The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-05-19
BAPTISTS SHOW
MARKED GAINS
IN ACTIVITIES

Ourlng INeXC NICEltn ~
Put Over Big Forward
Program
Jacksonville, May 19.-(By the AS
sCciated Press. plans for complet-
ing the $75 900 900 fund of the South
ern Baptist convention will be out
lined and an intensive South-wide
campaign launched at conference of
church leaders in Nashville June 20-21,
it was announced at the convention
here today. Plans call for forming an
organization somewhat similar to the
one that obtained the original sub
scriptions and in addition to members
of the conservation commission in
cluding the state and general secre-
taries. the president and secretary of
taries of other auxiliary organizations
the Womcn's Missionary Union. secre-
a~d few representatives. pastors and
laymen Invitations also will be ex-
tended to the executive committees
OF the convention and the Women's
union. state secretaries of the union,
editors of Baptist papers. the execu-
tive committee Of the laymen's mis-
sionary movement, and others. Frank
+. Burkhalter. of Nashville. was re-
elected secretary and publicity direc-
tor Of The conservation commission at
a meeting early today While the
meetings Of the wOmen's union were
de~otnd largely to reports on its work
oIo
ti0n Of officers set for late in the day,
the convention turned its attention to
home missions and Sunday schools
and be renurts of those boards we're
made public.
Statistics on Southern Baptist work
since the last convention show large
Gains for the convention year of 1922.
The total contributions amounting to
$33 .SS6.9S2. again of $685.. .099 and the
value of church property $1o2.404,03S,
an increase of $4671.04S Other fig
ures showed continued increases in a
dozen more items reported.
Reports from the wOmens union
also showed increases in all lines of
ondeavor and the annual address of
Mrs. w. c. James. of Birmingham.
president, declared the organization
- growing year by year The union
has presented banner to the Mary
land branch in appreciation of its ac-
tivitic> in furthering work A num-
Der of loving cups were given other
st2,e ORGANIZATIONS of the union.
Sunday Schools Gave.
Jackc0nyilln Fla. Nav 19-DesDite
the economic depression that has
characterized the nation for the last
year and a hall, larger receipts than
ever before in the history cf the Sun
day school of the Southern Baptist
convention were noted in the report
nf tine, Beard mhich was presented
10 the convention hv d. |. ]. VenNess
af Nashville. corresponding secretary.
TIE receiutS for the year were 81
2S9,4S9. u gain over last year. when
tn" figures exceeded all former rec
crds by $141.767
There has likewise been a marked
gair in all phases of Sunday school
work during the year total of $50
now schools having been organized
and net gain of 2l0S0 Southern
Bartist Sunday schools with an en-
rollment of 2.19%.591 pupils, The
statistical department of the Sunday
school board reports a total of 240.-
G74 haptisms by Southern Baptist
churches during the last year, bring
ing the present white church men,
Ecrship in the South to 3.2S1,71O.
The growth in the Baptist Young
Peoples Union has been correspond
ingly large a total of 25.S31 new
members having been enrolled dur
ing the year, bring the total number
Of unions to 10.S29. and the member.
shin to 327.704. The total contri-
buttons of the churches for the last
year were $33,S47, $500 while the
value of the local church property is
$1O2.216.323
During the year the Sunday school
has applied $225.OO0 of its earnings
to general denominational work and
cxnendod nearly $4,000 in rural Sun
day schools. and B. Y. p U. extern
sion in various states of the conven-
tiOn territory. In its teacher train
ing department. the board awarded
a total of 17,0S7 diplomas during the
last year, exceeding all former rec
ords and bringing the total number
of diplomas granted since the inau-
guration of the teacher training work
to S6.965.
The Department of Architecture aid
ed COZ congregations during the year
in the planning of new buildings.
In addition TO supplying the de-
nomination with all of its Sunday
school and B. Y. P. U. literature the
board also published 1,6500O0 tracts
during the year.
In cooperation with the other reli.
gious bodies Of America. the board
has planned to provide Sunday school
literature fro the foreign born per.
sons in America. the plan being to