The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-16
DAPTIsTS OF SOUTH
IN ANNUAL SESSION
Continued from First Page.)


gone forward in the race of many I'm
usual difficulties our people have
given nobiy. making an advance in
contributions Of over $40, 600 for this
year, a total OF $3.50, 40S The board
started the year with a heavy debt
Of nearly 500. 600, but in spite Of the
hard conditions in many parts of the
South. a large part Of his debt has
been wiped away. and now, with
dent Of only $4,000. 'he board Is in
much better condition 10 start the
new year We have lost four Of our
strongest and beet missionaries by
death. Many others have broken
down from overwoTk. We have been
able To- appoint only four new mis-
>ionaries. but the working forces nAre
been iuc rcased by quite number o!
trained rativc workers.
on eli the fields the outlook Is
bright anc the missionaries are NEST
hope1.t. The revolution in China,
one of the most marvellous move
nents in human history while hin
derine the work temporarily, WIN re-
suit IL enc Of the greatest opportuni-
ifer Tor giving the gospel - that
mighty empire. In Brazil marvellous
progress has been made. over o.
900 baptisms are reported for the
year. The war In Mexico, religious
Indifference in Italy. the forces of
skepticism in Japan. the aggressive
ness Of Mohammedanism in Africa.
and trru hard conditions CHused- ny
Roma in Argentina. are some
Of the difficulties against which our
workers have labored, but in spite Of
all these things, there has been "A
total for the year Of 400 baptisrns.
an increase OF about ZOO over any
former year
We have on the 1eids 342 churches
with membership of 24.69S. We
have 26B missionaries and ST. native
workers. making a total force OF S45
engaged in the work. One of the most
hopeful signs for the future is this
large number OF native workers. And
we rejoice to report 245 men in our
theological seminaries and 3i2 stu
1ents In the woman's training schools.
In North and South China native
home mission boards have been or
gantzed and are doing excellent
work In Brazil both home and
foreign mission boards are reaching
out to the people In Brazil and in
the regions bevond.
The education department Of the
board has had a most gratifying
growth. The mission study class
enrolment made an increase OF oyer
SO per cent. above that of last year.
There has been an increase OF one
third in the volume or business in
this department.
This year in Brazil has been one
OF great progress along several lines.
Al the Brazilian convention, held last
June. in Campos. a vigorous evan
gelstic campaign WAS planned; the
evangelistic work was pressed Wig
orously, with the results that 2.16g
were baptized into the fellowship of
our churches during the year.
Mexico is divided into two mis-
sons, the North Mexican Mission
and the South Mexican Mission. The
North Mexican Mission covers the
territory which was r,e battle-ground
of the Madero revolution. In many
parts the work suffered severely. but
on the whole the mission report great
blessings and progress
! The work In Italy is divided into
! three parts each under the charge Of
| one Of our n1issionaries-the North
| Italian Mission under DIR. Everette
| GIL, the educational work under Dr,
BE Wiiittinghiii, and the South
| Italian Mission under Rev. j. +.
| Stuart. Dr. Gill reports the year as
| a reconstruction period.
In Argentina. the youngest Of our
missions, the work has advanced as
never before. For the first time more
| than 100 baptisrns are reported, and
| there in a large increase In the con-
| trtbutions of tn native churches.
| our work in Africa is in Southern
| Nigeria, West Africa 1t Is one of the
most difficult fields. and yet a very
| important field
| The South China Mission reports a
steady growth and efficiency in evange-
I listic work of the better type. The ma
| tive Institution and agencies ure all In
| fine condition. notwithstanding the re
vofution and war. a home board. com
| posed of nineteen Chinese pastors and
| laymen, together with six foreign mis-
| sionaries. has undertaken the propa-
| cation OF the gospel IN the vast terri
| tory Of two Kwangs association. The
board has twelve workers. including q
| corresponding secretary and Il general
evangelist. 1t has I'm charge thirteen
stations and reports IS baptisms for
the year. This activity OF the Chinese
churches is an immense step forward.
The China Baptist Publication society
put up new building and installed
much new machinery: the output of
tho presses has been large. For exam
pie. in the month of october. more than
two million pages OF Christian litera-
tire were printed.
7. rhe Graves Theological seminary has
had an enrolment of IS students ana
reports a year of satisfactory work.
although hindered to some extent by
the revolution,
Tho year of 1911. according 10 Rev.
G. G. Mcdaniel. who makes this re-
port. will ever be memorable In the
annals of Central China. He believes
that the changes which have been
wrought will hasten the coming of the
people of China into the kingdom or
God. This mission. in spite of wars
and ruaaors of wars. has gone on with
its work with but little interruption
There has been gracious ingatherlne
of the lost and a noticeable deepening
of spiritual life OF the church MEM
be rs
The revolution has hindered to some
extent. in North China. the work In
this mission on account of forcing the
missionaries to seek protection In
Chefoo. but the work has been left in
the hands Of the Chinese brethren and
has been blessing to them and the
work has made gratifying progress
The year 1911 has, been In many re-
spects the best year in the history OF
the ,iaran mission, The churches are
in excellent condition and are looking
hopefully toward the future. While
the number of baptisms has not been