The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-07
CHURCH OUT OF DEBT
BAPTIST CELEBRATED CANCELL-
ING OF MORTGAGE.
AT ANNUAL CHURCH MEETING
GLOWING REPORTS WERE MADE
BY ALL CHURCH OFFICERS.

Finance Committee. Showed Great
Increase in Number of COntribu-
tors to the Church Expenses-An
Increase of 30 in Membership.
Large Donations to Foreign ana
Home Missions and to the Various
Educational and Charitable Insti-
tu(iOns of the Church-Ohicers
Elected for Ensuing Year-SpeciRl
Service of Thanksgiving to Be
Held on Wednesday Night.
The annual meeting of the congrega-
ton of the First Baptist Church was
held last night. The reports of the
officers showed that the church is
in the most flourishing condition of it's
history. During 1903 a $4,000 mortgage
was paid; there was an increase in
church membership, and great spiritual
advance was made. In recognition of
this progress, special thanksgiving
service will be held Wednesday night.
The meeting was called to order
by DR.. John D. Jordan. The reports
of the officers were at once called for.
The Committee on Membership report
ed that during the year there were
ninety-nine accessions to the church,
making the total membership at the
opening of 1904, S66 members. With
continuation of the spirit which has
marked the church during the year that
has just closed, an even greater gain,
in the opinion of the committee, will
be reported for next year.
Treasurer Allan Sweat's report show
ed that a total of $10000.43 was paid
from the various sources during the
year. This money had enabled him
to meet all the necessary expenses and
still have balance on hand OF $5315.
Church Mortgage Paid.
The report of the Finance Committee
was made through it's chairman. Mr.
James Farie, Jr. In closing his report
Mr.. Earle referred with pride to the
fact that during the year all obligations
had been promptly met and that 6
mortgage oil $4,000 had been fully paid.
He handed the mortgage to DR.. Jordan,
the pastor of the church.
During the year there had been 445
regular contributors to the church ex-
penses, an increase of 240 above the
number in 1902 The total amount COL
lected from this source was 81, 481 81.
The total receipts from the collections
at both the morning and evening serV-
ices had been $763.73. With these re-
sources, coupled with the others at the
command of the church, all obligations
had been met and the mortgage paid
off.
In closing the committee recommend
ed that this year be marked by the re-
moval of the iron fence from the front
of the church, the laying of concrete
paving about it. the placing of two
electric lights in front of the church,
and the painting of the rear. They also
recommended that on Wednesday night
a service of prayer and thanksgiving to
God be held. The report, with the rec
concentrations made. was unanimously
adopted.
Reports from the poor fund showed a
small balance on hand and that much
good had been done in relieving suffer
ing and lettering the conditions of the
poor
The Mission Committee showed by
their report that a total of s., 629 had
been donated to the different missions
enterprises and charitable institutions
of the Southern Baptist Church and
that there was a balance of more than
$40 in the treasury.
Officers for Ensuing Year.
Or. Jordan then called for the cleo
ton of officers for the ensuing year.
The following were unanimously
chosen by the congregation, the ma
jority of them being reelected to Off
ce in acknowledgment of their faith
full services during the past year:
Clerk-W r. Powell.
F'inapce Committee-Messrs James
Earle, Jr, F. S. Jette, and w. K.
Pearce.
Allen Sweat.
Ushers-Messrs. Harry C. Anderson,
w. H. Butler, Ralph Powell, w. S. Ry-
land, u. c. Durham, Allan -. Sweat,
Charles w. Mccall, J. r. Sweat, r. E.
Fulton, s. Collins, and D. T. Furse.
The following committees were ap-
pointed by DR.. Jordan:
Missions Communicable. Andrew
Earle, chairman; Messrs. Charles w.
West, Charles w. Mccall, James R.
Cain, j. E. Franks, c. r. Bordley,
Charles Tngleby, and George w. May
nard. Each member of this committee
is to choose a subcommittee of seven
members to serve under him.
Floral Committee-Mr. Thomas N.
Denmark, Mr. j. w. Griffith, Mrs. ].
S. Wood, Mrs. w. F. Train, and Miss
Mary Cabaniss.
Special Service to BE Held.
Arrangements have already been
started for the special thanksgiving
service on Wednesday night. Invi-
tations will be sent to all the mem
bers of the church. and the pastors
and members of other churches in
the city will be invited to be present.
A special musical programme will be
rendered and addresses made.
Following this part of the pro-
gramme all present will adjourn to
the Sunday-school room where re-
fraShO1enfs will he served nv a cop1-
mittee of ladies'. Committees have
been appointed to complete arrange
ments.