The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-17
OBSERVE TABERNACLE
BAPTIST Anniversary
spiritual Significance Of Church Ell
ficiency," Subject OF DIR. X. Il.
Gaines Sermon.
RAPID GROWTH OF CHURCH
Bible school Membership Increases
Five-F'old In Less Than Ten Year.
Large Congregation Yesterday.

The Spiritual Significance of
Church Efficiency" was the theme
of the address by Or. r. e. Gaines, OF
Richmond College, yesterday morning
at the service in Tabernacle Baptist
Church marking the twenty-eighth an
niversary of the organizing of the Sun
day School of that church. The pas
tor of Tabernacle Church, Rev. VIII
liam l.. Ball, presided. The attend
ance at the anniversary service was
about $50.
The exercises, appropriate to the oc-
casion, were participated in by the
pupils in the several departments OF
the big school, and the address by
DIR. Gaines was most impressive one.
Deep interest was manifested by the
large gatherings which assembled at
$3.50.
Meaning of Church Efficiency.
Speaking of the progress that has
been made in church efficiency in the
last few years and the increase In
gifts to missions, DR.. Gaines said IL
is but natural that people should get
the idea that church efficiency means
the giving of more.
But church efficiency has a far
deeper significance" he declared. In
any enterprise efficiency would eaKe
account of the enterprise as whole.
As the church is spiritual enter
prise with spiritual life and growth
and service the first requisite of ef-
ficiency Is the deepening of its spirit
ual iife."
How this may be accomplished, DIR.
Gaines pointed out, laying stress upon
the necessity of cooperation. The
tive enterprise. he said, and 1t Ia the
spirit of cooperation that cultivates
social conscience.
Some of the finest discipline TO
Christian character comes through the
linking of ones life up with the lives
Of others said d. Gaines. and he
enumerated methods that have in
creased efficiency and stimulated the
growth of the church.
I'm every sphere of life" he said.
normal growth is secured through
proper functioning: that is, every
thing by doing what IT Is made for.
Character grows Christ-like through
doing Christ-like deeds. We often
speak of the expansive power OF a
great vision. but the expansion comes
to the life when the vision leads
us into great achievement.
Great Through Doing.
I'VE think that there are a few
great souls and that they do the
great deeds of the world. But the
truth is that there are few who
are willing to be used of God in doing
great things and they are the ones
who become great souls"
Concluding, DR.. Gaines said:
But most of all church efficiency
seeks to enlist the entire membership
into service for humanity and thus
affords opportunity for a spiritual
life to find appropriate expression
we grow by doing. Thus church ef-
ficieney means life 60 the world and
ever larger life to the church"
Rev. William L. Ball. pastor OF the
church, came to Richmond to this
charge from Fulton Avenue Baptist
Church. Baltimore, In November, 1905.
and in less than ten years the church
and it's Sunday School have grown re-
markably. The Bible School member
ship has increased from 315 to 1901.
including the cradel roll and the
home department, and the average at
tendance during recent months has
been about 500. The church member
ship has increased from 3e4 to $40.