The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-06
Livingston Johnson Gives
Valuable Figures.
INCREASED MISSIONS
History of Baptist State Convention,
its Primary Object From 1880,
When it was Organized,
UuntiI the Present

The North Carolina Baptist State Con-
vention was organized in the town of
Greenville in 1880. The idea of organizing
the Baptists of the State into conven-
ton originated with Elder Martin Ross,
who died just a few months before the
organization took place.
The primary object in the organization
of the convention was the evangclizaton
of the State. The founders of the conven-
ton, were not Indifferent to the claims CT
Foreign Missions, but they believed that
it was necessary to first form a base OF
supplies" at home in order that they
might be more able to send the gospel
abroad. The history of the convention
justifies the wisdom of their course. Moth
ing has done so much to give US denomina-
tional strength as has the work of State
Missions When the convention was or
ganized there were fifteen thousand Zap
lists in the, State-white and colored.
There are now hundred and seventy-five
thousand white Baptists, and nearly as
many colored.
Before the convention was two years old
the fathers saw that, in order to evange
lie the State they must have better
equipped ministry, and they founded
Wake Forest College. This, however,
was never strictly preachers school"
as is sometimes supposed There was
neve. a day since it began it's existence
when the ministerial students We're rot
in the minority. Today about one-sixth OF
those attending Wake Forest are minis
terial students.
About the same time Wake Forest was
+ho fol ha for
some medium of communication through
which the denomination throughout the
State might be touched, and to meet this
want Thomas Meredith began the publ
cation of the Biblical Recorder. For sew
enty years these two-the paper and the
college-have been mighty forces in build
ing up our Baptist Zion. AT first the Bap-
lists did their mission work in the coun-
try, and sadly neglected the towns. This
gave us great numerical thought in the
rural districts, and for fifty years the
towns have been drawing on the country
churches for material out of which to
build Baptist churches.
In recent years, while not neglecting the
country the Mission Board has given at
tention to the towns. There is not an i'm
portant town in the State in which there
cannot be found one Baptist church, at
least, that stands as monument to State
Missions. In the city of Charlotte,
where the convention is to meet, the fruits
of State Mission work are plainly seen
Tryon street church, with which the con-
vention meets, was one of the first points
aided by the board, while Twelfth Street
and Prichard Memorial are now receiving
aid from the board Both of these latter
churches are erecting beautiful houses of
worship. They will soon be self-sustaining
and will stand as soul-saving agencies
through all the years to come.
1t must not be supposed for moment
that the convention has confined itself ia
doing State Mission work. Our denomina-
ton has been pioneer in many important
religious movements. The Baptlsts were
the first to organize for State Mission
work They were the first to esta blish a
UNCONVENTIONAL paper. They founded the
first UNCONVENTIONAL college in the State
for the training of their ministry, and for
equipping all young men who would attend
it for greater usefulness. They establish
ed the first UNCONVENTIONAL orphanage in
the State In the work of Foreign Mis-
sions the Baptists are taking deeper IN
terest than ever before. This is a brief
review of the convention which is to hold
its seventy-third session in the city of
Charlotte next week.
Our people have done the greatest work
during the year which is now closing than
in any previous year. The Board of Mis-
sions and Sunday schools will submit the
best report that they have ever made to
the convention.
Nine years ago the convention met in
Charlotte We can get some idea of Bap-
list progress by comparing the report to
be submitted this year with that of nine
years ago. We will report as having been
raised this year twice as much for State
Missions, three times as much for Foreign
Missions, four times as much for Homt
Missions, and three times as much for the
orphanage as was reported nine years ago
The total contributions to all objects OF
the convention nine years ago amounted
to s3S 900, while this year they reach $50,
900. Nine years ago SIS, 900 had been paio
on the lot where now stands the Bapts
Female University. We now have plan
in the very heart of Raleigh worth $4,000
with an enrollments of $50 pupils. Thu
orphanage plant was then worth $25, 900; i
is worth $3.50, 900 now Then there wer
10 DIT the pudHdSV, ~" tiOi'
are 26O Then we had one school in west
ern North Carolina, with $50 pupils ant
property worth $4,000; now we have tel
schools in the West, with a total enroll
ment of 1000 and property worth $4,000
We have gone forward this year in ou
contributions to Missions.
The trustees report this year Will shov
to State Missions, SIG, 1902 so; Foreign Mis-
sions, SIT, 561.15, and to Home Mission
S7,76215. This is an advance over las
year of $1,000 to Foreign Missions, $2,2O
to State Missions and $1,000 to Home Mis-
sions. Round numbers are given, the ad
vance is little more than the above
From the best information at hand Their
were probably ten thousand added to tn
churches last year
Our denomination was never in bette
trim for aggressive work. There is no
the first yestage of factional spirit, bu
from one side of the State to the othe
our people stand solidly together. If W