Evening star., 1939-11-21
.Dictatorships
Held Threat 10
Christianity
Baptist Convention
Receives Report
From Dr.. Weaver

W
Evangelical Christianity is fac
ing the most serious crisis in all
its history" due to totalitarian gov
ernments, declared DR.. Rufus w.
Weaver, executive secretary of the
District of Columbia Baptist Con-
vention today in presenting his an
nual report to the convention at
the first business sessions of its
62d annual meeting in the First
Baptist Church, Sixteenth and o
streets NV.
This is true, indicated the speak
er, because "one-fourth of human
ity" now lives, under the rule of
dictators, every one of whom is
unsympathetic, if not actually hos
tile, to our evangelical faith"
Declaring that all of the changes
toward totalitarian government
have taken place within the last Is
years, DR.. Weaver said:
Work Often Wiped Out.
wherever such governments are
established our Baptist work is re-
stricted by DEGREES, by punitive
measures and by actual persecu-
ton If it is not wholly wiped out.
ALI over the world we hear the doors
slamming against the free procla-
nation of the gospel. Wars in Eu-
rope and Asia increase the difficult
ties our foreign missionaries meet"
DR.. Weaver reported the 20,2l8
Baptist in the District outnumber all
other Protestant denominations ex-
cept the combined Methodists. An
increase of 79l in membership in
the last year, he said, was the
largest in the 1877 years here. A total
of 732 were baptized into the church
here during the year, a number ex-
ceeded only twice before within a
year, he reported. The Metropoli-
tan Baptist Church, with 160 bap-
tized in it and total gain in men,
bership of 235, led the individual
churches in the gain, he said.
3,144 in Sunday School.
Calvary Baptist Church had the
largest Sunday school enrolment
during the year with 3,l44, DR..
Weaver said. Total sums given to
denominational causes was $780,
1886, he said. During the year
seven churches completed plans for
new buildings and eight others are
making plans now, DR.. Weaver's re-
port showed. I.
A report by the convention treas
urer, Elgin Smith, also was pre-
sented at the morning session.
George B. Fraser, vice president
Of the convention, and chairman of
the Executive Board, suggested
That ain view of the many ap-
peals being made for relief in the
countries now ravaged by war" the
churches set aside one Sunday dur
ing the coming year for the appeals
to be presented.
An address of welcome was deliv-
cred to the convention delegates
this morning by the Rev. DR.. Ed
ward H. Pruden, pastor Of the First
Baptist Church. The convention
will continue it's annual meeting
through Thursday.
"Blasphemous Cartoons" Shown.
At a devotional service last night
held in the First Baptist Church
marking the opening of the annual
meeting, the Rev. I. Neprash of
Philadelphia, former president OF
the Russian Baptist Union, told OF
the efforts made in Russia to sup
press religion, but asserted the Rus
sian government "has not been able
to prevent the spiritual hunger OF
the people from finding secret ways
in which to worship and carry on
their propadanda." He showed a
number of what he described as
"blasphemous cartoons" mockine
God and religion, which he said had
been spread by the Russian govern
ment. The Rev. M. P. German
pastor of Bethany Baptist Church
in delivering the convention sermon
last night challenged the Baptists
ito be high minded" adding: "Give
yourself to some religious cause, ano
have faith in the ultimate triumph
of the righteous.
The program this afternoon called
for a report on the Baptist Bible
School by the Rev. DR.. E. E. Rich
ardson, president of the Board OF
Trustees; report on the Baptist
Home for Children by Mrs. E. Hilton
Jackson, president of the Board o1
Lady Managers; report on the
Baptist Home of the District ot
Columbia by Mrs. L. M. Rice, vice
president of the Board of Lady
Managers, and reports by standing
committees. Tonight will be youne
peoples night. with "The Christian
Culture of Youth" as the theme.