The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-27
State BAP9ISqS MEET
The Sixty-eighth Annual Con-
vention Brings Together
Many Delegates I'M
portant Statistics.
Especial to 1.-The Jersey City News

Especial to THE Jersey City Sews.i
TRENTON. Oct. q, ls9T.-The sixty
eighth annual State convention of the
Baptists Of New Jersey brought together
a large number of delegates yesterday,
who will remain in his city until tomor-
row evening. The sessions are being held
in the First Baptist Church, the pastor OF
which, Rev. Maurice Penfeld Fixes. gave
the delegates an address OF WeIcoHiS'
which was responded TO by the fSSF. 1.
E. Vassom, of Lyons Farms.
The set sermon of the day was dehV-
cred by Rev. J. Whitcomb B~roughner, Of
Paterson. His theme was 1.-THE Grace OF
ferred to the needs of the church and
the needs of the world" The LORD
owns ALL said the pastor. yet Il IS q
strange fact, a strange deception. that we
think that we own all the Lord has loaned
us TO use for his work in the world;
Friends. I am thoroughly, convinced
such time as he shall call us TO account
for it. When will the churches learn. that
it is more blessed to give than II is TO re-
ceive?
ing money; a method in giving; that's
the trouble now. We have no theory, no
method in giving. We give as we feel
like it. After we spend wil-s.- want for
ourselves, and after ia.--- ~--- some-
thing for a rainy day, out OIL what IS ieit
we give a small sum to the Lord
Mr.. Broughner then related several stor-
les illustrative of the good results of sys-
tematic giving, and not OF relying on CAV
ing just when you happen to- feel SO m
clined. (.
when you do give systematically, give ac-
cording to all hat you have; give accord
ing as God has ~prospered YOU One,tentn,
do you say? Nay, but nine-tenths II Cog
calls for it. The ignorance OF our people
in regard to the Gospel OF giving is APP
palling; it is not only the people who sri
in the pews who are to do the giving, Dut
the pastors who stand in the pulpits.
Everybody should love to do all in their
power TO advance the good work OF the
Lord I,
The morning services We're concluded
with the obituary report by FaStor Dasla
Spencer, of Dover.
The afternoon session was devoted TO
the reading of papers. There was an IN
teresting discussion on the methods OF COL
Letting money for the various enterprises
of the church, and it was decided that
collections will be taken for certain; pur-
poses in groups of churches on liked dates,
so as to give the various wards a steady
monthly Income instead of receiving the
amount at some one period OF the year,
as is the custom now.
Secretary H. De Wolfe, OF Newark, o.
the Executive Board, reported tnar the
deficit this year was $S46 less than last,
which was cor sidered a good showing Tor
the hard times. The amount raised py
the Executive Committee was $lSo,0OQ.
Tonight the 200 delegates to the state
Baptist convention were entertained BY
former congressman James Buchanan,
who has been a member of the State
Executive Board for twenty-five years,
and gave a few interesting statistics ABOUT
the Baptist Church and churches.
In 1880 there were $3.50 members Of the
BAPTIST Church in New Jersey, now there
are $4,000. The church property was
worth SAC, OO0, now it is worth $4,000,ou W
The number of churches lave increased
from ffty-ffve to 27S. There was in 1880
one Baptist to every. eighty-one Of the
population in the State. Now there IS one
Baptist to every thirty-eight. There are
many who argue that no more churches
are needed, but there is still room for
considerable missionary work in New Jer-
sey.