Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-06-01
CONSOLIDATED
CHURCHESURCED
Baptists Agree That Is
Solution of Rural
Problem

More than half the churches in
the Central district of Friendship
Baptist association were represented
Saturday and Sunday at Bethel
church, nine miles east of Americas,
when the union fifth Sunday con-
xention was held.
The exercises opened Saturday
forming at 10 o'clock With the or
ganization, with the election of Rev.
/, b. johnson, pastor of the Bap-
list church at Plains, as moderator.
Rev. Henry 7. Brookshire. pastor of
Central Baptist church here, was
chosen. as clerk.
After short devotional led by
Dr.. Carl w. Minor, the query. When
is a Church Properly Organized for
Work?' was discussed at length bv
the ministers. The main points
brought out in the discussion were
that every church to be properly or
ganlzed must necessarily have three
important functions, namely, a wide
awake Sunday school, with enroll
ment Of every person in the COM
munlty; a young. peoples meeting
and a spiritual missionary society.
Until this is secured, the church can
not fulfill its proper mission, nor
can the people of that community
be properly organized with regard to
the church.
The Mission of the Church." the
second topic, was led by Rev. L. B.
Johnson, of Plains, who handled the
discussion in masterful manner,
bringing out concluSively that the
mission of the church is evangelistic.
producing means by which the gospel
is to be given to mankind through
out the world.
Rev. Henry T. Brookshire, of Am
CIRCUS, preached at / 80 O'Clock on
"The Pre-Eminence Of Service for
Christ" lie made a profound i'm
preston on his hearers by the truths
uttered. .~--,..-- ..-..-.-.- .-~,
Dinner was served at the noon
hour, with 500 people in attendance
and preparation for 500. The la
dies of the community spread the
tables with an abundance of delec-
tables, which were greatly enjoyed
and highly praised.
The afternoon session was given
over exclusively to the discussion of
the mutual obligations Of the pastor
to his church and the people to the
pastor. The unanimous conclusion
was reached that every community
should have its resident pastor, with
home provided for his continued
residence, so that he might be able
to minister to the needs of the
church and its congregation at all
hours Of the day or night Instances
were cited wherein the case of a
death in the community, the regular
pastor living so far from his church,
or otherwise prevented from attend
ing, the call was made for q minister
d an entirely differer - tN TO
ASfficiate at the service - essary.
This was not deemed the proper
method of conducting the affairs Of
4 church in the community, as the
pastor owed it to his church and his
people to remain with them always.
On the other hand, the duties of the
people to the pastor We're incorp-
Grated into the expression that af
ter the pastor is called to his work
IN community and the home made
ready, the salary paid him should be
sufficient for him to live in reason
able comfort among his people. The
decision was made to consolidate one
or more of the churches into one,
with the pastor living in their midst.
Sunday morning at 10 o'clock a.
mass meeting was held at the Sun
day school hour, wherein the entire
community joined the delegates in
the services of the morning. Rev.
W. ]. Ballew, of Americas, preach
ed forceful sermon at IL O'Clock,
this service concluding the sessions.