Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-05-18

tinueS until Monday has been denom-
mated the greatest deliDerattve body
in the world. 1t represents a total
membership of about p,340,000 en-
bracing nearly $4,000 churches, $50 as
sociations and contributes for all pur-
poses between $10,OO0,O0O and Sill
100000 annually. The value of its
church property was, according to the
last statement, $43,393,S99. 1t main
tains over $4,000 Sunday-schools, with
total enrolment of 1248,116.
In addition to the Southern church
membership there are nearly 100000
negro Baptists, about 100000 in
Northern cities, and the remainder OF
the 100000 members of this church
are scattered throughout the world,
thus showing that about half the total
world membership is in what is de-
nominated Southern states. In for
eign way, Europe, according to the
English handbook, has something o.
er 100000 members, Canada and the
maritime provinces about 10000 and
$4,000 are in Asia Mexico with less
than 5000 furnishes the smallest quo
"a, the next being South America with
something over 1000.
Tho Snnt hnaStn ;rf
ton, embracing it's remarkable mem
bership, includes the states of Virgin
ia, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Ken
lucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana.
Missouri, Oklahoma. part of
New Mexico, Southern Illinois, the
District of Columbia, Texas and
Maryland. Texas leads in membership,
being neraly 100000. The District of
Columbia is the smallest with less
than 5000. Oklahoma's membership
in the Baptist church was 64,6SO as
shown by the last report. Last year
in all the states new members receiv-
ed totaled 134,440.
Northern and Southern Branches
The Baptist convention of the South
ern states meets annually, as does the
Northern convention. The Northern
was organized in Okla
homa City four years ago and en-
braces all of the Northern states.
Each in itself is a deliberative body.
doing its own work through three
ooards-foreign missions, home mis-
'tons and Sunday-scbool boards. Each
state maintains it's own state conven-
ton and its state mission division,
which, while cooperating with the
foreign and home mission boards, )
works independently in a state way.
The Southern Convention has no
power to bind any of the churches
affiliating with it, They name dele
gates to the general convention each
year to advise as to the best way to
preach the gospel. They appoint men
to compose the mission boards The
foreign mission board sees to the
preaching of the gospel in foreign
lands to the extent this church oper-
ates, the home board relieves the
wants of destitute sections of the
South and the Sunday-school board
repares and publishes literature and
makes the publication of books.
No laws are passed. Each church
in an independent democracy, the
weakest organization being free to do
it pleases without fear of dictatioH
rom the general convention.
Finances of the Convention.
The negro Baptists number nearly
100000 in Southern states, have
their separate organization, managed
practically the same way as the con-
vention to meet this month, donates
o its own home and foreign mission
work and sends out its own mission
aries. 1t is aided by the Southern
convention in evangelical work.
Word came a few days ago that for
the foreign mission account the South
orn Baptist convention was $4,000 in
arrears. The fiscal year closes April
20 One year ago the debt was about
1000, with an appropriation this
year of 100000 There was collected
md distributed during the year $780,
700. of which amount $546,0O0 was
expended directly on foreign mission 5.
The remainder was used in reducing
the debt to $56 900. The report shows
that during the year just closed $70,-
900 in excess of that gathered last
year was contributed this year. The
lome mission apportionment this year
was 100000 and according to a repol I.
from the financial secretary, there IS
some debt This is believed to be
small For the year 1911 no debt was
left.
History OF the Organization.
Organization of the Southern Bap-
list convention. as distinct unit If
the general body was not brought
about until the Augusta Ga. meeting
on May s. 1S45, and properly speak
ing, was the outgrowth of a general
missionary convention of the Baptist
denominations of the United States OF
America for foreign missions. This
organization emhraced all of the Pan.