The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-09-26
MISSOURI BAPTIST
GENERAL ASSOCIATION

ISOLATION will hold its Eighty-fifth an
nual meeting this year in st. Louis,
with the Third Baptist Church, Oct.
21 to %, inclusive. This is one Of
| the largest religious gatherings in
the State. The Baptists now have
1900 churches in Missouri, with a
| membership Of more than 100000,
and in addition these there are
about 10000 Negro Baptists. Each
church and each District Association
ere entitled to representation in the
General Association. On account of
some things of unusual interest to
come before the meeting this year, it
is predicted that the attendance will
be far above the record of other years.
For twenty years the Hon. E. W.
Stephens of Columbia, who is Chair
man of the Commission in charge of
the Erection of the Capitol Building
at jefferson City, was Chairman of
the Missouri Baptist General Associa-
ton. The present Moderator is Hon.
Comp. p Storts Slater, one of the
best known lawyers in the State. DR..
S. E. Ewing Of ST. Louis is Recording
| Secretary. The Corresponding Sec
rotary, who directs the UNCONVENTIONAL
work of the State. is Rev. Joe. P, ia
cobs, of Kansas City, Mo.
One of the interesting items to
come before the Association this year,
will be the discussion of the denomi-
national machinery through which the
missionary, benevolent, and philan-
thropic work of the denomination is
done. At the meeting of the Asso-
citation thirty eyars ago, held in JEFF
ferson City, there was adopted what
is known as the Missouri Plan. This
provides for the independence of
churches, in the distribution Of their
missionary funds between the North
ern and Southern Boards. 1t is adj
vocated by many, that this plan OF
work now become obsolete, and that
the efficiency of the denomination
would be increased by what is known
as Single Alignment, that is, CON
Meeting up the denominational machin-
cry of the State altogether, with either
the Northern Baptist Convention or
the Southern Baptist Convention. Adj
vocates on both sides are pushing,
with considerable vigor, their respec-
tive arguments. The State paper, pub
lished at Kansas City, advocates what
is called "Single Alignment. 1t, how
ever, seems that many of the progress
sive leaders and especially those IN
control of affairs in the State, advo-
cate the continuance of the present
plan. Some have introduced doctrinal
questions, and these usually encourage
bitterness and division.
At the meeting of the Association
| at Trenton in 1915, the local State
; machinery, which up until that time
had been composed of several boards,
! was combined into one, which abb
sorbed the direction of all the denom-
, national work in the State. Rev. Joe
: P. Jacobs was elected Secretary in
: charge. 1t seems to have been some
: what difficult to adjust the work in
l the State with the new machine.
= Another matter of special interest
is the SITS 100000 five year program
now among the Baptist churches in the
1 United States. The amount assigned
} to Missouri in this campaign is 3d.
= 100000. This has been divided into
two equal parts; million and half
to educational and philanthropic in
situations, to be raised in drive to
De put on from NOV. Oo " DtS' a.,
: 1919. The other million and half
will be apportioned out among the
| churches, during period of five years,
beginning Oct. / of this year. Or
CARNATIONS have been formed in all
the local churches so as to assure the
) success of the campaign. The pro-
posed budget for next year, is $780,
900 for Missions and Benevolence.
The Baptist pastors of the State
have been called to meet in conference
, in st. Louis on Monday, Oct 20, the
day preceding the meeting of the AS
ISOLATION. The Pastors meeting has
usually been given to inspirational
i: and educational addresses. DR.. F. Y.
Campbell of Carthage. Mo-, is pres
. ident of the Pastors Conference.
The St. Louis churches are coop
: Grating in the entertainment of the
l Association and will provide room and
: breakfast for all accredited delegates
The meetings are to be held in the au-
ditorium of the Third Baptist Church
which is probably the finest auditorium
to be found in the Middle West. The
seating capacity is 1000. Prominent
; leaders in the Baptist denomination
from all parts of the United States
4 will be in attendance. There are a
great many Baptist churches in this
:, county, and doubtless a. large num-
y Der of delegates will attend the st
Louis meeting. Special rates on the
! railroad will be announced later.