The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-07
THE NIGHT SESSION.
Home Missions. Report by Mr. Ca ldell A6-
dress by DR.. Kerfoot

crowded w euueSudy ulSHl, 1t was packed
last night. 1t is doubtful if half hun
dred more people could, under any cir
cumstances, have found standing room in
it.
The session opened at 7:S0 O'Clock
with devotional exercises by Rev. w. d.
Hubbard, pastor of the Tabernacle Bap-
fist church, Raleigh.
Home Missions" was the subject for the
evening report of this work was read
by Mr. j. G. Caddell of Raleigh, and
the principal address OF the evening was
made by Dr. J. H Kerfoot, corresponding
secretary of the Home Mission Board of
the Southern Baptist convention.
The report, as read by Mr.. Caddell, set
forth that there was embraced in the
territory of the Home Mission Board all
the States south of Maryland, including
Oklahoma, Indian Territory and the Is
land OF Cuba. The work, he said, was
divided into: az Mountain region, (2) from
tier work go foreign negroes, (5) work
in the cities, and co Cuba.
The work in each of these divisions
was briefly discussed. The outlook in
Cuba was especially dwelt upon
IF we will we may possess this land
for the Master. The work is progressing
and preachers are needed. Three new
missionaries have just been appointed for
this work, but there is need for more
Those appointed are Miss Taylor, of
Florida; Miss Barron of Missouri and
Mr. C. B. Daniel, of Texas
The report went on to say that the
State Mission Board had this year re-
ceived 81 500 to be expended in equipping
schools in Western North Carolina.
THE convention last year asked us to
raise $4,000 for home missions and we
raised 81 roo Now the Southern conven-
ton has pledged $150,000 for this work and
North Cardinals share will be $4,000.
We recommend that the Baptists of the
State endeavor to raise this sum-"
Mr.. Caddell followed the reading of this
report with short speech in which he
pointed out the Importance of the home
mission work and what has been accom-
plished by it. He thought its work
omong the negroes had been especially
blessed. He added:
1T is a hard thing for us. sometimes
10 realize the condition of the negro-a
man without q history. His history is the
history of a slave, yet he has shown an
ability to rise above himself and his his
tory in religion. And just here is where
he Home Mission Board has a grand
field before it,"
Mr.. Caddell expressed the opinion that
before the close of the next century the
negro would be taking the gospel to his
native land.
DIR. KERFOOT'S ADDRESS.
DR.. Kerfoot was introduced to the con-
vention by Rev Jno f. White. BY way of
J reface to his remarks, Miss Martin, of
Portsmouth, sang a beautiful solo, For
give my Trespasses.''
The work Of the Home Mission Board
since its formation in 1882 was first re-
Viewed by DR.. Kerfoot. He also spoke
If the phenomenal growth CT the Baptist
church in this country and thought that
1T least half the credit belonged to the
Home Mission Board. He added:
THE churches established by the Home
i1ission Board are the strongest and most
liberal in the denomination.
"All over the South the Home Mission
Board, although it has never had one
tenth of the money it needs, has estab-
lished Sunday Schools. built up churches
nd fostered the work in it's weakness.
Gust as the occasion demanded it has lent
a helping hand.
The relation between the Home Mission
Board and the various State mission
boards was discussed. Then the speaker
came to the needs of the board and the
home mission work.
There are some of the older States of
the South" he said. that are absolutely
unable to grapple with the problems that
resent themselves. But for the Home
Mission Board what hope would they
have"
Here special attention was called to
Texas and Louisiana and Oklahoma. The
latter territory the speaker considered
he finest field for mission work in the
United States.
You can afford to be lavish with your
mission money in Oklahoma" he said,
for there isn't any place on Gods earth
where you can plant mission stations with
q hope of quicker returns and bigger pro-
fits than in Oklahoma"
THE NEGRO AND THE SOUTH.
Touching the negro problem, DR.. Ker-
loot was less hopeful. He said
I'm inclined to believe that the great
mass of negroes in the South are in worse
moral condition, now that they are free,
than they were when slaves. Before the
war the slave-owne felt responsibility
for his slaves. Now the negro is cut
loose, without guide or restraint, and for
thirty years he has been drifting, steadily
drifting until it is questionable at least
If he is IN as good moral or spiritual con-
dition as he was when a slave
Nov l say here is great field for
the Home Mission Board. The people
of the South cannot afford to neglect the
negro longer. If you do not lift him up
he will drag you down. The call comes
to us as never before.
The evangelization of the cities was
briefly discussed, and then the speaker
turned his attention to the prospects of
the South and the opportunities it must
inevitably offer in the near future.
Il see the Nicaraguan Canal built" he
said. Il see North Carolina not as now
the second milling State in the Union
but the first. / see great cities springing
up along the Gulf coast. l see millions
aires and mllionaires. The South
has grown rich. Churches and schools
and colleges have multiplied Never have
any people on earth had such opportuni-
ties as those of the South are about to
enjoy.
I'm this rising up of the South, where
will be the Baptists May God help us to