Evening star., 1953-05-06
Southern Baptists
Pour Into Houston
For 96th Convention
By Cospor Names
Stor StoFf Correspondent

HOUSTON, Tex, May 6. -
Thousands of Southern Baptists
poured into Houston today for
the opening session of the de-
nominations 96th convention.
Hotels are jammed. restau-
rants have long lines waiting to
be served. and trains, planes and
autos entering the city are
crowded.
Texas alone has nearly 1.3
million members of the denomi-
nation.
An earlier prediction that 1000
messengers and visitors from
churches in 81 States and the
District of Columbia will be on
hand is certain to be broken by
10000 to $4,000, officials say.
Monday and yesterday saw
$500 preachers attend the ira
ditional two-day pre-convention
pastors conference and more
ministers are arriving hourly.
The five-day meetings will
bear out in striking fashion the
sharp growth the denomination
enjoyed last year on every front.
Nearly 261,00 new members
Joined Southern Baptist churches
in 1912, with 576 new congrega-
tions increasing this classical
tionS figure to 28,865.
Sunday School Increase.
Sunday school enrolment
reached 5,4S1 .O56. an increase of
237,361 students. The schools
themselves now total 28,040,
which is 700 more than in 1851
Both church property evalua-
tions and giving showed sharp
increases during 1852. The for
mer jumped $129,186.501 from
the previous year to total $780,
697,339. Gifts were $25.166. .180
above those for 1851, to reach
$24S, ,O04, ,289.
Thirty-seven Southern Baptist
churches in Washington reported
31,37l members. an increase of
1.161, and 22.793 students in
their Sunday schools. an addi-
ton of $50. for 1852.
Rumors that the denomination
might be considering member
ship In the National Council Of
Churches appeared definitely
squashed today from a statement
made by DR. J. D. Grey. conven-
tion president.
Describes COurtShip.
I'VE are being pressured by
two conflicting forces" DR.. Grey
told the gathering in his an
nual presidential message. "On
one side is the ecumenicalism Of
united Professionalism: on the
other is the anything-ism of
Observation-Disclosures.
I'VE are like a healthy, wealthy,
attractive young lady. These
ambitious Lotharios are making
eyes at us. But we have not.
cannot and will not not even
drop our handkerchief to invite
or encourage their attention.
However, a few neighborhood
gossips are whispering over their
back fences that the wedding
date has already been set. But
those who know the least always
talk the most. This young lady
doesn't object to being friendly
with her ambitious Suitors, but
she has no matrimonial inten-
tions."
Chaplains Praised.
Army Chief of ChaplainS Ivan
L. Bennett told the pastors con-
ference yesterday that the Army
chaplainS have written a chapter
of abiding values" for American
and Korean relations. They have
done so. he said. by providing
"the essentials" for worship to
these displaced and suffering and
confused people.
Another contribution the chap
lainS made was to help service
men "see and more fully appre-
ciate the world wide mission of
the Christian church Hundreds
of thousands of them (service-
mem will take their places as
laymen in the churches and will
support the missionary enter
prise. A great many will return
to the colleges and seminaries
with q view to training and de-
voting themselves to the full time
ministry of Christian service. u
Adultery is the only grounds
whereby an innocent party may