The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1920-07-07
BAPTlSTS FULLY
ORGANIZED; WILL
RAISE BIC fund
Notable Men in 81 States Lead
Churches in $100,000,000
Drive.
IS TEST OF DENOMINATION.
New World Movement Gains Momen.
tum-Whers the Money
Will Go. INIT
S TEST OF DENOMINATION.
BY LuPToN WILKINSON.

The eyes Of the Professionals every
where will be directed towa-,.; North.
ern Baptists between Sunday. April %.
and Sunday, May 2.
The 1906 churches constituting the
Northern Baptist Convention-noted
for Independence of action-have fit
ted themselves with iron-clud unity
into temporary but none the less
powerful machine. On May the ma.
chine will cease to exist, but iii the
meantime 1t Is expected to have raised
the imposing sum of $lOO,OOOOOO.
Leaders say that probably never be-
fore have the laymen and laywomen Of
"a denomination put their shoulders
more completely to the wheel in a 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 a 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 1866 churches. D. C.
Shull of Sioux City, Ia, president of
the Northern Baptist Convention, sum-
med up its challenge as follows:
Those thousands of Baptists 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 a drive
that will combine modernity Of method
with deep spiritual realization OF
world in need.
"Surely it 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 Baptists
has achieved is due to many men, but
to those In touch with Its 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
secson Of the country. Standing Shout
der to shoulder with him is DR.. Frank
W. Padelford, head of the Baptist
Board of Education. Charged with the
administration of GO 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 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, If 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 no
possibility of holding back"
The proposed 100000 900 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.
ticn 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
be spent In this country.