Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-05-17
BAP7IS1S PLFOGE EFFORTS ID WORK
 IN CANT0NMENTS
Squad of Men From Camp Pike Arouses Patriotism
 at Hot Springs.

Hot Springs, May 16.-The energies
 of the Southern Baptist convention
 were pledged to the utmost 10 further
 the work of the denomination among
 the army cantonments of the nation
 at the 63rd session of the convention
 today. After hearing discussion of
 the work which has been accomplished
 in that line and after having heard stirring speeches by members of squad | of 25 soldiers brought to the cOnven- | tion from Camp Pike, the delegates were enthusiastically unanimous in their vote to divert any needed avail
 abld sum of money and all the work CTS to treble the results of army work next year.
 The afternoon session was devoted for the most part to sort of patriotic rally. Open discussion of home mis- sion work quickly turned intO eulogies
 of the mission boards representives in the army camps and the patriotic fer vor of the convention was famed by
 every subsequent speaker, many of w hom were parents of meE now in service of the nation. The climax was
 reached when the squad of soldiers was marched on to the platform in the tabernacle, where the convention is being held. and the great audience rose to sing America"
 Earlier in the days sesion, reso- lution was adopted endorsing Presi- dent Wilson's proclamation for a day of prayer and directing that official
 notification of the resolution directing
 observance of the proclamation on May 30 be given to every Baptist preacher in the jurisdiction of the con vention.
 The convention voted to cid the ne
 gro Baptists in the South in the erect
 ion of theological seminary, and
 recommended contribution of $50, ,000 for that purpose. A committee was appointed to aid the negroes in the se- lection of a proper location for tho seminary.
 Pensions for Ministers Dr. Wm. Lunsford of Nashville re- ported for the commission appointed
 a year ago to suggest plan for pen
 sioning aged ministers of the con- vention. The commission recommends
 a double plan for relief and annuities. A new department would be created to manage fund of $3.00.00C for the
 relief and support of disabled minis ter and needy widows and orphans of
 eceased minister's The fun would be raised by contributions from the
 churches Added to tbis would be the income from an endowment fund
 of $2,0OO 00O. which would be raised !by gifts from the denomination. Un der the anuity plan, the ministers would pay 20 per cent of the regular price for annuities.
 iWOmen'S Missionary Union
 The report of the Woman's Mission nary union disclosed that the organ ization had raised more than $o,000.- 900 during the lasct thirty years for home and foreign mission, and that the union is now composed of 16,000 societies. The women. says the re-
 port. are conducting g. settlement
 houses. known as Good Will centers, and that more than 300 societies are
 active in Red Cross work.
 The report of the laymen's work
 aroused lively interest, particularly that portion which dealt with the organization of committes through
 out the states composed of minute
 men" who are pledged to contribute specified amount to the churches up
 on any emergency demand. The first
 call of such kind, it was reported. net
 ted $6,000. It was said that movement
 is growing daily and it's scope of use fulness becoming broader. particularly i in connection with war work.