The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-05-18
REPORT OF HOME
MISSION Committee
TO GRAND ASSEMBLY
(By Associated Press.,

rendered an account of its expendi-
ture Of $125,7S717, received from all
sources during the year just past, in
its annual report to the General AS
sembly, made here Friday.
In round numbers, substantially cor
rest" says the report, the Executive
Committee is aiding in the support OF
400 missionaries (not including their
wives), 600 churches and missions, re-
ceiving about 5000 into membership in
these Home Mission churches on pro-
fession of faith, and perhaps as many
more by certificate"
The year marked the first in which
the committee had supervision of the
Evangelization work among the ne
groes, that cause having been consoli-
dated. There was still further en-
largement of the committees sphere
when, on October list, 1911, under the
authority of the general assembly, the
Soul Winners Society, through DR.. E.
| 0. Guerrant, president, transferred to
the committee fifty additional mission
aries, with their stations, miss on
schools and property valued at $4,000.
The absorption of the work hereto
fore carried an under DR.. Guerrant
has extended the mountain field. In
many committees which we have now
entered" says the committee, "the
Presbyterian church has been hereto
fore absolutely unknown, and we are
the only church occupying the field.
At the head of this work, which the
committee has been gradually extend
ing for years, has been placed the
Rev. w. E. Hudson. His qualifica-
tons for this service and experience
in Mountain Missions" says the re-
port, seem to adapt him specially for
/ the responsibility. 1t is the purpose
of the committee to induce Presby-
teries gradually to absorb the work,
and unity the whole as sneedily as pos
sible."
Rapidly growing Oklahoma is urged
as a field for immediate work. Among
its 100000 population the church has
30 ministers, 70 churches, and $500
communicates. Very few Of the
churches are selfsupporting, and the
Synod as whole is largely dependent
on the aid of the committee. In Tex
as are numerous sections where aid Is
III
states, filling up with son and daugh-
tiers of the East and collecting without
regard to church affiliations, present
peculiar and difficult problems" says
the report.
The committee feels that the work
among the negroes has been marked
by decided advance during the first
year of supervision. Stillman insti-
tute did well, and during the current
year the committee has assisted in
the support of 40 negro missionaries
and teachers, and four white, supply
ing SO churches. An arrangement,
hoped to be the beginning of larger
things in the way of cooperation, has
been effected by which the committee
expends the funds of the Reformed
Church of America in the supplying of
that church's negro missions.
Mission work is being prosecuted
among the Mexicans in Southern Tex.
as, the Russians or Rutheians In the
Brasos Presbytery, the Italians at
Kansas City, the Germans, Syrians,
Spaniards, Chinese, Hungarians, Ital-
ians and French in New Orleans and
vicinity; Italians and other foreigners
in the Birmingham district; the Gu.
bans at Tampa; various foreign settle.
ments In Virginia, and among the
Choctaw and Chicasaw Indians. Alto
gether the church has so churches and
stations among foreign peoples, en-
ploys AZ missionaries and reaches
twelve nationalities.
| Under instructions to the last Gen
eral Assembly" says the report, "the
Executive Committee appealed for spe-
cial funds to establish a mission
among the Jews, but the response has
been so meagre that no effort has been
made in that direction. We trust
that in the near future there will be a
sufficient foundation upon which to be-
gin work"
The committees estimate of the
needs of the field covered by it for the
coming year is $450,OOO, itemized as
follows:
Semi-C Centennial fund, 100000; Ne
gro Evangelization and Stillman Insti
tute $50,000 Sustentation and Evan
gelization, 100000; Durant College
Debt, $4,000; General Evangel site
100000; Mountains, Schools and Equip
ment $4,000; Indians, $4,000; Jews
$4,000; oFreigners. $4,000; Church
Erection Donations, $4,000; New