The leader., 1901-11-27
ANNUAL LETTER.
Rev. j. ii. Gambrell Writes

Rev. j. ii. GambrelI Writes
Again to Mississippi Friends.
EDITOR LEADER:-About this time
last year l sent you an open letter to
Mississippi friends. am just home
again from our great Baptist General
Convention, which was held in the city
of Fort Worth, Texas, some $50 miles
west Of here. We Texans think each
year that it is impossible for our con-
vention to exceed in greatness the
session we have just held, and yet each
succeeding session surpasses all for
mer ones. The session just ended was
greater, by far, than any yet held. Let
some facts be noted:
l. There we're about 1000 messen-
gers present, and there was not mega
tive vote on any question during the
entire session. This is unique to be
sure.
2. At the pastors conference, that
preceded the convention two days, a
large church house was packed with
Texas pastors considering questions
specially relating to their particular
work. Everything and everybody was
unanimous.
3. AT a mass meeting, in the in
terest of Buckner Orphans Home,
more than $4,000 was given to that
great institution. 1t was also an
nounced that F. l.. Carroll had sent a
check for $4,000 to the endowment
fund of the Home. A short time since
George Carroll, son of F. L., sent to
DR.. Buckner, for the same fund, his
check for $4,000.
4. j. B. Gambrell's report to the
convention showed: Raised for home
missions, sl2,527.59; for foreign mis-
sions, s15,S7 IS; church building fund,
$4,000; raised and spent on mission
fields for church houses and lots, $780,
082; for State missions, s52,46224. The
State Mission Board had 204 mission
aries, paid all debts, leaving balance
of S1,l25.8S for "seed corn" to begin
another year with.
5. During the year Drs. b. II. and
j. M. Carroll, Secretaries of our Edu-
cation Commission, raised $4,000 to
pay our schools out of debt, and on
Friday night of the convention, s25, 0OC
$4,000 spot CASH was given to finish
paying all our debts. This means
that all our real Baptist schools are
free from debt and by law prohibition
they can never be involved for debt
again.
g. Altogether there was raised at
the convention about $4,000 and nc
one complained over being often
called on for money. Indeed it seemed
that the convention was in its happiest
mood when a collection was being
taken. Giving is coming to be fash
ionable luxury in Texas. sit is more
blessed to give than to receive HAP
Ply those who know this great truth!
One of the most beautiful things
done by the convention was the rails
ing of $1,000 to erect monument at
the grave of DR.. r. G. Burleson, ex.
President of our great Baylor Uni
versity. The splendor of this volun-
teer movement is emphasized by the
fact that in his last years DR.. Burleson
aligned himself with the enemies OF
the convention and said much against
its work in paper that is nameless
here. 1t is we'll understood that the
venerable man was victimiZed by the
willy editor of the paper referred to
and he was pitied more than cen,
sured.
Another pathetic scene was the visit
to the convention of 275 of the ACC
children in our Orphanage. 1t was
the most fearful hour | ever witnessed
when these 275 voices had ceased sing
ing some beautiful hymns. The great
convention was like one big sob OF
emotional interest. Much more might
be recorded of the convention, but
likely the reader cannot take in more
now. l have said this much believing
that your Baptist readers at least
will be interested in Texas Baptist
doings.
NO ADVICE TO GIVE.
| Now and then | receive letters from
friends, asking to be advised whether
to come to Texas or not. l cannot ad
| oI,crht 10 lixro I'D lo