The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-11
LARGE INCREASE
At FIRST BAPTIST
Or. M'DANIEDs REPORT SHOWS
WONDERFUL PROGRESS DUR
ING TEN YEARS.
SURPLUS ON HAND
ANNUAL MEETING LARGELY AT.
TENDED--NEW OFFICERS ARE
CHOSEN FOR THE COM
ING YEAR

Rev. George W. Mcdaniel. D. D..
pastor OF First Baptist Church. starts
today upon the eleventh year OF mis-
pastorate Of that church. The an
nual meeting OF the congregation was
held at the church yesterday after
noon. DR.. Mcdaniel delivered his an
nual letter, which showed me church
in most prosperous condition.
During the ten years the member
ship has increased from $40 to I =.
44s. while he Sunday School mem
bership has Increased In larger
measure Last year there were 1si
additions to the membership, being a
net increase OF III The treasurer e
report shows surplus Of S4s4.
After DR.. Mcdaniel had delivered
his annual address. The clerk read
the names of the officers and commit
tees for the year, the deacons were
obligated general hand Shaking
was INDUCED in. and short speech
was mad by Rev. George Green. a
missionary To Ogbomosho. West A.
fica, who Is home on a visit TO ais
people MIR, Green Is a graduate OF
the Medical College of Virginia and
Q member Of First Baptist Church
Thls Is the third annual meeting he
has attended since 1905.
DR. NcDaniei's Address.
In making his address DIR. Nc
Daniel said:
We have lived together as pastor
And people fer decade Ten years
ago, next Wednesday I came To you
from INV far away home in Texas.
The Change In fields of labor was
no, according To my life plan. but
was pf Divine appointment The time
has been sufficiently long for us 70
understand each other thoroughly,
and | say sincerely that the better
| know you the more ! love you.
A brief statistical summary seems
filing m this occasion In order 70
show our progress
Chupch membership $40 LAG 60e
membership 49,. 4s4 1884 200
Current expenses:
1904 1915 Inc
ss.1ss1l si237733 s5.lls,2s
BeneXnlsnres:
i.s]oss 2sss5ss 1s.oissl
During These years 1892 mem
hers have been received into church
FELLOWSHIP. and over ssse.a have
passed through the hands OF the
~ aSurer As TO our congregations
they are a. large az we can accom-
mediate and little subject TO changes
Ia Sfe weather or community. OF
the sac IN 1905. Notwithstanding the
loss by death Of i4s. OF that number
sh1 are still members. Thirty eight
have been members fer over fifty
years.
The backward look, however is
our gait by thinking OF the track 49,
H. Tia. Iaf nf % Na
made possible our achievements. Ny
predecessors in this pastorate were
" Use master builders. Almost daily
/ have occasion to appreciate their
constructive ministries God honor
cd Us In directing Drs. Hawthorne
and Cooper to spend the evening OF
their lives In Richmond and permit
ting Us 90 hold their funeral ser
wees Ia the church where they served
so faithfully and are revered so ten
derby. II makes me serious to re-
fleet that ! am the only living min
ister who was ever pastor Of this
church.
Progress on Many Lines.
The last wear has Witnessed pro-
sress In various church activities. The
eastern annex has been paid for and
ali financial obligations have been
met promptly and without placing
extra burdens upon any one. We
close the year WITH a balance in the
treasury and owing no man anything
hut To love him. These results are
due To the hearty cooperation OF the
membership with the finance commit
tee That committee has been active
nH0eI tne visa and II rite leadership
Of Brother Russell g. Williams who.
In one year, has proven himself to be
worthy successor to his deceased
predecessor. John =. HARDWOOD.
Charles r. wfngo and John G. VIII
liams.
Among the 1871 who united with,
MS during the year, Il Is particularly
gratifying that numbers OF them at
tend the prayer meeting. where we
are studying the little book Train
Ing in the Baptist Spirit" by DR. Van
Ness. The pastor lays the Importance
OF this midweek service upon the
hearts 1T the members. is there any
valid reason Why you should not be
present. Every one OF the church
officers is Identified with the Sunday
School. and unless providentiaily pre-
vented, they should also attend the
prayer meeting Their presence
would he \ powerful example.
Our B. Y. p. L. is fulfilling its
mission grandly II trefreshes the
pastors soul to look in upon them
They may not know what a splendid
preparation stcir meetings are for the
Sunday evening services The time
appears opportune for the organixa-
tion Of a junior union
Upon recommendation of the
Mems League. the church adopted the
budget system and made the ever,
member canvass. The results are
shown in me report of the chair
man.
The Duly OF the Hour.
We are under daep obligation to the
men who cheerfully made this can.
yass. ! desire to impreas you with
the fact that no system Is automatic
Having made the canvass II now be-
comes our duty to work it. Every
member must cooperate by doing his
full duty. In this way we may hope
to approximate an ideal plan In
church finances.
In the summer months the pastor
Was engaged, almost exclusively, in a
strenuous prohibition campaign. These
elections frequently cause friction In
the churches and result In. personal
arrangements II seems to me that
with ,is, these have been reduced to 4
minimum The pastor has no con.
sciousness OF personal feeling agRins,
any member who did not share his
views on the prohibition question
( tSrnhn hfv Soma thOtlR hf his AagreaNiVs.