Evening star., 1933-05-19
|R. F. c. AID URGED
| FOR CHURCH WORK
Baptist Convention Told
Fairness of Plan in Key
note by Dr.. Dodd.

orphanages and the like, was made at
the opening session Of the Southern
Baptist Convention today at the Wash
ington Auditorium.
This was contained in the keynote
address Of the convention, made by Rev.
DR.. M. E. Dodd, Shreveport, La, the
presiding officer. An enrolment of 1850
reported as the meeting got under way
and more than 1000 visitors crowded
the hall.
Rev. Dodd issued a challenge to po-
litical relationships that the member
ship Of the churches would recognize
only the leadership of Christ.
"Only Safe Democracy.
''The membership of the churches
from which we come constitutes
the worlds only safe and pure democ-
racy. For this reason we need no other
leader-that is, in the sense Of a mas
ter-no dictator, If you please, except
Christ" he said
Russia has her Stain, Turkey has
her Kemai Pasha. Italy her Mussolini
and Germany her Hitler. They will
benefit an unredeemed world. But we
have our Christ, who Is all-sufficient
and supreme"
Referring to the fact that the South
ern Baptists are meeting in the Ma
tional Capital for the third time since
the organization of the convention SO
years ago, Dr. Dodd said:
I'VE would salute our President
Franklin D. Roosevelt, and say from
our deepest heart God bless you, Mr.
President We would pray for him
and for all who are associated with
him IN administering our Nations
affairs"
DR.. DOdd made his assertion re-
garding governmental aid for churches
in connection with an outline of the
staggering burdens assumed by the de-
pleted treasury of the Southern Bap-
fists, caused by steadily decreasing con-
tr1but1onS for church work during the
past three years Of depression.
DR.. Dodd also created a stir when he
reminded the convention of its social
obligations in the battles raging every
where between capital and labor, en-
ployer and employe, debtor and cred
1tor, buyer and seller, Imperialism and
democracy, Communism and constitu-
uonal government"
Stand for Righteousness.
I'VE cannot, we must not" he said
we will not evade the responsibility
OF taking our stand on the side OF
Justice and Righteousness in these mat
ters. We must stand for the interest
OF the greatest good to the greatest
number
w. w. Everett, Washington business
man, and moderator of the Columbia
Association Of Baptist Churches, made
the address of welcome. I'VE believe
today starts a new chapter in the his
tory OF Baptists," he said, referring to
the dedication of the National Baptist
Memorial Church on Tuesday and the
Joint reunion, for the first time in SO
years, with the Northern Baptists on
that day.
The response was made by former
Gov. Pat N. Neff of Texas, president
OF Baylor University, who made an ap-
peal mot for the forgotten man, but
for the forgotten world"
ThlS Is no time to beat a religious
retreat" former Gov. Neff said. Con
gress may declare a moratorium on the
affairs OF man, but this convention
should declare no moratorium on re-
ligion. To do so would cruelty civiliza-
tion."
The coming reunion of the North
and South was emphasized today when
Dr. &. Oscar johnson, st. Louis, presi-
dent OF the Northern Baptist Conven-
tion, was welcomed to the stage by DR..
Dodd, who presided in the absence of
the Southern president, DR.. F. F. Brown
OF Knoxville, Tenn, whose health is
impaired. There were cheers as the
leaders of the two organizations. which
Spllt over slavery 80 years ago, clasped
hands.
In an exchange Of pleasantries. DR..
Dodd said, Il understand there was a
prize light in this hall last night. I
nope there Will be none next week when
we meet together"
Numerous Reports Made.
Numerous reports on the wide-fiune
activities Of the church in the South
and foreign fields were made today
Despite the slump in the financial
status OF the church DR.. Dodd de-
clared 226,000 people were received in
baptism last year, establishing a record
number.
Reports included those by the Exec
utlve Committee, Of which Austin
Crouch of Nashville Tenn, Is secretary;
the promotion Committee, by Walter
M. Gilbert OF Nashville; on foreign
Madgry, and Home Mission Board, by
Secretary ]. B. Lawrence of At
Other reports included those of the
Sunday School Board, by Secretary Van
Ness of Nashville, the Relief and An
nuity Board, by Thomas J. Watts of
Dallas, Tex, and the Baptist Brother
hood report, by Secretary j. T. Hen
derson of Knoxville.
Summarizing statistics of the South
ern BaptiSts, E. P. Alldredge, Nashville,
a drop of $5,276,640 last year
in total gifts to all purposes, compared
with the previous year. Contributions
toward the " Vrk of the churches repre-
sented a loss of $4,408,276, and church
declined $7,347,686 in value.
This reflects q scanty outline OF the
financial situation confronting the
church In the South. Despite this,
schools and churches showed a
increase In enrolment dur
ing the year.
The foreign mission budget for this
year was reported as S605,000, but Sec
retary Madgry estimated the income
will not be over $500,000. What will
tion?" the secretary asked.
Mission Plan Launched.
The afiliated Woman's Missionary
Union voted last night to launch plan
to get 100000 Southern Baptists to give
25 cents a week for a year in order to
lift a million dollar deficit from the
Foreign Mission Board.
Contributions were reported as hav-
ing fallen as follows in the last five
years: 1929, $3,5OO,166 1880, $2587 ,545;
1881, S2,530.134; 1882. $2,197,270, and
1888, $1,867. .168.
Mrs. ]. w. Cox of Knoxville, Tenn,
president Of the Woman's Mis-
sionary Union, was kept at home by ILL
ness in her family and Mrs. F. w. Arm
strong of Missouri presided.
Mrs. Armstrong was elected president
Of the union yesterday to succeed Mrs.
Cox.
Other officers were reelected at the
closing session as follows: Miss Kath-