Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-08-28
To the Baptists Of the Edge
field Association.
Dear B%retheren:

held ASSOCIATION.
Dear Bretheren:
The Baptists of South Carolina
are planning for a great drive for
education this fall. During Septem-
Der, October and November of this
year they propose to cover the state
with a hand to hand canvass for
three hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars to cover the Indebtedness of
their institutions and to add to their
endowment. The Baptist denomina-
ton which aggregates about one
hundred and sixty thousand mem
bers in this state is operating five
colleges and five academies. These
properties together with their en-
dowments are worth n million,
eight hundred and sixty two thous-
and, seven hundred and seventy dol
lars! This is n, small investment for
one denomination to make in educa-
ton in this state! 1t will be seen,
therefore that the total indebtedness
of two hundred and ten thousand is
only a little over ten per cent. of the
value of their school and college
property. These debts were incurred
for buildings and improvements
made necessary by their growing pa
tronage. They do not represent fail
ure of these institutions to meet cur
rent expenses!
Our people need to appreciate the
great work the Christian denomina-
tons are doing in the field of educa-
ton in this state. There are fourteen
colleges supported by the various de-
nominations in this state-fve by the
Baptists, three by the Methodists,
two by the Presbyterians, two by the
A. R. P.'s, and two by the Lutherans,
and these colleges are giving college
training to more than half the col
lege men and women of the State!
The Baetists alone ire providing
college facilities for nearly one-fifth
of all of our college students. This
is no small service these denomina-
tions are rendering to the State Of
South Carolina! Our people need to
understand and appreciate this great
work of the church!
Efforts like that being put forth
by the Baptists this year are both
Christian and patriotic services and
deserve the greatest success. Our
whole population needs to be stirred
on the subject of education! South
Carolina now has the unenviable dis
tinstion of standing at the bottom of
the list of all the states in the Union
in the matter of literacy! South Car
DINA has to her shame twenty-five
per cent. of illiteracy, according to
the last Census report, the largest
per cent. of illiteracy of any state
in the Union! This. means twenty
five per cent. Of our citizens a nei-
Their read nor write! This condition
constitutes our greatest problem and
our gravest peril! Surely every pa
triotic and Christian citizen in this
state ought to give encouragement
to every educational endeavor put
forth in this state! In this particu-
lar movement every Baptist is under
obligation to do his best to make this
effort a great success!
To make the task as easy as pos
sible, and in order not to be in con-
fict with the Government in its sale
of Liberty. Bonds and War Stamps,
they are going to accept Liberty
Bonds and War Stamps for cash,
and will make all notes payable in
Liberty Bonds and War Stamps.
These bonds will not be put on mar
ket during the war! By this method
a man can serve a double purpose
with his money. If he puts a hundred
dollars in Liberty Bonds, it will be
worth a hundred dollars to his gov
eminent and if he gives this bond to
the schools it will be worth a hun
dred dollars to them! Hence, the one
hundred dollars will do two hundred
dollars worth of work!
This great campaign is under the
direction of the Baptist Educational
Board, of Columbia, S. c., of which
DR.. Chas. A. Jones is secretary and
treasurer. This effort deserves the
greatest success. Now is the time for
all good Baptists to come to the
aid of their institutions of learning!
Let US gladly undertake great things
for God, and if we do, We are promis-
ed great things from Him.
o. Sheppard,