Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24

The missionary secretary, DIR. G. p.
Mitchell Of Des Moines, presented his
report He spoke Of It as his first report
to the convention and alluded to the
spirit Of optimism evident all over the
state. There is readiness In all the as
sociations to operate for the highest in
terest of all concerned. During the
past year there has been employed all
or part of the time, including the gem
eral workers, fifty-one missionaries
These have cared for fifty churches and
ten out stations. They have given q
307 weeks Of service, have preached s.
1S5 sermons, held 2,38S prayer meet
ings, made 1856 religious visits and
administered the Lords supper 331
times They have baptized 497 and
received by letter 1877 into the churches
during the year. There have been 123
diminutions, making net gain for the
year Of 561. They report as raised on
salaries, $19, 7s0.61. Faid for permanent
improvements $5,370.42 Incidental ex-
penses, $6,049.36. Sunday school ex-
penses, $2.O2S.6S. Benevolences: for
state convention, $1,134.34: home mis-
sions, s691.40; foreign missions. ST.
o99.s3; publication society, $252os;
Christian education, $1,056.35; minis
terial relief, $14.00; other objects, ST.
1898.
The work Of the pastor at large. Rev.
w. H. Sayre was commended. as also
the splendid spirit and devotion of the
pastors of the state. 1000 year more
for state missions Is needed from the
churches. There are now some seventy
one churches in the state without pas
tors. Perhaps forty-five Of this number
have a membership Of less than fifty.
Many Of the others are among the
strong churches, and are for the time
pastorless.
During the past eight months the
missionary secretary has visited 124
places. He has delivered 1872 sermons
and addresses. attended fifteen associa-
tons, four ordinations, one council,
seventy nine conferences with commit
tees, has travelled 1927 miles at cost
Of 1856.
No permanent evangelists have been
employed, but a number of evangelists
and singers have been recommended to
churches. The chapel car in charge OF
Rev. and Mrs. w. j. Sparks has been in
the state. 1t has been at Carroll and
Manly We now have at pastor at Car
roll. Rev. H. F. Moore is now in charge
at Manly.
Arrangements have been made with
the pastors at Ames and Cedar Falls
for the care of student work. The work
at Iowa Falls is being considered.
nended the appointment of committees
by the president to consider and report
on what is the voice of the convention
on the subject of qualifications neces-
sary by all seeking ordination to the
Baptist ministry in Iowa, to consider
and report on the matter Of the re-
ception of ministers from other de-
nominations and to consider and re-
port on some play by which members
locality to another may be induced to
identify themselves with local churches.
This report is really a report Of the
board of managers, to the convention.
1t was approved by the board at
meeting Wednesday evening following
the public service.
Rev. r. r. Sadler, editor Of the Bap-
fist Record. spoke on Persona. Re-
sponsibility." He said that the personal
element is an essential factor in all
achievements of human effort Com
binations of labor and capital achieve
only in proportion to the recognition Of
this element by the individuals COM
posing them. Upon me depends the
success of my church, the convention
work and the gospel in all lands. But
no man can measure up to these
superficial idea Of obligation Said
Robert Speer-"We do what we do be-
cause we are what we are; our char
acter lies back of our conduct. We are
what we are because we think what
we think; our convictions lie back Of
our characters. All that really does
matter is what we truly think" Paul
said of the Christians that they first
gave themselves unto the Lord and
another has accurately said "Giving
was religious worship from the earliest
The greatest giver the world ever saw
had no where to lay his head