The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-18
PAST YEAR BEST IN
BAPTIST HISTORY
More Work Done, More Enthusiasm,
More Members More Money.
Than Ever Before.
LARGER ATTENDANCE
While Improved Methods of Handling
Business Made Greatly for Emcien-
cy--Great Growth of Sunday
lBy STAFF CorreapondentN

all lines has marked the work Of the
Baptist Church in Virginia during the
pest year Reports and references de-
i'Nersd during the meetings Of the as
socIatiou have shown this conclusive
~ arf II Is the unanimous verdict Of
the body that the year just closed
Las been the greatest n the history
OF the denomination n the state. Fur
thor. Il is conceded that this meeting
Of the association has been unpar-
allied for efficiency In the transaction
interest shown IN all the work PR
sented. The great work done BY the
church this last year. has added grcat-
er enth siasm and inspiration TO fur
tier efforts. and the good that will re
suit from this convention. say all who
are here. viii be lemarkahle.
View Dope rturr.
radical departure from former
customs OF conducting the AFFAIRS Of
he association was put into opera
ton n this meeting. whereby all mat
tere Of any Importance were referred
10 special committees Every report
presented was referred 10 n commit
tee for discussion. instead Of being
brought before the whole body for
mass discussion Every member of
IIit ANhOFlhtlpn WdE Dince1 on some
committee. and ali the work Of def
rite discussion vas done privately, ana
not on the floor Of the association
Officers say that this has been one Of
the most hcaehcia1 changes ever at
tempted and has increased the EFT
cheney Of the body by one hundrs d
per cent. The custom will he con-
t,nueA IN future meetings
The Rest Year Ever.
One Il the most notable successes
Of the church during last year was
the enoro Gus growth Of the sunday
school evstem. and of the Baptist
Young "eoplo's Union. Or. Watts.
who is IN charge, says This has been
by far, the best year we have ever
had" and this is true ,of all Of tho
other departments There are now ten
standard SUNDAY Schools in Virginia
on the honor roll of the Southern
Baptist Convention. and there are in
Virginia 344 Bible classes With a total
membership OF to.3s5. Seventy-fve OF
these classes are Of the standard grade
as prescribed h the Southern Baptist
Convention, and II lis very remarkable
70 note that this numter represents
r." Virginia more classes % this Kind
han are TO ne found in all the other
Southern states put together. The In
crease in Sunda's school membership
FOR the past year has been 5000 more
than for tho preceding year.
The Teacher Training Departp ent
has been given much prominence and
schools are being conducted to pre-
pare men and women TO teach sun
day school Diplomas are granted
them as they complete the prescribed
work. and the number Of these diric-
49,
tho number # awards for work not
fully completed is 4, ell THIS shows
an increase for tn wear ~ 1,472. he
sides about Il thousand v no have re-
coivei certificates for certain part
of the work done
Asks More Workers.
The Sunday school secretary has
asked for three field workers in sun
day school and Co'portage work In
Tidewater. pledmnnt and Southwest
Virginia sect ons Of the state II is
quite probable that tho request viii
he granted aud this viii further broad
en- the work of this department
The most remarkable Of all an
nounCeuents in connection with the
growth of the aEsnciatton- was that
tAls years contributions for foreign
missions was by far more than the
iHsbCtSsttCfl < tOhtflbUllDnS as rate as
1898 FOR all phases Of their work COM
hined and that the contributions for
foreign missions during the coming
year VIII he sttiI greater than they
have ever been.
Few Converts aud New Churches
For tn lnst year GAIL converts
have heen- repoSted- on the foreign.
feld and seventy seven churches have
h~en built
The attendance on his meeting of
the Baptist General Asset ION has
been LARGEST in the history of thu or
sanitation. Not ont the largest, but
men who have been closely in touch
with religious matters for many years
declare that there has never before
been such great display of sincere
conservation and devotion TO the cause
Of saving souls and OF propagat'ng the
teachings of Jesus Christ. number
If missionaries who have come home
FOR a short time were present at the
ssociation meetings ard they demon
strated to the satisfaction of all pres.
ent that their devotion TO the service
Of the Lord was not perfIinctory
thinR, but the outcome Of a deep
conviction Of the great need of bet
ter teaching OF tho Gospel throughout
the earth.
A number OF visitors, who are not
members of the Baptist Church. have
attended the meetings closrl~, aud
have expressed at times a surprise at
the great sacrifices made by men OF
great educt ton and culture who are
willing to foreso many privileges they
may he entitled 10 tn order TO follow
for which they are anxious 10 sacrifice
tbei- lives