The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-07

dom - The undertaking and wrought lar
and enthusiastic faith as to its mighty posi-
bilities.
rERIoDIcALs.
In this report to-day we take up broken
thread in the history Of the Southern bSpss1
Convention reyiying work begun anu Ays-
tered moro than TWENTY-FIVE wears aso ~
some OF the best men God has ever given !"
tho denomination Basil Manly. Jr.. was
then president Of the Sunday-school DOAIu'
and John A. BrOadus its corresponding boFie-
tary. IL is something significant tDat i55 ~
work originated with the same men VINO 'aiO
the foundations of our Theological SEMINARY
and AZ the same time when great plans "eio
being thought out tor the future worh oi tue
Baptsts of the South. Their only puDilca-
ton was the paper Kind Words. name gwen
TO 1t by the greatly honored supernten
Of the Sunday school IN Greenyille, D =;
Colonel g. J. Elforl. IL WAS printed on 9iu
Confederate paper. and as said by one VINO
has right to know Its clothing was honey
like that OF the Confederate soldiers OF ne
late war. but there was o great deal ol
good stuff within" Bound copies OF
its early issues are now preserved III ~
some of our most honOred homes, and wiz
finally be transmitted 10 the Seminary IL
brary az keepsake for those who shall come
after. Gut Of Kind Words camo IN 1850
complete series of Sunday-schOOl per,OdeAs'
which are now published by the Southern
Baptist Convention. Notwithstanding tto
intervening chasm of years, and the Seasons
of trial and vicissitude We stand. brotheIs, !"
a rOyal line And even our periodicals nave
no need to DO ashamed OK their parentase.
/ We may count ourselves happy II with hiI yI'
/ superior advantages we Can carry Oh % hOOie
! finish a work so smal at its beginning. III
/ this convention series OF perlodcais me-
are eight different publications when cam
/ TO the board from the Sunday school cOnn'-
90 Loot nd
committee the year before from tDe ponio
/ mission board. ..
1t is printing contract in the strlctes.
/ sense and eliminates al private gain ana az
/ private interest. ANY profit accfulIs 20
! longs not to an individual Baptist or 10 bap-
lists simply IN general way, ou. ~ - ~,
| Southern Baptist Convention in particular
/ and as embOdying the organic Eho
orgauifc life Of tho denomination IN the
! South.
THE BRoApUs CATECHisN.
The convention. at its last session, instruct
ed tho board to publish catechlsm 70 %
written by DIR. John A. broadus. we are
happy 20 report that we have been aDle ~
! carry ont this instruction ana now pfesehb
10 Won and the denomination at large,
Catechism If Bible Teaching, prepared 10y
one who. as all gladly cOncede, IS pre-efnl
nently fitted for this difficult ana ana M
nortant task The price for the catechism
! has been set at five cents per copy, whether
for the single copy OF IN quantities. " . ae-
sire 10 make grateful mention OF the Iact 'hau
! the Baptist Book Concern, OF LouisYllle, mas
generously consented to print the hrst ed uon
/ OF 1000 absolutely without cost 10 the board
! The catechism needs no commendaion rom
me-. and will of course meet with q hearty well
come among our people.
STATISTICAL STATEMENT.
The field is very large. there is ample room
! and distressing need Our best Efforts only
show how difficult it Is to get correct ana
complete statistics. The thing, indeed, iOf tle
/ present seems impossible.
When one thinks of what has been done no
reioices. but thinking OF what needs yet TO be
done his soul is moved within hun. lot aiter
this best showing more than One-half oil our
/ churches are without sunday schools, ana IN
/ s me States the condition Is palnIuly olneI-
wise. This means destitutOn that IS appail-
ing. The study of the figures merely ls
enough 20 make the heart SICK, but what Is %
be said when We recall what these figures
! really mean One Stato-uaincly ly, 4Ouis.ana
/ has sent up request 20 the board that We
call the attention or the convention
especially 10 the desttuton within is
bounds Surely an organized effort should
be made 10 bring about an improvement OF
/ this condition IN churches where no school
/ exist and also in the schools already existing.
/ 10 lift up 10 higher plane the whole Sunday
school condition. within our bounds As q
general religious development. and training
in Christian work is matter OF the very
greatest moment not only 10 the convention
but 90 the cause of Christ generally. This re.
sponsibility rests upon the convention and
can never be shifted nor met save by your
selves.
BUsISEss AND FINANCES.
The board is aiming to conduct its affairs
| upon broad, generous and yet business-hke
principles. Ii Is q larger business than We
| supposed. and 10 transfer II from Atlanta and
| launch 10 in Nashville was an immense IN
/ dertakng. 1t Is now in good working order
and everything is moving with dispatch and
| promptncss. Standing orders are mailed
twenty days in advance Of the time they are
| needed while Others are filed and sent out
the day they are received.
WHAT of the fnancesY Is the work self
supporting? After all, this IS the grayesi
question which conlronts the convention ~
this enterprise. 10 deserves 10 be considered
/ deliberately and thoroughly. The best Az
swer is in a statement OF facts.
For quite number Of years tho little Kind
| Words paper supported itself IN all its eX
! penses and al the same time paid on an IN
debtedness against the convention OF $1,000
and then brought into the treasury an annual
/ income of ~ 600 royalty.
Here is regular increase which double.
! the income In hve years, ana that too under
/ the most untOward circumstances
But what about the new ventures will il
| bear the strain Of the new and larger ex
| pense, In asking this question we respect
/ fully submit the following statement. The
board began its life and work May 26th, with
nothing IN its treasury and with no immediate
| resources.
The board. therefore, was practically with
out income from May until December. at
which time we began to receive orders fol
1892 Our expense account Is for clever
months while We have receipts for only five
months December 10 April. These receipts
are shown III the following statement and SCI
in comparison with the receipts OF the CORE
spending months OF the last year. December
! 1850. 55.3J4.I7: 1892. S5,JGl25. January, 1891
81 .3s9. 50. 1892. s2.42l5j February. 1891
4l,Og5.17: 1892 s9l5. So. March. 1921 "a. 4s3. SO
1892. S5,57L2s April 1891, s2,S59.96. 1892
S4.79s.45 This shows the gross income fol
five months 10 be sly,Z72.69
The board hns met all Of ITS obligations ant
in some instances have anticipated them
thereby saving IN discounts. Twice u wa
necessary prior 20 December 10 obtain shor
time loans from the bank, which was done
without difficulty. and tue notes were can
celled at maturity.
Ia the coming year we wish - improve on
literature. which will OF course increase th'
expenses, and yet Notwithstanding this tn