The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-04-29

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 80, 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-
yention. The Convention met In
Chattanooga last in May, 1906 and
during the interim there has been
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,lO5,664.
The returns for this year are not yet
available but inasmuch as 1t 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 ti.nN there has been a
marked increase in the membership
OF the churches, there has been a dis
tinct advance in all departments OF
local and UNCONVENTIONAL work, 1t Ia
set out. The total number Of local
churches has grown from 20,129 in
1906 to 25,903 In 1920; the total mum
Der Of Sunday Schools from 1882 to
1855: and the number Of Sunday
School pupils from S57,244 TO 1885,
996, an increase of more than 100 pei
cent. The value OF local church prop
erty has mounted from 4.501, 122 In
1906 to $74,279,7 2S in 1920, an increase
of more than 1900 per cent, while con
tributions to missions and benevo
lences in 1906 were 1851, 396.67, a:
compared to 1881, 266.55 in 1920, ar
advance of practically 500 per cent
Fourteen years ago the contribution;
to all purposes in year were S5,s4l'
2SS.44. as against $21,327, 446.67 fot
1920.
Next Meeting Important
The approaching session of thu
Convention is regarded as vitality i'm
portant to the future Of the denomina
TONS work. 1t is hoped that by thu
Convention two-fifths Of all subscrip
lions to the rs Million Campaign vii
have been paid in cash and that tn
program for the completion OF IN
!, remainder OF the campaign task cal
be formulated at this time. Or. j. Z
!, Gamhrell. president OF the Convention
and DR.. E. Y. Mullins, who recentf
completed a tour of Europe. wher
% shey carried fraternal greetings to tn
q Baptists OF that continent, will Civ
their impressions OF Baptist opportV
n nifty in that country. while DR.. Geors
y W. IrueL Huu 1T. y. r LofSf WAO "a
II resented the Foreign Mission Boar
0 at the London Conference last sun
mer when the mission fields OF Europ
were considered. will tell Of the me-
territory of Spain. Jugo slavia, HUI
gary, Roumania and Southern Russii
which Southern Baptists are asked
occupy. This territory Is as large 9
the Southern States and has pop
ss lation OF 12S,Oo0.O0o.
e All the boards of the Conyentio
I'd will report the largest years accom-
I'd pllshments in their history. the HON
II Mission Board being scheduled 10 :
% port the completion Of Ms million do
- lar loan fund for church building.
= addition to the aiding Of housan
ch .uches during the year with gif'
T. and loans for the erection Of Ne
sc houses Of worship. The Sunday Scho'
Board WI report more than 1900. o
in sales for the year and with cole
lions as well as sales better than
INV previous time IN its history.