Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-10-09
THE LAFAYETTE AND JOHNSON
BAPTIST ASSOCIATION.

hhu - "a ohS
of the most pleasant and harmonious sessions
ever held by the body. The Introductory SER
mon was preached by Rev. l.. NJ. Berry, of
Warrensburg. At the opening of the session an
address of welcome was delivered by Rev. W.
L.. Crouch In his usual happy style, extending
q warm, cordial, fraternal, Christian welcome
to the messengers and visitors present, which
was responded to, on behalf of the association,
by Rev. W. r. Painter, of Higginsyille, who
ielt assured that the session would be q proiita-
BILE one, and that all would be welcome and
Hospitality entertained.
The association contains 81 churches, with a
membership exceeding 2 300. located In the
counties of Lafayette and johnson. One new
church was added at this session, Bear Greek.
in johnson county. The association employs
one missionary. Rev. L. L. Powell, Tor the
whole of the time. The contributions for the
various objects We're liberal. The next session
will be held In Warrensburg, commencing on
Thursday before the first Sunday in October.
1887. Rev. W. A. Crouch was selected to preach
the Introductory sermon.
The following are the reports submitted by
the various committees:
DISTRICT MISSIONS.
That the wants OF the field embraced within
the bounds of your association are as large and
pressing as ever. Two or more missionaries
cou d be probably employed in cullvating our
waste places. AID yet with the limited amount
OF money in your treasury We cannot 60 further
than to the emplOym ent OF one man
Tor his whole time, and tnat such further APP
preparations be made to sustain regular preach
ing 10 weak chuicaes rs may seem possible and
advisable.
SLATE MISSIONS.
Your are gratItied to learn that the
assuciatiOnal year, now coming to q close, has
b, Gu the most successful year lu the history OF
stale mlSsIOnS in winning sonia tn Christ. and
yet they are painei tn Know that there is likely
to be u large Indebtedness to the missionaries
when the year ends, which the board VIII not
be able 10 discharge.
The stewart oil whom Christ speaks in the 10th
chapter OF Luke handled his Masters property.
gathered 1t all in, and perhaps invested it; but
not q dollar of 1t Was his, and in The handling
Of 1t he shovel just what kind OF q steward he
was. And Jesus teaches US that we are stew
ards; that not u dollar of the property we hold
or handl. is ours it ID all GOd's; and that in The
use of the property IN our possession We show
what kind OF Stewards We are-wh neither faithful
or unfaithful.
There are hardly any more startling or search
ing words in the Bible than these words:-''l1
therefore ye have not been faithful in the IN
righteous mammOn who will commit To your
trust the true riches, and If ye have not been
| faithful in that which is another mans who
shall give you that which is your own" This
ought to startie US. ChrIst's own assertion that
God will not trust him with true riches-the
himself false and Enthusiastically In the use OF
properly that God commits to his care.
Il IL the BAptlStS OF NlSSOurl were all Ialtnlul
stewards. and had responded as they should
have done TO the claims OF God and the calls OF
the Stale Mission board to sustain their mis-
sIonaries who are 80 successfully preaching the
gospel, we should not be threatened. MS we now
are, with a large Indebtedness.
Your desire to press this question
upon the pastors and churches of this assOcIa-
tion-ls not this indebtedness. in part nc least,
the result of our unfaithfulness to the Cause OF
steWar rdsS of God, ana aTs 70 M the S isiista our m IaiS AS
ries whose labOrs God has so abundantIy bless
ed? Ii we have no., let us do it yet, remember.
ing that as seed lett in the garner wastes and
r0ts. but sown gives a huudred-fold harvest,
so also money spent on self or boarded goes 10
waste, but sOwn in the hearts OF Gods saints
Let us convert our money into friends that shall
welcome us into everlasting habitations. ''Hs
that winneth souls is wise." Your m
would urge upon every church and every Bap-
fist OF this association to realize fully their re-
.ponsibilitles in this matter, and to DO each its
and his full snare In helping the state board to
fulfil all its promises to the noble and self. sac
rlhcing missionaries In Its employ.
HOME MISSIONS.
The term home missions refers to the cause Of
Christ as prOsecuted in oar own broad, belo we'd
home land. The Fact is that while Christianity
Is making rapid progress In these United States
1t does not keep pace with the Increase of popu-
latIon. Forty v-ars ago the southern states con-
tatned 7.OOO, 900 Peep e; to-day they cDnta in
y, OOO, 600. Then there were about l 600, 600
protesting Christians; now there are 1 1000 COO
Then there We're o. 600 without the pale OF
nv" "a 10 .OtO. 1t
work to be done therefore is ihree-Iold greater
to-day than 1; Was forty years ago. There are
OF a pure Christianity. Beside these the color
Ell people and Indians must be led to Christ.
Aud then there is that diversified and numerous
class of foreigners who have been aud are Sill
whom are not only hostiIeto our civil z alton but
worse than that are enemies to christ and
His gospel. these must be reached. saved and
elevated by our holy Christianity. Let us not
only seek 10 keep he light burning brightly al
home for the sake of the thousands here. but let
us do this that the light may also pr netrate into
the dark regions beyond. We call your atte n
ton to the wondrous work of God In Cubs, AMI
bespeak for it your sympathies, prayers and
means.
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
Your beg leave to report that the
churches oil Jesus Christ have laid upon them
no clearer or more important obligation than
that oil preaching the gospel IN the regions be.
You'd The Great Head OF the church was him
self u mission try. He not only commanded
His disciples to go anu preach The gospel to all
nations, but constantly opens the way for mis-.
sion WORK IN every quarter Of the globe. AT the
pre- ent time China makes q special appeal 10 us
by MIss Emma Young; and we are informed
bui.d q schoolhOuse for Sister Youag, In this
far-of land. is under the consideration of tn.
board. Therefore,, your committee most earn
estly recommend to our churches an enlarge
ment OF their contributions 10 meet the require
nients oil the foreign board.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
AuCiC 10 NJ pilaSe VI OuF CuufCu Work tlat IL
so vitality related to us as that OF the teachi M
and training Our little ones and youth in lhs
Sunday school. Here We begin with impress.
sIons and give directions to fist impulses
awakened. The conditions OF Christian hi
cientness are wrapped up in the possibilities ol
the child life and their faithful development and
directing. Here We touch keys on lie y diu.
pason that echo through time and eternity. Al
We touch We mould and direct Tor society. de.
nomination ana country Neglect and we
not doing. Those churches most active in this
work reap the more largely and share in The
greater prosperity. Here is the hope of your
ingatherinss for our workers, for our churches
and for our denominations There can be nc
apology for not deve .oping these possibilities u.
Tie agencies Tor efficiency are within the reach
OF ali. The salvation OF our millions, iheiI
training. lndoctrinatiOn and the strenst IN Of
our churches, the might and progress Of ouI
Christianity, the:stabIlIty OF our social and polit
ieal institutions demand that we be not oilers
but earnest doors OF the word in this depart
ment OF Christian activity.
PERIODICALS AND COLPoRTRURAGE.
1--we, your committee. submit the following
In consideration OF the great importance of a
good denominations news aper aud Baptist
periodicals in the families of our churches; and
IN View OF the TACT that many OF our peop,e are
not brought directly under the u IDLY influence
81 religious publications.. We, therefore urge
that all OF our workers Use their earnest efforts
10 place u good Baptist newspaper in all Inc
families OF our churches. We further reco m.
mead and earnestly reques our sunday schools
to Use only sonnd bible literature, and that we
encourage and aud the colporteurage work in
connection win the missionary WOra of our as
ISOLATION SO that the Word of God may be sun
piled in destitute localities.
TEMPERANCE.
Your comm tee on ten perance submit tbs
tollowIng:-Thi We believe the mapuiactu re,
sale and use of Intoxicating drinks to be an i'm.
morality, Condemned of Gud and Justly Il crit.
Ing His maledictiOns, ami is rightly charged
with a Constant rebellion to all opposition
a aInst its use. both human and divine, ard /,
stekins 10 establish itself In this county by the
chhtroi Oh l'Els latoh, state anu NATIONAL, and
TO this end /, seeking to control the el, ctions by
the use IL 'norey and fraud in el.cting men tJ
ohice who will disregard the interest OF the
neipless anu suffering women aud %cuiliren
we also believe u large per cent. OF the crime,
poverty anu wretchedness of the country is
traceab'e, directly or indirectly, 10 this accurs-
ed traf1c We, therefore, believe i. TO be the
dufy Of all God loving and sin-hating mel to
oppose this gigantic evil. and use every means
TO remove ii from this land. and thereby lift a
great curse, not only from the helpless aud de-
ien5ele5s women and ch .ldren, bat also from
the whole cCuitry. We also beIieve that any
member OF II Baptist church aiding or abelt,ny
this unhoiy traffic. either by putrOnizing the
saloons, signing petitions or renting houses Tor
saloons, should be subject to discipline and ex-
c,lision. We, therefore, resolve to unrumpro
misingiy oppose this traffic, and pledge our.
selves IL personally use al, proper means in our
power TO extirpate this curse from the land.
Meetipp of County a,apua