Evening star., 1952-05-15
Baptists Outline Plans
For Wider Use Of N
To Promote Program
By Cospor Nonnes
Stor Sfoff Correspondent

MIAMI. Fla. May 15-Plans to
use television more extensively in
1858 as a means of getting across
the church's program were out
lined today to the Gath meeting
of the Southern Baptist Conven-
ton here.
DR.. S. F. Lowe, executive secre-
tary of the denominations radio
commission. told more than 5000
messengers and visitors at Dinner
Key auditorium that 15-minute
films are now being prepared for
telecasting. They feature out
standing Baptist leaders in pro-
grams setting forth the conven-
tion'S message.
In addition, the commission
hopes to employ a man trained
in the medium to head this de-
partment of work, to accumulate
scenery and costumes for proposed
telecast pictures.
DR.. Lowe also told the gather
ing that Baptist Hour. weekly ra-
dio broadcast sponsored by the
commission, is now being carried
by more than 300 stations in 26
States and four overseas areas.
Elections Set Today.
The 5000 messengers, from 49,
289 churches in % States and the
District of Columbia, will elect Of
ficers for the coming year today,
DR.. j. D. Grey of New Orleans is
expected to be reelected as presi-
dent of the convention.
The meeting yesterday approved
a 1858 budget of $40 million. the
same as for 1852. Of this amount
SIS million was earmarked for cur
rent operating expenses, So mil
lion for capital needs of various
agencies and So million for the
home and foreign missions boards,
the former receiving $500,000 and
the latter SIS million.
The Rev. j. Ray Garrett, pastor
of Second Baptist Church. Wash
tngton, was elected to the i'm
portant committee on committees
at the session yesterday. Another
Washington resident, DR.. J. Her.
rick Hall of 4704 Forty sixth street
NV, was chosen to the commit
tee on resolutions.
Union Called ImpracticabIe.
DR.. Kenneth Scott Latourette,
president of the American Baptist
Convention and Sterling professor
of Oriental history at Yale Uni
versity. today told the gathering
organic union of Christians into
one all-embracing church is no:
practicable or desirable.
''As I read history. I am con-
vinced that this is a dead-end
street. blind alley" DR.. Latour-
cite said. The Roman Catholic
Church has tried and continues to
try that way. and from profound
conviction. But it's record should
be a convincing demonstration
that a growing proportion of
Christians will refuse to come into
an all-inclusive visible tight or
ganization. and that for those who
do come in, the organization does
not insure that love which is the
only unity which meets the mind
Of Christ"
Sunday School Rolls Up.
Sunday school enrolment in
Southern Baptist Convention
churches advanced 229,142 stu
dents to a total of 5.253,695, DR..
T. l.. Holcomb. executive secretary
of the Baptist Sunday School
Board reported today.
DR.. Holcomb also reported re-
ceipts last year for the board
amounted to $10,693,333. More
than $5.8 million of that sum
came from sales by the boards
a. book stores.
Withdrawal of missionaries from
China has resulted in increasing
missionary staffs in other Far
Eastern areas, DR.. M. Theron
Rankin, executive secretary of
the denominations Foreign Mis-
sion Board. told a meeting last
night. The missionary staff in
Japan has increased from 20 be-
fore World War II to nearly 80
now. New work has been opened
In Korea, Formosa. Thailand,
Malaga, the Philippine Islands
and Indonesia, DR.. Rankin said.