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Concerning BaDtists
Thc Reverend I'. Hcwisoti, Home
Mission Superintendent for thc Bap-
tist Union of Queensland, who has
been spending a few days in Cairns,
expressed warm appreciation of thc
kindly treatment he had received
during his stay, from thc Ministers of
the Presbyterian and Methodist
Churches, also from thu committee
connected with thc former church in
placing the hall at his disposal, and
giving the opportunity for conducting
the services yesterday (Sunday). Thc
generous hospitality of Mr. and Mrs.
D. W, Chalk had also been much ap-
preciated. Mr. llewison mentioned
in view of the hazy ideas concerning
the Baptist Church, that the tifth
Baptist World Congress, held last
June in Toronto, Canada, was at-
tended, according lo the cables, by
7,000 delegates, bailing from 68 nat-
ionalities, and representing 12,000,000
immersed members of the Baptist
Church. Six of the delegates went
from Queensland. If adherents were
included also, Baptist World strength
could he reasonably placed at
48,000,000, probably llic largest Pro-
testant denomination in the world.
It has been stated that one out ol
every 160 people in the world; one
out of every 111 in Great Britain and
Ireland; and one out of every 13 in
the United States of America, is
a Baptist. 'Phis church's outstanding
principles would be conveniently
summed up under three heads. The
glory of conversion was emphasised.
Christ, as the all-sufficient Saviour,
was presented. In them stand fr this,
Baptists had frequently suffered per-
secution and even martyrdom. The
grandeur of Consecration was prized.
This involved thc sovereignly of
Christ. Hence Baptists were always
active in national life. Movements
making for the public weal, such as
I thc British and Foreign Bible Soci
: cty, thc Band of Hope, etc., they had
j pioneered. And John JJ. Rockfeller
¡ was constrained to make millions
I sterling available to relieve suffer
ing. The greatness of compliance,
with its conception of the Christian
a's . the obedient subject, was also
stressed. The Kew Testament unveil-
ed the will of the King. This ac-
counted for the important place Im-
mersion occupied: for thc sacredness
attached (;> the Lord's Supper; for thc
injury of loyalty to the Church; and
for the glorifying in the oneness of
all believers. It explained, also, the
foremost part played hy this Church
in the great fight for true religious
liberty. Because of that a Baptist,
like thc Hon. H. F. Richardson,
M.L.C., from Victoria, felt constrained
at Last Friday's meeting, to express
his sincere regret at thc prevalence of
Sunday, sport in this State. No body
of Christians rejoiced more than did
thc Baptists, over thc altitude of the
English footballers in this connection.
Baptists in Queensland, as members
of the Stale Union, formed part of
the yet larger Australian Baptist
Union. This, in turn, is a constitu-
ent of the Baptist World Alliance,
and thus a Baptist %vorld conscious-
ness is produced. Mr. Hcwison bas
arranged to commence thc return
journey to Brisbane by this (Mon-
day) morning's mail train.
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