The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-05-07
BAPT|STS FULLY
ORGANIZED; WILL
RAISE BIG FUND
Notable Men in "a States Lead
Churches in S100,00O,000
Drive.
IS TEST OF DENOMINATION.
New World Movement Galns Momen-
tuns-Where the Money
VIII Go.
IS TEST OF DENOMINATION
BY LUPToN WILKINSON.

The eyes Of the Protestants every
where will be directed towar-i North
ern Baptists between Sunday, April %.
and Sunday, May 9.
The 1896 churches constituting the
Northern Baptist ConventiOn-noted
for independence of action-have fit
ted themselves with iron-clad unity
into temporary but none the less
powerful machine. On May the ma
chine will cease to exist. but in the
meantime It Is expected to have raised
the imposing sum of $1OO,OOOOOO.
Leaders say that probably never be-
fore have the laymen and laywomen Of
denomination put their shoulders
more completely to the wheel In re-
ligious undertaking. In each of "a
states some man Of marked ability has
given his entire time for the past two
months to the building of campaign
organization that reaches into every
local church. The state directors in
clude such men as Ex-Governor Run
yOn Of New Jersey, Smith G. Young,
financier, of Lansing, Mich; ex-Gov-
ernor William w. Stickney Of Vermont
and DR.. John w. Baily, president Of
Colorado WOmen's College, Denver.
The lay organization extends down
into each of 1906 churches. D. G.
Shull Of Sioux City, Ia, president Of
the Northern Baptist Convention, sum-
med up its challenge as follows:
"Those thousands of Baptlsts who
learned the discipline and efficiency of
planned campaigning while they were
serving their country during the war
can now apply that knowledge in the
performance Of the greatest task the
Baptist denomination has ever faced
as unit. Thousands Of others can
bring their talents for use In q drive
that will combine modernity Of method
with deep spiritual realization of
world in need.
"Surely Ii can be said with all rever-
ence that no greater crisis has con-
fronted evangelical Christians since
those early days when. after the
Ascension, band Of determined men
set out on the initial effort to make
faith In the Master worldwide"
The great momentum which the New
World Movement Of Northern Baptisis
has achieved Is due to many men, but
to those In touch with It's progress two
names stand out.
DR.. John Y. Aitchison, director OF
the General Board of Promotion of the
Northern Baptist Convention, a man Of
unusual personal magnetism and win
ming character, has set the important
campaign conferences on fire In every
section Of the country. Standing shoul.
der to shoulder with him Is Dr. Frank
w. Padelford, head Of the Baptist
Board Of Education. Charged with the
administration OF 6S schools and col
leges, DR.. Padelford nevertheless found
time to write the survey on which the
approaching campaign is based and Is
aiding heavily In the actual drive.
"The task before u.s." DR.. AitchiSon
said In a recent interview, Twill stand
or fall by one test. Are our people
strong enough In their faith and vision
to forget the old measurements of
church giving? II they will realize the
Christian crisis which exists, II they
will hear the call Of the whole world
for help, and for the supreme soul-help
Of the Man Of Galilee, there can be nc
possibility Of holding back"
The proposed $1O0OOO,OOO fund will
be used for the expansion Of forty Bap-
fist schools and colleges in the United
States; the enlargement Of missionary
activities in all foreign fields of the de-
nomination.; Christian Americaniza-
tion work among new citizens" in the
United States; an adequate pension
ing fund for missionaries and minis
tiers and kindred purposes. Approx
mately three-fourths of the money will
he spent In this country.