The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-04-22


President Southern Baptist THEOLOGY
cal Seminary, Who Is Touring South.
Following the close OF the second
year of the Baptist rs Million Cam
paign April 30, several thousand mes
sengers from the local churches are
expected to assemble at Chattanooga,
Tenn, for the seyenty-sixth annual
session of the Southern Baptist Con.
vention. The Convention met in
Chattanooga last 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
Baptists 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,i05,564.
The returns for this year are not yet
available, but inasmuch as 1t is known
there were practically 175.00O addi-
lions 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 tinsN there has been a
marked increase in the membership
Of the churches, there has been dis
tinct advance in all departments OF
local and UNCONVENTIONAL work. 1t 10
set out. The total number Of local
churches has grown from 20,t29 in
1906 TO 25,3OS in 1920; the total num-
Der Of Sunday Schools from 1882 to
1885; and the number of Sunday
School pupils from S57,244 to 1885,
! 9S6, an increase of more than 100 per
cent. The value Of local church prop
erty has mounted from 4,501,l22 In
1906 to $74,273.72 in 1920. an increase
Of more than 1000 per cent, while con-
tributions to missions and benevo-
lences in 1906 were 1851, 396.67, az
compared to 1881. 266.55 In 1920, an
advance of practically 500 per cent.
Fourteen years ago the contributions
to all purposes In year were $5,941.'
2S3.44, as against s21, 1927. 1867 for
1920.
Next Meeting Important
The approaching session of the
Convention Is regarded as vitality i'm.
portant to the future Of the denomina,
tion's work. It is hoped that by the
Convention two-fifths OF all subscrip
lions to the rs Million Campaign will
have been paid in cash and that the
program for the completion OF the
remainder Of the campaign task can
be formulated az this time. DR.. ]. B
Gambrell, president of the Convention
and DR.. z. Y. Mullins. who recently
completed a tour Of Europe. where
they carried fraternal greetings to the
Baptists Of that continent. will give
their impressions Of Baptist opportu
nifty in that country. while Dr.. Georgs
W. Truet and DR.. J. F, Love. who rep
resented the Foreign Mission Board
; at the London Conference last sum
mer when the mission fields OF Europs
were considered. viii tell Of the new
territory of Spain. JugoSlavia, Hun
gary. Roumania and Southern Russia
which Southern Baptists are asked q
occupy. This territory Is as large al
the Southern States and has a popu
Iation OF l2s.oo0. 900.
All the boards Of the Convention
will report the largest years accom-
plishments In their history. the HONS
| Mission Board being scheduled 10 -
. port the comptstion Of rs million dol
; lar loan fund for church building. 4
, addition to the aiding Of 9 thousand
churches during the year with gifti
and loans for the erection Of nev
houses Of worship. The Sunday Schoo'
Board WI report more than 1900. 90
in sales for the year and with collec
tions as well as sales better than q
my previous time IN its history.