The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-16

at todayS session of the Baptist gen.
erai association was spent in hearing
reports on state and foreign missions,
Gnd In listening to Inspiration giving
addresses on tho great Importance of
saving the heather Of foreign lands,
and the great body OF. non-religious
people Of Virginia. Missions and edu-
cation, two twin subjects, occupied
The attention of the delegates to the
exclusion of nearly every other topic.
In the morning the report OF the State
mission board was received and dis
cussed, and at night all the time of
the session. except a few minutes de-
voted to devotional exercises. was
taken UP with the report OF the for
eign mission board, and the discus
sion following. led by Rev. r. r. Will
bingham, d. D.. of Richmond.
The foreign mission boards report.
read by Rev. r. b. Garrett. d. D., Of
Portsmouth, held the attention OF the
delegates and visitors who packed the
church. no less than the addresses
follow .Ng. The report began with the
confident statement that the onward
advance of Christianity could not be
stopped. China turns to Christianity
and to civilization, paving the way by
the overthrow of n monarchy, and
the substitution of a republic, almost
hope Of ultimate evangelization of the
F'lowery Kingdom. said the report. Tur
key, the heart of Mahommedanism,
assailed by the little Balkan states.
is losing ground, AID the sick man
of F1rope' is growing sicker. With
the opposition of Turkey out of the
way. why should not the cross be
planted where the crescent has stood ?
With the grip of the dead hands of
Al. - r..
should not the banner OF our King
fioat over mosque and pagoda and
temple and turret? Only one thing
eaa preventive lethargy and indif-
ference or these to whom He said 0o
ye into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature
This morning the State mission
board report was read by William Ell
lyson, Of Richmond. and, discussed. by
Rev. r. A. Mcfarland, OF Suffolk, who
pleaded for more earnestness in the
work of 'redeeming the lost of Viz
ginia." and sought TO inspire his henri
ers with the divine desire for saving
so,ils." The report follows.
With profound thankfulfiess for
the blessings God has bestowed upon
the efforts OF your board to evangelize
Virginia. and with an ever-increasing
sense OF its obligation to wisely d.
rect this important department of
work committed to II. by this general
association. the State mission board
herewith submits Its annual report.
This has been, in many respects. a
year of advancement. More mis-
sionaries were in the service of the
board than in any previous year; the
gifts of the churches were greater:
the work OF our Sunday school de-
partment more searching and far
reaching: our mountain school in
Buchanan county had its first fun
session which gave promise OF its
great field of usefulness.
The efforts of your board in en-
phasizing the constructive work In
forming compact fields and enlarge
rnent OF pastoral support have re-
ccived the most hearty approval of
most Of our brethren. Nearly all or
the associations have endorsed the
movement and given special time for
the consideration of these subjects IN
their meetings. n few OF them nave
gone SO far as to can the roll Of the
churches and request representatives
to designate an amount which they
would endeavor TO secure from their
churches as an increase on their pas
tors salary. aud the response OF the
said representatives was most hearty.
And some of the associations tmme-
d!ately appointed committees to con-
fer with the churches and their pas
tors with reference To compacting the
fields. We are gratitied TO say that
from a few of these committees We
have already received Information
that such conferences had been held
and "A better grouping Of the churches
agreed upon.
In the judgment of your board this
constructive work Is the solution OF
the problem how most effectively and
speedily to accomplish the task or
yirginia's evangelism. for the group
ing of churches makes IL possible
for pastoral efficiency to be far great
err. and the increase of pastoral sup
port insures a stronger ana more
permanent ministry
WUnrHn's Missionary Union.
Again we gratefully recognize the
abiding Interest which our women
hav, in our State CHARACTERIZATION
This year their gifts to our work
.were S11,452.So, being an increase OF
ever $500. In addition to this
amount which they raised for general
work, they gave $a.f22.6s for the
were paid In cash and passed through
the hands OF our treasurer. A.
Jacob Many societies in addition
sent boxes Of useful articles for fur
nishings the dormitory. These good
women are now arranging to nave
= separate dormitory for the girls
Sunday-S school Department.
The work of Sunday school de-
yehopment has gone on with undated
real during the year. under the lead
srship OF Secretary Joseph T. WATTS
The campaign has been pushed Into
every section OF the State. Conyen-
tions were held In twenty-seven out
Of the twenty-nine district associa-
items. Local conditions rendered Il
fmpracticable to hold conventions In
the clinch valley and Poweirs River
associations this year. but they were
reached with institutes and other
epecial work.
On March 1st. Rev. J. G. c. Dun
ford, Of Louisville, KY. came to US
A associate Sunday school secretary.
His work Ia proving of great value
"a our Sunday school workers. The
emricyment Of this aa't'fcnai he'd
workers makes It possible for US TO
meet IN a much larger degree the de-
inards for help which arc constantly
rcIning from all parts or Virginia.
The results Of this department OF
our work are now being richly rea-
lixs.d. Within the past three years
ana 4 half, more than sixty sunday
school houses have been built or
thoroughly remodeied. for the pur-
pose 81 carrying on effective teach
irg. We are glad to ~scord that some
<A~~~ -, y,rnve m nrrfas hAyA been