The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1921-04-14

president Southern Baptist Theolo9i-
cal Seminary, Who is Touring South.
Following the close of the second
year of the Baptist 75 Million Cam
.paign April so, several thousand mes
sengers from the local churches are
expected to assemble at Chattanooga,
Tenn, for the seventy-sixth annual
session OF the Southern Baptist Con-
Ivention.. The Convention met in
Chattanooga las. in May, 1906, and
during the interim there has been a
marked growth in every department
,of the Conventions activities and in
the numbers and work of the local
churches as we'll. The total number of
lBaptists reported to the Convention in
1906 was 1,S55,7S4, while last May,
fourteen years later, when the body
met in Washington, the total member
ship Of the local churches as reported
was 2,961 34S. or a gain of 1.105. .564
The returns for this year are not yet
available, but inasmuch as it is known
there were practically 175.00O addi-
tions to the local churches last year
by baptism alone, there is every rea-
son to believe. the showing for 1921
will be even larger.
Growth shown in All Lines.
At the same time there has been a
marked increase in the membership
of the churches, there has been a dis
tinct advance in all. departments of
slocal and denominational work, 1t is
set out. The total number of local
churches has grown from 20,129 in
1906 to 25,3O3 in 1920; the total num-
ber of Sunday Schools from 1882 to
1855; and the number, of Sunday
-erahool pupils from S57,244 to 1885,
eft %, cn increase of more than 100 per
~cent The value OF local church prop.
erty has mounted from S4,501, 1922 in
1906 to $74,273,72S in 1920, an increase
Of more than 1000 per cent. while con-
tributons to missions and benevo-
lences in 1906 were s1,501. .36967, as
compared to 1881 ,26655 in 1920, an
advance of practically 500 per cent
Fourteen years ago the contributions
to all purposes in a year were S5941,-
2S344, as against s21,327.446.67 for
1920.
Next Meeting Important.
The approaching session Of the
Convention Is regarded as vitally i'm.
portant to the future of the denomina-
tf1h's work It Is hoped that by the
CONVENTION twQ-fifths of all subscrip.
tions to the Is Million Campaign will
have been paid in cash and that the
program for the completion of the
remainder OF the campaign task can
bd formulated at this time. Dr. ]. B.
A1hbrell, president OF the Convention.
ard DR.. E. Y. Mullins. who recently
completed tour of Europe, where
they carried fratern1l greetings to the
Baptists OF that continent, will give
their impressions of Baptist opportu-
nifty in that country. while DR.. George
w. Truet and DR. F. Love, who -ep:
resented the Fo -eign Mission Board
at the London Conference last sum.
mer when the missiol fields OF Europe
were considered. will tell of the new
territory of Spain, Jugo-Slavia. Hun.
gary. Roumania and Southern Russia
which Southern Baptists are asked to
i occupy. This territory is as large as
y the Southern States and has a popr.
lation of 12S.00O.000.
All the boards OF the Convention
will report the largest years accom-.
plismments in their history, the Home
Mission Board being scheduled to re-
port the completion OF it's million dol
lar loan fund for church building. in
addition to the aiding OF a thousand
churches during the year with gifts
and loans for the erection OF new
houses OF worship. The Sunday Schoo,
Board will report more than $1,000, ,0n(
in sales Tor the year and with collec
tions as well as sales better than at
any previous time in its history.