The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-08
THE HOME EMISSION WORKERS
A Brief Review Of What Has Been Done
by the American Baptist Society.
Rev. Gantzs Discourse on the Work and Needs
of the Christian Church Organizations
-ProgressO of Mrs Robinson's Rev,;,u,r
BAPTIST MISSIONARY WORK.
Review of What Has Been Done by the
American Baptist Mission Society.

Review of What Has Been Done by the
American Baptist Mission Society.
The exercises at the First Baptist Church last
evening were exceedingly interesting. embracing
TO some extent the American Baptist Home Mis-
sion Society and its work. The meeting
conducted by Rev. G. H. Mcdowell, of the South
Baptist Church, DR.. Jeffery being absent from
the CITY, Rev F. A. LIGHT, of the German Bap-
list Church, OF this city, and Rev Tinker, of
Bluffton, assisted IN the services. Mr.. Mcdowell
read the twenty eighth chapter of Matthew, and
prayer was offered by Mr. LIGHT
Judge d. V. Burns gave some interesting facts
regarding the Home Mission Society. He said
the Baptist Church had three great organiza-
tions-the first. the Foreign Mission Society, en-
gagged in extending the gospel in foreign lands;
the Publication Society, that publishes the lit
erature of the organization and engages in
missionary work by organizing Sunday schools,
ETC., and the Home Mission Society, which has
as its motto, North America for Christ This
last society was organized in 1882, and is now
ffty-four years old. 1t organized in the
State of New York. the conception of it being in
the hearts of New England. 1t was incorpor
ated in. 1913 Since its organization,
shown by the May meeting it has
expended S.. l34,3l4, organized 8, 41G churches,
baptized 1914 members, organized 700 Sunday
schools, and at this time has 700 laborers en-
gagged IN carrying on its work. There were lac
churches organized last yeas, with 1896 bap-
tisms reported through its agency. The society
began its work in this State the first year OF its
organization and has helped 100 churches in In
diana, the First Baptist Church. of this city, be-
ing one of the first so aided. 1t is now aiding
German Church Of a
expended over 1000 in Indiana, which.
at 6 per cent. interest, amounts to
ST. 750 year and the entire State has never con-
trlbuted to this society more than half that
amount in any year. Indiana is now far to the
east and the work of the society is extending all
over the great expanse of territory to the West
and South. Through data and careful estimates
obtained by correspondence with wel-informed
brethren in every State, it is found that there
quite 9, 800 Baptist churches in the United
States without their own houses of worship. In
the Southern States east of the Mississippi there
are about 200; of this number 500 are of whites
and 500 of colored In Texas over 500
churches have no houses of worship and some of
these in important centers. In the Indian Ter
ritory five houses of worship needed imme-
diately. In the seven Territories of Montana,
Idaho Wyoming, Nevada Utah, Arizona and
New Mexico, there not more than fifteen
Baptist church edifces In Mexico there are
fourteen Baptist churches and only one Baptist
house of worship, the one in Monterey. One is
In process of construction at Saltillo A house
in the City of Mexico is an imperative necessity
The society is moving in the South-establishing
schools and colleges and doing a great work
among the freedmen.
A paper prepared by Mrs. Charlotte Vawter
on the work among the colored people in the
South, was read by her sister, Miss Hobart
Mrs. Vawter has recently gone to Chicago and
entered a training school, 20 prepare herself for
mission work among these people in the South
The paper showed that the Baptist Home Mis-
sion Society was the first to enter the field for
the education of the blacks after freedom had
been given them Twenty years ago tire society
did not own a foot Of land for colored people
Now, over $500, 900 of property is devoted to the
education of the colored race.
Mrs. NJ. A. Grant read an excellent paper
showing the work done in Mexico. in Utah and
among the Chinese. She had also been assigned
the work among the Indians but n consequence
of the extent of the subject did not enter upon
it. The part of her paper devoted to the work
In Mexico was specially interesting. The labors
of the mission have been prosecuted under diff
cuIties but there are fifteen missionaries in
that field who supply forty-one stations of
249 members The mission does not own foot
of ground church building in Mexico. but
efforts are being made to build church in the
City of Mexico where there is promising out
look.
Rev. Tinker, of Bluffton, spoke of the great
work that was done by home missionaries among
the emigrants who came here. They were met
at Castle Garden, and the missionaries followed
them as they spread cut over the great West