The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-09
SUPREME NEED
OF THE HOUR. :.
How Baptists win Welcome the New
Century.
NEW METHODIST HYMNAL,
Meeting of the Association of Catholic
coliescs-Thc Twentieth Century
Thank-oTcrin:-
EndcaYorcrs-
NEW METHODIST HYMNAL.
written FOR The Ttmes.}

NEW YORK. December Sat the BaIf-
list National ANNIVERSARIES. which We're
held l.. Detroit last May, the three nation
al Baptist societies, the Home Mission
Society the Publication Society and the
Mission Union adopted resolutions ap-
pointing. d committee OF seven men from
each society to devise ard formulate
saeta1od whereby the Baptist people of the
United States might most suitably com
TnemoTate The beginning o. the twentieth
century OF the Christian era. The Rev
DIR. Lemncl Mass, president Of the AneIl-
can Baptist Historical Society. was made
chairman of the committee. and the Rev
DR. Il l.. Mp-ehousc, field se@re.ac-' q
The American Baptist Homo Mission So
ciety, the secretary. The committee has
Just completed its deliberations and mas
agreed upon a statement and rcc3nlinen-
dations To Tie churches 81 ne teaoiiil-
nation
The statement of The committee calls
attention, first, 10 the fact that 1t IS the
purpose of the committee TO recommend
that the spiritual element in the proposed
cotnmempration OF The beginning Of the
new century Zoe made paramount Inc
supreme need of the hour, says the com
rnittee, lis a refreshing from on hlSh.
In this seculaTized age our LORD s mes
sage, Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
and Els Righteousness and all these
things shall be added unto YOU needs
fresh consideration Financial features
of the com1nemoration will therefore be
subordinated to the spiritual The COM
Gnittee feels that it would be unwise to
undertake 10 raise. 10y extraordinary
means a large sum of money for Specia!
purposes, and that the greatest l'er-Ina-
nent good can be accomplished II the
commenoration services, held III all the
Baptist Churches of Jlle country, can be
of such a spiritual character as TO pro
J-,.r1 md Et1r
late the people of the church to more
generous offerings for ali Of the great
missionary causes OF the denomination.
The recommendations OF the committee
follow:
WHAT IS NEEDED.
Il. That with the opening of the TWEEN
tieth century concerted and simultaneous
effort be made throughout the denomi-
nation for the quicloeninE Of the spiritual
life and activities of our churches. par
tioularly for the salvation of the uncOn-
verified in their own localities. As pre-
paratory to the week Of prayer, il is sug-
gested that on the first or the second day
OF the new century the pastors in every
Baptist Association, at the cali Of the
Moderator thereof, hold an all day meet
ing for prayer and conference on this SUBJ
ject
20 1nasmucl as our two hundred acade-
mics, colleges, universities and theologi-
sstructors and about 10000 pupils and a
material equipment, valued at about $45.-
00t.G00. are potent factors in the develop
rnent OF denominational life and power. it
is recommended that the day of prayer
for colleges the fourth Thursday in jan
uary. 1891, ne devoutly observed by ali
our institutions OF learning; that these
institutions be specially remembered by
our churches at their regular prayer meet
ings in the same week; that the editors
OF our religious journals devote particu-
lar attention to our educational interests
ia their issues for that week; and that
ahis be the theme of discourses by pas
tors on the last Sunday in January.
>. That on the third Sunday in April
the pastors OF our churches preach on
our denominauonal progress and achieve
1nellts during The last century, and our
present opportunities and obligations: ana
that editors of our religious Journals
about the same time give special promi-
hence to these matters
=. That more attention be given in
our churches TO the observance of the
monthly concert OF prayer for missions at
home and abroad; especially That in the
1ii'st week in May there shall be united
supriicailon for the Divine blessing lIpon
7he approaching annual conversations; of
our great missionary organiza lions as
aiso upon the meetings of all Baptist AS
s7eiatdons and Conventions throughout
our land
1T is also recommended that these asso-
ciallons and conventions appropriately OBJ
serve the beginning of the new Century. so
iaf as practicable, in accordance with the
spirit and scope Of the suggestions herein |
presented.
.. That the beginning Of the TWEEN |
tieth century should be signalized by a |
pronounced advance IN all our missionary |
operations; and that for this purpose it
IS recommended that individuals and
churches increase their offerings fifty per
cent above the usual sums; and that spe-
cial effort De made to secure an Offering
from every member Of every Baptist
Church. with a view TO increasing the ag-
gregate yearly contributions of our church.
es for missions 10 at least s, 200. 0GG
We are summoned TO this advance by
the wonderful blessing of God upon our
efforts hitherto: by the temporal prosperity
now accorded us; 10y the great opporturi-
ties in oar mission fields at home and
abroad, and by the supreme obligation TO
obey our Lords command to evangelize |
The world We shall receive power after
that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me- both
IN Jerusalem and in all Judea. and in Sa-
maria and unto the utternost part Of the
GARTH
WHAT WILLIAMS DID.
When Roger Williams was driven out Of
things. he had changed his religious views
and had reached the conviction that i'm
!nersinn was essential to q proper profess
sion of Christianity, 4 conviction so strong
that. as Is told in the old story, he and
another man immersed each other and
there established the Baptist Church |
IN this country, he started re-
iigious movement that, at the beginning
OF the nineteenth century, had grown |
gr.tl it numbered about 1,2oo churches
with 10000 members. IN the century lust
about TO close, the growth of the slenonli-
nation has been constant. and there are |
now IN the United States is. 427 churches
with a total membership of AIS. 6Ss. The
membership increased 10000 last year A |
large proportion of the churches Of the |
denomination are in the Southern States
but every State and Territory of the Union |
has a number OF the churches.
a'he Baptist Church is not so strong
atreaa as Il is in this country. In an nf |
Europe there are 3,73s churches with
46o.26l members. 2,697 of these churches
and sSs55,2l& Of the members are In Great
Britain and Ireland In Asia there are
] SOP churches with 119,745 members AZ
1,aes s4l,, r-on i