Louie De Votie Newton
Encyclopedia
Louis Devotie Newton was President of the Southern Baptist Convention
(1947–1948) in the United States, Baptist
preacher, and author, as well as vice president of the Baptist World Alliance
.
Newton was born in Screven County, Georgia
on 27 April 1892. He was raised on his parent's farm, and in July 1902 was baptized in a stream near Union Baptist Church.
He studied at Mercer University
in Macon, Georgia
(1910–1913), and then taught history at Macon while studying for his masters degree in Journalism at Columbia University
in New York City
.
He joined the U.S. Army in 1917, and taught soldiers at camps near Macon during the First World War.
From 1920 to 1929 Newton edited the Georgia Baptist Convention
’s Christian Index newspaper. In 1936 Newton started writing a daily column titled "Good Morning" for the Atlanta Constitution and Savannah Morning News
, while writing weekly columns for the Christian Index. He also published several books. Newton broadcast a radio show on WGST-Atlanta from 1929 until his death.
Newton became pastor of Druid Hills Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia
in 1929.
He initially resisted the offer of this position since he was only a layman, but was persuaded to accept and was ordained on 20 April 1929, just before his thirty-seventh birthday.
In 1943 he was a co-founder of the Georgia Temperance League.
In 1946, soon after the end of the Second World War, he was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention, serving from 1947 to 1948.
In the summer of 1946 Joseph Stalin
invited Newton to visit Russia on a five-week tour, to meet with leaders of the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Russia
and investigate the status of its two million Baptists. Newton reported that the churches were open seven days a week, carrying on highly active programs of religious instruction, culture and recreation.
He received a certain amount of criticism for the positive statements about Russia he made on his return, with some accusing him of communist sympathies and others of naivety.
Newton was president of the Georgia Baptist Convention in 1950 and 1951.
Later he was vice president of the Baptist World Alliance.
He retired as pastor of the Druid Hills Baptist Church in October 1968.
He died of pneumonia in 1986 at the age of 94.
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
(1947–1948) in the United States, Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
preacher, and author, as well as vice president of the Baptist World Alliance
Baptist World Alliance
The Baptist World Alliance is a worldwide alliance of Baptist churches and organizations, formed in 1905 at Exeter Hall in London during the first Baptist World Congress.-History:...
.
Newton was born in Screven County, Georgia
Screven County, Georgia
Screven County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 15,374. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 15,037...
on 27 April 1892. He was raised on his parent's farm, and in July 1902 was baptized in a stream near Union Baptist Church.
He studied at Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
(1910–1913), and then taught history at Macon while studying for his masters degree in Journalism at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
He joined the U.S. Army in 1917, and taught soldiers at camps near Macon during the First World War.
From 1920 to 1929 Newton edited the Georgia Baptist Convention
Georgia Baptist Convention
The Georgia Baptist Convention is an autonomous association of Baptist churches in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is one of the state conventions associated with the Southern Baptist Convention...
’s Christian Index newspaper. In 1936 Newton started writing a daily column titled "Good Morning" for the Atlanta Constitution and Savannah Morning News
Savannah Morning News
The Savannah Morning News is a daily newspaper in Savannah, Georgia. It is published by Morris Communications, Inc. The motto of the paper is "Light of the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry"...
, while writing weekly columns for the Christian Index. He also published several books. Newton broadcast a radio show on WGST-Atlanta from 1929 until his death.
Newton became pastor of Druid Hills Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in 1929.
He initially resisted the offer of this position since he was only a layman, but was persuaded to accept and was ordained on 20 April 1929, just before his thirty-seventh birthday.
In 1943 he was a co-founder of the Georgia Temperance League.
In 1946, soon after the end of the Second World War, he was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention, serving from 1947 to 1948.
In the summer of 1946 Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
invited Newton to visit Russia on a five-week tour, to meet with leaders of the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Russia
Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Russia
The Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Russia is part of the large family of Evangelical Christian Baptists, a Protestant evangelical movement which began in the Russian Empire, in the midst of the Orthodox establishment. It originally attracted peasants, urban artisans, the lower...
and investigate the status of its two million Baptists. Newton reported that the churches were open seven days a week, carrying on highly active programs of religious instruction, culture and recreation.
He received a certain amount of criticism for the positive statements about Russia he made on his return, with some accusing him of communist sympathies and others of naivety.
Newton was president of the Georgia Baptist Convention in 1950 and 1951.
Later he was vice president of the Baptist World Alliance.
He retired as pastor of the Druid Hills Baptist Church in October 1968.
He died of pneumonia in 1986 at the age of 94.
See also
- Southern Baptist ConventionSouthern Baptist ConventionThe Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
- Southern Baptist Convention PresidentsSouthern Baptist Convention PresidentsThe President of the Southern Baptist Convention heads the denomination and is elected at the yearly convention. The term is for one year, and a candidate can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.-See also:...
- List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people