose wisdom in its entire management, this Convention owes so much for its success. I call upon the Hon. Francis Wayland. Gov. Wayland : — Mr. President, gentlemen and ladies, I dare say that when I have finished, you will be reminded of the ancient couplet : — " The King of France, with forty-thousand men, Marched up a hill, and then — Marched down again." My voice has necessarily been heard so often, sir, during these proceedings, that I should have insisted on retaining my seat, but for the opportunity your kindness gives me to correct, what I dare say, most of you have forgotten, of the false position in which I was placed with reference to the clerical profession. I was understood to have made some remarks, the tendency of which was to throw some discredit upon the clerical profession. I was even understood to insinuate that they didn't know when to stop if they once began to speak. The specimen we have just had shows how false that was. (Laughter). What I mean to say was that in these gatherings of Social Unions, there was danger that the lay-element might not develop itself, as it would 112 Proceedings of Convention be overshadowed by the greater practice of any speakers from among our clerical friends. Now«sir, as I have what I conceive to be a great honor of being the son of a clergyman, the grand- son of a clergyman, the nephew of a clergyman, and the brother of a clergyman, it would be very strange if I had not due honor for the clerical profession. I conceive this to be a great honor. I was not born great, I certainly have not achieved greatness, but this is a greatness which has been thrust upon me. I cer- tainly have every sympathy with the work of the clergy, and I now have a story to tell, after paying my tribute to the clergy. I sympathize very heartily with that layman chairman of a com- mittee, who was seeking to call a clergyman, and who received a reply from him, in answer to the many suggestions why he should come to the church, in which he said, that " none of these things moved him." The enthusiastic layman immediate- ly wrote back, " we will vote $500 to move you." This spirit is that with which I sympathize. (Applause). Mr. Dorman : — I now call upon a brother who is present, from the northwest, whose voice is always gladly heard in this denomination, the Rev. Dr. Moss, of Chicago. Dr. Moss, of Chicago : — I am very much obliged to you for calling upon me to respond for Chicago. We are in the habit of boasting of great things, but the truth is, that we always do greater things. I don't know of any place in the country where there are so many miles of fine buildings, with such heavy mortgages upon them, or where bigger jobs can be done. I will venture to suggest, that if the mayor of this village wants any building done, he had better bring it out to Chicago, and if Governor Tilden should want a canai dredged, bring it along, and so far as the Hoosac tunnel was concerned, we can furnish more and better bores, free of cost, than anybody else. So much for that. I have scarcely met anybody since I left Chicago, without meeting people who wanted to inquire for some friend or other, but those whom I have met, and who have mortgages in Chicago, and there are a great many of them here, I have advised to look after their property. I told them that the best way they could do that was to endow the University of Chicago, because money was always better secured where the community is educated, and, inasmuch as they had invested so much there permanently, because they will never get it back again, they can do no better than invest a little more in our University. So all Baptist Social Unions. 113 men who are interested in such stock of any kind, this is your chance. I have enjoyed this brief visit, and certainly am thank- ful for the cordial hospitality and great kindness we have received. To all who are interested in the great aims that we have been discussing, I would say — let us trust in God, let us maintain our self-respect, let us seize the golden opportunity of to-day. (Applause.) Mr. E. B. Litchfield: — Mr. President, it seems to me that there can be but one expression of opinion. We all of us know to whom we are indebted for the call for this Convention, and I cannot but think that it is due and proper to mention it. I therefore ask the Convention to pass this resolution : — Resolved, that the thanks of this Convention be tendered to the Rev. Dr. S. S. Cutting, for the proposition of calling this Convention, and for his kind services and watchfulness of its interests. Dr. Cutting : — No, sir. I protest that the suggestion of this meeting was not made by me, but by a Cutting a good deal younger, (Mr. Churchill H. Cutting,) and that I have done no more than render a little service in the arrangements. The resolution was seconded, and unanimously adopted. The services concluded with the singing of the doxology.