THE BAPTIST WORLD CONGRESS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14072, 17 June 1911, Page 11

THE BAPTIST WORLD CONGRESS.

';■■ I>R. CLIFFGRD'SSUCCESSOPv. , The question as to who shall succeed Dr. Clifford in tho presidency of the Baptist World Alliance is likely to provide some littlo excitement at the Baptist Congress at Philadelphia this month. It is understood (says the "Christian World") that ho is to be an American, but whether a >iorthorn or a Southern Baptist is a question that is boLig much discussed in the Baptist papers in the States. Northerners claim the honour for I>r. Stuart McArthur, of New York, who has been pastor of the most influential church in that city for upwards of forty years. Southerners nominate Dr. .Mullihs, the President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, the largest Baptist College in the world, iioth are men of the greatest eminence and of world-wide repute, and the question is not iv any sense a personal one. It is simply as to which section of the American Baptists has tho better claim to the distinction of furnishing a President. Tho Alliance has just issued two notable publications in view of tho Congress. One is a "Call to Prayer" for the week of the Congress, addressed chiefly, of course, to the six or seven millions of Baptist Church members who cannot, be at the Congreso. It suggests topics for prayer for each day of the Congress week, together with suggestions for thanksgiving and confession. The themes suggested are: —Unity Baptist testimony missionary work, Baptist martyrs past and present, unknown workers and sufferers, the long line of witnesses, and otir "sure outlook." Copies have been sent to all the Baptist Unions and Baptist newspapers 1 in the world, with a view to linking up all the churches in a great chain of common supplication and thanksgiving. A similar result is being aimed at in the Baptist Sunday schools of the world. An order of i service has been prepared which it is hoped will be ol>sorved.in all schools on Congress Sunday, June 2oth. Hymns are suggested, responsive readings are given, a kind of Baptist Catechism is provided on the history and principles of the Baptists, and subjects are t suggested for addresses bearing on various aspects of those subjects. If the Second Congress is not more largely attended than the first, it will at least gain from the experience then acquired, and i it is being very thoroughly organised so as to be what it is called—a World Congress.