THE BAPTIST OUTLOOK.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1198, 5 August 1911, Page 9

THE BAPTIST OUTLOOK.

WORLD' CONGRESS AT PHILADELPHIA. The second Baptist' World Congress began its sessions in Philadelphia on Mondav, Juno 19, in Dr. Russell Conwell's great Temple. This building contains ono of tlio finest auditoriums in tho United States, it seats 3000 persons comfortably, and is so arranged that everyone can see the platform, while it's acoustic propertics are such that a whisper from tho rostrum can be heard in tho remotest part ef the building. In tho numbers attending it tho second Congress surpasses tho first', held in London in. 1903. This is only natural, as Baptists in tlio States outnumber many times those of the rest of the world put together. It was anticipated that representatives of tlio American Churches alone would number 1000 or 5000. Upwards 'of 200 delegates went from Great Britain, a number which would have been considerably increased had it not been for the Coronation. From the Continent of Europe more than 100. delegates were present, including upwards of fifty lroin Russia and South-Eastern Europe. Representatives in larger, or smaller numbers were also present l'rom nearly every country in the world iii which Baptists arc to be found. On Tuesday (Juno 20) Dr. Clifford delivered his presidential address, taking as his subject "Tho Origin, Character, Meaning, and "Work of the Baptist World Alliance." Dr. Clifford sketched brieilv tho .origin of tl'.i- Alliance—which represents 'at least eight millions of enrolled. Baptists throughout the world—as one of tlio results of tho first Baptist World Congress in Loudon in 19(15, pointing out the novelty of the organisation as appearing in a people "delivered over body and soul to individualism and in mortal terror of tho slightest invasion of their personal independence." Filly years ago, said Dr. Clifford, with a happy reference to current events, a Baptist World Alliance would have been as impossible as an allembracing arbitration treaty between England and the United 'states. .