The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-08-10
PREPARING FOR A CENTENNIAL.
a Respected Baptist Preacher Gives
Interesting Facts, and Makes a
an ImDOrtont Event.

Two or three years ago the Southern Baptist
Con vention, like other Baptist associations OF
the world, resolved to celebrate in some fit
ting way the one hundredth year OF organ
lied mission work among the heather in
modern times.
In late years great achievements and dis
coveries In secular things are accorded nola-
bic anniversaries and centennials. Surely
then the discovery by Christians Of the heath
en- world and the efforts for their salvation so
abundantly blessed, should be celebrated rs
the most important OF all events in these last
centuries.
On oct. ., 1892, the first of the great mission.
ary societies was organized in Kcttering, Eng
land. Twelve Baptist preachers, young men
and most of them little known even by the
more prominent men OF their own den0mlna-
tion, formed the "Baptist Society for Propa-
eating the Gospel among the Heathen."
William Carey and DIR. John Thomas went
out To India rs It's missionaries the following
year. Thus was the attention OF all Chris
iiaus soon turned to similar work in the
hcilthen world, and the other societies and
boards SO blessed In their laborS during the
century, were organized Il few years later.
Some remarkable results of the mission
work begun n hundred years ago may be
mentioned. When Carey went To India there
were not more than three hundred Christian
converts among the heather; now there are
nearly Il million. Then there were no Bible
TRANSACTIONS into heathen tongues; now more
than three hundred Beginning with the first
society organized at Kettering, their number
has reached more than 40, through which
eleven millions of dollars are contributed an
nually. y hundred years ago nearly all
hcathen nations were closed against the Cos
pei to-day the missionary Of the cross may
labor in any part OF the world.
In commein. "aLng the beginning OF this
work Southern Baptists propose to put on the
foreign field one hundred additional mission
aries this centennial year, and to contribute
in addition to their usual gifts two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars for permanent
work, such as building churches and chaptls,
TRANSMITTING and publishing the Scriptures,
&c. In order to impress all the people with
the I'M pOrLance and needs OF this movement,
and 10 inspire them with greater missionary
zeal In general, the convention recommended
that meetings be held throughout every
Southern Stale, in the cities and towns, and
also In country places, so that as fur as posi-
bic every church member might be In reach OF
one Of these meetings.
In most of the associations In South Caro-
lima, as In other States meetings are being ar
ranged for and held. During the last oi July
four or five of the pastors of the Abbevillc AS
Sociation conducted twelve all day meetings
in different sections of the county, at which
various mission subjects. both OF general
character and relating to the centennial were
discussed. These meetings were well attend
cd everywhere, and the discussions were lis
tened To with marked attention. There Is eY-
cry reason to believe that more interest In
aad larger and more general giving TO mis-
Sions will he the result Of these and all such
meetings ir the communities where they are
held. These efforts cannot fall OF blessed re-
suits If they bring Christian people into deep
or and more practical sympathy with lne
spirit and work OF m missiOns, for those are the
heart and life of the religion of Christ
j. \. b.