Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-19
BAPTIST CHURCH WORK
IS AFFECTED BY WAR
Reports Submitted Indicate Tha,
100000 Was Given Toward
Its Prosecution.
RELIEF WORK IN ARMY CAMPS
Many Preachers Arc Fighting as
PrivatcS, While Others Serve rs
Chaplains and Assistant Y. VI. {.
4. Secretaries.
tEy Assoclatcd Pres.

Fl. tEy Associated Press
HOT SPRINGS, ARK. May 1S.-How
war activities have directly affected
the work OF the church was empha-
sized In the report which the board OK
home missions made to-day TO the
Southern Baptist convention here.
The report called attention 10 the
fact that last year the convention
pledged the property. lives and sacred
honor of the Baptists OF the South TO
the President OF the United states in
the prosecution of the war with Ger
many, and said that despite large sums
given the Red Cross and Army Y. IL
c. a., and the purchase Of Liberty
bonds. the Baptists OF the South have
done the largest church work IN their
history in the past year. total or
3soo.ooo was given for this work, an
increase OF more than 100000 ovcr
the preceding YEAR. Texas baptiS'S
gave the most. Georgia was second and
South Carolina third. The report
added:
The war has altered many condi-
tons. There is little need for work
among immigrants. As few are coming
into our country. other centers, how
ever have arisen that demand atten-
ton. The army camps. the shlpoulla-
ing enterprises. scattered from Balh-
more TO Galveston. and employing
thousands of workmcn. the munition fac
OF them doubling the population OF
the places where they are located
present opportunities that cannot DC
overlooked"
The report stated that in the army
camps, In conjunction with the state
mission secretaries and the Northern
Baptist convention. much Work mas
been undertaken. One camp pastor
has been sent TO every cantonment
in the South to work in harmony witE
the Y n. c. A. men and the chapiain:.
Rev George Green, who vas cap
tain in the Spanish American war. mas
been nut in charge OF this work.
"Baptists have responded in large
numbers 10 the call Of their country.
said the report. Many preachers are
fighting as pr,vates in the trenches'
while others are doing y NJ. =. ~
work or serving as chaplains or camp
pastors. SO patriotic have the noun.
tain sections been that a number oil
the counties sent in their fun quotas
before the draft law went into ehecs
and the mountain schools OF the oe
nomination show a shortage OF 90"
Young men Al the same time the
number of girl students has increased.
In the boys dormitorics III seHera!
schools there are many vacant rooms
blu; tho dormitories Tor the girls are
all overcrowdcd.
The convention is asked TO authorize
par,meni. Fifteen years ago the board
received si@5.0nO for current expenses
and EVANGELISM For the pas, year
the receipts were s5s5.oOc FIFTEEN
years ago 800 baptisms we're reported
and this year 5000. The board esti-
mated that at this rate the Southern
Baptists viii! be raising within the
next hfeen years s2GS0,o00 and that
there will be 10000 bapt!sms.
NEEDS OF MOUNTAIN
SCHOOLS ARE RELATED
The report, setting forth the neecs
OF The twenty-siX mountain schools OF
the Recommendation. said that the army
contains 5000 soldiers from the noun
tain sections OF The South WHO can
neither read nor write. II the churches
viii contribute half million dollars
20 carry on this work the people among
whom il is located viii raise not less
than s2,c0U.oQ, a year TO help III its
prosccuticn." said the report
The board reported the purchase Tor
sl0o, 600 Of ,he sophia Ncwaomc college
property in New Orleans for the use
of the training school authorized last
wear by The convention. Recommen-
dation was made tina, no steps he taken
toward establishing negro seminary
until the split among Inc negro fapt!S's
has been settled.
|, was also recommended that steps
be taken at once 20 open a tubcrcu-
losis sanato.ium IN. Albuquerque. y Nj
an advantaGeouS PROPOSITION having
been made by Wat city.
During the year. the reported showed.
100000 pages of tracts have been
distributed by the publicity department.,
ono new mission boob has been pub
lished display Has nave been used IN
newspapers with good results and
stcccopticcn exhibitions have been
successful.
~. ,,s..,.-, sao.,,,,.,, -eacbcd
$40 churches, developed ninety-two pas
toral fields. induced ten churches 20
increase their days Of worship, added
slo5oo TO the salaries OF country pas
tors and added $50, 900 10 the mission
offerings Of the churches visited.
SUGGEST Fund TO AID
MINISTER'S AND MISSIONARIES
I,r William I.unsford, Of Nashville.
Tenn. reported for the commission APP
pointed :. year ago 10 suggest u plan
for peEsiouins aged ministers and mis-
s,onar!es OF the convention southern
Haptists, except in some of the states.
have no fund from which they can pay
pensions.
At the session Of tho convention in
New Orleans last year The sunday
sCnool board notified the body that II
has set aside 100000 from it's earnings
with the suggestion that IL be the be :
ginning Of pension fund. :. com
hisS!cn VAS appointed 10 cons der Inc
question and report back 20 the Hot
Springs convention ]; was composed
OF William I.unsford, r. T.. Ray. How
ard Frost Austin Crouch, - g Bar
ton. JOSEPH BrownIow. s . cree.
Allen Fort, ". W. Landrum. Z w
stephens, / J Van Ness and \ H.
Hill.
The com mission recommends ina,
the work be started a. once and suG
gesied double plan for relief and
annuities \ new department; Of the
convention would be created 10 hc
known The Board Of ministerial
Relief Of the Southern Baptls, Con.
vention." It would create and manag.
fund o! 100000 for the RELIEF and
support of disabled ministers and needy
widows and orphans OF deceased min
listers. The fund would be raised ~
contributions from The churches which
would Ge ASKED TO contribute regularly
TO it az the. do 90 homo and forcigr
missions and other bcucvolcnCce ADDED
TO this would he the income from a,
endowment fund OF 1000 onn whici