Sixth Congress of Baptist World Alliance Meets in Atlanta “Significant” Is the Word for Describing the Sixth Congress of Jewel College, Liberty, Missouri
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Baptist and Reflector ‘SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE” * ORGAN TENNESSEE BAPTIST CONVENTION Volume 105 THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1939 Number 32 Sixth Congress of Baptist World Alliance Meets in Atlanta “Significant” is the word for describing the Sixth Congress of Jewel College, Liberty, Missouri. He then recognized Dr. Rush- the Baptist World Alliance, which drew Baptists from sixty brooke, who read messages of greeting from President Roosevelt; nations to Atlanta, the beautiful and hospitable capital city of David Lloyd George of England; the Rev. P. T. Thomson, pres Georgia, for seven days, July 22-28, 1939. ident of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland; Dr. At the close range of a few days after the last session, it is Charles Brown, former president of the British Baptist Union; difficult to name one, or even a dozen items on the program as Dr. J. C. Carlile, past president of the British Baptist Union and “most significant” for the future of Baptists around the world. editor of the Baptist Times; Dr. T. R. Glover, University of But in the minds of many messengers, and of countless others Cambridge, England, past president of the British Baptist Union; who “ listened in” over radio, the outstanding achievement of the and C. T. LeQuesne, eastern treasurer, Baptist World Alliance. Congress is the fact that it was used as a great sounding board There followed a series of welcomes and responses. Then be for that cardinal principle of Baptists, the imperishable but gan the colorful and moving “ Roll Call of the Nations," to which imperiled doctrine of religious liberty. answer was made by the representatives of nearly sixty lands. This note was sounded from the outset, when Dr. J. H. Rush- Some had to relay their message to the assembled thousands by brooke, London (later elected president of the Alliance) read a interpreters. message from President Roosevelt, who reminded the Congress Saturday afternoon’s addresses of welcome were from Dr. L. R. that “freedom is preserved only at the cost of eternal vigilance.” Scarborough, president. Southern Baptist Convention; Dr. L. K. It rang out again, Saturday night, in the wistful but courageous Williams, president, National Baptist Convention; Dr. G. L. Prince, voice of Dr. H. Prochazka, as he answered the “ Roll Call of the president, National Baptist Convention of America; Dr. Ellis A. Nations” for Czecho-Slovakia: “ I am from the country which Fuller, representing Baptists of Atlanta; and Dr. C. D. Hubert, was, but is not, yet shall be— shall be because of the sovereign representing Baptists of Georgia. grace of God.” It was the clarion call in Dr. George W. Truett’s Gracious response to these welcome addresses was made by presidential address; it formed the chief subject of Dr. Rush- Principal N. J. Nordstrom, of Bethel Theological Seminary, Stock brooke’s report to the Congress. Messengers from lands where holm, Sweden: “ . We sincerely thank you all. The Southern religious liberty is throttled told the boldness of the stand made Baptist Convention is the largest in the world. We are gathered by their fellow-countrymen. Countries where “ soul liberty” is in the heart of the Baptist world. We are inspired by loyalty to threatened likewise found ready tongues to speak for them. God— the secret of Southern Baptist strength.” Baptists had a world audience for the promulgation of these As the Congress turned to the "Roll Call of the Nations,” the views, and dispelled much misunderstanding as to their faith and audience stood and sang an old hymn, “ Stand Up, Stand Up for practice. Jesus.” The roll call, by continents, was responded to by the fol lowing representatives (figures show number of Baptists in each Never was a religious gathering accorded more hearty or more country): sympathetic treatment by the press. More than a million lines Dr. F. W. Simoleit, Cameroons, Africa: 4,000; Tanimola Oyerinde, and several hundred pictures, it was estimated by Dr. Clifton D. Nigeria, Africa: 20,000; Saw San Po Thin, Burma; the Rev. Ben Gray, Lewiston, Me., honorary associate secretary of the Alliance, jamin Pradhan, India; the Rev. Wu Chi Chung, China: 30,000; were printed in the three Atlanta dailies— The '"Journal, The Manchuria, represented by proxy: 2,000; Dr. H. H. Bingham, Georgian, and The Constitution. All the press services had rep Canada: 150,000; Dr. E. A. Fridell, president, Northern Baptist resentatives present. Both the New York Times and the Chicago Convention; Dr. W. W. Hamilton, New Orleans, representing the Tribune had special correspondents covering the event. 4,475,000 Southern Baptists; Dr. J. M. Nabrit, National Baptist Similar treatment at the hands of the great radio networks, Convention; Dr. S. A. Pleasants, National Baptist Convention of both NBC and CBS, made it possible for millions throughout the America; Dr. C. S. Detweiler, Haiti and Nicarauga; telegram from length and breadth of the land to hear Dr. Truett’s masterly Jamaica; the Rev. M. A. Pellicier, Porto Rico: 5,000; the Rev. presidential address, “ The Baptist Message and Mission for the Honorio Espinoza, Chile: 4,000; Dr. Djalma Cunha, Brazil: 50,000. World Today.” The NBC Red Network, on Tuesday and Thurs Dr. H. H. Sterne, pastor in New York State, a native of South day, also carried impressions of the Congress by Dr. Walter W. Africa (13,000), speaking for the Baptist Union there, gave a VanKirk, ace religious news commentator. WSB, “ The Voice of humorous twist to his response when he said: “ It has been fifteen the South,” and W AGA, the other Atlanta Journal station, be years since I left my homeland to preach to the heathen in tween them had almost every session on the air. America.” Saturday Afternoon, July 22 Saturday Night, July 22 Just before two o’clock the 30,000 Baptists gathered in Ponce For the benefit of some messengers who remained in their de Leon baseball park heard the strains of martial music. As places in the ball park all through the intermission and others two bands, those of the Yaraab Temple and the Salvation Army, who came early to the night session, Mr. Hoffman began the slowly marched across the field in front of the speakers’ platform, song service nearly forty-five minutes before the Congress officially playing "Onward, Christian Soldiers,” the vast audience rose resumed. After several other musical selections, the 300-vol^e as one man and began singing the old familiar words. The bands choir sang the “ Hallelujah Chorus,” the first of the many times were two of the five which had participated in the colorful parade it was sung by request throughout the Congress. from the State Capitol to the baseball field, a parade seen by Some 28,000 people heard Dr. Truett call the session to order, 125,000 Atlantians. with prayer following by Dr. E. R. Carter, Atlanta. Promptly at two o’clock Dr. Truett struck the gavel to open Addresses of welcome were then heard from Mayor William the Congress. John Hoffman, Atlanta, song leader for the B. Hartsfield, representing the City of Atlanta; Gov. E. D. Rivers, Alliance sessions, announced the Coronation Hymn, “ A ll Hail the representing the Commonwealth of Georgia; Dr. C. R. Stauffer, Power of Jesus’ Name.” Thirty thousand voices blended in one president of the Atlanta Christian Council; Rabbi David Marx, mighty chorus of praise to their Lord. Atlanta; and U. S. Senator Walter F. George, representing the Opening prayer was offered by the Rev. Griffith J. Harris of nation. Wales. Dr. Truett accepted his president’s gavel (its history will Introduced by Dr. Truett as “ a humble Baptist deacon in the be given at a later date) from Minetry L. Jones, William Vienna (Ga.) church,” Senator George said, among other things: \ was one of the most masterful addresses ever delivered. The service ended by singing “ A ll Hail the Power of Jesus' Name." Sunday evening another vast audience gathered in the stadium with President Truett in the chair. After a band concert and baptist and Reflector other moving music and prayer by Rev. Danila Pascu, Rumania, 1 •1 - - ■ 1 ■ » — ■■■ — O. W. Taylor, Editor John D. Freeman, Executive Secretary several addresses were delivered by Dr. Robert E. Speer, New Don Norman, Field Representative York; Mrs. W. J. Cox, Memphis, on “ The Woman’s Part” ; Rev. BAPTIST AND REFLECTOR COMMITTEE J. B. Middlebrook, Huddersfield, England, on “ The Fullness of W . C. Creasman, R. Kelly White, P. L. Ramsey, John A. Huff, C. W . Pope, Christ” ; Dr. Gordon Palmer, Philadelphia, on “ Jesus Our Lib C. O. Simpson erator” and Dr. L. R. Scarborough, Texas, on “ Perpetuating Pentecost.” While the other speakers delivered splendid ad McCowat-Mercer Press, Inc., Jackson, Tenn. dresses, certainly none of them excelled our own Mrs. W. J. Cox and Dr. L. R. Scarborough. Entered at Postofflce, Jackson. Tenn.. as second-class matter as a weekly, except during Christmas week, under the act of March 3, 18/9. Monday Morning, July 24 Editorial and General Office, 149 Sixth Avenue, North, Nashville, Tenn. With President George W. Truett presiding, and with worship Terms of Subscription—Single subscriptions payable in advance, one year S2.00, six months $1.00. Club rates and plans sent on request. conducted by Dr. B. Udvarnoki, Budapest, Hungary, and with Obituaries and Obituary Aesolutions— The first 100 w*ords free; all other the singing of “ How Firm a Foundation” and “ Lead On O King words one cent each. Other resolutions 1 cent each for all words. Eternal,” and other gospel hymns and with singing by negro Advertisements— Rates upon request. Announcements of open dates by choirs, the fifth session of the Congress was held in the municipal evangelists and singers, and others, fifty cents per insertion.