The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-02
BAPTIST OUTLOOK FOR 1904.
Secretary Livingston Johnson Says it
is Very Bright.

The meeting of the State Board of Mis-
sions and Sunday Schools held in Raleigh,
Thursday night. brought to this city
goodly number of leaders of the Baptist
denomination. This board is the most
important agency in the general work of
| the Baptist churches and is composed of
| leading laymen and ministers In addi-
ton to the wise plans inaugurated for
mission work for the year 1904, the board
elected Rev. Hight C. Moore, pastor at
Chapel Hill, as Sunday School Secretary.
He is a scholar. a writer, an organizer, a
gentleman of versatile talents and all
round ability. If he accepts, Mr.. Moore
will make Raleigh his home. The people
of Raleigh will be glad to give welcome
| to so able and popular Christian worker.
| Speaking of the meeting, its character
and the outlook for 1904. Rev. Livingston
| Johnson, Secretary OF the board, said yes
terdav:
1.-THE Baptist State Convention is merely
an advisory body, composed of messengers
/ from the different associations and
churches in the State. 1t has no legisla-
tive power, and neither is it judicial
hence at its meetings it is never troubled
with heresy trials. The Baptists believe
| in the independence of the local church,
and each church manages it's own affairs.
They have no common creed binding them
together. They simply take the New
Testament as their guide in faith and
practice. They have organizations for
convenience sake, which are called asso-
Citations and conventions, but these are
simply, az above stated. advisory boards,
in which the churches by mutual consent
CO. operate for mission and educational
work There is no such thing as the
Baptist church in the sense of which we
speak of the Methodist church. the Pres
byterian church. etc. Each church is a
little republic of its own, sovereign and
independent, and yet this rope of sand,
as it is sometimes called. holds together
wonderfully There are no people who
cooperate more heartily in doing their
work than do the Baptists. They num-
her in the State 175,000 white Baptists.
and almost as many colored.
Recently a comparison was made be-
tween them and another denomination
numbering $4,000. BY this comparison 1T
was seen that the smaller denomination
was doing as much, or more, for missions
than the Baptists with their great num-
5ers. 1t must be remembered. however,
that this smaller denomination has its
strength in the towns, while the Baptists
have their strength largely in the rural
districts. The town churches in all our
denominations are better developed, have
their work more systematic, and hence
contribute far more. according to their
numbers than the country churches. II
you compare the Baptist churches in any
town with the churches of other denomi-
nations in that town, the Baptists will
not suffer by the comparison.
"The State mission board is appointed
by the convention to look after the mission
work in the State The corresponding
secretary and the treasurer are also APP
pointed by the convention These officers
are sometimes considered officers of the
board. but the fact is. they are officers
of the convention and are responsible to
the convention for the way they admin
ister the affairs committed to them.
"The board of missions. which met in
Raleigh last night, made the annual ap
preparations for State mission work This
is the most important meeting which the
board holds during the year. because il
has at this meeting the distribution oil
the funds for State mission work This
year the basis of operation has been en-
larged. Last year $25, 600 was expended IL
State mission work This year the work
was laid out on a basis Of $50 GOO. Even
with this increase. not all the apphca
tions for aid could be granted. Fifty
thousand dollars could be easily used IN
State mission work if that fund were
placed at the disposition of the board.
''The outlook for the new year is ver7
bright The denomination was never Ii
better trim for aggressive work. There
lis marked unity prevailing all over the
State and the BaDtists have written or
their banner the word Enlargement