Newspapers / The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, … / May 8, 1897, edition 1 / Page 5
Part of The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
THE WILMINGTONFMEFSENGER, SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1897. 5: i HI'S HISSiOIMY 1WJ. lib The Ninth Annual Session Held Yesterday. A Large Attendance at ' Presbyterian Church. The First Presbyterion church hay ing been kindly tendered to the South ern Baptist convention, was made ready and beautifully decorated for use of the Baptist Missionary Uniorir - The president, Miss Fannie E. Heck, of Raleigh, being present, the meeting was called to order by her at9:30o'clock Miss Annie E. Armstrong, of Balti more, corresponding secretary, was at her post. The meeting was opened with the singing of the hymn begin ning : " "Let those refuse to -Sing." Mrs. Wm. P. Oldham, of Wilmington, then read the 122nd Psalm, and also a few verses from the 24th chapter of the Gospel by Luke, and alluded to the mission of women in spreading the glad tidings of a Saviour's resurrection, and led in a tender prayer for the blessing of God on the meeting. Thirty minutes devotional exercises followed: j Mrs. C.. E. Stevenson, president of tne Woman s Missionary Society of Wilmington, made the address of wel come as follows: Miss President, Officers and Ladies oJ the Woman's Missionary Union: We meet you . today with cordial greetings, ywe welcome you to our dear Old North State, to. our, beautiful cily by the sea, to our hearts and homes, our churches and all the pleasures both temporal and spiritual within our reach. We pray for God's blessing on this session-of the Southern Baptist convention and that this arm of the -work be "Strong in the Lord and in his might." Some of us in looking back fifty years can remember the handful who with determined will, moved on (in the face of much-opposition) in the way our Master led, trying to obey in all things His commands, and now to see this great host of His people, we can only exclaim, "What hath God wrought for us." We trust we may be led by His spirit to do great things for His glory, and when jc is over, everyone of you may carry with you happy re membrances of your stay with us. - This was responded to by Mrs. Em ma Al elver Woody, of Kentucky. "On oenalf of the Woman's Mission ary Union, 1 than you, ladies of Wil mington, for our generous reception and the kind words just spoken. vVe And you fully meeting Paul's. exhorta tion, 'Distributing to the necessity of saints, given to hospitality. .My paren ts being Tar Heels, my child ish imagination was constantly strain ed to picture to my wondering mind the glorious charms of North. Carolina and the boundless goodness of her people; until there was only one reflection left: to console my patriotic heart, 'Texas was the biggest.' , A few years later, the kindness of teachers in dear old Peace Institute, and the prodigal indulgence of friends and kinsfolk, heightened 'and deepen ed this impression in a school girl's lively fancy and enthusiastic soul. And now to crown it all, has come this delightful visit. Among the many reasons that we are glad to meet here I might mention the fact that this is the most 'Baptist' state in the union. I hear that 20 per cent, of its population is Baptist, not a surprising fact, for who could be ex pected to stick to the faith once de livered to the-saints if not the "Tar Heels?" Again, this state not only has the largest number of missionaries in the field today, but is the pioneer in mis sionary work, being the home of the illustrious Yates, the f ounder j of mod ern missions. And who can call this name in an assemblage of women with out remembering that his brilliant suc cess, under God's blessing, was largely due to the intelligent .co-operation of his "devoted wife a memory you daughters of North Carolina have done well to perpetuate in the establishment of a permanent fund to keep a Yates missionary in the field. Then this state is the home of pur beloved president, daughter of one who often led the Baptist hosts of North Carolina in plans and deeds for others' good. A- woman whose wisdom and tact in her home work has placed tier in the high position she so nobly fills. A leader whose voice and pen have been so generous that alb friends of - missions, and the children's bands es pecially, should rise up and call her blessed. Here, on her native soil, we greet her, with resolve to obey her be hests, and to second with enthusiasm her efforts for the cause of missions. Your people, from the mountains -to the sea, from the borders of the Old Dominion to the glistening sands of South Carolina, have long been famed for hospitality. We find their reputa tion amDly sustained in the warm wel come given us in the homes of your metropolis the lovely city by the sea. I believe this will be the best meet ing we have ever bad, coming as we do to our banner missionary state, the fountain source of inspiration. Here the annual meeting should most easily ac complish its great office of filling the minds and hearts of the delegates and sending them back to their respective states to electrify the whole field, like storage batteries charged and distrib uted from a great power house." A committee on credentials was ap pointed and while this committee was making their examinations the presi dent addressed the meeting. To fully nnnreciate this address, it would be necessary not only to have it in full, but to feel the inspiration of the voice and expression of the consecrated wo man, who so nobly bears the responsi bility and labors of her office. She proceeded to review the work of the past year from which to draw inspira tion and renewed zeal, and to map out the future. One beautifully solemn thnne-ht she threw out was "how will our work appear when looked do wn upon j from the great Deyona-.win ouraemeve ments seem great, or be overshadowed by the 'what might- have been. " As she carried her hearers along the path trodden, sometimes by Weary feet and aching heart, ' she showed that on the whole, progress had been made, and urged her sisters to greater efforts along all the lines of mission work. Miss Armstrong, corresponding sec- the Meeting at the First retary, read the report of the treasurer. SUMMARY OF TREASURER'S RE PORT. Baltimore, Md., April 20, 1897. Mrs. W. C. Lowndes, treasurer, in ac count with Woman's Missionary Union, Auxiliary to S. B. C" DR. 1896 April 20th, to balance per annual report 110 67 July 23rd, to amount " re ceived from home board S. B;J C. -300 00 July 23rd, to amount re ceiver from foreign board S. itf- KZ. 300 00 October 13th. to amount received from home, board s. i3- c 200 00 October 13th, to amount received from foreign board S. B. C. 200 00 1897 January 4th, to amount received from Sunday School board S. B. C 200 00 February 23rd, to amount received from foreign " board S. B. C. 250 00 February 23rd, to amount received from Xmas of fering expenses 180 43 March 13th, to amount re ceived from home board S. B. C .. .. 250 00 $1,991 10 $ 482 35 CR. By amount paid for printing By amount paid for clerk and typewriting ...... By amount paid for postage, expressage, etc ............... By amount paid for stationery. By amount paid for mite bar rels . . By amount paid for mimeo graph and repairs on type writer 737 88 269 10 104 74 52 75 28 41 By amount pair 'for Christmas account 180 43 $1,855 66 I $ 135 44 She also read a very interesting pa per. " KIND WORDS. Carey's compassion for benighted men was awakened by reading Cook's "Voyage Around the World." Judson, the great apostle of Burmah, was led to become a missionary by reading Buchanan's "Star of the East." We believe many of , our young, people are developing into pooler Christian life, training to appreciate the need for sending the Gospel 'to those who know it not, by readirig "Kind Words." We heartily recommend it to those who are not using it j but who would make the missionary topics more interesting. The fourth page, under , the special management of the Woman's Mission ary Union, is edited by Miss Alice Armstrong. Interesting articles from among our best, brightest, most charm ing women writers are published every week. The first week in every month a programme and helpful catechism on the monthly topic are printed, prepar ed by Miss E. Y. Hyde, of South Caro lina. Two blackboard illustrations are also- given each month. The Young People's Scripture Union, or Daily Bible Reading Course, on the third page of "Kind Words," is also in charge of Woman's' Missionary Union, and is a valuable help in the study of God's word, not only to the young, but those of maturer years. Manuscripts have been secured from some of the most prominent S. B. C. ministers. MISSIONARY DAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS. A cogent argument for pushing Sun day school missionary day is found in the fact that the three boards of the Southern Baptist convention, foreign, home! and Sunday school, cordially en dorse;1 the movement. Woman's Misr sionary Union has used every availa ble means to make the day a success. The programme and collection design as usual, were furnished oy tne execu tive committee,r distribution being made by the Sunday school board. State ments from all over . the country at test the good results, not only in large collection for the home and foreign boards, but in enthusiastic hearts and quickened brains of those who are thus receiving an intelligent knowledge of missions. She spoke earnestly and tenderly of the work among German emigrants and also urged the ladies to render assist ance to the colored people by aiding in the moral and spiritual uplifting of the colored women. Mrs. Jas. Calder, of Wilmington, sang a beautiful solo, after wrhich ten or fifteen minutes was devoted to social enjoyment. After the meeting was again called to order, the Rev. Dr. I. T. Tichenor, corresponding secretary of the South ern Baptist convention, addressed the ladies on the subject of "Open Door." He said all along his life he had met with open doors, when the "pains of death had gotten hold of him and the agony of a realization of his sins before God the open door of bis grace, even a Saviour's riven heart received him. He remembered how his father, at family worship had prayed, morning hv morning:, that the doors of China micrh't' hp onpned to the erosnel. He spoke of the opening of Mexico and Cuba, and how the "wrath of man was made to praise Him" -by the oringing of the Africans to this country, and now that God had thrown this door open wider, by the freedom of the Af rican, the duty of teaching these people with whom we come in contact day af ter day in our homes should be care fully performed by the southern laaies, -hath bv Dreeept and example. Miss Burhmever. a German lady from Baltimore, made a touching appeal for 1 her countrymen who have come to this land of freedom to reside. Hiss Heck introduced Miss Emma L. Miller, of Michigan, who brought greetings from the Woman's Home Tisirnarv Societv. She stated that ten nationalities had been reached by thf work of their secretary. A paper from Miss Alice Armstrong. "lit union there is strength," was reaa by Mrs. Wm. Harris,' of Alabama. The nresident asked the returned missionaries in .the house to stand up so that their sisters in tjnrisx migiu spa them. Mrs. E. F. Tatum, Shang hai. China: and Mrs. J. P. Duggan, of Guadalajara. Mexico.' rose to their feet The last named lady is the daughter nf Hip beloved former nastor of . the First Baptist church of Wilmington, Rev. J. L. Pilchard, of "sainted -mem- ory," who fell at bis post during the devastating scourge of yellow fever in this city In 1862. ' -; Miss Wright, of Georgia, read a let ter from Miss Lottie Moon, China, in which she pleads for the daily prayers of the Baptist hosts of the union. Miss Spalding, of Florida, was re quested to prepare letters conveying the interest felt for the missionaries in the foreign fields by their friends at home, which are to be sent to all the female representatives of the Southern Baptist Missionary Union now in heathen lands. The meeting was then led In prayer by Miss Burhmeyer, and after the dox- ology was sung, the meeting adjourned to meet Saturday at 9:30 o'clock. So far as heard from the delegates are as follows: Alabama 'Mrs. I. C. Brown, Mrs. H. L. Mellon, Miss Florence Harris, Mrs. T. P. Hale. Arkansas Mrs. J. P. Eagle, Mrs. J. S. Kirkies. - , District of - Columbia Miss Marie Holtzman. Florida Miss J. L. Spalding, Mrs. Caroline Palmer, Mrs. J. C. Porter, Mrs. J. G. Murray. Georgia Mrs. J. D. Easterlin, Miss M. E. Wright, Mrs. Harvy Hatcher, Mrs. Baldman, Mrs. Argebrite. Kentucky Miss E. S. Broadus, Mis.i Emma Mclver Woody, Mrs. T. D. Os- bourn, Mr. J. M. Prestridge, Mrs. M. P. Hunt. Louisiana Mrs. E. J. Lassiter, Mrs. P. Lyle. Maryland Mrs. Judge Brown, Mrs. O. F. Gregory, Mrs. Jas. Pollard, Miss Marie Buhlmaier. Mississippi Mrs. M. B. Aven, Mrs, J. L. Johnson, Mrs. W. A. Charping, Mrs. B. J. Ward, Miss Ida G. Price. Missouri Mrs. J. L. Burnham. Nbrth Carolina Mrs. J. Briggs, Mrs. F. Bennett, Mrs. Harvy Cris, Miss Eva Liddle. ' West North Carolina Miss Noel Welsh. Mrs. E. J. Hildebrand, Mrs. J. W. Starnes. South Carolina Mrs. C. E. Watson, Mrs. II. R. Mosley, Mrs. H. K. Eagle. Tennessee--Mrs. J. T. Parris, Mrs. J. O. Hust, Mrs. Geo. McFadden, Mrs. S- C. Nelson, Mrs. W. E. Rupe. Texas Mrs. Ernest Town sen a. Virginia Mrs. A. M. Gwaltney, Miss Dasie Hutson, - Mrs. J.- J. Hall, Mis.T Georgie Burnett. . . The following is the programme for today: SATURDAY, MAY 8TH. 9:30 o'clock a. m. Prayer service, led, by Mrs. J. K. Pace, Mississippi. 9:45. Reading of minutes. 9:55. Report of State Central commit tees. Missouri, Maryland, Mississippi, Louisiana. 10:15. Recommendation of Executive Committee. Discussion opened by Miss J. L. Spaul- ding, Florida. 10:45. Young People's work. Address by Rev. J. D. Jordan, secretary. Sub ject: "Culture for Service; Culture in Service." 10:55. General discussion. Report of Committee on Obituaries. 11:20. Intermission. 11:30. Recommendations of Sunday school board. Address by Dr. J. M. Frost, secretary, "New Lines of Work." Questions, Answered by Dr. J. M. Frost. 12:00. Reports of State Central com mittees. Kentucky, eGorgia, Florida. 12:15.-T-Presentation of mission litera ture. NEW BUSINESS. 12:55. Closing religious exercises. Mrs. J. Pollard, Maryland. 1:00 p. m. Adjournment. THE MISSION Vt ORK Of THE BAPTIST WOMEN OK NORTH CAROLINA. The Woman's Missionary Union Aux iliary to the Southern Baptist conven tion, which meets in this city this week, represents the mission work of the Baptist women of fifteen southern states and territories. One of these integal parts is the organized mission work of the Baptist women of North Carolina, now of especial interest from the fact that for the first time the" union meets on North Carolina soil., Ten years ago -it seemed good to the Baptist State convention of this state, to appoint, through its state mission board a woman's central committee of missions to organize and encourage the women of the churches in mission work. Such committees were already at work in nearly all of the other southern states and many of the more advanced ministers thought it time for North -Carolina women; to fall in line with this, movement for larger useful ness of the women in the churches. Not all were of this opinion, however, and the nwiy appointed committee had to work its way through some opposition and much misunderstanding of its aims. Its policy has steadily been to avoid controversy, to work quietly and to let the value of the" work being done 'be the answer to all opposition. The commit tee began work ten years ago with fourteen societies. There are now more than two hundred and fifty. When they topk up the work the woman's missionary societies of North Carolina were giving $500 a year to missions. Last year they gave nearly $4,000, an increase of 800 per cent, in ten years. In these- ten years the societies have given $31,499.00 to missions, the amounts contributed increasing year by year. To fully appreciate these figures it must be remembered that they . in elude nothing given to home church improvements and charities and that the members of the societies are per haps far ibeyond the average contribu tors to mission objects through regular church channels, the money contribu ted through the societies being, in most cases, an extra gift growing out of the increased interest springing from the regular monthly meetings for prayer and study of mission fields. - Says one !North Carolina pastor: "If we had a woman's missionary society in every church we would hear no more of mis sion debts." Another says: "These so cieties are the best organized part of our membership for, missions." An other says: "When f I want the best help in any church work I always go to the Woman's Missionary Society." Indeed the progress which has at tended this work can be very inade quately told in figures. It has tatcen ueep hold on the alfections of North Carolina Baptists, opposition has died but arid willingness to aid t has be come the" well nigh universal ruie. It still sustains the closest possible rela tions to the Baptist state convention, the officers in charge of it being as at first appointed by that body through the state board of missions. The an nual meeting of the societies Is held at the same time and place as this con vention and their work follows - the lines taken by that body. Miss Fannie E. S. Heck, of Raleigh, who for several years has also held the office of president of the Woman's Mis sionary Union, has been president of this state work since its beginning; Mrs. J. A. Briggs, of the same city, has filled the office of corresponding sec retary for seven years. With the history of the woman's missionarv work ' of : the Bartist I churches of North Carolina what it has. been and the sympathy and co-operation of the ministers of the state so heartily enlisted in its future growth we can see no upward limit to its growth, usefulness and contributions. We fully believe that what has been done is but a small beginning of what shall be. A' large number of ladies from various parts of this state are here attending the union and mission ary societies or their respective churches will doubtless feel the in spiration of the memorable gathering now in our midst for years to come. WOMAN'S MISSIONARY UNION AUXILIARY TO SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. r (By Miss Alice Armstrong.) 1 Though young in years, dating its be ginning in 1888, Woman's v Missionary Union has a history of rapid growth and development which affords Abun dant proof of its need to be. Results are strong arguments facts are con vincing proofs; this sort of logic has and its legitimate effect, strengthening the faith of friends and winning those who were at first opposed. With more than three quarters of a century behind it, the experimental stage of woman's capability for organ ized work in missions had long since passes. And yet southern Baptist women with a conservatism which looked askance at any change, as fraught with peril, made themselves content with individual, society, or state efforts for home and foreign mis sions. In conformity with the sDirit of the times and voicing a latent need for co-operation of sympathy and en deavor, in Baltimore, in 1884, the first general meeting of southern Baptist women was called, during a session of the convention. But as the ladies in attendance were only chance visitors and not delegated by any working body ai nome to present reports or. transact Dusiness, this first And the two follow ing sessions of .1885 and1886 served the good but transient . purpose of a con ference, whose work ceased with the close of the session. In Louisville. 1887, the need for something more ef fective made itself heard in a series of resolutions, approved ty some of the leading minds of the convention, which aiicu. upun state central committees to appoint delegates to the next anual meeting who should be authorized to rm a general organization if deemed Jasirable,. with power to elect officers. choose location and define duties. The object of, the organization was the fur ther support of missions, now con ducted by southern Baptists, with no desire to interfere with I the manage ment of the already existing boards of the convention, either in appointment of missionaries, or in the direction of misson work: but an earnest nurrose on the part of the women to be (more efficent in collecting money and dis seminating information on mission subjects. At Richmond, May 1888, the woman's meeting , was convened, composed on. roll call of thirty-two delegates from twelve states. .In accordance with the resolutions, the delegates came prepar ed to vote by instruction from their states. Ten states most cordially en dorsed the movement as an advance upon other methods, cr.d as an aid to orogress in mission work. Two states. Virginia and Mississippi, while express ing a deep interest in Woman's work, preferred to delay action in reference to the general organization till further instructed from their-states. (By 1891, the fourteen southern states had heart ily entered into the general organiza tion). THE WORK INAUGURATED. Adopting a constitution and by-laws and locating the executive committee in Baltimore, Md., the work was inau gurated with Miss M. E. Mcintosh, of South Carolina, as president, and Miss Annie W. Armstrong, of Maryland, cor responding secretary, with a vice pres idenfrin every state connected with the organization. The task set before the committee wras no small one. A new policy unlike that of other organiza tions was to befadjusted, making the work auxiliary to that of the Southern Baptist Convention boards, and yet in dependent enough not to be hampered in its action. As no contributions wTere to be given through the general organ ization, but sent directly to the boards. through established state channels, re ports of contributions alone reaching it, it was a fundamental necessity and a readily granted request that all i exec utive committees expenses for printing, expressage and postage be paid jointly by the home ( and foreign boards. Ad vice in forming plans was sought from the boards, or fully developed ones were submitted to the boards for ap probation before promulgating them. These methods unfailingly pursued have made the woman's work identical in interest and purpose with that of the boards, though the plans for carrying out the work have been adapted in their variety and greater distinctive ness to interesting and training soci eties, bands, or individuals in mission ary effort. Great care has been taken that states officers shall be the chan nels of communication with state SO7 cieties. METHODS OF WORK. The general .methods of work may be indicated under four heads, - viz. Constant correspondence; systematic distribution of missionary literature to stimulate interest in societies and bands; circulation of special plans of rollention: and annuarm&etings for conference arid action, with a well de fined miroose to avail of existing agencies religious publications, weekly nnd monthlv rather, than to create new. ones. During the eiht years of the opera tion of the general organization the following table will summarize re suits: . DISTRIBUTION OF LITERATURE ETC. Leaflets.... Christmas envelopes .... . Mission prayer cards..... Mite barrels and Doxes.. Brick and sheaf cards.... ..1,236,887 ,.. 573,852 ... 168,645 ... 85,258 .. 143,886 .. 15,988 .. 24-434 Centennial certificates Papers The special plans inaugurated by the Woman's Missionary Union have been (1) Christmas Offering: (2) Cuban Brick Card; (3) W. M. U. Department In Foreign Mission Journal; (4) Boxes to Frontier,Missionaries; (5) Week of Prayer; (67 Girl's School in Cuba; (7) Support of Female Missionaries in.For eign Lands; (8) Columns in State Pa pers; (9) W. M. U. Department in Kind Words; (10) Centennial Chapel Card and Certificate; (11) Band Department in Foreign Mission Journal; (12) Fur nishing Cuban Hospital; (13) Work Among Foreign Population in Ameri ca; (14) Work Among Colored Women and Children ; (15) Week of Self De nial. - -(MONEYED RESULTS. As a point of departure before gen eral organization, the year 1887 report- ed probably $17,000 as Woman's Soci ety contributions to. home and foreign missions. Since organization the fol lowing statistics will show the gifts and their advance: W. 1M. CX)NTRIBUTrONS. Foreign. ....... $18,716.28 ....... 21,222.91 ..7... 23,761.31 ...... 25,040.27 ...... 36,052.78 ...... 23.514.99 Home. $12,057,41 10,014.85 15,229.03 19,242.53 26,283.97 21,613.60 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 ......... 24,560.18 23,505.78 22,799.55 33.542.64 $195,668.27 $161,4S9.81 Total for eight years........ $357,158.08 And now with all the fourteen states of the south enrolled in the union; with the autonomy of no church disturbed because women are at work in its midst; with the most, thorough harmo ny in adopting and carrying out meth ods of work; with confidence in lead ers and a growing consciousness of God given ability to bring things to pass with all of these encouragements be hind the organization, . the future growth of the - Woman's 'Missionary Union is limited only by willingness to link human weakness with God's al mightiness. ' SKETCH OF THE SUNDAT SCHOOL BOARD OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. In Its session at Birmingham, Ala., in 1891, the Southern Baptist convention created its Sunday school board, locat ing it at Nashville, and entrusting it with the publication of the periodicals known then- as the "Kind Words Se ries." This series had previously been published for five years under the. au spices of the home mission board, and the name has since been changed to "Convention . Series" and represents a full line of Sunday school helps. Like the other two boards, the Sunday school board is under the control of the con vention, the periodicals and all its prop erty being the property of. the conven tion, and its purposebeing the further ance of the interests of the convention in the betterment of its Sunday school condition and the fostering of its Sun day school power. DIVISION OF ITS WORK. Immediately, upon its, creation, now nearly six years ago, the board began its work, but made its first issue of the periodicals in January, 1892, up to which time (a period of eight months)' it was' practically without income, even having to borrow money to cover its necessary expenses. Its growth and success have been phenomenal. For the sake of convenience and emphasis, its work may be presented in five different departments, which have come as ad vancement and development. THE MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT. The board does not appoint mission aries, this being the prerogative of the home and foreign boards, and of the state boards, each in its own sphere of operation; but the Sunday school board seeks to advance the missionary inter est in connection with all the others by giving missions a distinct and emphat ic place m the Sunday school periodi cals (as in the Teacher, the Quarterlies, and Kind Words) by giving money to Sunday school missions in the different states, by the help rendered in the con duct of the Missionary Day in the Sun day schools. This, as a distinctive fea ture in our work, came as the first ad vance that the board made, and has steadily grown in usefulness and power. ITS BIBLE DEPARTMENT: The board began its Bible work in 1893 by setting apart five hundred dol lars as a Bible fund. This was done to meet a necessity for free distribution of the Word of God in destitute places, and from the first met with decided approval. The demand has grown, and there has been a corresponding enlarge ment of its operations, until the con vention year now closing will show many hundreds of Bibles and Testa ments given away, and put in places where they will tell for the building of the kingdom. While the board does not print Bibles, yet in its work it will use a Bible and Testament printed for its own special use. This Bible and Testa ment are in every way well adapted to the board's Bible distribution, being REV. J. M. FROST. D. D. Secretary of Sunday School Board. 4x6 inches in size, good type, with self-pronouncing feature, and: can be sold, .single copy, 25 cents and 6 cents, and in quantities, 20 cents and 5 cents, transportation beinjar extra. We shall rejoice to see them go into thousands of homes, and have tens of thousands come under- their influence. ' THE HOME DEPARTMENT. This is a well-organized effort to carry the Sunday school into the homes, especially as relates to the study of the lessons. Already it is meeting with success, and accomplishing -much good. It cannot be fully described here, but a circular devoted exclusively to this work will be sent on application, also sample of home department liter ature. BOOK AND TRACT DEPARTMENT. This was organized in accordance with a change of policy in the conduct of the affairs of the board. Heretofore appropriations were made in cash, but hereafter they will be made almost, if not altogther, in Bibles and books and tracts. They will be made also, for the most part, either to state boards direct or under their endorsement. The board will purchase its books from Baptist publishers and others, and send them out to work their work of usefulness, selling some and giving away others. This change of policy has been made during the current convention year, and w its announcement has met with general approbation and opens a door for great usefulness. ' - ." J PERIODICAL. DEPARTMENT. - This, though mentioned last, is really the first. It carries all the other de partments, and is the burden bearer for all the work of the board. It furnishes J a full line of-periodicals and everything f necessary to the equipment of a Sun . day school. Bear in mind that these periodicals belong to the Southern Bap tist convention. inattnev nave tneir distinctive missionary feature, and that their use puts the missionary thought into the child's .mind, and their pres ence in the Sunday school and the home fosters all the interests of the conven tion. WHAT HAS BEEN r WROUGHT. Scarcely six years have passed since the board began its work, and yet much has already been done towards the ends for which it was created. The money result may be seen from the following figures. It has given in cash over sev- enteen thousand dollars to Sunday school missions 4 n the different states: it has given over thirteen thousand dol lars to the home' and foreign board (from Missionary Day collections) and over twenty-eight hundred dollars for the advancement - of other denomina tional interests; and besides these cash donations, it has given away over eight tnousana collars worth of . Bibles and books and tracts and periodical litera ture to mission schools, in all aggre gating more than forty thousand dol lars; and besides, the board is now in Its own house, a building centrally lo cated and adapted to its use, and has built up a business enternrise which. measured by its Income-making power. Is easily worth nearly a hundred thou- sand dollars. All this has been done within six years without the Invest ment of any money capital and without collections, except oh Missionary .Day, as already mentioned. The results are even creater when considered as an educational force . among the churches, thoueh these re sults cannot be tabulated. The board, has become a great factor in our de nominational life, but we scarcelyj real ize its immense possibilities along tha line of its five departments of work. ONE DOLLOR DOES THE WORK OF v TWO. What has been done la the result of the generous support given by the churches and Sunday schools, not in gifts of money, but in patronage. The Doara makes its appeal for kindly con sideration and sympathy and further co-operation.- Heretofore it has not asked for money, and its ;appeal for money now is only for contributions to ns Bible fund and its book and trap. t department. The board will double every dollar it receives for this purpose A Sunday school that sends us five dol lars win have another five added to its gift, and so send out ten dollars worth of Bibles and books and tracts. This change of policy and this enlargement of our work has met with great public favor and some responses have been made in the way of contributions. Five dollars sent to the board is increased to ten dollars and will put two hundred Testaments into two hundred homes. A wonderful sowing is this of the Word of Life. It is in this work the board asks your help. - 1 EQUIPMENT OF YOUR SCHOOLS. If you cannot send money for this - great work,, we still earnestly entreat that in ordering Sunday school suDDlies you will remember the periodicals and this board of the Southern Baptist con vention. The wisdom of the convention In its creation of this board has been Justi- hed, whether it be considered as a Baptist industry, or as a business en terprise of the convention, or as a de nominational policy, or as a great op portunity for the furtherance of the gospel and building up of the kingdom . or unnst. And the Southern- Baptist convention has asked thr support of ts constituency in this work.'as in the work of home and foreign : missions through its two older . and greater . boards. Through these erreat agen cies, together with its seminary at Louisville, the convention is meeting the great responsibility which con fronts it. and is "elicltine. combininsr. and directing the benevolence" of the churches" for the furtherance of the gospel of the kingdom. ; - THE SUNDAY SCHOOL BOARD A8 A CREATION OF 1 HE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. (Hon. Jonathan Haralson.) We all remember the circumstances under which this board . was created a few years ago. Some brethren opposed and others, a large majority, favored its creation. Those who opposed as well as those who favored, are to be accord ed equally sincere convictions In what they deemed the best denominational policy. The objects to be accomplished were equally dear to all hearts. The demand for such a literature as was proposed to be published, was very great and ever Increasing, imposing ob ligations to supply it, which could not. in any proper sense, be neglected. There was no personal interest of any man or set of men to be subserved in the es tablishment of such a board for such purposes, no more than there was In the organization of the convention it self. It is fair to admit that it was not begotten of a desire to antagonize or cripple any other existing similar agen cy, and that It sprang from a sense of duty, to increase the means and facil ities within our bounds for the training of those committed immediatly to our care. If there existed a feeling of pride among our people, and an ambition to create at home a board of our own for the purpose in hand, and thereby and to that extent contribute' that much to our own moral, spiritual and mate rial prosperity,-who will deny that the aspiration was benevolent and patriot ic? The same thing is true In the es tablishment of every1 school and college and publishing hqiise, .the building of every machine shop, factory and rail road, the opening of every mine, and the starting of any and every industrial enterprise in our midst. The fact that such moral and material agencies are in abundant existence elsewhere, and we may procure all our wares from, other regions, does not lessen, but should stimulate ambition, and arouse effort to build up and foster all such agencies for the welfare of the people of our own section of the common coun try. The ' other boards the foreign and home are like this board, the- crea tions of the convention, and In them its vitality exists. IfJt were not for these, Ifwould cease to live. The same neces sity and obligation to maintain the one would seem, therefore, to exist to sup port the . others; ' they are mutually helpful and co-operative. The value of every enterprise is est!-' mated at what It accomplishes. Meas ured by thls standard, our Sunday school board "needs no apology, f The favor of "the Lord has seemed to rest i
The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 8, 1897, edition 1
5
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75