The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-12-09
The secretary was instructed to send

The secretary was instructed to send
a reply.
State Missions.
Rev. NJ l.. Kesler read the report
on State Missions, when was. in part
as follows:
state Missions after these years of
wonderful success has not finished
its task. but just now is well on the
field to do a larger work than ever
before. The value of this work as a
means of uniting our fighting line
can scarcely be estimated. AS
a people we are not by
organization or church courts
nor so much by creed. but rather we
are held together in harmony by doing
the great and fundamental things that
are to bring about the triumphant
Kingdom Of our Lord 1t is means
of bringing us into line for concerted
action and efficient work, work in all
departments. And that which comes
legitimatcly under the head of State
Missions grows larger every year.
I'm recent years there has been ad-
ed new emphasis to the importance
of pressing the work in many coun-
try districts. The cry that the people
are going to leave the country and
go to town is far from being true Good
roads. free delivery routes, and tele-
phone lines are taking the town to
the country perhaps moro than they
are bringing the country to town. In
fact there has set in a tide from the
town to the country. Prosperity has
reached the farmer. His lands have
become valuable. and as the towns
grow there will be an ever Increasing
demand for the products of the soil.
So we can see the tremendous impor-
lance of taking these destitute sections
for Christ.
Work in the factory towns espec-
tally This has been called our prob
lem | prefer to cali it our task and
our opportunity. II towns where
Baptists are weak it is the place for
the opening wedge. In many of these,
the mission church of today will be
the town church of tomorrow, a
church of vitality and power because
it is a mission church. This birth work.
this initial force that marked it's be,
ginning, fingers Already in some of
our manufa curing towns, the major
ity of superintendent and foremen in
the factories are Baptists. In these
mills there are boys who will rise to
these positions in the future. Thus we
get tight into the heart of the busy
working life about us. and we are
thus better enabled to shape this COM
mercial age at our doors. This is the
day and the very hour to seize this
opportunity.
Education in the west and evangeli-
cation in tt east is the cry. All de-
nominations have discovered the west,
The people there are open to the light
and capable of receiving it.
"As our Board does not build
schools, the next best thing is to help
secure educational pastors. who will
proper means of education. Some
fasten and encourage education-all
large schools are needed, but the !
great need is a little school in every |
community by every church. And |
further, there is need of few men |
for the west who can do q general
directing work over larger territories. |
THE east is not without its educa-
tional needs, but it's great need is evan
gelization.
ITO the Individual work this is the
most discouraging region in the State, |
but to the observer who compares
periods it is most encouraging. These |
churches carried out of hardshellism |
and other issues, are becoming the |
most faithful bodies within our ranks. !
Let us hold this kingdom in the East. |
And so from the mountains to the sea |
the work is great and the prospects
glorious"
An excellent speech was made by
Mr.. Kesler, followed by an address by |
Livingston Johnson.
In brief speech Rev. Livingston |
johnson made a strong appeal in be- !
half of State Missions. He read the |
following extract from letter writ !
ten by one of the State Missionaries, |
Rev. T. c. Wood, of Manteo:
.'This whole coast section is a, vast
terra incognita' to the baptists of the
state Few ever enter it exceut drum
mers. Fulton Market fish-buyers,
Northern sportsmen, and circuit
rider or two: and yet it is thrifty and
section. Cut off it is true,
and destitute of the best religious
privileges. but Astounding in good peo-
ple and first class opportunities.
After the address of MI Johnson all
e. C,+o+a Missionaries in the COnVen-