Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-10-31
BAPTssT CONVENTION Or SoRTn
PACIFIC COAST.

BAPTSsT CONVENTION OF SeRTn
PACuTaC COAST.
Written for the Posr -ISrKx.LToKSCER- |
For six years the Baptists of Oregon,
Washington, Idaho and British Col
umbia have been associated to9sther in
mission work under the above title,
holding meetings IN the Willamette
Valley for tbs transaction Of necessary
business and the election Of mission
board.
Beginning With a contribution Of $40
from A. j. Stannard, of Brownsville,
the Treasurer has received. from all
sources, the sum of $z9,02S.69 for the
mission fund, about one half OF which
came from the American Baptist Home
Mission Society.
Beside the above building fund of
$53,5OO has been handled, about 5000
of which came from N,w York in gifts
and loans.
The Educational Fund has secured
for MsMInnvii.e College an old debt of
$500, and fine building for the col
lege costing 81, 900, all Of which is pro-
vIded for daring tbs present year.
vention has opened channels through
which have flowed over 100000 in six
years. Its course has been remark
vention ia debt.
The fruits of this work have been
abundant and enduring. As of old it
was prophesied that "a handfal of corn
should be .sown in the mountains the
- - LII he. .l.a
The Baptists of the Northwest we're
in an unorRanized, weak condition at the
beginning Of the Conventions history.
Only three churches-at Seattle, Salem
and Portiand-susfained preacher 50
that he could devote bis whole time to
the ministry. There were but six min
listers in the entire region devotinR their
whole time 10 the work, and 5000 a
year woald cover their entire salaries.
There are today giving their entire
strength to the Baptist ministry thirteen
men in Washington Territory, two in
Idaho and 2 in Oregon, making total
of 81, or nine times that of 1877, and
their aggregate salary is over 1000, at
least $4,000 of which 10 furnished by
the churches.
At the beginning of the Convention
there were but ~ church edifices in the
above limits, while there are today 81,
So having been built in six years, costing
over $4,000. While there were but
three missionaries at the beginning,
there are over 20 in its employ today.
There are today in process of erection
four church edifices ON Puget Sound,
three In Eastern Washington and three
in Oregon, besides extensive improve
ments at Centervllle and Albany. Dur
ing the year Just closed edifices have
been dedicated at Spokane, Cheney and
Walla Waila, and the college building
at McMinnviile, four stories high, one
of stone and three of brick, costing
$25, 200, the Rr0ndest contamination of
UNCONVENTIONAL work in the Northwest.
But the growth Of the work precluded
the possibility Of continuing the man
aQement by single board, and for sew
eral months series of plans have been
discussed by the various sections, while
q portion of Puget Sound Baptists in
sisted upon independent action.
The following plan Of future work
was unanimously adopted at the con-
vsntion, a. recommended by the board:
I'VE therefore most earnestly ask
and urge the American Baptist Home
Mission Society, under whose generous
cooperation We have been enabled to
reach such results In the past three
years, to allow the work in Western
Washington aud British Columbia, and
in Eastern Washington and Western
Idaho to be put under separate
board of their own appointment, which
shall have control of all work in their
Gal1o nnIop Hf
your superintendent of missions, they
reporting to this convention, annually,
q summary Of their work, until such
time a. they themselves shall deem it
wise to organize oonventi0n or CON-
A further section asks tnas the nome
Mission Society appropriate two dol
lars to every one raised for mission
work in Oregon, three to one in West
ern Washington and British Columbia,
and four TO one in Eastern Washington
and Western Idaho for the coming year.
These districts will. sooner or later,
form entirely independent conventions,
which will be recognized as coordinate
with the Oregon convention.
The Baptist Beacon has been pub
lis bed monthly az q news exchange for
VIC ouuIo0c5. Aaio WILL uItcI 0du06Fy
LIST, DO published semi-monthly at the
same prioe-$1-and an effort will be
made for it's enlargement. Rev. g. j.
BurcAett, former President of the Mo-
Minnville College, now pastor at East
Portland, was elected its editor and pre-
vision made for its publication.
The home mission reports were very
encouraging, and on Sunday morning,
after sermon by Rev. ID. j. Pierce of
Seattle, an appeal was made for the
balance due the treasury, resulting in
pledges and cash TO the amount of
&506 80, which leaves slight surplus in
the treasury.
The Puget Sound Baptists are called
upon at the adjourned meeting of their
association, ON Thursday, November
9Th, at Seattle, to decide their future re-
lation to the convention work.
Subscription Of over $l200 has al
ready been raised for nission work ON
Puget Sound. with which it is hoped
important progress will be made.
Tue entire Convention now numbers
over 100 churches - 1000 members
among q population Of quarter Of a
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