Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-12-10

to work in real earnest to-day. After
routine matters the first business to
be taken up was that Of State mis-
sions. The report was read by DIR.
Bailey, the secretary. The report
showed that one hundred mission
Aries have been employed during the
year, 1876 stations; 5000 sermons,
89S conversions, 1858 members re-
ceived, Sunday schools organized,
IA; teachers and pupils, 1904; con-
tributions, $2,753.28; churches or
ganized, 4 dedicated, 6. An effort
was made during the year to assist
the colored people, but in their State
Convention last May the negroes
voted not to accept, any aid from
white people, North or South. The
Bible and colportage work showed
up very well indeed. The forecast
of the future looks bright for the
Baptists and the board asks for
twenty thousand dollars for next
year. The amount expended this
year was $14,748.08
Mr.. G. B. Buell., of Charleston,
read the report on the Connie Max
well Orphanage. The report is filed
by Mr.. Buell. as most excellent one,
as will be the report from any insti-
tuition of which the Charleston
merchant is the head.
The treasurer's report showed that
total of $12,4Ol.88 had been con-
tributed by the Baptists of the State
to support this orphan's home, be-
sides S2,54055 in provisions and
clothing.
The excellent management of Su-
perintendent Altha II. Jamison was
endorsed by the Convention in a
way that showed it's confidence in his
ability and integrity. He has reason
to feel proud of his institution and
the convention has reason to felici-
tate itself upon having Mr.. Jamison
as Superintendent of the Orphanage.
The following extracts from the re-
port are of general interest
Financial. - Our fiscal report
leaves little that could be reasonably
desired. With all the work that
was outlined at the beginning of the
year, and accomplished within the
year, there is yet no debt. We have
paid our bills, and though the amount
on hand is small, smaller than we
usually have with which to begin a
new year, and smaller than your
board would like, yet we are grateful.
The receipts this year have been
more than $4,000 in excess of any
amount ever reported to this Con-
vention as having been given within
year.
The School Policy.-The school
has been maintained by strong and
faithful teachers this year. All our
teachers had the full benefit of the
State summer school in July. They
appear greatly to have enjc yed the
work and to have been profited
thereby. We still pay our own
teachers, receiving nothing from
public school funds. And this shall
be the policy of your board of trus
tees unless this Convention directs
otherwise. Friends have urged as
to avail ourselves of the recent inter
probation by the Attorney General
of South Carolina of the law that
refers to State aid to sectarian
orphanages, and proceed to establish
public school at the orphanage.
Techinally it would be open to all
children, though practically and aot-
ually it would be for the benefit of
our own.
Your board is of the decided con-
viction that this would be clear
violation of the Fundamental Baptist
principle that the Church and the
State should be separate. We have
taught the children year by year
the Bible, and this in the light Of the
truth as conceived by Baptists. We
do not contemplate the abandon
ment of this custom. 1t appears to
us that it would not be In accord
with the sentiment that established
Cohnle Maxwell Orphanage, nor with
the principles of Baptists, to accept
State aid to the amount of one thou
sand dollars year with which to
sustain school that in fact is Bap-
tist and would be public only in
| name.
A feature Of great interest and
profit to the children was trip to
the Charleston Exposition the latter
part of May. Sixty-nine of the
children went, and their enjoyment
is not to be measured in words. The
Southern Railway transported them
free, and the entertainment by the
Baptists of Charleston was gracious.
To most of the children it was the
event of life.
Fourteen children have been re-
ceived since the Convention year
ago. Our number is now 1877, which
is the highest mark ever recorded.
Sorno of the recruits taken in dur
ing the past year were cases of strik-
ing destitution, and make the need of
orphanage work more than ever evil