The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-13

ton of the splendid work done by ths
UNCONVENTIONAL papers. These papers
open q highway along which mission
airy Information goes and missionary
contributions come.
The Foreign Mission Journal, thu
tracts and leaflets which have beer
widely distributed. and the Southern
Missionary News Bureau have al
been used effectively for reaching ths
people with missionary information
A statement by a special commit.
tee of the board as to the present
,secretariaf force OF the board brings
out that fact that since DIR. willing.
hams death the office of general
secretary has been discontinued. The
board now has three secretaries OF
equal rank, each secretary being free
TO take his own. iniative and make
his own plans. being responsible tc
the board for the work in his depart
ment. The secretaries have frequent
conferences over the general interest
of the work.
The educational department of the
board has carried forward its work
during the year with increasing re-
suits. There has been large In
crease in the number enrolled In mis-
sion study classes. Many mission
ganized. Missionary prayer meetings
have been a feature of the work. The
work of mission study among the
Sunday schools has been promoted
and also the work among our young
people.
The Judson Centennial.
The Judson Centennial has wit
messed another year of successful
progress Over $4,000 has been Sc
cured in cash and pledged up to this
time. But for the war in Europe and
the financial depression, this fund
would in all probability have been
completed during the year. The re-
port raises the question as to whether
we shall close the campaign now or
will the convention grant one more
year In which to complete it. The
fact that so much has been accom-
plished under such trying circum-
stances shows that the Judson Cen
tennial makes a powerful appeal.
An interesting event recorded for
the year is the conference of Mexican
missionaries, which was held in San
Antonio, Texas, last October. and
which outlined a plan by which our
work in Mexico can be made more
effective.
The board raises the question as to
schools on the foreign fields for mis-
sionaries' children. This IL one of
the most perplexing problems In the
life of missionary. The board out
lines a plan for such schools and asks
for the instructions of the convention.
The report presents strongly and
with much detail the great needs OF
the various fields, especially with ref
erence to additional missiorarfea II
points out the places where q large
number of new workers is needed.
1t will take at least $725.00o during
the coming year to meet the demands
OF the work already launched. pro-
vide for the debt. and send out the
minimum number OF workers. 1t will
taxc more than o.,e hundred new
missionaries to fill these PLACES wher.
there Is real need.
One of the other sections Of the
report Is given to an illuminating
statement concerning the matter OF
self-support on the foreign fields.
Many people will be astonished at the
great extent to which the matter of
self-support has already been de-
veloped. The per capita gifts of the
native churches on some of the fields
are larger than the per capita gifts
for Southern Baptists for all religious
purposes. The average per capita
gift on the field Is almost as great
as the average for Southern Baptisfs.
The matter Of self-support is being
pressed with great earnestness and
success on all our mission fields.
The Woman's Missionary Union
makes an exceedingly gratifying re-
port for the year. The women havo
shown great earnestness and faith
fulness In maintaining the work. They
- - - ~~xsAS =
a truly heroic and sacrificial spirit.
Report from the Field.
AFRICAN MISSION-This mission
reports a year of great blessings not
the least Of which. is the unusual health
OF the missionaries. 1t has been the
most prosperous of the more than
seventy years Of the missions his
tory. There have been during the year
35s baptisms. and the present men,
bership Is 1890. This does not in
clude three large seif-supporting
churches which have grown out OF
our work in Lagos. and which have
preached the gospel and organized
churches not only in the Yoruba
country. but beyond the bounds Of
their own people. A splendid Work.
ers' Conference was held in January,
attended by fifty-three delegates from
I'LL paFS OF the country. lHe meet
ing was characterized by unanimity
and enthusiasm. Out of this meeting
there has grown the Yoruba Baptist
Association. which will consolidate
the work Of the denomination ana
give stimulus to the life OF the
churches.
At saki the industrial training is
succeeding and exerting a strong in
fluence for good. The theological SEM
mary has been located at Saki tenn
porarily. The term that has just
ended has been one of great bless
ings to the students and teachers
alike. The Baptist Academy at Og-
bomoso has reported It's third and
most prosperous year, with more than
double the students in attendance
last year.
ARGENTINE MISsION-The year
has been one of happiness and bless
ing among the churches, notwith-
standing the great financial depres-
sion. LOSS of harvest for several
years had raised the cost OF living
and the. European war has had dis
astrous effect on conditions. Money
loans from Europe, upon which ma
terial progress depends, have been cut
off. Notwithstanding this the work
has made progress. There has been
an increase in baptisms over the pre-
ceding year with a total OF 1tS, and