The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-18


ly 50 per cent. increase. That advance
has been moro, than justified by the
blessings Of God upon every depart
ment Of our labors.'
Unprecedented TInrvcst.
The report declares that the past
year has been one OF unprecedented
harvest" adding:
spiritual fervo and power have
characterized the great body Of our
workers. Soul-winnng has been their
chief concern.a1n the cities and on the
plains. among the missionaries as we'll
as the evangelists, tho Lord has mani
Tested his power Joyful 'tid!ngs Of
salvation have come from every: quar-
ter. The work OF our evangclists has
been slgnally favored. They have been
unable to respond to q 1.-THE of the
calls for their services. We need at
least dozen additional evangelists.
"Then. our missionaries report times
of refreshing. Two years ago we re-
ported 1851 baptisms, last year 1896,
this year 1S,79s-an average of fifty q
day. If ono repentant sinner brings
JOY to the angels, what must have been
their heavenly ecstacy over these 49,
600 lost ones brought to Christ? Yet
these are but a part, and a small part
of those hungry, perlshing lnultitudes
whom with q holy compuls!on we are
to bring to the great supper from the
| streets and lanes and highways and
| hedges"
Position Of Amcrlcn.
It is contended in tho report that a
deep-rotted and a growing conviction
which has become intense with think
ing people is this:
"America must BIO saved for the
worlds sake. because the salvation Of
the world so largely depends upon the
salvation Of America and because
America Is so large part OF tho world.
But America must be saved for her
own sake. Within her borders the
lost souls of adult age outnumber the
entire population of Japan. More than
ss,o00,0o0 people live in our land.
Probably I, 100000 will be added to this
number by immigration In twelve
months. The next general census will
find US with ao,ooo,ooo people. skopti.
cism, inf1delity, commerclalism and
worldliness constitute large part of
the assets brought over with this in
nux Of immigrants, and our own peo-
pie must be saved from themselves in
this day of material prosperity.
Enlarged Gifts.
The report continues:
THE record in gifts to home mis-
sions has far surpassed any year of
our history, the increase being $52,-
e29.35 from the States and s2,493.4o
/ from miscellaneous sources; teal in
crease, s55.422.73, or 81 per cent. over
Hast year.
/. I'VE are forced to report a debt of
ls7,440.45. This is painful announce
ment, even though the debt is rot
large for we hoped AMI prayed aid
toiled to have 1t otherwise. Obedient
to the orders of the convention, in line
with our own cOnvictlcns, and relying
4 upon the churches f;,r tho money need
led, we have enlarged the scope OF our
{ work In every department., and God
4 has rent the heavens and coma dow,
upon the toilers in the great harvest
field. To Him be unspealsab!c praise
II Summing up the practical work OF
the year, the report furnishes tho fol.
lowing informatior.:
Number of workers. see: weeks o1
labor. 31,4l6; churches and stations
supplied. 3,12S; sermons and addresses
112, 604; prayer meetings, 14.202; re1i-
gious visits, 2l1.0S4; evangellstic meet
ings held. 10: baptisms, 1875: re.
ceived by letter, 14.2O7; total addition.
to- churches. 33,0O5; churches constl
tuted. I'll; houses OF worship built ant
, improved, 800: sunday-schools organ
ICED. 7O3; Bibles and Testament.
distributed 33.747; tracts distribute,
). (pages). 2,53o,as1; Bible conference
held 4So: preachers and others In at
, tendance. 44,S22.
! Final Summary.
The following extracts from the re
port show the work OF tho year Il
dollars and cents:
The finances OF an Institution DOM
work like that undertaken by the Hon,
Board are of serious moment. Th
payment Of salaries to hundreds G
missionaries, gifts to strugglin
Z churches in their efforts to bull
houses of worship, to schools and col
: leges for better equipment erection O
buildings and payment of teacher.
make such demands for money that tn
question of finances becomes ono O
prime Importance, At tho begInnin
Of tho year the budget Is arranged, an,
appropriations arc made with faith /
tho brotherhood that they VIII furnish
the money to meet our promises O
help. mo homo BOARD with rccOr,
for conservatism emboldenod by Il.
request of tho Southern Baptist Con
!, vention, surpassed all records In tn
i enlargement Of It's work. This on
: largement has been abnndantly JUST
t fed by tho marvellous blessings of Go
: upon our work, Our benevolence hn
: not kept pace with his BLESSINGS, nc
Q with the enlargement Of the work an
: 30 we are forced to report a debt
$7.44O.As, However, we are happy I
y report an increase Of $b2.02e.33
: gifts from tho States over. those fc
J, tho previous year, Tho total gifts d
Y rect from tho States this yearamoun
. cd to s22o,s29.2a, ana from n,iscellt
!, neous sources 1,004,7o, making q t
: tai OF $33l,ss4.03, which Is a galn {
: $56,422.s0 over the total for the yet
y previous. Tho increase In gifts fro
I the States over last year Is moro tina
d 81 per cent, which isaa greater pei
0 centage of increase than was eve
known In any year OF our history. an
v the actual increase Is almost doubl
y that az any previous year.