Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press., 1926-06-10

rOlloNlHR IHe Fe-eleCLlOH Ol DE'
George w. Mcdaniel, Richmond, Va,
as president, he sounded in his inau-
gural ad iress conviction OIL the
theory Of evolution that was prompt
ly and. unanimously adopted by tho
Convent IN as it's own sentiment
DR.. NcD lniel said:
IL am happy to believe that this
Convention accepts Genesis rs teach
ing that man was the special creS-
tiOn of God and rejects every theory
evolution or other. which teaches
that man originated in. or came by
way of, a lower animal ancestry"
With the evolution question: dis
posed Of, the Convention was able
to proceed with a consideration Of
it's great missionary and benevolent
enterprises.
Here are some Of the outstanding
developments Of the Convention:
GOAL OF $s,OOO,O 900 SET UP
1. In the hope OF enabling the
mission boards and other agencies
of the Convention to take care OF
their indebtedness gradually without
having to too greatly curtail their
present work, an objective of $9,OO0,-
600 for missions, education and be-
nevoIences was set up for 1927, on
recommendation of the Cooperative
Program Commission. This money
will be applied to foreign. home and
state missions, Baptist schools,
orphanages and hospitals and minis
terial relief, thus taking care of
both the state and Souihwide Rap-
tist work 1t is hoped the South
wide portion Of the budget will
amount to at least $4,O00,0OO.
2. An effort will be made to en-
list 100000 tithers during the next
year.
3. The Foreign Mission Board
reported 1929 baptisms on its fields
during the year, gain of about
1000 over the aprevious year. The
board has 1,215 churches on the for
eign fields with 140, ,488 members,
3.247 out-stations where preaching
services are held from time to time,
and 528 missionaries and 2,644 ma
tive Christian workers employed IN
IL countries.
4. Among the results for the year
reported by the Home Mission Board
were 833 missionaries employed.
1874 baptisms, 35,226 additions to
the churches, 100 new churches and
45S Sunday schools organized, and
4O2 church houses built or improved.
DENOMINATION GREW DURING
YEAR
S. The Sunday School Board re-
ported total business receipts for the
year of $1,71O.471. OF this amount
S3SO,344 was put back into the gen
eral work of the denomination. A to-
tai of S9,038 awards in teacher
training were made, 4O3 churches
were aided by the Architectural De-
partment in drawing plans for new
houses of worship, the number OF
standard Sunday schools reached 646.,
With the gains for the past year
the main figures of the denomina-
ton are now given by the statistical
secretary of the Convention as fol-
lows: 26,467 churches, 19,908 or
dained ministers, S,649,330 church
members, 21.760 Sunday schools with
2,6s1,s2s pupils, 2O,s65 caurch
houses, S.197, pastors homes, $685.
909 ,278 invested in local church
property $3O.77l.574 contributed to
local church objects, $S,255, ass 10
missions and benevolences and $780,
1927 ,O9s to all purposes during the
past year.
The time is now ripe for a dis
tinct Baptist advance all along the
line and especially in support OF
the great missionary and benevolent
enterprises tOstered by the Co.
operative Program. the Convention
leaders believe.