6/1/1956 - Amazon Web Services

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REGUSE: Morning papers
Friday, June 1
Southern Baptist Convention
1956 a t Kansas city, ~/fo.
Office of Press Repreeentative
-
Albert McClellan
FAITH SEF,KING UNDERSTANDING
By: Duke K. McCall
Ansehn said, "Theology i s faith seeking understanding." A theological seminary
seeks t o r e l a t e a minister's faith t o the revelation of God i n the l i g h t of a l l human
knowledge.
I have anticipated youx reaction t o t h i s approach to discussing theological education with particulm a t t e n t i o n upon our five Southern Eaptist seminaries, You w i l l say,
"Here i s a theologian living up to the description of the speaker who goes down deeper,
stays down longer, and comes up drier than i s e i t h e r necessary or bearable. I t Let me
then change my approach and. introduce you t o t h e problem of theological education with
a story.
Most of us know the story of Abou Ben Adhem who awoke one night f'rwm a deep dream
of peace and saw in his room an angel writing i n a book of gold, That same angel, o r
h i s twin, appeared recently t o one of our leading l o c a l citizens, a Mr. George W e
Oddsock. Obviously h.Cddsock was bit startled, but having been conditioned by the
outlandish claims of W commercials, he retained control of himself and, with commendable poise, inquired of the angel, "What are you writing?"
The angel replied, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"Oh, " said Mr. Oddsock, "another subscription list--Community Chest, Red Cross,
Crippled Children, Heart Fund, Ca~cerFund? Well, put me down for the usual dollar. I t
"I have not come f o r money," the angel responded.
buy anything. "
11
Where I come from money doesn't
With that Mr. Oddsock sat b o l t upright in h i s bed and with flashing eye declared,
"The American dollar when produced in s u f f i c i e n t quantity will buy anything, anywhere,
any tirne.
It
The angel was visibly impressed. "Mr. Oddsock," he said, "I can see t h a t you are
a deeply religious man. You have a passionate devotion to your creed, a childlike
faith. I t
,&I
Oddsock was pleasantly surprised. He m s not used t o being called religious,
Among h i s intimates he was quite candid.. "Some folks," he would say, "get a great kick
out of going t o church, b u t I--I'm just not the religious type."
He admitted, of course, that he was a good ---a
than many of those regular church goers,
l o t better, he sometimes intimated,
11
I have my. own f a i t h , my own religion," he would add. "1believe t h a t God should
be worshippd in nature--under the trees, under the broad blue slcy,"
M r . Cddsock had never a c t u a l l y availed himself of the great out-of-doors f o r t h i s
purpose, but never having encountered God indoors, it was n a t u r a l for him t o think of
God as being somewhere out-of-doors. He intended t o look him up sometime--sometime wheq
he had time.
"Yes," he said t o the angel, "down underneath I am deeply religious although I do
not worship God i n a church. I do not go i n for the hocuspocus of standing t o sing and
bowing to pray and getting ducked in the water t o the amusement of a bunch of strangers.
This time it was the angel who looked mildly astonished,
worshipping God?" he asked. "I was speaMng of youx religion.
remark t h a t if Christians could only be persuaded t o speak out
voice with which you confess your faith in the American dollar
(more)
"Who s a i d ar3rt;hing about
I was j u s t going to
i n t h e firm confident
,
.. .
11
Faith Seeking Understanding
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We m y now leave t h i s fable, concocted i n fts original form by Roy E. Somers, with
the assumption t h a t the angel w i l l accurately and effectively apply the gospel af Jesus
Christ to Mr, Oddsock, This assumption is based on the conviction t h a t angels m e
created f o r a specific purpose and endowed with all that is needed, There is neither
room for growth i n the angel's capacity nor the possibility of perversion of purpose and
character. In other words, there i s no need for a school f o r angels as i n the case of
prophets o r preachers,
Eut the mini~tersI know a r e not angels. Rather, they are the raw material of
saints, I might even go so far as t o describe them as s a i n t s i n the rough, but some of
them w i l l need a l o t of polishing by the divine S p i r i t as we11 as by all human agencies
available.
Here then is the comparison and contrast of the fabler Mr. Oddsock represents the
mind of our contempuraries~-tBnse, alert, active, frustrated, frightened--in a country
described by Carl Sandburg as afflicted with "fat dripping prosperity." So much for the
materialism and short-sighted, e a r t h b o d , and time-lWted goals of our generation whom
God's ministers must be trained t o serve,
The cal?t;raat is between the angel and those whom God c a l l s t o serve him today*
They axe finite, sharing i n a11 of human weakness and frailty, by nature h v f n g more in
comon with the pigsty than t h e stars, oPten unlearned and Ignorant men--. But do not
despair--the church i s not helpless. The future of Christ's gospel is not in dangerThese are men called of God. For that thank God and take courage. This is t h e one
fndispensible requirement of a minister.
And how God has been calling our Southern Baptist young people into h i s service!
Dean Gaines S. Dobbins of the Southern S e m i n a r y School of Religious Education attended
a meeting of theological educators which was devoted t o the discussion of "recruiting
students for t h e ministry." When asked t o report on the enrolment of the seminaries
of the Southern k ~ ' ; i sConvention,
t
he gave the figures which today would be Southwesterp,
2,386; Southern, 1,598; New Orleans, 861; Southeastern, 460; and Golden G a b , 331.
h e d i a t e l y there were murmurs of surprise and questions from the f l o o r t o discover
whether these were college graduate schools o r Bible colleges o r Bible i n s t i t u t e s .
Satisfied t h a t they were bona tide theological seminaries, the next question was, "How
60 you account f o r your enrolnlent? What, recruiting techniques do you use?" Dr* Dobbins
paried. the question by asking, "Do you believe t h a t God calls yours ministers?" Dnmed i a t e l y they replied, "Of course. " "Then, " said Dr. Dobbins, "It f s apprzrent that God
would just rather c a l l a Southern Baptist than anybody else."
Unless you understand t h a t t o contain elements of a jest, you are s k i r t i n g the chasm
of' pride and bigoty. There la, however, no mare accurate t e s t of t h e s p i r i t u a l v i t a l i t y
of a church o r a denom!nation than the percentage of young people who hear and heed the
call of God t o devote themselves t o his service as missionaries, pastors, ministers of
education, ministers of music, administrators of denominational institutions, and, i n
a l l cases, servants of the people of God,
k t us pause t o take note of the faithful pastors, Sunday school teachers, and
parents who seek t o articuhte the opportunities of Christian vocations t h a t t h e young
people may respond t o the still, small voice of God within t h e i r consciences* Let me
scold only i n one sentence. There is a tendency to interpret the call of God only in
terms of missions and the pastox~Lewithout sufficient emphasis upon the minister of
education and minister of music, with the r e s u l t that the churches simply cannot find
enough trained men and women i n these areas. The result i n the form of the l a w of
supply and demand is such a serious shortage that, before graduation t h i s year, one of
the students In our School of Religious Education was serving part time i n a near-by
Bclptist church on the basis of an agreement which called %r a salary larger than t h a t
paid t o a f u l l professor of Southern Seminary. (seminary faculty members would want me
to say t h a t the comparison used would not necessarily indicate t h a t he was overpaid.)
We i n the seminaries never cease t o be grateful f o r the ministry of the Sunday
school, the Training Union, t h e B,S.U,,
and partScu1Bafly OUT Baptist colleges for the
teaching, -tihe Influences, and the environment which mab our Southern Baptist yoU13g
people sensitive to the c a l l of God.
This c a l l of God t o his servants is tremendously important, for you see, God does
not use angels to witness t o Mr. Oddsock, he uses redeemed men.
(more)
Faith Seeking
understand in^
- page
3
Dare we meddle for a moment with our understanding of t h i s call of God? God's call
is not entirely subjective, limited Lo the experience of the man called. When God c a l l s
an individual i n t o h i s service, God also makes t h a t known to hia church, A church must
recognize and approve the individuallsdeclaration of a divine call either in t h e form
of recornendation, licensing, or ordination.
We Southern Baptists are in grave danger of interpreting Cod's call as though God
could speak only t o an individual and not to the body of Christ, his church. Thus many
churches in our fellowship automatically endorse a;oy individual who will publicly declare
that he is called of God to some spcialministxy. A s a result, too many spiritually
immature, emotionally and morally unstable people are set aside for the Christian
ministry by our churches.
An unusual and dramatic a t o r y w 5 1 1 illustrate the paint, It was my difficult and
sad duty to call the pastor of one of our churches over long distance about two years
ago t o request him t o be in the home of one of the students in the Semiat a certain
hour because I intended t o call the parents of that student at that time to tell them
that I had had t h e i r son committed t o the psychiatric ward of the General Hospital in
L~uisville. With proper notes of distress i n his voice the pastor responded, "1 am so
Sorry to hear tbat. I knew t h a t John Doe was emotionally upset last summer but I hoped
that the Seminary would help him."
Y e t the pastar had led his church to certify that lad, t h a t unfortunate, stricken
Lad, as a minister on two false grounds. First, that a theological professor might
be able to do for t h e boy what his pastor could not do. Second, the pastor did not want
to run the risk of thwarting the Spirit of God in the event the c a l l waa genuine. This
assumes t h a t the church was so unspiritual that the Holy S p i r i t could not make known
his will t o t h e church as weU as to the boy. NO pastor ox church genuinely caring for
the promess of the gospel will avoid or evade the responsibility implicit in saying to
t h e world through recommendation, licensing, or ordination, "we believe t h a t t h i s person
1s Godr s minister."
Ever remember that minis-tzrs are not self-appointed. God's call and a church's
confimaation of t b a t call s a f c p d the people from s p i r i t u a l quacks from mercenary
Simons, and from misguided religious schizo-ceramics (crack pots).
Recognizing the principle that the wheat and the taxes exist side by side even in
the church of the living God, you must demand of your colleges and seminaries that they
use every practical test possible and exercise courageous judgnent in eliminating from
the c h s s i f i c a t i o n of ministers that small percentage who obviously are not qualified
by character or minimum mental and emotional ability and stability to serve as ministers
of the gospel.
What *hen are the requirements, qualities, and qualifications which theological
education must seek t o magnify i n o r give t o the minister who is to lead bk. Oddsock to
h o w Jesus Christ in living f a i t h ?
The minister must be prepared t o serve the church of our Lord Jesus Christ in all
the way8 he continues to be incarnate i n the world through his church. Dr. H. Richard
Niebuhr, after an extensive survey of theological seminaries, has said, "Neither ministers nor the schools that nurture them are guided today by a clear-cut, generally
accepted conception of the office of the ministry.
(p. 50). In other words,
while it is simple to difine the purpose of the preparation of t h e minister in gen r a l
terms, it is exceedingly difficult t o be specific.
. . ."
A t t h i s point we are getting a little closer home t o the current situation of the
pastors of our churches than an abstract discussion of theological education. To be
blunt, how do you define. our role as a minister?
In the midue ages the minister was understood to be a priest performing sacerdotal
rites. Gregory the Great formulated and disseminated the medieval theory of the minsiter
as the pastoral ruler. The churches of $he Refomnation defined the minsiter as f b d a mentally the preacher of the Word, Later in the t h e of pietism and evangelicalism this
RePorrnELtion definition was modified and restricted to the conceptton of the mintster as
an evangelist. The most recent popular definition of a minister is t h a t of counsellor
for the f'rustrated. This counselling 36 carried on not only in private conference but
from the pulpit where common sense advice and sound psychological insights a r e thought
of i n relation to preaching the Word.
(more)
-
page
b
The obvious way out of t h i s dilemma is t o resort to generalities and say that the
minister i s t o be trained to do everything needf'ul. Alas, it is no wonder t h a t most
pastors today fael lik the man who mounted h i s horse and rode off i n all directions.
The concept of the ministry has been enlarged u n t i l we Southern Baptists have
decided t o simplify matters by having more than one kind of minister, We have thereby
created the office oP minister o f education and minister of music as over agakst
pastoral minister. In so doing we have then added to the task o f the pastoral minister
an executive function, administrative oversight, and promotional responsibility. No
wonder the average pastor f e e l s l i k e a four-ulcer man on an eight-ulcer job,
Dr. Samuel B l f zzard, conducting, " a study of the f'unctions of the parish minister"
under the Russell Sage Fbundatian, has pointed up the conflict between the average
minister's view of what h i s job aught t o be and what his job actually is:
"Normatively, the preaching office is seen as most important, The organizational,
adnhistrative, and teaching offices are thought to be least important. The pastor and
priest roles are of middle range importance."
This one, two, three order of importance of the functions of the minister i s upset
and messed up by the actual demands on h i s time, The average minister spends his time
first as administrator, second as pastor, third as preacher, fourth as p r i e s t l y intercessor, fifth as organizer, and s i x t h as teacher.
FJe s t i l l use the title "preacher" in referring t o the pastoral minister thus ref l e c t i n g the Reformation definition of the ministert s role. k n come to the Seminary
t o be prepared as preachers, but the situation i n the churches makes preaching the
third-rate job.
There are many ministers among us who deplore t h i a Functional shift of t h e definit i o n of t h e i r office. But i n our American society it is more than probable that the
admlnistratox, organizer, promoter, counsellor functions ~511continue to require large
glocks of the minister's time,
This means two things fox theological education. The first i s Illustrated in the
recurring demands from ministers on the f i e l d that theological education Include a l l
sorts of techniques for doing the things required of them. They want courses in
parliamentary law, f w d raising, staff adminf s t r a t i v e techniques, Sunday school, maining Union, Fkotherhood, and 1J.M.U. methods, along with how to baptize, how to give an
evangelistic invitation, the role of the chaplaincy, and from missionaries, how to
teach English as a foreign language. Actually you can find a l l of tbeee courses in a
seminary curriculum today, but the end is not yet,
In other words, there must be technique:- courses i n t h e seminary, But these can be
added t o a three-year curriculum only by subtracting some of the t h e heretofore given
to Hebrew and Greek and theologlr and church history. It is something l i k e comparfng the
old fashioned grade school, which majored on reading, writing, and a r i t h e t i c , with the
grade school your children attended where they learned everything except reading,
mitfng, and arithmetic, If a theological seminary should attempt t o teach every course
regarded as desirable by pastors, it would be necessary t o increase the three years
now required f o r the h c h e l o r of Divinity degree t o seven and a half' years.
But the second problem is not gust one of the curriculum in terms of adding courses,
It is one of theology. A theological understanding of the new sole of the minister must
be developed. In the absence of such a theological grounding the pastors of our churches
are tempted t o substitute auccess as the reason and authority for their a c t i v i t i e s
instead of referring t h e i r d a i l y duties t o a command of God. A t present the standards
of success i n the ministry of Southern Baptist churches as determined by the way reports
of achievments are phrased by denominational administrators and promoters, as well a$
by pastors i n the Monday morning pastors conference, are a t variance with what the
average minister f e e l s he has been called of God to do.
As a r e s u l t the greatest danger our denomination faces today i s that men who were
called of God to be his ministers will be fashioned by many pressures into a successf'ul
businessman.
The only study of Baptist miniaters i n the United States is one undertaken several
years ago of American Baptist ministers by Hugh Hartshorne and Milton C, Froyd. When
asked to state whether a certain task was essential or not, the response i n order of
importance was as follows:
(more )
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page 5
First, bringing persons t o Christ and t o a personal commitment to the w i l l of God
as disclosed i n Christ, 98.6 per cent. Second, getting people t o support the world
mission of the church, 97.3 per cent. Third, helping parents t o build Christian homes
and t o provide Christian nurture f o r t h e i r children, 96.3 per cent. Fourth, providing
education i n the beliefs and practices of the Christian faith, 96 per cent, Fifth,
developing, renewing, and sustaining faith i n the goodness and power of Gad and the
a v a i l a b i l i t y of the resources of h i s universe for meeting the needs of human beings, 95
per eent. Sixth, reaching unchurched children and adults with the ministeries of r e ligion, 95 per cent. Seventh, leading persons of a l l ages i n t o vital experience of
worship, 94.4 per cent, Eighth, sanctifying basic human relations such as are involved
i n marriage, baptism, and funeral ceremonies, 92.8 per cent. Ninth, counselling people
on personal and social problems i n church office or i n t h e i r homes, 92.3 per cent.
Tenth, training laymen f o r leadership i n the various a c t i v i t i e s of the church, 90.2 per
cent. Theological Education- -Northern Baptists, p. 38.
There has been much discussion recently of the shortage of engineers and s c i e n t i s t s
i n the free world, It was double significant therefore t h a t on the ocassion of his
address t o the centennial celebration of t h e Pennsylvania State University, Fre sident
Dwight D. Eisenhower said, "The need for philosophers and theologians p a r a l l e l s the need
for s c i e n t i s t s sad engineers," I am persuaded t h a t the Psesident of the United States
was thinking not only of the theologian as the minister performing his church's routine
functions but also, because he brackets the theologian with the philosopher, as the man
who leads i n the thought l i f e of t h i s generation. One of the fallacies with which we
do not always come t o grips i s the notion t h a t the message of God I s s t a t i c , God's
message i s eternally t r u e but it has been and will be the task af prophets, apostles,
and preachers t o understand the message of God as well as t o be able t o interpret it
for the t h e in which they l i v e ,
1 am told t h a t the world is hurtling through space a t 1%miles per second, o r
66,600 miles per hour. In other words, you have t o move t h a t fast t o stay where you are
That, however, i s only a suggestion as t o the problem involved i n keeping up with the
s h i f t i n g currents of the human mind. Many a minister has had the experience of repeating himself when he thought he was repeating God's message. The exploding atomic bomb
destroyed an old condept of nature, The depression years of the 30's, followed by World
War I1 In the 40's, has exploded the optimistic assumption of inevitable humztn progress.
New opportunities for mass evangelism have been both the effect and cause of revival in
our. time. World War I1 promated the i n d u s t r i a l shift i n t o the Southland, which made It
both possible and necessary f o r Southern Baptists to enlarge their idea of what Gad
Would have them do.
Spinoza said, " Y B ~ f i g h t b e t t e r with ideas on the ends of their bayonets." We
m i g h t parallel that of the minister by saying the gospel i s preached more effectively
when tipped w i t h ideas that make it relevant to the needs of the present.
Mind you, I am pleading for no cold i n t e l l e c t u a l approach to tbe gospel. 1 would
remind you, however, t h a t the aloofness of uncommitted understanding is balanced on the
opposite extreme by the possessiv~nessof unintelligent loyLlty. More, l e t me throw
out the caution t h a t ideas a r e not necessarily good because they a r e new. It is for
t h i s reason t h a t the minister as a theologian must have a conversing acquaintance with
the holy men wha were moved by the S p i r i t of God and through whom God spoke t o t h e i r
generation and a l l succeeding generations i n the Bible. But the conversation a t a.
different level should a l s o include those great fathers af our f a i t h who have, with
i n t e l l e c t u a l power and spiritual insight, related the gospel message t o the specific
needs of t h e i r own tbe.
It i s Just because of Southern Baptistst dominant and powerful place i n the r e l i gious l i f e of such a large area of our country t h a t we must be theologims. W
e must not
be caught i n the midst of caxeless or irresponsible statements. We must be world
Christisns, not religious states-righters. That i s t o say, we must be so familiar with
the Book t h a t the sectionalism which inevitable characterizes our political, economic,
and social judgments does not dilute our religion. We must be the children of God and
not the children of our day, We must be i n the world but not of it.
(biographical data an next sheet)
.
*
r
r
- page 6
Duke K. McCa11, who is president of Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary, Louisville, Ky,, was born Sept. 1, 1914. He is a native of
Meridian Miss, He is a graduate sunrma cum laude of h m n University,
Cireenville, N. C,, and later graduated from Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary. Before becoming seminary president, McCaU was on the Southern
Baptist Education Commission and was executive secretary of the Executive
Committee of the Convention. He has been the pastor of Baptist churches in
Kentucky and Tennessee and a speaker of the "Ehptist Hour," a radio productfon of Southern h p t i s t s . He also served as president of Baptist Bible
I n s t i t u t e , New Orleans, La. (now known as New Orleans Baptist %e3logical
seminary).
CONVENTION BULLETIN
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Nineteen Fifty-Six
PRINTED DAILY DURING SESSION BY ORDER OF THE CONVENTION
For Free Distribution at Registration and Information Desks
THIRTY-THIRD VOLUME
THIRD DAY
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1956
...
SUGGESTED
Order of Business
PROCEEDINGS
May 30 - June 2, 1956, Kansas City. Missouri
Wednesday Night, M a y 30
39. With Vice-president John H.Haldeman presiding, W. Hines Sims led the
Convention in singing "Send the Light"
and "There Is Power in the Blood."
40. John W. Raley (Okla.) read Malachi 3: 1-12 and Luke 24:45-49 and led
in prayer.
41. A. C. Miller (Term.) executive
secretary, presented And discussed the
report of the Christian Life Commission,
then presented Congressman Brooks
Hayes (Ark.),,chairman of the Commission, for an address. The report was
adopted.
42. The Ouachita College Choir (Ark.),
led by David Scott, sang "Jesus Our
Lord, We Adore Thee," "The Beatitudes," and "Though Your Sins Be as
Scarlet."
43. Executive Secretary Courts Red-
ford brought the report of the Home
Mission Board, which was adopted.
After presenting Leonard Sanderson,
new secretary of the Department of
Evangelism, and Leland Waters, recently assigned to promotion of the
Church Building Loan Fund, Dr. Bedford led in prayer, then introduced the
program to follow, in which he participated.
44. Charles Wellborn (Texas), Harold Sanders (Fla.), and Alma Hunt
(Ala.) presented the History, Strategy
of Home Missions. C. C. Warren (N. C.),
Roy Harris (Calif.), George Gaddie
(Ohio), Richard Bryant (Ill.), Fred
Hubbs (Mich.), and Frank Sutton
(Ariz.), presented Church Extension.
Dotson Nelson (S. C.) and Leonard
Sanderson (Texas) presented Evangelism. Walter Ong (Ariz.), Mrs. Carlos
Paredes (Texas), Sam Hider (Okla.),
S. E. Grinstead (Tenn.), Thomas M.
Wood (Mo.), Amelio Gianetta (Calif.),
presented Missions, U.S.A. Among those
participating were a number of Home
Mission Board missionaries.
45. This period closed with an address, "America for Christ," by Billy
Graham (N. C.).
46. President Warren expressed appreciation of Dr. Graham and his message. Chairman Harold G. Sanders announced the showing of one of Dr.
GrahamYsfilms following adjournment,
and J. B. Lawrence led the closing
prayer.
Thursday Morning, May 31
47. With Kyle M. Yates, vice-president,. -presiding, W. Hines Sims led in
singing "All
the Power of Jesus'
Name," "I Love to Tell the Story," and
'IT0
God Be the
48. 5. B. Jackson, Jr. (Colo.), read
Deuteronomy 31:12-13, 6:6-9; Romans
10:8-17, and led in prayer.
49. Norman W. Cox (Tenn.), executive secretary, presented the report of
the Historical Commission, which was
adopted after discussion.
50. Louie D. Newton (Ga.) presented
the report of the Committee on Baptist
Film, which was adopted, including the
recommendation as printed on page 272
of the Book of Reports. Approval was
also given to a request that Paul M.
Stevens (Texas), Norman W. Cox
(Tenn.), Albert McClellan (Tenn.), Earl
Waldrup (Tenn.), Fon Scofield (Va.),
L. 0. Griffith (Ga.) be added to the
Committee; also that H. H. McGinty
(Mo.) be substituted for David M. Gardner (Tex.), on the committee.
51. Frank Tripp (La.) presented the
report of the Southern Baptist Hospital
which was adopted after discussion by
Dr. Tripp. At this point the gavel was
returned to President Warren.
52. C. Roy Angel1 (Fla.), presented
the following proposal for the establishment of a Baptist hospital or hospitals in
Miami, Florida, to be under the sponsorship and management of the Southern
Baptist Hospital and moved its adoption:
(1) The Miami Baptist Association,
with the assistance of friends, propose
to furnish free of all incumbrances a
suitable building site for a general hospital having a minimum capacity of 200
beds and other related facilities.
(Continued on page 2)
SOUTHERN BAPTIST
CONVENTION
May 30-June 2,1956
Kansas City, Missouri
CABPER C. WARREN, President
W. H X N W SIMS, Director of Music
FRIDAY MORNING
s:OO
Worship in Song-W. Hines Sims
a:lo Scripture ( 2 Cor. 6:l-18) and prayer
-A. Douglas Aldrich, North Carolina
9:15 American Bible Society-Thomas
T.
Holloway, Texas, Field Secretary
9:30 Committee on Committees
9:40 Committee on Resolutions
Miscellaneous Business
Committee on Denominational Calendar - Albert McClellan, Tennessee,
Chairman
Combined Re ort of Special Committees on ~ a p t y s tPapers and Ba tist
Papers Circulation ~ a ~ p a i g n - E ? J.
Murrie. Illinois. and Louie D. Newton.
Georgia, Chairmen
Relief and Annuity Board Report-R.
Alton Reed, Texas, Executive Secretary
Chaplains' Commission of the S.B.C.,
"Southern Ba tists' Ministr to Military ~ersonneF'-~lfred M. ?&enter,
Georgia.
- . Director
Committee on Boards - E. ' ~ i b s o n
Davis, Tennessee, Chairman
E.
Southern Baptist Foundation-T.
Holcomb, Tennessee, Executive Secretary
Music-Baylor University Choir, Euell
Porter, Director, Texas
Address "Facing Our Fiercest Foe"-Millard 3. Berquist, Florida
Adjourn
FRIDAY AFTERNOON
Scripture (2 Cor. 3:l-18)and Prayer
-Forest Lanier, Georgia
Memorial Service - E. D. Solomon,
Florida
BROTHERHOOD COMMISSION-Geo.
W. Schroeder, Tennessee, Executive
S'ecretary
Committee on Time, Place and
Preacher
Radio and Television Commission Report-Paul M. Stevens, Texas, Executive Secretary-Address:
ROY 0. McClain, Georgia
Page Two
CONVENTION BULLETIN
PROCEEDINGS
(Continued from page 1)
(2) To raise a minimum of $3,000,-
000.00 to be used in constructing and
equipping a modern hospital building.
(3) In the event it should be decided
to build two buildings in order to provide more adequately for the hospital
needs of the people of the Miami area,
the Miami Baptist Association with thc
support of the citizens of Dade County
will provide the necessary building sites
and the funds for constructing and
equipping both hospital buildings.
( 4 ) Since it has been definitely established that individuals, corporations,
and foundations will not contribute substantial amounts of money toward building and equipping gcncral hospitals unless such hospitals are to be owned and
operated by groups with dcrnonstrated
ability to successfully operate such hospitals, we respectfully request the
Southern Baptist Convention to authorize its Hospital Board to build and operate a hospital or hospitals in the Niami
area when thc people of that area, under
the leadership of the Miami Baptist Association, havc made available to the
Hospital Board a suitable site or sitcs
and sufficient funds with which to build
and equip a modern hospital or hospitals
with thc understanding that said building site or sites will be deeded in fee
simple to the Southern Baptist Hospital,
a Louisiana Corporation, free of all incumbrances and that funds for building
and equipping the hospital or hospitals
are made available to the Southern
Baptist Hospital Board by the people of
Miami through the Miami Baptist Association.
(5) It is further proposed that if the
Southern Baptist Convention authorizes
its Hospital Board to accept the responsibility of ownership and management of
a Baptist hospital or hospitals in the
Miami area that the people of that area,
under the leadership of the Miami
Baptist Association, will provide adequate funds for buildings and equipment so that no indebtedness will be
incurred by the Southern Baptist Convention or its Hospital Board in accepting such responsibilities.
6. This proposal is presented with the
understanding that it is to be considered
and acted upon by thc Convention
within the framework of its Business
and Financial Plan which requires Convention approval in two scssions.
After discussion, extension of time,
and unsuccessful efforts to refer and
amend, the motion to accept the proposal
was approved with the understanding
that the matter would be presented for
final decision at the next session of this
Convention in keeping with Section XIV
of the Business and Financial Plan.
52. A motion to postpone the election
of officers at 4:30 this afternoon was approved.
53. James L. Sullivan (Tenn.), executive secretary, presented the report of
the Sunday School Board, which included the showing of a color film
setting forth the operations of the various departments of the Board. The report, together with Recommendation
No. 1 (See page 159, Book of Reports),
was adopted. After voting to extend
time, Recommendation No. 2 (See page
159, Book of Reports) was, by vote, re-
Third Day
ferred to a Committee of seven to be
64. The seminaries reported with Allen
appointed by the President, and to reW. Graves (Ky.), speaking for the
port to thc 1957 session of the ConSouthern Baptist Theological Seminary.
vention.
65. President Roland Q: Leave11 ( ~ a . j ,
54. The following fraternal mcsscngers
reported for the New Orleans Seminary
were recognized: Frank Nelson, Ameriand introduced members of the faculty.
can Baptist Convention; Walter 0.
66. President J. Howard Williams
Lewis, Baptist World Alliance; Ilya
(Tex.), reported for Southwestern SemiIvanov, Alexander Karev, Nikolai
nary and requested Jesse J. Northcutt
Levindanto, Klaudia Tyrtova, Jakov
(Tex.), to introduce members of the
Zhidkov, All Union Council of Evanfaculty.
gelical Christian Ba~tists, U.S.S.R.:
67. President Sydnor L. Stealey
Adolph Klaupiks, interpreter, ~ a ~ t i s t (N. C.), reported for Southeastern SemiWorld Alliance. Theodore F. Adams
nary and introduced members of the
(Va.), president of the Baptist World
faculty.
Alllance, introduced the Russian group,
68. President Harold K. Graves
also Dean Goodwin of thc American
(Calif.), reported for the Golden Gate
Baptist Convention, conductor and counSeminary and introduced members of
sellor of thc group.
the faculty.
55. A telegram of greeting was read
69. Lee Gallman (Miss.), reported for
from Robert Preston Taylor, staff chapthe Seminary Extension Department and
lain, Unitcd Statcs Air Forcc; and from
presented his associates.
the administrator of the Baptist Me70. A motion to adopt thc reports of
morial Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida,
the seminaries prevailed.
telling of the inability of E. D. Solomon
to attend the Convcntion because of ill71. President Duke K. McCall (Ky.),
ness.
of Southern Seminary, after introducing
members of the faculty, addressed the
56. Frank Boggs (Fla.), sang the
spiritual, "He's Got the Whole World in
Convention, speaking for the seminaries
on theological education. At this point
His Hands."
the gavel was returned to President
57. Arnold T. Ohrn (D. C.), general
Warren.
secretary, presented the report of the
Baptist World Alliance, which was re72. Claude Rhea (La.), sang "There
ceived as information. Robert Denny,
Is a Balm in Gilead."
Alliance youth director, was present.
73. J. W. Storer (Okla.), reported for
Jakov Zhidkov brought greetings from
the special Committee on Theological,
Russian Baptists. President Warrcn preReligious, and Missionary Education.
sented Theodore F. Adams (Va.), who
74. Louie D. Newton (Ga.), presented
addressed the Convention.
Recommendation No. 1, which was
58. W. 0 . Vaught (Ark.), chairman of
adopted. (See page 281, Book of Rethc Committee on Committees, presented
ports.)
the following recommendation for the
75. Louie D. Ncwton (Ga.), presented
Committee on Time, Place, and Prcachcr,
Recommendation No. 2, w h c h was
which was adopted:
adopted:
COMMITTEEON TIME, PLACE, AND
RECOMMENDATION
NO. 2-That
it be
PREACHER:
W. Morris Ford (Tex.) , chairthe policy of the Southern Baptist Conman, Clifton Malone (Ala.), Re1 Gray
vention t h a t beginning now it will not
(Ark.), Roy Matthcws (Ariz.), Byron F.
undertake joint ownership, support, and
Todd (Calif.), A. Linsoln Smith (D. C.),
administration of any new theological
J . H. Avery (Fla.), Paul Aiken (Ga.),
institution with any other Baptist body.
Lee Swope (Ill.), E. F. Estes (Ky.),
76. H. H. Hobbs (Okla.), presented
Lewis White (La.), R. Lofton Hudson
(Mo.), Vernon Richardson (Md.), John
adopted. (See page 281, Book of ReL a n d r u m ( M i s s . ) , S. M. M o r g a n
ports.)
(N. M.), Claude Broach (N. C.), Roy
McClung (Olrla.), John Huss (S. C.),
77. H. H. Hobbs (Okla.), presented
Carl Giers (Tenn.), J . P. Gulley (Va.).
Recommendation No. 4 (sections ( I ) ,
59. A motion to provide 15 minutes
( 2 ) , and (3), as printed on page 281 of
the Book of Reports, with the addition
for miscellaneous business following the
following the last word in Section (3)
election of officers at the afternoon
of thc following: "it being understood
session was passed.
that the President name the committee."
60. Wm. Harrison Williams (N. C.),
Thc recommendation was adopted.
led the closing prayer.
78. J. W. Storer (Okla.), presented
Section (4) of Recommendation No. 4
Thursday afternoon, May 31
as a separate recommendation, to be
61. With Vice-president Haldeman
presiding, Loren L. Williams (Tenn.),
adopted. (See page 281, Book of Reled in singing "Forward Through the
ports.)
Ages," "Trust and !bey,"
"Jesus, I My
79. C. Roy Angel1 (Fla.), reported for
Cross Have Taken, and "Praise Him,
the special Committee to Study Policies
Praise Him."
and Procedures of the Committee on
62. Thomas W. Croxton (Mo.), read
Time, Place, and Preacher, which was
1 Corinthians 4:l-21 and led in prayer.
adopted.
63. L. S. Sedberry (Tenn.), secretaryOF COMMITTEE
TO STUDY
POLIREPORT
treasurer, prescntcd thc report of the
CIES AND PROCEDURES
OF THE COMMITTEE
American Baptist Theological Seminary
ON TIME, PLACE,
AND PREACHER:
which was adopted. Victor Glass (Tenn.),
After considerable discussion and
acting president of the Seminary, was
study of all the issues involved in the
presented. Primrose Funches brought
matter of selecting a Convention city,
greetings from the National Baptist Conit was voted unanimously that the comvention, Incorporated, and I. H. Hendermittee on Time, Place, and Preacher
son, Jr., an alumnus of the Seminary and
should not be selected a year in advance.
Kansas City pastor, and T. B. ,Maston
(Texas), spoke briefly.
...
Report of
Committee on Boards
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Charles C. Bowles. Alabama. term cxnirint'
1958; James L. Monroe, ~ l a b a m a tcrm
,
ixpirlilg 1959; C. Vaughn Rock Arlzona, terin expiring 1959; M. H. Mabry, klori(la, tcrm cxpjritlg 1969; John A. Joncs, Georgia, term explrinp 1959: J. C . Murnhv. Louisiarla. term exp i h i lk5c). J. D.- d;ey, Louisiana tern1
exl>irlng 1 ; ) h ~ . Purser Hewitt ~ i s s ' i s s i p ~ i ,
term expir:ing i95:); Conrad ~ i l ! ; r d Missouri,
terrn cxlm-inp. 1959: J. Melvin hay, New
M exirn t e r r d expiring 1959' Mrs., Gordon
~ a d d r d v North
.
Carolina. ten; exnil*lna 1959:
Hcrschti H. Hobbs, ,OBlahoma, te?m expiri~?g
!959; Haskell McClam, Oklahoma, term expiring 1959:. William McLln, South Carolina,
term exnlrine 1959: h m s e v Pollartl. Tennessee, icl.ln' expiring 1959; Ralph Grant,
r >
lcxas, term expiring 19.79; R. J. Martin,
n ~ Carl bIcCra\v,
Texas. tern1 e x ~ l r ~ll)s!):
North Carolina, ierr~i~bxpiriiig
I:)fi9
FOREIGN MISSION BOARD
;xl)iryng
expiring
exr)irinr
lina, t ~
19?9:-~1.thurE. T r i \ . ~ i Texas,
,
term
1959; Seal \\I. Ellis, Virginia. tern1
1959: D. RI. Kelson. JI... Soutli ('arof expjring
i
1957.
Local
J . E. Dogles Virginia term expiring l!)tR:
Hermarl P. dom mas vii.ginia term expiring
1959; T. Kllpcrt ~ o i e m a n ~ i i g l n i a term expiring 1959. C. Railey ~ ; n e s ~ l r g i n i a ,term
expiring ld5ll; Harold D. ~ { l l r n a n ,Virginia,
term expiring 195:); Emmett Y. Robei3ts?n,
Virginia, term exgirirlg 1959; J. Levering
Kvans, Virginia, term expiring 1958.
1958: John Ashcraft. California. term exniring 1859. J . Ray Garrett District of Columbia
term eGpiring 1959. A l l i n s Burhans Ken:
tucky, term expirini 1959 W. E. B.' Lockrid&. 1,ouisiana. term exdirine 1959: Carev
Cog, 'Mississippi; term cx~irir<$j,1059; Mack
Goss North Carolina terln cxp rin
959, E.
E. ~ d l v i nsouth ~arotlina term cxp&iAg 1559.
R. Paul 'Caudill. ~ e n n e k s e e . tcrrn exnirin;
1959. Charles E. Myers, Texas, terin 'expi;
Ing h 5 9 ; Judson Prlce, Texas, term expiring
1959; Chester O'Hryan, Texas, term explrlng
1958.
Local
.lop Wcldon Uailey, Tcxas, terni exl)irb1,. Berry, Texas tcrm explring 1959; Taylor Pickett ~ ' P x a s tcrrn
expiring 1959; J. D. LanBress ?exas, t & n n expiring 1959. James Taylor, 'i';xas, term cxpiring 1959. Ben H. Woolen, Texas, term expiring 1659.
ing 195:); (:us
SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARY
John IIolt and William Scurlnck, District
of Columbia term cxpiring 1961' 0. LaR. Cooper', Vlorida,
b'ayette ~ a l k L anrl
r
term expiring 1961;
Giffin Henderson
and Warner Fussell Georgia term explrlng
3961. Varl II. ~ a r d i hand C!l;de Dryan Mississii~pi,term expiring l!l(il; Howard ~ . ' S g e l l
mid James Sutherland Mississippi terin exS. M.
piring 1961; J a c k , H: DeVore {r!d
Morgan, New Mexlco tcrm expiring 1961.
F. 0t:iotl Mixon anrl ,.'l. D. McCrcady, ~ o r t g
Carnl~na term cxgiring 1901' H. W. Kicklighter And Ralph hlcLain, d o r t h Carolina,
tern1 expiring 1901, L. L. Carpenter and
Hobcrt Seymour (aqdltionai members), North
Carolina, term explrrn !9Gl;, M. F'. Ewton
and Sidney Madtlux, 0,lahomd term explring 1960; James b'. Hurrlss,and Jack Flanders,
South Carolina term explrung 1961; Herbert
Howard and ~ f o y dCloud, Texas, tcrm expiri ~ ? g1961.
,
J. P. Allen and Hay Rrowrl Virgima ter'm expiring l 9 ( ~ n; n v ~ ssander;, and
Cort 'kt. Flint, South Carolina, term explrmg
1959.
At Large
Russell Proctor anrl b'ranklin P. Owen
Kentucky, term expirlng 1981; W. G. viojett;
and Edwin Perry, Kentrlcky, term cxyiriilg
19nl.
HOME MISSION BOARD
Henry L y o n ~ Alabama,
,
term e x p i r ~ n gl!)j>):
Jullatl Pipkin, Geol'gla, term expll.ltla IO5t):
Eugene T. Pratl. Illlr~ois.term c x v i r i n ~1959:
Bradford Curry Kcnturky term expiring
1958. J. 8. H&l\ Kentuck$, tern1 cxpiring
19591 Irving M. firincc, Mississippi, term explrlng 1959. D. C. Strlngcr, New Mexlco, tcrm
expiring 1659; Carleton Priokett North Carolina, term e x p ~ r i n g1959; Charle's Bond, Tennessee lcrin expirlng 1959; Hershel Ford
~ e x a s , ' t e r i nexpiring 1858. Charles wellborn:
Tcxas, term expiring 195d.
Local
W. T . Hooth Georgia terrn expiring 1959;
Clarence ~ e s s i h s , ~ e d r g i a , term expiring
1959; D. 11. Hall, .lr., Georgia, term expiring
'1959; Guy W. Rutland s r . Georgia, term cxpirlng 1959. K. I?. kdwirds, dr., Georgia,
term expiring 1959. Walter R. Thomas,
Gcorgia term expiiing 1959: Thomas .J.
~ o l m e s , Chorgia,
'
term expiring 1958.
SUNDAY SCHOOL BOARD
Howard M. R e a v e ~ ,Alabama, term expiring ,1959; Loyed R. Simmons, Arizona, term
expiring 1959; James 0 . Duncan, District of
Culumbia, term expping 1859. Herman ThJcy,
Georgia, tcrm expir?ng 1858; 'kheron H. King,
Illinois, tern1 exptrlng 1959; Harolrl T). Tallent Kentucky, term expiring 1959. Stanley
.~ordan, T~ouisiana, term exgiring ,i959; H.
Hansel Stembrid c Jr. North Carolina tcrm
expiring 1958. ~ $ & l c s' A. T r e n t h a ~ n ,~ b n n e s see term exp'irin 1859; Charles L. Cockrell,
~ e $ a sterm expirTt1 * 1950. Charles McLaughlin, T ~ Sterm
,
ex$iig'i959.
Local
Jarncs F. Brewer Tennessee term expiring
'
expiring
1959. R. T. arti in' ~ c n n e s s e e tcrm
1959: Hobart B. ~ d r d~ e n n e s i e eterm expiring i959; J. Carlton 'l,oscr, ~~~h~~~~~term
expiring 1.959; Ernest J. Moenrh, 'L'enAessee,
term expirlng 1839; H. Franklin Paschal,
Tennessee, term explring 1969.
RELIEF AND ANNUITY BOARD
H o r a r ~G. Williams Alabama, term expiring 19.59; Jack ~ a b e n , ' ~ r i z o nterm
a,
expir~ng
SOUTHWESTERN BAPTIST
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
0. 1,.
Baylcss Arkansas term cxpiring
1 R R I ; Lyman smiih Allen ~ L n t u c k yterrn expirill$ 1901. W. D. ~ y a t t New
,
~ e ; i c o , tcmm
expiring 1:iFl; 5. B. Flowers, Vir inia tcrm
expiring l>)Gl; n. A. McGriff % i s t ~ r tof
Columbia, tcrm expiring 1959; his B. Evans,
Alabama, term expiring 1 9 0 .
A t Large
Horncr Covey, Texas, terni expiring 19cil;
J. H. Steger, Tcxas, tcrm expiring 19FX.
NEW ORLEANS BAPTIST
,THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Karl P. Paris. Louisiana. tcrm exairine
1961' George E.' Hays, Jr., ' ~ c n t u c k y term
,~
expi+ing ,1961; F r a n r ~ s A. Davls, Maryland,
term e x p l r ~ n g1961. James Harkney Missouri
tcrm exairina 19Fi: Claude IJ. Eko'ach. tern;
pirin 1961; W. Marshall Craig, Texas, term
expirfng l e c i .
Local
Philip I,. Elliott North Carolina tcrm exPiring 1961; ~ a l p i iA. Herring, ~ b r t hCarolina, term expiring 1961.
SOUTHERN BAPTIST HOSPITAL
W. I. Pittman
Alabama term cxpiri?lg
1959; Fratlk L. Sciuires, Distkicl of Columbm,
term e x p i r i n ~ 1959. Charles C. Duncan,
Georgia term x p i r i n k 1859' J. Curtit1 Martin
~lllnois,'terrn explring I?&; C. W. nuling:
North Carnllna term expiring 1959; C. Earl
Cooper South 'Carolina terrrl expirlng 1959.
.lames ' ~ v l c r ~ e n n c s s e e ' tcrrn exgiring 1959:
James A. itewart, Fldrida, term expirin$
1958.
Local-New Orleans
Vartan N. Dolnbourian Louisiana, terln cxpiring 1969; Edwin Hhrtzman, 1,ouisiana
terni expirlng 3959; Louls V. Tadlock, ~ o u i s i
iana, term expiring 1959.
Local-Jacksonville
Jcwell A. Uavis Florida,, term cxpirirlp
1959. H. Terry ~ a i k e r ,F l o n ~ l a term expir!ng if159; Bert S . Keicl, lori id$ term expiring 1959: James DeLnach, Florida, tern1 expiring 1!)58.
SOUTHERN BAPTIST FOUNDATION
Roy A,, Greene (Brotherhood) Tennessee,
term explrlng 1959. Porter W. d o u t h (Fxecutive Committee), 'Tennessee, term explrlng
1959; W. b'red Kendall (Foreign Mission
Hoard) Tctinesscc, term expiring 19513,; Cccii
F. ~ r a ; i s !Radio & Tclevislon), Mississippi
tcrm expiring 1959; Robert ILL. Naylor (south:
western Seminary), Tcxas, tcrm expiring
1959.
A t Large
-
ex as:
R. IIarwood Bagby Maryland terin expiring 1959; Harbold ~ m J s e y ,
term expiring 1959; Willlaril Gupton Tennessee, term
exgiring 1959. Walton N. kmith, Tennessee
te1.m expirind 1959; C. G. Cole (,Home MIS:
sinn Boarrl). Georgia, tcrm exgiring 1957.
EDUCATION COMMISSION
C'. Sylvcster Grccn, North Carolina, term
expiring 165!r Frctl Xeigct,, .\lissouri, tcrm
expiring 19~!l;'i:. Earl i:,r~nn. Louisiana.. tern1
- - expiring 1951): Glen Eason. Arizona. term ~ a piring i959; George L. Jolinsotl l l l i h o i s ~ t e r m
e x p l r ~ n g1969; George ~ h o r n t o h ,~ i a s i ~ s i ~ p i ,
term expiring 1969;. W. Forbes Yarborough
Oklahoma, term expirlnK 1!)5R: J. A. nearden:
Maryland, term cxpiring 195:).
CHRISTIAN LIFE COMMISSION
G. Avery t c c Louisiana, term expiring
1959. J. GUY SauAders Maryland, term cxpiring i959; Adiel J . ~ A n t ~ r i e Missouri,
f
term
expiring 1959; ,Olin T. ~ i n k i c y ,North Carolina, term expiring 1959; Robert N. Nicholson. Oklahoma, tcrrn exnirins 1959: Robert
McCan, Tennessee, tcrrn expiring 195R: W. M.
Shamburger, Texas, term expiring 1959.
Local
,,-.
Local
J,
Rcthune Louisiana
expirinR
19cil; Gerald C. C;ggins, Ala&ma, terln cxpirlng 1960.
GOLDEN GATE BAPTIST
0. V. Dodson Missouri tcrm expiring
1 9 6 1 Floyd D. bolden, NGW Mexico term
expiiiiig 1961: E. Gibson Davis ~ c n h e s s e e ,
term ex iring 1961; Elwin ~ G i l e s , Texas,
term expyring 1961.
Local
Harold E. Dye, California term expiring
19fjl' Russell Trammell, California, term exp i r i i g 1901.
SOUTHEASTERN BAPTIST
3.
Puckett, Arizona,
expiring
1961; Carl Jacobs, Tllinois, terrn expiring 1961:
Lawrence T. Lowrey, Mississippi, term ex-
IIoward P. Polsnn Tennessee torin expirlng 1959 Dewey K. ' ~ o a c h ~el;nessec, term
expiring' 1959' R. K. ~ a l f o w a y Tenne!see,
term e x p i r i n i 1999; Daniel K. ' ~ w n t , l e n nessee tcrrrl expiring 15159. W. L. Stagg, Jr.,
~ i s s i s i i ~term
~ i , cxplring '1958.
RADIO AND TELEVISION
COMMISSION
Gerald Trussell, Arkansas, term expiring
,939; nobprt wells california, term expiring 1959. E. Len d e s t o n , District of Columbia tcrm cxpiring 1959; J. R. Robinson
~ e h r ~ iterm
a
cxpirlng 19.59; L. 1). Rall, ~ e u ;
Mcxico,'terrn expiring 1959; Robert C. Cannon, Tennessee, term explrlng 1959; Frank R .
Hurress, Texas, tern1 expiring 1958.
At Large
James G. Harris, Arkansas, tcrm expiring
ln59; Cecil F . Travis, Mississjppi, term exp ~ r i n g1959: W. J. Purdue, Illinois, t e r m expiring
(Continued o n page 4)
Page Four
CONVENTION BULLETIN
Suggested O r d e r
f Business
. ..
SOUTHERN BAPTIST
CONVENTION
(Continued from page I)
3:40
3:50
4:00
4:30
Special Music-Baptist Hour Choir, R.
Paul Green, Director
Miscellaneous Business
Address: "Se aratlon and Spirituality"
-Glenn L. &cher, District of Columbia, Executive Director, PAOU
Adjourn
FRIDAY NIGHT
7:00
Scripture (James 1:12-22 Ephesians
630-20) and Prayer - IT. Edward
Damer, Missouri
7%
Youth Night S e r v i c d . Kearnie Keean Tennessee
buiic-william
Jewel1 College Choir,
Henry L. Cady, Director, Missouri
Address: Howard E. Butt, Jr., Texas
9:30 Adjourn
7:10
SATURDAY M O R N I N G
990 Worship in Song-W. Hines Sims
B:10 Scripture (Psa. 127: Ephesians 595;
6:4) and Prayer-Bob Patterson, Kentuckv
9:15 Education Comrnisaion-R.
Orin Cornett, Tennessee, Executive Secretary
9:35 Fublic Affairs Committee--C. Emanuel
Carlson District of Columbia, Executive ~ i i e c t o r - ~ e a o r tby Walter Pope
Binns.
. Chairman
-, Missouri.
----950 Music - Baylor University Choir Euell Porter, Director, Texas
10:OO Address: "Crusade for Christian Moralltst'-Clifton J. Allen, Tennessee
presentation of New Officers of the
- --
~
~
churches.
Intervizw: "Christian Home Life in
Russia Rev. Jacob Zhidkov Moscow
~ddreLs: Fidelity in the ~ainily,"H.
Guy Moore, Texas
12:46 Adjournment
COMMITTEE ON ORDER OF BUBINESB
Harold G. Sanders, Florida Chairman.
James E. Davidson, Alabama; $7. E. rind:
staff Oklahoma. John E. Lawrence, North
~aroiina.Merle 'A. Mitchell Missouri* Henry
J. stoke;, Georgia; S. A, W'hitlow, ~;kansas.
PROCEEDINGS
(Continued from page 2 )
Attention was called to the action of
the Executive Committee in December,
1949, when it was voted: "Inasmuch as
invitations for the annual Convention
meetings are now made two years in
advance and that investigations concerning auditorium availability, hotel rooms,
and the like need to be checked before
the Convention acts, we rccomrnend that
the Committee on Convention Arrangements be instructed to investigate possible invitations for the 1952 Convention
and succeeding Conventions and that a
summary of findings of the investigation
on each invitation be turned over to the
C o m m i t : ~ e on T i m e , P l a c e , a n d
Preacher.
The committee felt unanimously that
this procedure, as amended below, would
meet the needs, and the Convention
Procedure should be amended to provide
a section on Convention Site, as follows:
"The Committee on Convention Ar-
rangements of the Executive Committee
shalI investigate possible invitations for
the Convention's annual meeting and
bring a summary of findings, with recommendation or recommendations, to
the Committee on Time, Place, and
Preacher."
The feeling was expressed that the
Committee on Convention Arrangements
should certify more than one city as
meeting the Convention requirements, if
~ossible. and that the Committee on
h e , piace, and Preacher might present
the choice to the Convention, if it so desired.
80. With Vice-President Haldeman
presiding, the Convention entered into
the election of officers.
81. Casper C. Warren (N.C.) was reelected by acclamation.
82. With President Warren presiding,
the following nominations for first VicePresident were made:
Bill Lewis (Ark.) nominated W. 0.
Vaught, Jr. (Ark.).
BiII McIver (Rans.) nominated W. A.
Criswell (Tex.).
Oliver R. Shields (Mo.) and Dotson
Nelson (S.C.) nominated Conrad Willard
(Mo.).
A standing vote resulted in the election of Conrad Willard (Mo.) as First
Vice-President of the Convention.
82. The following were nominated for
Second Vice-president:
norninatcd Rov 0.
Elrov Lamb IKv.)
,
~ c c l a i n(Ga.).
David 0. Byrd (Tenn.) nominated D.
L. Stennis (Miss.).
A standing vote rcsulted in the election of D. L. Stennis (Miss.) as Second
Vice-President of the Convention.
83. John H. Haldeman (Fla.) nominated James W. Merritt (Ga.) for Senior
Secretary and Joe W. Burton (Tenn.)
for Secretary, and they were elected b y
acclamation.
84. 0. R. Shields (Mo.) nominated
Porter Routh for election as Treasurer,
and the vote was unanimous.
85. Under the head of miscellaneous
business James M. Bullman (N.C.) proposed the following amendment to the
Convention's Constitution, to be ?cted
on at the 1957 session:
Amendment to Article IV: This Convention does not claim that affiliation
with this Convention is in any way
necessary for a church to be a Missionary Baptist Church; nor does this Convention cIaim that affiliation with any
other Baptist body, whether district association or state convention, is in any
way necessary for a church to be affiliated with this Convention; nor does this
Convention claim that a church's affiliation with this Convention. as conceived
by-this Convention, is in any degree of
such a nature as would prevent a church
that once has entered into affiliation
with this Convention from discontinuing that affiliation, should that church
for any reason whatsoever decided to discontinue that affiliation."
86. James M. Bullman (N.C.) presentcd a resolution which was automatically referred to the Committee on
Resolutions.
87. On motion of J. D. Grey the Secretary was instructed to send telegrams
-
7
Third Day
...
R e p rt f
Committee n B a r d s
(Continued from page 3)
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
J. Alton Morris. North Carolina. term expiring 19.56-J. M. -~askinaklahomi,--term
expiring 19$9; John ~ a m r i d k South
,
Carolina
term e x p i r i n ~1959; Jamcs W. Cox, ~ e n n e s :
see. term expiring 1959: Robert Baker. Texas.
term expirlng 1959; E. V. Pcyton, Virginia
term expiring 1959; J. ,Herrick Hall, ~ l s t r i c t
of Columbia, term expiring 1957; Mrs. G. D.
Crow, Arizona, term expiring 1957.
A t Large
H. B. Cross, Tennessee, tcrrri cxpiring 1959.
AMERICAN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARY
R. W. Lashbrook Tennessee term expiring
I95?; Harry M. hark 0kla6oma term expirln 1959. .T. 1
'
. ~pu'rlin ~enn6ssee tcrm
explryng 1'.a.
~~
, J.
9 . Howard koung, ~cnhessee,
term expiring 1959.
Holding Board
Lucius W. Hart, Tennessee, term expiring
1959; George W. I1ogan, Tenncssec, term explring 1959' Thomas V. Wclls, Tennessee,
term expiriGg 1959. Harold Gregory, Tennessee, term expiring '1958.
BROTHERHOOD COMMISSION
Y. Hilliard Felton, Alabama, term expiring
1959: Playford Davis, Illinois, tcrm expiring, 1959; Eugene Siler Kentucky term explrlng 1958. S. B. ~r'ldtt ~ i s s i s s ipi, term
expiring 195h; Grant avid ~ i s s o u r p
term expiring 1951);F. 0.~ h a m p i h ~orth'carolina,
,
term expiring 1959; Bruce Carter Oklahoma, term expiring 1059; Doyle E. karlton,
Jr., Florida, term expiring 1957.
Local
Robert L. Pearl Tennessee, tern1 expiring
1959; James pace: Tennessee, term expiring
1959; E. N. McCance, Tennessee, term cxpiring 1950.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
(Elected for one year only.)
Walter Pope Binns, Chairman, Missouri.
Ernest F. Campbell, Virginia; J. ~ a l t e ;
Carpenter, Distrjct of Columbia; Raker J.
Cauthen, Virginla; Ral h Cole District of
Columbia; Edward H. 8 e ~ r o o t . Jr.,
'
District
of Columbia* Eldon W. Koch. Maryland'
Mrs. R. L. ath his Texas. WMU president'
A. C Miller ~ e h e s s e e . 'Courts Redford
~ e o r i i a .R. Alton Reed
Porter W:
Routh 'kennessee ~ e o r W.
~ ; $c1;roeder Tennessee'; James L.' Sullivan, Tennessee. 'c. C.
Warren, North Carolina, convention' Presldent.
exa.as
COMMITTEE ON ORDER OF
BUSINESS
(Elected for one year only.)
Ira Peak Chairman Missouri* James Cole
Louisiana; ' B!11, ~ y a & New
,
iViexico; wad;
Bryant, Virginla; James Baldwin Illino!~;
Fred Stumpp, Callfornia; Joe H. Music,
Arizona.
Information Availabl
Descriptive information concerning the visitors from Russia to the
Convention is available in Booth
28 of the Exhibit Hall. Cost is 5
cents each.
to the two living former presidents of
the Convention, F. F. Brown (Tenn.)
and W. W. Hamilton (La.), and to the
two living former secretaries, J. H.
Burnett (N.C.) and Hight C Moore
(N.C.), and to reply to the message received earlier on behalf of E. D. Solomon (Fla.).
88. Lewis Morgan (N.C.)offered a
resolution which was automatically referred to the Resolutions Committee.
89. Conrad Willard (Mo.) led the
closing prayer.
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NOlNn l N 3 a n l S lSlldV9 3 H l CINV
l H 9 1 N HlnOA
Immediate Release
Southern B a p t i s t Convention
1956 a t Kansas City, MO.
Office of Press Representative
Albert McClellan
-
Officers of the Woman's Misslonary Union
iuxiliary to t h e SBC
Presfdent---------------------------~s
R , L. Mathis, Waco, Texas
Vice-presidents----------------------Mr.
A , M. Coltharp, Cullman, Ala.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Miss
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Mrs.
Cecil M, Stewart, Phoenix, Ariz.
J. R. Grant, L i t t l e Rock, Ark.
E v e r e t t E. H i l l , Escondido, Calif.
L . S . Casazza, Washington, D, C.
George Q. Holland, Miami, F l a .
John I. Alford, Covington, Ga.
Paul Bays, Harrisburg, Ill.
R . L. Braden, Baxter Springs, Kana.
H, C , Randall, Columbia, Ky.
F. D. Mabry, Ruston, La.
J. Winston Pearce, Baltimore, Md.
ALmarine Brown, Jackson, Miss.
R. L . Crozier, W e ~ tP l a i n s , Mo,
F, A. Green, Las Cruces, N. M.
W. K. McGee, Winston-Salem, N, C.
Gerald K. Ford, Wadsworth, Ohio
C. A. Summers, Muskagee, Okla.
Sylvia Wilson, Portland, Ore.
James I?, B u r r i s s , Lancaster S. C,
M. K. Cobble, Knoxville, Tenn.
Clem D. Hardy, Waco, Texas
0 . C. Hanoock, Roanoke, Va.
Recording Secretary-----------------------be.
W. C, Tyler, Blue..Mountain, M l s s .
Executive Secretary-----------------------Miss
A l m a Hunt, Birmingham, Ala,
Treasurar-----------------------------------
Miss Lavenia Neal, Birmingham, Ala,
T o t a l r e g i s t r a t i o n , ~ ~ - - 4 7 8 3Delegates--1201;
,
Visitors--3353;
~ i s s i o n a r i e s - - 1 8 5 ; officers--44,
<
.
- --
-
.-
0
Southern Bapt f s t Convent ion
1956- a t Kansas City, Ma.
Albert McClellan
Immediate Release
New Officers
J o i n t Meeting of the Southeastern, Western, Southwestern
Religious E d ~ c a t ~ i oAssociation
n
President-------------I------I-----CI--I--J. M. Price, Sr., Southwestern Baptist
Theolo3ical Seminary, F o r t Worth, Tex.
Vice-Presidents-~----~-----I----------I-To
be elected. The three regional
assockitions w i l l e l e c t presidents this summer
Their presidents w i l l automatically become
vice-presidents of the Joint Association.
Secretary-Tress.--------------------------Miss Gracie Knolton, Southwestern
Baptist
Theological Semfnary, Port Worth, Tex.
The group voted t o hold another meeting before the 1957 Convention.
such meeting.
-30-
This was the first
Southern B a p t i s t convention
1956 - a t m~ansasc i t y ; im.
O f f ice 05 Press Representative
klberti9~lcCl e l l a n
Immediate Release
Regarding the Report 01 t h e C o r ~ ~ a i t t eon
e T h e o l o g i c e l dducation
Action taken by S. B. C. Thursday afternoon, Nay 31
The Southern Baptist Convention has voted t o e s t a b l i s h n s i x t h seblinary trith
t h e s i t e and means or" p u y i n ~f o r it y e t t o be deter~riined. The committee on t h e t > l o ~ . i c a l
education was extended f o r another y e a r t o continue its study of t h e c e matters.
It a l s o has voted t o tulie over control and o p e r a t i o n ~ . Carver
f
School of f4issions
and Social Work, Louisville
Ky., as rec~tl~rnenued
in the report of t h e committee on
theological education.
Please add t o the report of the committee, i n the s e c t i o n p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e
s i x t h seminary, this i n f o r m t i o n :
"Since the above (tuaterial contained i n t h e Book of Reports) was w r i t t e n , t h e
need f o r t h e o l o g i c a l t r a i n i n g f o r Southern Baptists i n the illid-vest has become m r e
acute.
Should the Convention continue t h e committee, it will b e c a l l e d to meet i n
Nashville on June 19 to consider this acd o t h e r matters."
- JOAdditional note:
ol the committee
The r e ~ o i ~ ~ l ~ i e n d a t lof
o n tsh e committee t o study policies and procedures
on time, p l a c e , and p r e a c h e r have been adopted by t h e Canventim.
-39-
a
Immediate Release
1956 a t Kansas City, &lo,
Albert McOlellan
-
TT, 0. Vaught, L i t t l e Rock,
Are
James H. h t l e r , Birmingm, Rla,
Paul Ti. Davis,
Chandler, Arizona
Elmer L. Gray, Santa Ana, Calif.
Malcolm B. Knight, Jacksonville, Fla.
Leslie S. :"/illiams, Statesboro, Ga.
Viilliam J, PLzrdue,
E. St. Lpuis, Illinois
Fred T. Moffatt, E r a f o r t , Ky.
Millard B. Box, Baton Rouge, la.
Harry P. Clause, Baltimore, Md,
G, Norman Price, Jackson, Miss.
W. Ross Edwards, Kansas City, bbb.
R. Knolan Benfield, Hickory, N. C,
John B. Shelton, Fredrick, Okla.
J. S. Day, Spartanburg, S, C.
iil. Fred Kendall
, Jackson, Tenn.
T. A. Patterson, Beaumont, Tex.
Cecil Cook, Bluefield, Va,
S. L. Eliorgm, Jr,
, dashington D.
..
C,
e
1956 at Kansas C i t y , Mo.
O f f ice of Press Representative
Albert McClellan
-
Immediate Release
COMMITTEE ON R E S ~ U T I O N S
Louie D. Newton, Atlanta, Ga., Chairman
Perry F . Webb, San Antonio, Tex.
R . A. Herring, Winston-Salem, N. C .
Walter P. Binns, Liberty, Mo.
John H. Bucbanan, Birmingham, Ala.
Southern B a p t i s t Convent ion
1956 - at Kansas City, MO.
Release: Morning Papers
Friday, June 1
Albert McClcllan
Officers of Southern B a p t i s t P u b l i c Relations Association
The following were elected Thursday afternoon, May 31, i n a meeting i n Municipal
Auditorium, Kansas City:
President-----Arthur Davenport, Oklahoma C i t y
Program Vice-president----- Harold E. Ingraham, Nashville, Tenn.
Membership Vice-Pres ident-----MarJorie Saunders, Dallas T e x .
Secretary-Treasurer----- Thea Sommerkamp, Nashville, Tenn.
Editor of Association's Newsletter-----I,. 0 . G r i f f i t h , Atlanta
The Southern B a p t i s t Public Relations Association i s composed of persons
employed by the denomination in news work, p r e s s r e l a t i o n s , p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s ,
radio and t e l e v i s i o n , a d v e r t isf ng, and similar p o s i t ions.
Davenport succeeds Leonard L. Holloway, of alla as, Tex.
RIELEASE! Morning papers
-
Kansas City, Missouri May, 1956
Albert McClellan
F'riday, June 1
The Executive Committee Promotion Report
Merrill D. Moore, Director of Promotion
Thursday, May 31
7:15-7:50
P. M.
1.
P o r t e r Routh, Executive Secretary, Executive Committee, recognized by chair.
2,
Presentation of Albert McClellan, Director of Publications and Merrill DO Moore,
Director of Promotion. Presentation of Robert J. Hastings, A s s i s t a n t t o the
Director of Promotion and Theo Sommerkamp, Ed. Asst., D i r . of Publications.
3.
Recognition of J, Norris Palmer, f o r past six years chairmag Promotion Committee.
4.
"How We Launched Preparation For World IAissions Year I n Knox Cowty Baptist Association, 11 E. Warren h s t , Tennessee.
5.
'IHow One Country Church Went ?Forward I n World Missions,
Kentucky.
6.
"ward1
1''
Valda H. Cooper,
Upwardt I n World Missions,l~ Merrill D. Moore.
HOW ONE COUNTIfl CHURCH WENT FORWARD IN WORLD MISSIONS
Byo Valda H. Cooper
Valda H. Cooper was barn April 14, 1921 i n flebbs Crossroads,Kentucky.
He was converted a t the age of 2 1 a t M t . Calvary Baptist Church,
Russell County Association. He has served as Sunday school teacher,
Sunday school superintendent and deacon i n t h i s church, being also
licensed t o preach t h e gospel i n 1950 by t h i s church. Brother Cooper
was graduated from the Clear Creek Springs Mountain Preachers Bible
School i n April, 1955, While attending this school he d i d supply
work i n s e v e r a l c h u r c h e s , held r e v i v a l s and served as pastor f o r two
missions sponsored by t h e Harlan B a p t i s t Church. He was ordained t o
the ministry December 12, 1955 by the Campbellsville Baptist Church.
A t present Brother Cooper is a student a t Campbellsville College and lmstor Xllisuurg S a p t i s t Church, C a e y Ct, Illti Associations ;Cclltclc ;y.
Last f a l l the captain of t h e New York Giants made a d i f f e r e n t kind of headline.
It all had t o do with a speech he made a t t h e Texas Baptist State Convention, "Every
parent should teach his children to tithe." And he could back up h i s words w i t h livi n g proof. A s a l a d with a paper route bringing $2 .SO a week i n prof its, Alvin Dark
began t o give the Lord's t i t h e i n t o h i s church. It w a s just n a t u r a l t o give a t e n t h
of t h e World Series earnings $1,030
through h i s church i n Louisiana.
-
-
Southern Baptists gave a n average of 73 cents each day t o Gad. I f they t i t h e d
they wauld give 32 and two-thirds c e n t s each day! The Master said: "Go and teach a l l
nations.. .Ye s h a l l be witnesses unto me both i n Jerusalem and i n all Judea, and in
Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.It How can we a l l go t o t h e f o r e i g n
f i e l d ? The standards f o r f o r e i g n missionaries are so high t h a t many, though willing,
cannot a t t a i n it. Is it possible f o r us a l l t o follow t h e command of our Lord? Yes,
i t is.. .through the Cooperative Program.
Some people a r e going t o say, "My income is so small I cannot give enough to
mowt t o aqything.11 Thanks be t o God who asks the t i t h e , He doesn't ask any large
amant from those who have small incomes. He asks only t h e t e n t h from those who cannot give more. That i s a standard we all can go by. We owe H i m our best, and surely
less than the t i t h e would be far below our best.
- more-
3,1C COINTRY U-IU2UI""2IJT F2R 13lJ IN ;2LD TbIISSIOJS
2.
Let me give you an illustration of what 1 am saying. The Ellisburg Baptist Church
in the Casey County Association in Kentucky had samewhat the same conception of giving
as the Christian who says: "What little I can afford to give wouldn't help any, so I
just won't give anything." When I received an invitation to supply there August 7, 1955,
the church had no budget. The collection they took up in Sunday school averaged four or
five dollars. That money was used for buying literature, paying light bills and probably
a little upkeep on the building. At the time the church was in debt $75.00 for the
painting of the ceiling.
HQ
The offering at t h e worship service averaged,+lessthan $15.00. Nothing was given
to the Cooperative Program for God's world-wideprqgram or to any other mission cause.
Birthday offerings were given to the Baptist Children's Homes.
When the church called me as its pastor October, 1955, 1 suggested a budget. Their
faces showed they had never heard of such a thing! Although I realized they would never
consent to a large budget, I proceeded to read them a $50,000 budget. I wanted them to
think in big terms! They gaped in awe, but I said,"You are not going to adopt a budget
tonight, so discuss it among yourselves until next business meeting night." This was
agreeable to them 15 I would write out some essentials to place in the budget.
On the last Thursday night in November we adopted a small budget of approximately
$1,300 besides $300 for repair on the building. At this time there were only two or
three tithers In the church. You can imagine their fright when they realized that the
eighteen earners in the church would have to shoulder a monthly gburch budget of $100.00!
There was only one way t o reach it every member tithing! They said they would. And
they did!
-
You can guess the result. On a monthly basis the budget approximately doubled.
Some of them said: "Almost the impassible has been accomplished!" As their eyes opened
to the world's need they expressed the opinion that if the individual is a steward,
churches are stewards too. They first set the figure of ten dollars a month for the
Cooperative Program, but as time went by they felt the need to increase that amount. Now
in the spirit of moving upward and onward they are planning on the fourth Thursday of
May to increase their offering t o the Cooperative Program to at least fifteen dollars
a month.
My people have realized that though their tithe may be small it is ~od'sway to
finance His work. They are all happy t h e y have begun to t i t h e and by sending their
small offering to the Cooperative Program each month they, too, can have a part in
world missions. Many l i t t l e s put together make much. What those people at Ellisburg
have realized is what many amall country and village churches can and will realize when
properly taught and led, First, though, they must see a vision of the need not only
a t home but around the world. They must see that two out of every three people in the
world go t o bed hungry. They must see 89 peaple march by before they see one Christian!
They must see that 94 out of every 100 ordained pastors in our world are ministering to
nine per cent- the English speaking world, They must find out: that $96.00 out of every
$100.00 laid on offering plates of all denominations within the United S t a t e s were
spent in the United States.
-
The word of God is true: "Where there is no vision the people perishtt(~rov.29:18).
But a congregation with vision and obedient to the Lord's command is able to exert an
influence felt around the world. The smallest church among Southern Baptists is a great
church, if it has a lost world at the heart of its program.
"Your church can move the world through the Cooperative Program."
Ellisburg is eight miles from the nearest railroad. It: is 80 miles from the nearcommercial airport, But it is in the center of the world so far as the task of
world missions is concerned.
est
With a budget, with our people tithing, and giving a percentage of our total budget: t o world missions through the Cooperative Program, we have gone forward in world
missions. This is only a beginning. We are determined t o go
Onward! Upward! In World Missions.
HO'J WE LAUNCHZD PREPARATION FOR .irCRI,D TJISSIONS YEAR ITJ RNOX
COUNm BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
By:
E. Warren Rust
E. Warren Rust, born September 2 9, 19sSCovington, Kentucky.
Home church
Latonia Baptist Church, Covington, Kentucky under t h e ministry of Dr. J.
IV. Black and Dr. L. C. Ray. Graduated 1933 Holmes High School3 CarsonNewman College A. B. degree 1944, Southern B a p t i s t Theological Seminary
Con1947 a d d i t i o n a l work through 1949. Work other than t h e minis*:
t r a c t o r i n Cincinati, Ohio, Athletic coach i n high schools 19& through
1949. Ordained a t F i r s t Baptist Church, J e f f e r s o n City, Tennessee i n
1940. Pas t o r a t e s : Be aver Dam Baptist Church, Knoxville, Tenmssee; New
Market BaptSst Church, J e f f e r s o n County, Tenmssee; Vine Grove B a p t i s t
Church, Vine Grove, Kentucky; IIcCalla Avenue Baptist Church, Knoxville,
Tennessee f o r the p a s t seven years.
When I picked up my mail one morning l a s t October and received a l e t t e r from the
moderator of our a s s o c i a t i o n s t a t i n g t h a t a committee had again been appointed f o r
Stewardship and the Cooperative Program and t h a t I was t o serve as t h e chairman, I hmediately f i l e d t h a t l e t t e r f e e l i n g t h a t it would need no a c t i o n for another y e a r when
t h e r e p o r t would be made t o the association. Yes, I f i l e d it but d i d not f o r g e t it!
There passed through my mind the a c t i o n of the Southern B a p t i s t Convention i n St. Louis
i n 1954. I remembered how my heart was warmed when we met on Foreign Mission night
there, I was aware t h a t our Convention had appointed a committee on World Missions. I
remembered the words 'Ispeeding up and expanding our present program of evangelism and
missionary advance." I was aware t h a t i n Miami l a s t y e a r our Convention had designated
the year 1957 as World Missions Ysar. I c a l l e d our Superintendent of City Missions,
Brother Lawrence T r i v e t t e ard t a l k e d with him about it. Out of our conversation came
t h e deep d e s i r e t o do something worthy of Knox County Baptists. I thank God fur the
zeal of our missionary i n Kmxville. He puts first t h i n g s f i r s t . H i s words of v i s i o n
t h r i l l e d my soul.
I c a l l e d the committee together and together we dedicated ourselves t o t h e work of
laying t h i s World Missions Year on t h e h e a r t s of our people.
Idhere would we s t a r t ? What would we do t o impress upon our people t h e urgency, t h e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of t h i s Mission Year? We decided t h a t t h e immediate need for Knox County
was Information, I n s p i r a t i o n and a Program. Brother P i v e t t e already had t h e VYorld
Missions Day on t h e a s s o c i a t i o n a l calendar and we altered this day t o be t h e Kick-Off
f o r our World lhissions Y e a P r o g r 9 . 1% asked r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of our Southern B a p t i s t
Mission Boards t o be with us. They were glad t o give assistance. Dr. Robert Hastings,
Dr. Courts Redford, D r . C. li, Pope our e f f i c i e n t S t a t e Secretary, Dr. George Sadler and
Dr. Wallace Bassett were with us f o r morning, afternoon and evening sessions. The program was presented, t h e people were eager, t h e committee was challenged, We could not
s t o p with i n s p i r a t i o n 1 There was informalion and a program t o be rounded into shape.
We had some h u g problems! Some problems beyond t h e scope of t h e opinion of a
committee. IVe had determined t h a t t h i s would not j u s t be another s t r u g g l i n g work, b u t
a c o -o;~cl-:..tive' one .We agreed we would seek the opinion of same of our b e s t pastors and
t h e i r best laymen. We wanted them to assist with their vast experiences, Our problem
i s one of information and program, How g e t the p a r t i c i p a t i o n of the pastors and churches
of our great a s s o c i a t i o n i n a worthy program i n World Missions? Since industqr has used
the premise t h a t insures p a r t i c i p a t i o n we decided we could use the same principle,
i n the Broadway Baptist Church the pastors and asked them t o
i n v i t e the layman most l i k e l y t o be of g r e a t e s t a s s i s t a n c e t o them and t h e i r church i n
their financial program. We divided the group i n t o committees of six each and presented
t o them our problem and asked them t o meet p r i v a t e l y and p r a y e r f u l l y and give one solut i o n t o t h e problem. The problem of Knox County Baptists i s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of most any
a s s o c i a t i o n i n our Convention. We found t h a t i n the l a s t five years while we were increasing t h e r e c e i p t s of a l l churches $845,000 t h a t i n t h e same period t h e g i f t s t o t h e
Cooperativa Program had only increased $134,000 o r per capita increase on all r e c e i p t s
was $8.85 compared t o $1.68 t o the Cooperative Program.
We gathered together
We found the r e c o r d of church giving as follows:
11 churches giving 15% o r more gave $255,101.00
15 churches giving 10 t o 1% gave $ 62,424.00
30 churches giving 5 t o 1%gave
$ 43,575*00
33 churches giving 1 t o 5% gave
$ 12,083.00
44 churches giving l$ or lass gave $
886.00
26 churches gave nothing.
HO .' Y LkvNffI,~ PZEPARJiTI?iJ F?Z
I
XLD I,ISSION$ YZ/Z IN
CWNTY EMTIST
4
SSOCIi =CLC"PJ
Gut of that meeting the brethfen proposed t h e following solution:
1, That we recognize the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of the pastor i n presenting
t h e b i b l i c a l message an Stewardship and Personalize t h e Cooperative
Program.
2,
That we see t h e whole Missions Program and t h a t the Cooperative f i o gram is missions and t h a t the churches s t r i k e a balance between what
the church spends a t home and what it gives elsewhere.
3.
That aur people be trained t o t h e needs of IiIissions through educat i o n a l prograrqsand t h a t emphasis be put upon s p e c i a l days and special
programs
.
4.
That we have a Mission Revival or Stewardship Revival i n our churches,
and t h a t there be an equitable divison of our money,
5.
That t h e r e be an extensive campaign i n each church t o encourage percentage giving t o Missions.
6.
That a selected group of individuals be t r a i n e d i n t h e needs of Missions
and be i n v i t e d into t h e churches t o present Etissions; t h a t a goal of
5% increase per year i n percentage of t h e t o t a l budget t o World Missions
through t h e Cooperative Program be encouraged f o r f i v e years,
7. That pastors, Sunday school workers, and church leaders be urged t o
teach t i t h i n g i n Sunday school, and that c l a s s e s be offered i n stewardship.
8.
That we not c u t our Mission giving while i n building program.
9.
That we launch a program i n educating our people i n World Missions and
t h a t we encourage a steady increase i n giving.
It is amazing how God leads H i s people t o think together. Out of t h i s cross-sect i o n on group thinking we received i n s t r u c t i o n s as a committee t o p r o j e c t a program to
include the above named o b j e c t s t o accomplish Godrs will i n World Missions Year i n 1957,
We believe i n preparationl We a r e preparing i n prayer! Preparing i n s t a t i s t i c a l i n formation1 Preparing by group thinking! !Ye have t h e personnel! The pastors and people
of our 128 churches are God's people! They w i l l do r i g h t a d rally t o an urgent need
i n 19571 We have t h e will t o achieve! We determined under God to "do the f i r s t workstt
of a missionary B a p t i s t people, Our preparation has l e d us t o t h e following a c t i v i t i e s
through the f i f t e e n months, beginning October, 1956 through December, 1957%
our people of the needs of a l o s t world.
1.
de w i l l inform
2.
d
' ye w i l l pray t h e Lord of t h e harvest t h a t He send l a b o r e r s
3,
We w i l l plan and observe World Missi ons Week October 1956 and October 1957,
4.
We will e n l i s t more churches i n g i v i n g t o World Missions through t h e Cooperat i v e Program. iie w i l l urge each church to j o i n a percentage of i t s t o t a l
budget through t h e Cooperative Program.
into the f i e l d s .
5 . We will r a i s e the percentage given t o World Missions,
By t h e help of God we will!
- moreOJY,JARDI UP:iARD!
IN 1;iORLD 1.IISSIONS
By: M e r r i l l D. Moore
What can my church do t o go ttOnward! Upward! I n ;lJorld 1,issions ?It
--
First, plan t o use next year (not t h i s year) the expanded Southern Baptist program of budget promotion and fund-raising. Authorized by the Southern Baptist Convent i o n i n Miami l a s t year and developed i n co-operation with t h e executive s e c r e t a r i e s
of t h e state conventions, the heads of Southern Baptist Convention agencies and other
Southern Baptist leaders, t h i s program w i l l be presented to t h e l e a d e r s h i p of t h e Con-
ventian and t h e s t a t e s i n t h e f i r s t Convention-wide Church Finance Clinic within this
month on t h e dates June 16-20. The program w i l l be used i n an association-uride c l i n i c
and t e s t program i n Phoenix, Arizona, and i n Jackson, Mississippi, t h i s f a l l . It w i l l
be used in a l i m i t e d number of t e s t pograms i n a few churches i n other s t a t e s this
f a l l , which have alrea* been arranged by certain state s e c r e t a r i e s ,
I n 1957 t h e program will be presented in state-wide c l i n i c s i n each s t a t e , and i n
numerous association+wi.de c l i n i c s . The program and m a t e r i a l s w i l l be available t o the
churches generally i n the f a l l of 1957. They cannot be a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e churches
g e n e r a l l y p r i o r t o t h a t time. For further information see page nine of your Convent i o n Book af Reports.
This program of budget p r m o t i o n and fund-raising i s a n t i c i p a t e d as one of t h e
r e a l farward s t e p s i n t h e program of Southern B a p t i s t church finance.
Second, remember t h a t your church i s a base f o r world operations. The reason-f orbeing of a B a p t i s t church i s i t s missionary task. God did not c a l l us merely t o save
us, or b l e s s us merely f o r our own blessing, Israel f o r g o t t h a t God said, "I w i l l
b l e s s thee and i n thee shall a l l the nations of t h e e a r t h be blessed." Because I s r a e l
f o r g o t t h i s fundamental f a c t , Israel failed.
.
Jesus said, IlCome unto me. .Go ye.. .As the Father hath sent me, even so send I
you i n t o t h e world.lt Jesus did not say, "Build beautiful buildings.
He did say,
"Go ye into a l l t h e world."
Third, know t h a t t h e expenditures of a church are weighed i n scales i n which t h e
whole world i s balanced. A military base i n time of war i s not conducted for i t s own
sake, but f o r what it can do in a world operation. So the l o c a l program of a church
i s not f o r i t s awn sake but f o r what it can contribute t o Christfs program f o r winning
a lost wmld.
A church i s J u s t i f i e d i n making any l o c a l budget expenditure which makes an
e s s e n t i a l contribution t o the world operation. Every church budget needs t o be examined c r i t i c a l l y . Is t h e r e any proposed expenditure which is not amply j u s t i f i e d
i n t h e l i g h t of our world mission task? How can we do more f o r t h e world operation?
Fourth, remember t h a t we must be missionary now.
missionary ten years from now as it ic n y -
A church w i l l be about as
In a Tennessee church t h i s was said, IlWemust b u i l d and pay far a building now,
then t e n years from now we can give worthily t o world r n i ~ s i o n s . ~One
~ member said,
ItBrethren, I am a Christian, therefore I must be a world missioraary. My doctors tell
me I w i l l n o t be here t e n years from now. I want t o give t o world missions nm. And
I want our c h i l d r e n t o l e a r n t o give t o world missions now," The members of that
church saw the point. I n s t e a d of about twelve per cent, they gave twenty-two per cent
of t h e budget through the Cooperative Program while they were struggling t o pay for a
much needed building. They learned t h a t t h e easiest building t o pay f o r i s one vh ich
houses a m i s sionary-minded congregation.
F i f t h , observe World Missions Week and World Missions Year. Before John F o s t e r
Dulles became Secretary of S t a t e of t h e United States he saido 'We need t o put more
emphasis on C h r i s t i a n i t y as a world religion, remembering t h a t God gave H i s son because He loved the world and not merely t h e western part of it.'!
World Missions Week i n your church and your a s s o c i a t i o n t h i s f a l l will combine t h e
features and b e n e f i t s of t h e customary Stewardship Revival w i t h sclns f e a t u r e s of a
School ct Missions and a World Hissions Conference i n t h e individual churches, I n
your hand i s a t r a c t which t e l l s how you may plan such a week. You w i l l use t h e World
Missions Handbook, the June-July i s s u e of the Baptist Program as you prepfor it.
-
This World Missions Week can become one of t h e g r e a t e s t events i n t h e history of
i n yaur association. I n an a s s o c i a t i o n where there were t h i r t y churches,
only t e n had e v e r had a Baining Union* only e i g h t had ever had a Training Union study
course and only e i g h t had ever conducted a Vacation Bible School* One summer a pastor
l e d i n an association-wide program i n which every church had a P a i n i n g Union study
course, and most of them organized Training E n s , many of which are still i n operation many years later. The next year the a s s o c i a t i o n had an association-wide Vacation
Bible School program, with a Bible School i n every om of t h e ohurches, I n one small
r u r a l church i n which a Vacation Bjble S c h o o l ~ h e l df o r t h e first time t h e r e wre
f o r t y children who made professions of f a i t h i n Christ as Savlour.
maw churches
-
more
-
Omardl Upwar dl In Norld h1is s i ons
Your as s a c i a t i o n needs a simultaneous 'ivorld BEssions !,reek, with an observance i n
every church this f a l l , October 28-Novenber 4 or nearest convenient week, You can be
t h e person t o lead your church and your association i n a program which wil1'TSf-b t h e
v i s i o n of thousands of B a p t i s t s in a score of churches, and l i t e r a l l y I1move the worldll
in its influence, I& brother, I challenge you!
Sixth, pray f o r the f i n e s t of our young men and women t o answer affirmatively
God's c a l l t o t h e mission fields, and pray f o r the missionaries on t h e f i e l d .
Seventh, increase t h e percentage of your church g i f t s t h r m g h t h e Cooperative
Program, and g e t your people to tithe.
Eighth, remmber t h a t going forward i n 'World A[issions i s not a matter of techniques and programs so much as personal surrender and correct perspective. We will
go onward and upward in World Missions as B a p t i s t s achieve i n reality the ideal
declared by J. G. Cncken. When asked llhow many Baptdsts i n your country,It and I1how
many missionaries~~
he c i t e d e x a c t l y t h e same figure. Said he: ItEvery B a p t i s t i s a
missi0nary.n
Our churches do have g r e a t needs i n t h e i r l o c a l programs. iie will go forward
i n World IKissions, however, when we achieve a s p i r i t of concern f o r others beyond
ourselves. An American naval commander was u n d ~ r t a k i n gt o - g e t r e l i e f supplies to
American service men i n prisoner-of-war camps i n Japan. Eighty p e r c e n t of those
men were suffering from malnutrition. '&en our men i n t h e camp nearest the place
of landing saw t h e S t a r s and Stripes they began cheering. So hungry were they ;that
many of them plunged i n t o the s u r f t o g e t food and other needed supplies.
The commanding officer asked if t h e r e were other camps nearby.
prisoners replied t h a t t h e r e was another camp four miles away.
They said, '!Take it t o them.
!Ihey need
Jesus said, "Other sheep I have
Upwardl In IVorld l\Jissionsl
-
it worse.
The famished
Help them f i r s t . "
. . .Them also I must bring."
ht us go Onward1
Memo To News Editors
A week of Southern Baptist Convention aotivi-+
ties is soheduled in Kansas City, Missouri, May
27-June 2.
Several people from your area will be
attending.
In addition, Baptists and' other ohuroh
people living in your area will want to read news
stories of these autivities.
We will be in oon-
stant touoh with the wire servioes in Kansas City
and w i l l be glad. to help them with your needs.
Press Representative.
B
Southern B a p t i s t Conventio
1956 a t Kansas City, MO,
-
~rnmgdiateRelease
Albert McClellan
FROPOSAL TO THl3 S0-N
BAPTIST CONV3NTIOB
IM SESSION I N KAl'JSflS CITY, MISSOURI
Dear Brethren:
For s e v e r a l y e a r s , t h e B a p t i s t s of Miami, Dade County, F10rid.a~ have been i n t e r e s t e d
i n t h e establishment of a B a p t i s t h o s p i t a l i n t h i s area. The City of Miami has grown
from a town of 5,500 i n 1910 t o approximately 710,000 i n 1956. A t the present rate
of growth t h e permanent population of Dade County i s expected t o reach 1,000,000
by 1960. Based on the nationally accepted standard of minimum bed requirements of
3.2 beds per 1,000 population, t h e Miami a r e a will need approximately 1,000 a d d i t i o n a l
beds by 1960. The p r o j e c t e d need by 1965 would be approximately 1,900 a d d i t i o n a l
beds f o r s a f e h e a l t h requirements.
The establishment of a B a p t i s t hospital i n t h e M i a m i area with a minimum capacity of
200 beds and o t h e r r e l a t e d f a c i l i t i e s w i l l h e l p meet t h e need f o r increased h o s p i t a l
f a c i l i t i e s for t h e people of t h a t a r e a and can be made a g r e a t e v a n g e l i s t i c and
missionary agency of t h e Convention because of i t s c l o s e proximity t o t h e people of
t h e South American c o u n t r i e s ,
A group of physicians has financed a survey which was made under t h e sponsorship of
t h e Miami B a p t i s t Association f o r t h e purpose of determining whether o r not a fundr a i s i n g campaign i n Dade County w i t h i n the next s i x t o twelve months would prove
s u c c e s s f u l . The survey was conducted by a well known and r e l i a b l e n a t i o n a l organization,
t h e r e s u l t s of which indicate t h a t a minimum of $3,000,000 could be r a i s e d provided
t h e proposed h o s p i t a l would be under t h e sponsorship and management of a denomination
experienced i n t h e b u i l d i n g and operation o f h o s p i t a l s . A well know c a p i t a l i s t
living i n Dade County has indicated h i s w i l l i n g n e s s and d e s i r e t o c o n t r i b u t e $500,000.00
i n cash and t o provide a b u i l d i n g s i t e of 65 acres valued a t $250,000.00 provided
t h e Southern B a p t i s t Convention through i t s H o s p i t a l Board w i l l accept t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
of buf l d i n g and o p e r a t i n g t h e h o s p i t a l .
I n t h e l i g h t of t h e g r e a t need f o r a d d i t i o n a l hospital beds and t h e expressed w i l l i n g ness of people with s u b s t a n t i a l means to finance t h e p r o j e c t , t h e Miami B a p t i s t
Association voted t o undertake t o r a i s e a minimum of $3,000,000.00 f o r t h e b u i l d i n g
and equipping of a general h o s p i t a l and t o r e q u e s t t h e Southern B a p t i s t Convention
through i t s Hospital Board t o accept the ownership and management of the h o s p i t a l .
The S t a t e Board of Missions of t h e F l o r i d a B a p t i s t Convention has voted e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y t o concur i n that request. It i s assunled tM a minimum of t h r e e years w i l l be
r e q u i r e d t o conduct a f u n d - r a i s i n g campaign and develop p l a n s for t h e h o s p i t a l
building.
A t t h e request of t h e Miami Baptist Association and with the approval of the State
Board of Missions of t h e F l o r i d a B a p t i s t Convention, t h e following proposal is
submitted for t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e Southern B a p t i s t Convention i n s e s s i o n a t
Kansas C i t y , Missouri:
1. The Miami B a p t i s t Association, with t h e assistance of f r i e n d s , propose t o
furnish free of a l l incumbrances a s u i t a b l e b u i l d i n g s i t e f o r a g e n e r a l h o s p i t a l
having a minimum c a p a c i t y of 200 beds and o t h e r r e l a t e d f a c i l i t i e s .
2. To r a i s e a minimum of $3,000,000.00 t o be used i n c o n s t r u c t i n g and equipping
a modern h o s p i t a l building.
3. I n t h e event it should be decided t o b u i l d two buildings i n order t o provide more adequately f o r t h e h o s p i t a l needs of t h e people of t h e Miami area, t h e
Miami B a p t i s t Association with t h e support of t h e c i t i z e n s of Dade County w i l l
provide t h e necessary building sites and the funds f o r c o n s t r u c t i n g and equipping
bath h o s p i t a l buildings.
4. Since it has been d e f i n i t e l y e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t i n d i v i d u a l s , corporations,
and foundations w i l l not c o n t r i b u t e s u b s t a n t i a l amounts of money toward b u i l d i n g and
equipping g e n e r a l hospitals unless such hospitals are t o be owned and operated by
groups with demonstrated a b i l i t y t o successf'ully o p e r a t e such h o s p i t a l s , we
respectfully r e q u e s t the Southern B a p t i s t Convention t o authorize i t s Hospital Board
t o b u i l d and o p e r a t e a h o s p i t a l o r h o s p i t a l s i n t h e Miami area when the people of t h a t
area, under t h e l e a d e r s h i p of t h e Miami B a p t i s t Association, have made available
t o the Hospital Board a s u i t a b l e s i t e o r s i t e s and s u f f i c i e n t funds with which t o
b u i l d and e q u i p a modern h o s p i t a l o r h o s p i t a l s with the understanding t h a t s a i d
b u i l d i n g site o r s i t e s w i l l be deeded i n fee simple t o t h e Southern B a p t i s t Hospital,
a Louisiana corporation, f r e e o f a l l incumbrances and t h a t funds for b u i l d i n g
and equipping the hospital or hospitals are made available t o the Southern B a p t i s t
(more)
Hospital Board by the people of Miami through t h e Miami B a p t i s t Association,
5. It is f u r t h e r proposed t h a t i f t h e Southern B a p t i s t Convention a u t h o r i z e s
i t s Hospital Board t o accept t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of ownership and management of a
B a p t i s t h o s p i t a l or h o s p i t a l s in t h e Miami area t h a t t h e people of t h a t area, under
the leadership of t h e Miami B a p t i s t Association, will provide adequate funds f o r build+
fngs and equipment s o t h a t no indebtedness will be incurred by the Southern Baptist
Convention o r i t s Hospital Board i n accepting such r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s .
6 . This proposal is presented with t h e understanding t h a t it i s to be considered
and a c t e d upon by t h e Convention within t h e framework of i t s Business and Financial
Plan which requires Convention approval in two s e s s i o n s .
R e s p e c t f u l l y submitted,
.
Southern Bapt f st Convent ion
1956 - at Kansas City, Missouri
Albert McClellan
CHANGES OF COMMITTEE ON BOARDS
Arkansas-------------------------Omit
James G. Harris
D i s t r i c t of C~lumbia-------------Change spelling to E. A . McGriff
Lousiana------------------------Add t o new members
Clark C. Claire--------Executive Committee--59
920 Ockley Dr.
Shreveport , La.
Louisiana-------------------------Omit Joel C. Murphy
North
Correct spelling McCraw, G. Carl
Oklahoma-------------------------Correct spelling Nicholson, Robert H.
South Carolina-----------------
Omit, Mclin, William R .
South Carolina---------------"----Add to re-elected members--Adam, Horace G .
851 Kings Street
Charleston, S . C.
Executive Committee
59
Tennessee------------------------ Omit H. B. Cross
Tennessee-------------------------Add to new members Gregg, James
Lockeland Baptist Church
Nashville, Tennessee
Historical Commission--59
Texas----------------------------Add to re-elected membere, Harris, James G.
Univ. Bapt. Church
Fort Worth, Texas
Radio and TV--59
Q
C i l t l i n e s f o r Southern B a p t i s t Editors
Convent i.on Press Room P h o t o p a p h Pool, 1956
---
Nr?. 88
Among the o l d e c t and youngest messengers t o the Southern
B a p t i s t Convention were Mrs. W. J. Moody, 02, from F i r s t Church, L i t t l e
Roc
, and
Johnny Upchurch, 5, whose f a t h e r i s p a s t o r of F i r s t Church,
S t r a t f o r d , Tex.
-U-
--- The arena of the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City was
No. 49
scene of Southern Ba2tist Convention sessions.
Most of t h e crowd passed
through t h i s entrance.
- VNo. 89
---
Perhaps the youngest messenger t o the Souther B a p t i s t Convention
t h i s year was Johnny Upchurch,
5, of F i r s t Church, S t r a t f o r d ,
Tex.
He's
shown with h i s mother, Iqrs. M. E . Upchurch, and h i s f a t h e r is p a s t o r of the
church.
-0-
No. 87
--- Mrs. W.
J. Moody, 82, from F i r s t Church, Little Rock, Ark.,
was one of t h e oldest messengers t o t h e 1956 Convention.
-0-
No. 2
--- The W.M.U.,
a u x i l i a r y t o t h e Convention, elected a new p r e s i d e n t
f o r the f i r s t time i n 10 years.
second from right.
She was Mrs. R
L. Mathis, of Waco, T e x . ,
Other o f f i c e r s are Mrs. Wilfred C. Tyler, recording
s e c r e t a r y , Blue Mtn., Miss.; Miss A l m a Hunt, Birmingham, e x e c u t i v e s e c r e t a r y ,
and Miss Levenia Neal, Birmingham, t r e a s u r e r .
-0-
No. 59
--- The Russian Baptist
visiting delegation a t t r a c t e d much a t t e n t i o n .
With them a r e two of their U ~ i t e dS t a t e s h o s t s .
Prom left, Miss Klaudia
Tyrtova, Ruse i a n B a p t i s t youth worker ,: T h o d o r e F. A d ~ m ,
s ares ident 02 the
B a p t i s t World
No. 57
---
Alliance;
The Convention P r e s i d e n t and First Lady---Dr.
and Mrs. C. C.
Warren, of C h a r l o t t e , N. C.---are seated while s t a n d i n g behind them is
Conrad Willard, Kansas City, Mo., chosen f i r s t vice-president of the
Convent ion.
CUTLIN'XS FOR
RX BAPTIST EDITORS, CONVENT10
ESS ROOM PHOTOGRAF'H POOL,
No. 65 ---Convention Officers are seated, from l e f t , Conrad Willard, Kansas
City, f i r s t vice-president; President C . C. Warren, Charlotte, N. C.;
D. B. S t e n r i s , Meridian, Miss., second vice-president;
standing, from l e f t , Secretary Joe W. Burton Nashville; Treasurer Porter
Routh, Nashville, and Senior Secretary James W. hlerritt, Gainesville, Ga.
- 0No, 69
---
Presidents ' Row:
Seated, from l e f t , Theodore F
. Adama,
Richmond,
Va., p r e s i d e n t of B a p t i e t World Alliance and Jakov Zhidkov, p r e s i d e n t ,
Russian Baptists; standing, Frank Nelson, Racine, Wisc., president,
American B a p t i s t Convent ion, and C
.C
Warren, C h a r l o t t e , N. C . , SBC
president.
- 0No. 68
---
Roy 0 , McClain, pastcr, First Church, A t l a n t a , autographs
book c o n t a i n i n g many of his addresses d e l i v e r e d over the Baptist
Hour, production of the SBC Radio and Television Commission.
A t right,
J. T. Ford, chairman of t h e Commission, and p a s t o r of another Atlanta
congregation, Wieuca Road Church.
- 0No. 64
--- B a p t i s t
s t a t e papers received a t t e n t i o n from Convention
messengers who faund them on display i n t h e Convention exhibit area.
Southern Baptists p u b l i s h more t h a n 20 s t a t e papers, most of them an a
weekly schedule.
-0
-
Nu. 58
---
Participants In the opening session of t h e Convention Wednesday
morning included W . 0 . Vaught, L i t t l e Rock, Ark,, chairman of committee;
Secretary Joe W. Burton, Nashville; unidentified messenger; John Raley,
p r e s i d e n t , Oklahoma Baptist University; S e c r e t a r y of Evangelism
,
Leonard Sanderson, Dallas, and Harold G. Sandera, Tallahassee, Fla.,
chairman, committee on order of
business;.
-0-
No.
60
--- A Southern E a p t i s t greets the Russian B a p t i s t s .
Bob Denny,
right, youth secretary, B a p t i s t World Alliance, Washington, greets Nikolai
Levindanto, vice-president of Russian group; Treasurer I l y a Ivanov, and
Secretary Alexander Karev.
1956
a
CIEJ,3NES FGR SOUTIIERI? BAFTIST EDTTOZS, COWETE'ION FFESS R9OM PHOTOGRAPH POOS 1956
No. 63
XO.
56
--- The Russian Eapt ist
--- The three
home miscionaries:
delegat ion
Indian maidens here are r e a l l y three Southern Baptist
Mrs. Marvin Sorrclls, Mrs. William S. Wall, and Mrs.
Melvina Roberts.
-0-
No. 54 ---Southern Baptist agency leaders include, from l e f t , Courts Redford,
executive secretary, Home Mission Board; L. 0. Griffith, direc%or of promotion,
Home Mission Board; L. S. Sedberry, secretary, Commission on American
BapCist Seminary, and R
. Alton Reed,
executive secretary, Relief and Annuity
Board.
-(I-
No. 4.---Several thousand Southern B a p t i e t ministers a t t e n d e d t h e 26th
s e s s i o n of t h e Southern Baptist P a s t o r s ' Conference which preceded t h e
annual SBC seaaion.
Pastors met i n t h e Music Hall, only a few s t e p s from
t h e Convention arena, where the main SBC s e s s i o n convened.
-0-
ND. 3 ---More than 8800 persons registered as Convention messengers on
t h e first day of registration, setting a record, according t o S e c r e t a r y
Joe W. Burton, Nashville.
Mingling with those registering a r e o t h e r s who
attended t h e Pastors' Conference and W.M.U,
convention.
-0-
No. 67 ---"Congratulations
!I'
says Harold E. Ingraham, Nashville, B a p t i s t
Sunday School Board o f f i c e r , a t left, t o James P. Wesberry, Atlanta minister,
who was e l e c t e d president of t h e P a s t o r s ' Conference.
Ingraham w i l l d i r e c t
public relations conferences a t Ridgecrest and G l o r i e t a .
-0-
No. 62
---
Booth 28 in t h e e x h i b i t hall-where copies of W. M. U.,
Pastors' Conference, and Convention speeches sold like t h e p r o v e r b i a l
hotcakes---was Jammed from morning t o evening with persons eager t o secure
t h i s material.
-0-
More than 30,000 copies of speeches were sold.
CL?I'LINES FOR SOUTHEXN BAPTIST EDITOES, CONVENTIO;?: P;IESS ROOM PBOTOGRAPH POOL, 3956
No.
53
--- The Southern Baptist Convention likes to sing and theae are men
who l e d it in Kansas C i t y
--- Loren Williams and W .
Hines Sime, church music
department, Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, and Organist H, Max Smith,
Oklahoma City.
-0-
No. 55
--- Mr. and Mrs.
David Ahn are evidences of our missionary work in
Korea.
-0-
No. 96
--- "Your church cetn move the world through t h e Cooperative Prograxntt
signified the missions theme prevalent throughout t h e e n t i r e Convention.
The Cooperative Program i s t h e lifeline of missions as Southern Baptists enter
1957, World Missions Year.
-0-
No. 94
--- Southern Baptists
serving as military chaplains meet a need for
s p i r i t u a l guldance an t h e part of America's armed forces.
Thcee chaplains
took part in report of Alfred Carpenter, d i r e c t o r of Chaplains' Commission
of SBC Home Mission Board.
-0-
Cincinnati o r Louisville for 1959 Convention?? These men had more than a
passing i n t e r e s t .
Duke K. McCal1, l e f t , president of Southern Baptist
Seminary, Louisville, chats with Ray Roberts, Columbus, O . , Ohio s t a t e
secretary. Louisville was chosen by the Convention.
-0-
No. B
--- Some of Southern Baptists' finest-youngmen and women appeared on
the platform Thursday night during the Foreign Mission Board hour. These are
they who w i l l go o u t as missionary appointees around t h e world preaching t h e
Gospel under the banner of t h e Convention,
-0-
No. 93
---
The Conventionts exhibit area, on the f l o o r l e v e l under the big
arena, was a popular place with messengers.
Many state conventions and
agencies had. exhibite and the book store sold its products here.
-0-
--
*
""9"1,ME:
,,,,,,
P;FTERNI;~~NPAPER
SOUTHEXIN BAPTIST CONVEWTION
1956 AT KANSAS CITY, MO.
OFFICE OF PRESS REPRESEIVI'ATIVE
ALBERT MtCIJ2UAN
-
Facina Our Fiercest Foe
Millard J. Berquist
Pastor, F i r s t Baptist Church, Tampa, Fla.
The maet apt description of the alcoholic beverage t r a f f i c , anywhere to be found,
a r e these graphic words from the apostle Peter: "Your adversary, the devf 1, like a
roaring lion, p r ~ w l e t habout, seeking whom he may devour," The liquor t r a f f i c i s t h e
absolute peraonf i c i a t ion, the very embodiment of Satan himself.
Our f i e r c e s t foe is Devilish and Satanic--from s t a r t t o f i n i s h devil-inspired,
devil-sustained, and devil-perpetuated. It is devlieh i n its deception, i n its defilement, and i n its destruction, It portrays itself as something highly desirable
for r i c h , f u l l , gracious and successPul l i v i n g , You know and I know t h a t it ie t h e
very opposite. It serves no good purpose, It brings only disappointment, degradation,
defeat, heartache, and heartbreak,
It is the only legalized industry i n America t h a t does not portray its finished
product. It would not dare t o do so. It would go out of business tomorrow. Moderate
and s o c i a l drinkers who are by far i t s most numerous patrons and t h e mainstay of its
continued support: would revolt in b i t t e r hatred and disgust. Impressi o n i a t i c children
and youth, now being d a i l y brainwashed and exploited and conditioned as future customera,
would turn and flee in f e a r and i n t e r r o r ,
Thfa industry knows this. $0 i n devilish deception it spends 325 million d o l l a r s
annually, u t i l i z f ng the finest advertising t a l e n t s and materials, and a l l p o s s i b l e
m d i a of communication t o misrepresent its r e a l self. It seek8 t o establish i t s e l f ae
something highly respectable and e s s e n t i a l , a s belonging t o the American way of l i f e ,
as an indispensable industry on a par with any and a l l others, It is uaually the first
t o go over its goal i n Community Chest, Y.M. and Y.W.C.A., o r other c i v i c and humanitarian drives, getting much $ought publicity f o r 60 doing and thus buying its way into
r e s p e c t a b i l i t y and public acceptance.
I n i t s multicolored advertising it presents i t s e l f as the companion and complement of beautff'ul roses, fine horses, feminine loveliness, of God's green earth, of
waving f i e l d s of golden grain, of wholesome sports, of beautiful and handsome young
people i n love with life-=-yes,even as molders and makers of s t a l w a r t men of d i s t i n c t Ion,
___I
Of course it doesn't portray the real picture: It never shows the bedraggled
alcohalic, reduced t o l i v i n g death, friendless and penniless, beating a path t o the
office doors Of our churches and welfare organizations every day i n the week seeking
Juat another dole t o satisfy h i s insatiable craving and to keep h i s poor body and
Soul together. It doesn't show t h e unending stream of p i t i a b l e and pathetic humanity
passing again and again through t h e municipal courts and c i t y j a i l s i n every wet c i t y
i n America,
No, it doesn't picture these 4,589,000 confirmed alcoholice, one-time
d i s t i n c t i o n who i n varying degrees have became m a of dreadful exttnction.
now cast aside by the liquor t r a f f i c , l e f t t o grovel i n t h e g u t t e r , t o p u b
they can. They and their pauperized families are now the care of aociety,
has transformed
1
men of
They're
up whatever
"Drink
" t h e i r s t e p i n t o a stagger,
their clothes i n t o rags,
their speech i n t o a d i t t y ,
t h e i r homes i n t o hovels
and compels them t o make their grave in potter's field and t h e i r f i n a l rendezvous
I n hell."
They don't picture the famous Bowery of New York City, with its 70,000 inhabitants,
90 per cent pathetic pieces of human wreckage. I v i s i t e d there once. I n abort space
of a few blocks, I saw thousands of men and women
groaning and moaning, cursing and fighting,
slashed, brui8sed, bludgeoned, bleeding,
or passed out, dozing i n doorways, corners, gutters, with old newspapers Bdbr t h e i r
bedding, Passersby stepped over them ae they l a y prone across the sidewalk. Police
ignored th m. There were t o o many. That's t h e way they lived. When they gaep t h e i r
l a s t breath, and l i e stiff and cold f o r a while, they are carried out t o the p o t t e r ' s
Facing Our Fiercest Foe
0
f i e l d and there buried. No one cares. The famed Bowery of New York City i s never
pictured, nor are smaller replicas of it, skidrows scattered throughout t h e wet
clti s, towns, and v i l l a g e s of America.
We a r e not t o l d t h a t 40 t o 50 per cent of the casualtiee and f a t a l i t i e s on the
e are not t o l d t h a t 80 t o 90 per cent c ? the
nation's highways a r e liquor induced. W
men and women behind prison bars name liquor as the cause of t h e i r downfall. W
e are
not t o l d t h a t liquor is the great cause of divorce. But divorce-court Judgea have
spoken through Judge Lawrence Speckman of Louisville, who declares: sp he t r u e reason
f o r marital trouble is liquor, liquor, liquor. Nbt one case i n one hundred i s f i l e d
with drunkenness a s the @ounds f o r divorce, but t h a t ' s the real reason i n 90 per cent
of the cases f i l e d , "
Is it any wonder we c a l l alcohol our f i e r c e s t foe? Everywhere it leaves i t s
destructive b l i g h t , More sickness, suffering and Borrow, more poverty and want, more
t h e f t , rape and murder, more insanity, suicides, broken homes, more Juvenile delinquency,
illegitimacy, more p o l i t i c a l corruption of every degree, stem from alcohol and the
alcohol industry than Fsom anything else.
The liquor t r a f f i c is doing more t o hinder and hamper t h e work of our churches
than a l l other e v i l s put together. Indeed it is the instrument and the a l l y of most
of them. Mahatma Ghandi, the father of the prohibition movement i n India, described
the r o l e of alcohol i n India and everywhere e l s e when he said: "India does not c a t e r
to the vices of her people, I hold drink t o be more damnable than thieving, yes,
even than prostitution. Is it not often t h e parent of both?" And our immediate answer
must be "Yes, and of most every other evil t h a t can ever be named."
To recognize the foe and t o perceive his fierceness i s one thingt TO do something
about it i s another. It's high time we did something decisive about. it, and something
disastrous t o it. Too long we have been engaged i n a cold war, and a losing one. Since
&940 the number of Americans drinking has increased a t an alarming rate--from 45 million
t o 65 million of those f i f t e e n years of age and over, a nearly 50 per cent increase,
and representing 65 per cent of the adult population, And a s it was t o be expected,
alcoholism has also shown a 50 per cent increase with 250,000 new alcoholics and problem
drinkers every year. America has come t o be the alcoholic c a p i t o l of the world with
France and Sweden following i n t h a t order.
Dr. Andrew C. Ivy, Professor of Physiology and Vice-president of the Universfty
of I l l i n o i s , and an outstanding authority on temperance, s t a t e s t h a t one out of nine
a r e heavy problem drinkers, and that ~ h o u l dthe present r a t e of increased consumption
continue t h a t within ten t o f i f t e e n years t h e r a t i o w i l l be one out of five.
So frightening are the f a c t s t h a t other than dry forcea are taking note of it.
Pageant magazine i n February carried a devastating a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d "The Big Lie About
~ o m Drinking."
e
Readers Digest i n April had a revealing a r t i c l e by Quentin Reynolds,
"The Uphill Fight Against Alcoholism." But one of the most powerful indictments of alc0h:d and moderate drinking ever t o be penned has just come f'rom the hand of Upton
S i n c l a i r , world renowned American author, It is e n t i t l e d "Cup of Fury," and is a vivid
portrayal of t h e stark tragedy i n the l i v e s of some seventy-five of his relatives and
intimate friends i n the writing profession. Twelve of them were internationally known,
Theodore Dreiser, Jack London, S i n c l a i r Lewis, Scott Fitzgerald, O.Henry, Finley Peter
Dunne, Eugene Debs, t o name a Pew. Others numbering nearly two score a r e known t o most
Americans. Individuals whose lives were cut short; sensitive, creative souls, whose
promising careers were blighted, whose premature end came i n delirium trernens, insanity,
suicide, or other f r i g h t f u l f i n a l e a11 because of drpnk, I n Upton Sinclair's own words:
" A l l of them destroying themselves! I put before the public t h i s tragic record of a
half-century of genius twisted and tortured by alcohol, and f ask t h a t it be read with
one fact always i n the back of t h e reader's mind--the f a c t t h a t three out o f & w of
today's college students are drfnking. I want them t o know the story. I want them t o
.
see t h a t the chains of the despot a r e easy t o assume when young, but of unimaginable
hardness t o break i n later years. I ask i f t h i s is what they want out of l i f e ? "
*,
Help i n t h i s conflict with the adversary i s coming from other directions, but
what a r e we ourselves as Southern Baptists going t o do? Let us consider briefly a threef o l d program of t o t a l abstinence, t o t a l warfare, and t o t a l eradication,
-
C
I
I
---
-
I. TrnAL ABSTINENCE
First, we ought unequivocably and unhesitatingly, and u m p a l o g e t ~ c a l l yreenunciate our time-honored and t r a d i t i o n a l position of t o t a l abqtinence. I ' v e had
Southern s t a t e d r y leaders say t o me, "My work would be infinite4y e a s i e r , if several
hundred thousand Baptist and Methodist and Presbyterian church m&bers would quit their
social drinking." I've had dry leaders say t o me, the pastors i n the smaller towns
and churches a r e 103 per cent co-operative, but too often the men and the churches i n
-more-
,
-
Facing; Our Fiercest Foe
*
t h e larger centers a r e silent and indifferent and shy off Prom the subject, saying:
"We have t o go easy on this issue. We might offend sorueone." I've had laymen and
laywomen from various denominational groups t o write me saying: "Please say something t h a t will stir up the pastors t o speak out on t h i s issue o f s o c i a l drinking."
I read where Aubrey Hearn says i n h i s book "The Way t o ~obriety'l- he liquor problem
is becoming more serious because of the f a c t t h a t many church people are drinking
aocially, which often silences the pulpit and the Sunday School against the e v i l s of
the l i q u o r t r a f f i c . " God forbid: God have mercy on our souls i f ever' such
indictment can be levelled against us, How i n the world can we ever expect t o
conquer t h i s t e r r i b l e adversary i f our own people consort with the enemy. And how
can our peaple do so and remain a t eaae In Zion if the preacher i a true to h i s calling as a prophet of God, a r e l e n t l e s s foe of Satan, and a champion of t o t a l abstinence. Let Us lovingly, t a c t f u l l y , but decisively, r i d obr leadership r o s t e r of any
hnd a l l who are unwilling t o subscribe t o the h i s t o t i d B a p t i s t covenant of t o t a l
abstinence. How can t h e deacon and the teacher, the c h u ~ c hand classroom leadership
be permitted t o qualify the pulpit, or how can t h e pulpit give an unceytain sound
On t h i s most crllcial issue! Let us le4d ouf churchee t o declare, on b u l l e t i n
boards, bulletins, i n our publieiLy ahd i n other ways, t h a t all the world may know--"This church teaches, preaches, practices and promotes--total abstinence. " Only
God can measure t h e impact it can have upon the life of our community, s t a t e , and
nation.
Having d e f i n i t e l y positionized oureelvee a s churches and leaders, then l e t us
show the logic of our position t o t h e oncoming generation and t o a l l who would give
serious heed. Let us show them t h a t the beet friend t h e liquor traffic has i s the
moderate, s o c i a l drinker. The way D r . Andrew Ivey has put t h i s cannot possibly be
improved upon.
Says he: "The use of alcohol beverages and t h e i r consequent e v i l s
have been great i n a nation, comuunity and family only when Christian and churches,
moat unfortunately, have exerted very l i t t l e influence on the conduct of church
members and of the community. After all who is really the cause f o r the evil
consequences of alcohol? The seven million o r more heavy, .addicted, chron icdrinkere? No,
these miserable victims a r e the worst advertisement possible. Is it the 35 million
adult abstainers? Obviously no! Then who could be t h e cause? Surely it must be the
58 million occasional or moderate drinkers who promote the ues of much beverages end
mainly support t h e i r manufacture and sale. And half of these a t l e a s t a r e church
members. If the increase i n the ravages of alcohol i n our country is t o be halted
and revereed, t h e pulpit and the Sunday School must be reconsecrated t o a militant
doctrine of t o t a l abstinence,"
TI, TOTAL WARFARE
Yes, and more than that, consecrated t o a m i l i t a n t doctrine of t o t a l warfare.
-_L_
--
We must wage unceasing warfare c l g f l r ~ ttte very tbcwkt of moderation. We
W
e must show t h a t it i s the moderate drinker who i s often invzved l u s t as seriously
And furthera s the alcoholic i n tragic accidents, i n crime, i n s i n and iniquity,
more we must show t h a t there is absolutely no guarantee t h a t t h e moderate drinker of
today w i l l not become the exceseive drlnker of tomorrow. Ia spite of a11 the s t u d i e s
t h a t have been made by Yale and others, the very l a t e s t answer as t o who w i l l become
a compulsive drinker, and when and how and why is: "We just don't know," Just
-
three years ago, September 30, 1953, i n t h i s very c i t y one of the most dastardly
crimes i n t h e h i s t o r y of our nation took place--the unspeakably cruel kidnapping
and slaying of little Bobby Greenlease by CarlAustin Hall and Bonnie Heady. The
crime was concocted and executed by liquor-soaked minds. When the sentence was
prounced and Mrs. Heady was eent t o die i n gas chambers, U. S. District Attorney
Edward L. Schufler said of Mrs. Heady: "Before she started her downhill s l i d e t o
crime she was a respected housewife. Just a year ago she waa divorced, Her case
should be a lesson t o society. Here we have a broken home and a broken life and
what began i n social drinking ended i n tragedy,"
Should we not insist on people asking themselves t h i s searching question: "Has
the drinking of alcoholic beverages contributed so much t o my happiness t h a t I want
my child or other children t o take t h e one-in-nine change of becoming an alcoholic?"
Is it any wonder t h a t Upton
drinking. I w i l l not keep i n my
nine people who stoop t o p e t it.
harms just one of every 5, 9, o r
S i n c l a i r says: "I cast my vote against s o c i a l
house a dog t h a t b i t e s one out of every f i v e t o
Nor w i l l I sanction alcohol because it dooms or
16 people who drink."
W
e must wage t o t a l warfare against the idea t h a t alcoholism i s a diaease.
Nothing has pleased the liquor crowd more than t h a t sage
That
- pronouncement.
completely absolvea alcohol. The cause then is somewhere else, and where it i a
t h e wise one cannot o r w i l l not say. But we know where it is. It's i n t h a t first
drink. Alcoholism is a disease. It's a h e l l i s h disease, The prowling lion has
crept up and eiezed hold of the helpless victim. It's a different kind of disease
(more )
-
*
from heart disease, and cancer and tuberculosis with which three it ranks a close
fourth as the four top k i l l e r s i n America today. Yes, I t ' s a different diaease.
Instead of being b i t t e r l y fought with vaccines and s c a l p e l and potent drugs and
s k i l l e d surgery, and unceasing fund d r i v e s as are the first three k i l l e r s , t h i s i a
promoted by skillful advertising costing $32~,000,000.00 annually. Yes, it' 8 a
different dieease--it f a self *induced, self -imposed, self-contracted, The victim
needs a l l our loving compassion and help, but nevertheless God's word doesn't condone
it but condemns it when it says: "Neither thieves, nor covetoue, nor drunkards, nor
r e v i l e r s , nor extortioners, s h a l l i n h e r i t t h e kingdom of God" ( I Cor. 6:10).
A 1 1 credit t o any and a l l individuale, and organizations, and chapkers, who
in any way are offering help t o the alcoholic, We ought to encourage them to t h e
f'ullest and u t i l i z e their assiFJGance when feasible. Nevertheless, we ought t o remember t h a t i n t h e regenerating power of t h e Lord Jesus Christ we have the only
real and abiding and life-transforming cure, and that i n the Christian standard of
t o t a l abstinence we have the only sure preventire. We ought to realize, too, t h a t
by en aggressive program of evangelism and Christian Education, year I n and year
out, we i n our churchee a r e not only salvaging many sick men and women a f f l i c t e d by
t h i s dreadful and different disease, but we are aaving millions of f i n e young people
from the risks, ravages, and ruinations t h a t a l i f e of drinking might otherwise
present.
In waging t o t a l warfare we do well t o back t o the utmost the valiant e f f o r t s
of our state temperance organizations, and the National Temperance League, t h e
l a t t e r so ably headed during the past five years by two of our own met distinguished
leaders, f i r s t D r . R. G. Lee and now by Dr. Duke McCal1. These organizations, a t a t e
and national, are i n the front line i n holding back the floodtides of alcohol, and they
a r e doing it on shamefully limited budgets. They need and deserve much greater support
t h a n most of them have received,
-
Southern Baptists need t o get behind these?, and behind our Christian Life
Commission headed by D r . A. C. Miller, and press now for action on the b i l l s before
Congrsse concerning li uor advertising and a i r l i n e liquor sales. There's a great
7%deal of "brainwashing
t a k i n ~place i n t h e l i v i n g rooms 09 our homes, One l i t t l e
girl of f i v e years of age would always say on passing a billboard with a whiskey or
beer b o t t l e on it "we don't believe i n t h a t , do we, Daddy?" When t h i s same c h i l d
had reached seven and had l i s t e n e d f'requently to appealing announcements on TV about
bees--it being so smooth, so velvety, so pleading t o the t a s t e , she said: "Daddy,
I think I ' d l i k e t o try I t sometime and see j u s t haw it dots taste." And many
t a n-agera who otherwise wouldn't, are doing just t h a t thing. Yet the brewers i n
their mast recent journal, deplore the f a c t t h a t they a r e not reaching t h e younger
generation rapidly enough. For the first time they a r e r e a l l y afraid t h a t something
i e going t o come of the anti-advertising b i l l s . And something will come of them if
an aroused church membership i n America. w i l l but make itself heard in no uncertain
terms, It is t r u e t h a t the alcohol industry b a l e g a l buainess, but it is alao true
that it i s a different business--one that is destructive of much of the finest i n our
s o c i a l l i f e , one that has always had an unsavory reputation, needing constant
supervision, and one that does not deserve free and unlimited access t o the sacred
Precincts of o u r homes. And it can be kept out i f church people take t h e trouble
t o demand it now,
111.
TOTAL rnAD1CATION
-
Total abstinence, t o t a l warfare, and f i n a l l y total eradication. If t h e alcohol
t r a f f i c is as we have described it, our fiercest foe, and i f we a r e eager t o vote it
out of our local communities and keep its false propaganda out of our homes, then there
can be only one ultimate objective for us as Christians--total eradication. Dr.
Robert Millkien, Nobel prize winner i n physics, once said t o some i n q u i r i n g students a t
the California Institute of Technology: "If you want t o i n d i c t t h e intelligence
of American public, you cannot do it b e t t e r than t o point out t h a t they spend annually
9 t o 10 billion d o l l a r s for l i q u o r , but only half as much f o r a l l forme of education,
less than one-third as much for all kinds of religion , and that 80 f a r as the health
and economic well-being of our country is concerned we would be better off if it was
all pwred down the drain."
-
Many of our grandfathers and s p i r i t u a l forbears believed t h a t with all t h e i r
soule. They d i d aomethfng about i t . They worked and prayed and fought on the local
f'ront u n t i l by 1919 thirty-three s t a t e s had voted dry, and 63 percent of t h e population
and 95 percent of the land area of the United S t a t e s had been dried up either by
local o r e t a t e laws, An angry public, aroused over the debauching, defiling, del
s t r u c t i v e influences of the liquor traffic then went on and made it nationwide i n 1920.
We have bean t o l d t h a t it was "put over" on the American public by f a n a t i c a l extremists
when the soldiers were overaeaa i n World War I. This is a bold l t e . The armistice
was signed November 11, 1918, and t h e men s t a r t e d returning a t once. America was s i c k
and t i r e d of booze, America wanted prohibition. America wae ready for it. But our
forefathers thought the hard fought victory was won, They took a well-deserved but an
(more)
untimely rest from t h e i r strenuous f i e h t , Enforcement of a federal law was strangely
l e f t to local a u t h o r i t i e s and courts, The west started i n a t once with a hellish
barrage of l i e s and f a l s e propaganda t h a t culmiuated in t h e ringingpresidential
b a t t l e c r y of 1932, "the 18th Amendment fs doomed .'I And doomed it was the next Year,
Despite the lax enforcement and the other mistakes made, drinking i n America
had been reduced a t l e a s t 50 percent from what it hail been i n the ten years preceding
prohibition, and by 1936 with repeal in full force it had only climbed t o 70 percent*
Prohibition had been d e f i n i t e l y effective. Bwas repealed w i t h the promise t h a t
the old-time saloon would never r e t u r n , that gangsters would b e unknown, and bootlW3giW
a thing o f the past. Strangely enough a l l a r e back with us i n undiminished number
and like the demon i n t h e parable of Jesus, they have returned with seven other
demons worse than themselves. We started out by saying that alcohol was of Satan.
We close by saying the same. If our t h e s i s is correct, then it must go, and go
completely, and go it w i l l if God" people so decree.
We are t o l d t h a t the i l l u s t r i o u s Robert E . Lee was approached after the War
between the S t a t e s by the infamous promoters of the Louisiana Lottery. He s a t
in his ald rocking chair d i t h his crutches at his side listening t o their unbelievable
proposition, He asked them t o repeat it t o be sure he heard aright. They said
they wanted no money from him, a l l they wanted waB t h e use of h i s name, and for
that they would make him rich. General Lee straightened up i n h i s ch&, buttoned
his old gray tunic about him and thundered: "Gentlemen, I lost my home in the war.
1 lost my fortune i n the war, I l o s t everything i n t h e war except my name. MY name
is not for sale, and if you don't get out of here I'll break this crutch over your
heads." The name of Southern Baptists is a t stake. God give to. ue a double measure
of t h a t kind of righteousindignation as we crusade as never before, f o r
t o t a l abstinence from
total warfare against
t o t a l eradication of
our fiercest foe.
A great Methodist dry leader i n one of our Southern S t a t e s recently wrote me
saying: "Southern Baptists have the f i n e s t Sunday School and Training Union program
i n America. I pray to God t h a t they may also take the lead i n t h e liquor f i g h t .
They have the people and the strength t o dry up the whole Southland whenever they
choose.'' Qod grant, that we may choose t a begin r i g h t now!
Southern BEcptist Convention
1956 - at Kansas city, MO.
A l b e r t McClellan
,
-
LI
RF;ZEASE: Morning papere
fii,, June 1
..
OF DIVISION OF PROMOTION, SOUTHERN BAPTIST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Y, H e ,
Nashville, ~B&czor of Promotion ana REmCTEb aec5etary
Development of an enlarged program of church finance f o r use within the Southern
Baptist Convention i s continuing, according t o Merrill D, Moore, director of promotion and
associate secretary of the Southern Baptist Executive Committee,
The program was approved i n 1955 when the Southern Baptist Convention held i t s annual
session i n Miami, Fla.
Moore said that a church finance workshop was held i n Nashville, Tennessee, Dec. 10-14,
1955, and t h a t a church finance c l i n i c will be held, a l s o i n Nashville, June 9-13.
"Participants i n t h i s clinic," he declared, "will be the executive secretaries i n the
t h e i r a s s i s t a n t s i n charge of promotion, the e d i t o r s of Eaptist state papers,
heads of Southern Baptist boards and agencies, and members of the Promotion Committee of the
Southern Baptist Convention. I'
states and
P i l o t t e s t a of the church finance program w i l l be held this f a l l "in a f e w s e l e c t
churches i n each s t a t e " i n the Southern Baptist Convention, he continued. These will be
planned by the executive secretaries of the various s t a t e Baptist conventions.
Coupled with pilot t e s t s will be c l i n i c s i n church finance i n each of the cities.
These c l i n i c s w i l l be open t o a l l l o c a l pastors of Southern Paptist churches and to v i s i t ing ministers taking part i n stewardship revivals a t the same time.
Waterials f o r the church finance program are being prepared under direction of the
Executive Comittee and will be available t o churches generally i n 1957, according to Moore.
Southern Baptists reached a Cooperative Program goal of $34 million during 1955, Moore
reported. The goal was s e t i n 1954 but not reached t h a t year, In 1955, the goal was
surpassed, with contributions through Cooperative Program reaching $35,705,996.
This includes both the Cooperative Program money used t o support educational and missionary
work of s t a t e Baptist conventions and that used t o support Southern Paptist Convention
boards, agencies, and seminaries, The 1956 goal is $38 million.
Moore t o l d the Convention t h a t 1957 will be "World Missions Year" i n the Southern
Baptist Convention. Churches around the Convention t h i s f a l l w i l l observe a "world Missions
Week. "
Memill D. Moore i s director of promotion f o r the Executive Comittee of the SBC. A
native of Senatobia, Miss., born Nov. 14, 1904, he m s educated a t Mississippi College,
Clinton, Miss., and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky, He has pastored
churches i n Missfssfppi, Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama,, and Tennessee. Moore a l s o was president of Tennessee College for Women. He has been a member of the Convention's Relief and
Annuity Board, i t s Executive Committee, and its Social Service (now Christian ~ i f e )Commission, Residence and office: Nashville, Tenn.
1956 - a t Kansas City, MO,
Office of B e e s Representative
Albert McClellan
RE&EASE: Morning ppers
&i.,
June 1
REfGN MISSION BQARD. RICHMOND, V
A
~
Sxecutive Secretary
I1
Reaponse t o t h e c a l l for mission volunteers is more encouraging than ever before," Dr.
Baker Jams Cauthen, executive secretary, said i n presenting the annual report of the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board.
"Not only are young people dedicating themselves, but experienced pastors and other
workers already established i n posts of service (other than as missionaries) are reconaidering t h e i r personal responsibility and volunteering f o r mission fields.
"One hundred and four missionaries were appointed i n 1955. It i s our objective t o
appoint a minimum of 125 i n 1.956 and succeeding years. That number should be steadily lncreased as the c a l l of world need i s heard," Cauthen continued.
"God i s a t work i n the hearts of Southern Baptists moving toward a vastly enlarged
world mission undertaking. The conviction t h a t Southern Baptists must enlarge t h e i r world
ministry has continued to deepen during the past year. Money given through the Southers
Baptist Convention's Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering f o r foreign
missions brought more financial resources t o the Board than i n any previous year i n i t s
history.
"The
resources
from t h i s
ourselves
world mission enterprise can be expanded," he said, " j u s t a s rapidly a s additional
i n p r s o n n e l and finances are available. May God grant t h a t we shall go away
meeting of the Convention resolved t h a t through the help of t h e Lord we w i l l give
t o a world task i n keeping with the expectations of our sovereign Lord:"
Southern Baptists had 1,020 foreign missionaries i n active service i n 35 countries
and t e r r i t o r i e s of t h e world at the close of 1955. Among them were 392 men, 402 married
women, and 226 single women.
O f f i c i a l reports from the overseas missions a t the end of 1955 reveal t h a t the 2,250
Baptiat churches related t o Southern Baptist work baptized 24,342 people Last year, bringing the t o t a l membership of the churches t o 236,494. (Hgures from China have not been
available since 1949 and are not counted i n the reports.) These churchea were served by
1,541 national and 130 missionary pastors. A t o t a l of 4,677 nationals worked alongside
Southern Baptist missionaries i n 1955.
Fourteen hundred and twenty-four of the churches a r e self-supporting; a l l of them
together contributed the equivalent of $1,582,388 during the year.
There was a t o t a l of 3,880 outstations a t the end of the year, most of which w i l l
become churches.
The 3,209 Sunday schools on mission f i e l d s showed an enrolment of 263,532; the 3,401
youth groups, 101,740; and the 2,861 missionary societies, 62,973.
Among the 791 Baptist schools on foreign f i e l d s were 22 theological seminaries with
896 enrolled and eight t r a i n i n a schools with 684 enrolled.
Thirteen Baptist hospitals, 10 dispensaries, and 30 c l i n i c s were served by 35
missionary physicians, 54 national physicians, 42 missionary nurses, and LO7 national
nurses, These medical u n i t s ministered to a t o t a l of 240,411 patients during 1955.
Ten publication plants printed 195,000 Bibles; 483,435 copies of 155 books; 4,034,994
pieces of 307 t r a c t s , and 2,194,537 copies of 128 periodicals,
Ten good-will centers enrolled 1,688 children and 797 adults.
"Only a small portion of t h e story can be told," Dr. Cauthen said. "The remainder w i l l
have to be visualized i n terms of love, devotion, and sacrifice, making possible what has
been done .I1
The Foreign Mission Board's t o t a l income f o r 1955 reached an all-time high of
$11,108,268, an increase of more than 9 per cent over 1954. Approximately 94 per cent of
this t o t a l was used f o r support of missionaries and work conducted abroad,
more
Report--Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board--page 2
Balrer Jams Cauthen, now serving as executive secretary of the Southern Baptist Foreign
Mission Board, had experience as a Baptist missionary on foreign fields prior t o taking t h a t
position, A f t e r serving as a missionary from 1939-45, he became secretary f o r Foreign Mission Board work i n the Orient. In t h a t capacity, he served until 1953 when he became
executive secretary. The Board has offices in Richmond, Va., also Cauthenfs home, He is a
native of Hulltsville, Tex., born Dec, 20, 1909. He was educated a t Stephen F, Austin
Teachers College, Nacogdoches, Tex., Baylor University, FJaco, Tex., and Southwestern
Baptist ~heologicalSeminary, - Fort worth, Tex. He was ordained t o t h e Eaptist ministry in
1927
FOR RELEASE: k r n i n g papers
1956 at Kansas City, hb,
Office of Bees Representative
Albert l/lcClelhn
-
Ikiday, June 1
~m
ON
THEOLOGICAL EDUCATIONIST
~nurch, Tulsa, Okla.
The special committee on theological education recommended conditionally that the
Southern Baptist Convention e s t a b l i s h i t s s i x t h seminary,
Chaimnan J, W, Storer, who presented the report, said the conditions a r e (1) t h a t a
suitable s i t e be found, and (2) t h a t the new seminary be Financed without impairing e x i s t ing activities of t h e Convention,
The committee on theological education also recommended t h a t the Southern Baptist
Convention take over control and operation of Carver School of Missions and Social Work,
Louisville, Ky., or withdraw support,
The school i s located next door t o Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has been
operated by the Conventiont s woments auxiliary, the Woman's Missionary Union. The Convent i o n has contributed support t o i t s operation but has not elected i t s directors, Under
the committee recommendation, the WMU would get out of the i n s t i t u t i o n business by turning
Carver over t o the Convention including the right t o e l e c t trustees, or the WMU would
operate Carver without support from the Convention.
The committee on theological education also recommended t h a t the Southern Betptist Convention not allocate a per centage of its annual budget t o any agency o r i n s t i t u t i o n f o r .
which the Convention does not elect trustees o r directors,
Stoxer reporta that the committee asks t o be continued for another year t o determine
when the Southern Baptist Convention should establish i t s s i x t h seminary and where t h a t
seminary should be located.
The committee reported having met once during the year with trustees of Central Bapt i s t Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Kans a seminary a f f i l i a t e d with the American
Baptist Convention. However, a large part o f the student body a t Central comes from t h
Southern Baptist Convention and many of i t s trustees are Southern Baptists.
,,
The discussions with Central trustees ended with the indication they m i @ t be resumed
at a later date, The Central trustees were interested i n circlmstances under which the
Southern Baptist Convention would give financial aid t o Central Seminary, according t o
Storer
.
The coxmnittee recommended further that t h e Convention s e t a policy o f not undertaking
joint ownership, support, and administration of any theological i n s t i t u t i o n with any other
Baptist body,
A t present the Southern Baptist Convention operates f i v e seminaries--Southern Baptist
Theological Seuinary, h u i s v i l l e ; Southwestern Baptlst Theological Seminary, Fort Worth,
%x.; Mew Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, La.; Southeastern Baptist
Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N. C , and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary,
Berkeley, Calif, The SBC also operates jointly with the National Baptlst Convention,
U, S , A,, Inc., a Negro body, a seminary for Negro students a t Nashville known as the
American Baptist Theological Seminary.
.
J. tJ. Storer, Immediate past president of t h e Southern Baptist Convention and chairman of i t s special cormnittee on theological education, i s pastor of F i r s t Baptiat Church,
Tulsa, Okla, He has a wide experience i n service i n Baptist l i f e , pastoring churches
also in temessee, Virginia, and Mississippi, Before becoming president of the SBC i n
1953, Storer was president of the Executive Cornittee of the Convention and was the first
person ever elected t o both posts i n Convention history. He served on many convention.
boards and trustee of many colleges. He i s a native 2 Burlington, Kans. born Dec. I,
1884.
,"
NOTE: Since Storer prepared the committee report, and since the time the connittee met
with Central Seminary o f f i c i a l s , t h a t seminary has decided t o completely a l i g n itself wi$b
the American Baptist Convention, Nine Southern Baptists serving as Central Seminary trustees resigned t h e i r positions as such.
- 30-
-
RELEASE: Mternoon gapers
Ri., June 1
Albert McClellan
REPORT OF SOU'EBIW BAPTIST FOUNDATIONI NASHVILU, TENN,
wcretary, T. L, Holcomr,
Executive Secretary T. L, Holcomb of the Southern Baptist Found&ion has announced h i s
retirement from the Ebundation effective June 1,
He reported he plans t o become associate pastor of Zahwood Baptist Church, &Was,
Tex,, where his son, Luther Holcomb, i s pastor,
Holcomb became executive secretary of the Foundation June 1, 1953, a f t e r r e t i r i n g as
executive secretary of the Baptist Sunday School Board i n Nashville, Tenn.
This i s h i s 21st am& report t o the Southern Baptist Convention f o r an agency of the
Convention, He made reports for the Sunday School Board f o r 18 years and f o r the past
three, made them for the Foundation, In addition, i n 1934, he preached the annual
Convention sermon, This was the year before he went t o the Sunday School Board,
"The year 1955, I' f o r which Holcomb is reporting, "was marked by the steady promess, I'
he said, The Foundation entered its 10th anniversary ~ear--l956--with "a record. of
accuracy, promptness, and Christian courtesy. I' The future, according t o Holcomb, "grows
brighter and more promising."
Nearly every other agency and i n s t i t u t i o n of the Southern Baptist Convention has
placed t r u s t f'unds with the Foundation t o be invested, Total assets of the Foundation on
Dec. 31, 195.5, were $1,873,069. There a l s o a r e many individual accounts.
(since k c . 31, when the year ended on which t h i s report i s based, the Foundation has
received additional t r u s t funds from SBC agencies and schools. This enabled it t o surpass
i t s 10th anniversary goal of $2 million i n t o t a l assets. )
Holcomb said it was "fortunate" the 10-year growth of the Foundation has been gradual.
"It takes time Por an organization handling the l i f e savings of people to prove i t s i n t e g r i t y
of purpose and performance, \Je are glad t o report t h a t nothing has occurred since the
Foundation was authorized by the Southern Baptist Convention ( i n 1946) t h a t would r e t l e c t
unfavorably, "
A "very successful" conference was held in Nashville last
"The Ministry o f Baptist Foundations, " Holcomb declared. Many
of h p t i s t foundations located i n state conventions affiliated
then, The conference helped foundation o f f i c e r s f e e l they are
Christian team,
T o
December under the theme
of the executive secretaries
with the SBC were present
"members of a great
L. Holcomb joined the Southern Baptist Foundation as i t s executive secretary June
1953. Prior t o %hathe was f o r 18 years the executive secretary of the Baptist Sunday
School Bard, a l s o located i n Nashville, Tenn. Born h r v i s , Miss., Dec, 22, 1882, Holcomb
1,
Miss., and a t Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary, Louisville, Ky. Other denominational experience includes pastorates i n
Mississippi, Kentucky, Texas, and Oklahoma; member of Executive Committee of the SBC, and
secretary of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He was ordained t o the Baptist
mlnistry i n 1904 and has spoken on many occasions t o Baptist groups a t s m e r assemblies,
was educated a t Mississippi College, Clinton,
.
FOR RELEASE: Afternoon papers
fiiday, June 1
1956 at ~ansascity, W.
Albert McClelLan
-
An increase i n E a p t i s t growth goes hand in hand with increased circulation of Baptist
state newspapers, according t o B, J o Murrie, chairman of the committee on Baptist s t a t e
ppers r
"Increase i n membership, baptisms, finance, and Baptist work was i n d i r e c t prop4rtion
t o the circulation of these Baptist papers, " he said, "When the ctrculation declined or
the pagers were discontinued, the denomhat ion 10s t i n baptisms, membership, and churches. "
"Southern Baptists began t o have t h e i r greatest growth i n numbers, finance, and i n a11
areas of work a f t e r the Convention appointed a committee on Baptist state paper circulation
and had the late George W. Truekt (pastor of F i r s t Baptist Church, Dallas, Tex.) t o speak
for the papers a t the Baltimore Convention i n 1940,I' Mmrie declared.
Circulation of a l l Baptist s t a t e newspapers then was 192,000; it is near 1,250,000
IloW,
"The papers," Murrie stated, "do not claim t h a t these gains are solely responsible
t o the increased circulation, The paprs have been the medium through which publicity i n
evangelism, increased Sunday school enrolment, stewardship, and a11 Southern B p t i s t emphases has been carried."
The papers operate on two principles generally--(l) t h a t a democracy pxogresaea in
proportion t o its, Informed membership f o r arriving a t i n t e l l i g e n t conclusions, and (2) that
the papers are the real voice and the recorded action of the denomination rather than the
directive of a minority group speaking t o the majority,
"Faith, as d i s t i n c t l y held i n Bible teachings and as h i s t o r i c a l l y believed and pract i c e d by Baptists a f f i l i a t e d w i t h the Southern Baptist Convention, i s t h e unifying force
, .&ptist history through the ages shows t h a t when groups went i n
of the state papers.
sepwate directions they were led and influenced by some Baptist paper, State papers
staying together on the f a i t h axe uniting Baptists i n facts which are revealed i n stat i s t i c a l records, If according t o h r r i e
.
.
Management of the Baptist papers i n most states is similar, As a whole, they are the
official organs of the various s t a t e Ehptist conventions, directed by a l i t e r a t u r e c m i t t e e or board of directors elected by and responsible t o the state conventions, "Every
church and individual Baptist i s a shareholder i n the state paper," he said.
The l o c a l papers meet needs within individual states and a t t h e same time alao spur
the general life of t h e Southern Baptist Convention,
There are two safeguards on the part oi these papers, The first, on the side of t h e i r
editors, "is the freedom of the press and the r i g h t t o constructive criticism." For the
people, it i s the right t o use the paper t o promote the particular phase of work they are
interested in.
"The freedom of thought and speech, with diversity of opinion, through the state
papers, has brought Southern Baptists t o the greatest unity i n the history of any large
democracy, " Mtxmie stated.
The committee chairman declared t h a t the change i n promotion of the papers ?3mm an
individual subscriber basis t o the wholesale church plan (whereby the church budgets t h e
paper each year f o r every family i n its membership) was the beginning of the greatest
advancement i n the history of the Southern Baptist Convention, he said. It was the changing point in 150 yeaxs of Baptist journalism i n the United States.
Problems confronting the papers have to do with size of the Southern Baptist Convent i o n and the r i s i n g cost of newspaper production. The Convention is maring, yet at the
time when state papers need t o grow with it, there i s the r i s i n g cost of putting out the
papers
.
more
page 2--Report of Committee on Baptist State Papers
Murrie recommended t h a t the committee on Ehptist state papers be merged with that on
Baptist state papers circulation camraign, of which Louie D. Hewton is chairman. (see
report of committee on Baptist state papers circulation campsign, )
Such a combining of the committees will reduce duplication and t h e on the annual
SBC promam and in the Conventionts Annual, its yearbook,
Mwrie also reconmsended wider adoption of the every family plan under which churches
budget the paper for every family in their membership.
B. J. Murrie, who is chairman of the committee on Baptist state papers, is editor of
the Illinois Baptist, weekly publication of Southern Baptists in Illinois. It is publiahed
at Carbondale. Murrie was born Nov. 25, 1900 at Vienna, Ill., and educated at Ewing
College and Southern Baptist Seminary. He came to the editorship of the Illinoia paper
i n 1940 after being pastor in East St, Louis, 111, He a l s o held other pastorates in
Illinois and Kentucb. He has been member and officer of a number of denominational boards.
1956 - at Kansas city, W.
Albert McClellan
-
-
REPORT OF SBC COWITTEE ON MIST
FDR RELJWE: Afternoon papers
Biday, June 1
SWTE PAPERS CIRCULATION C A M P A I G ~
u. Newton, Atlanta, Ga.
The Southern h p t i s t Convention has been asked by the committee on Baptist state papers circulation campaign t o merge that connnittee with the SBC committee on Baptist state
WPrs
.
Louie D o Newton, Atlanta, Ga,, minister who is chairman of the circulation committee,
joined B, 5 . Murrie, who reported f o r the state papers committee, i n making t h i s
recommendation.
(See report of Baptist state papers committee. )
Newton described the work of the c i r c u l a t i o n committee as a "Thrilling undertaking"
since it was created in 1940 to promote reading of t h e now more than 20 state Baptist
papers published within the Southern Baptist Convention, most of them on a weekly basis.
Newton urged the 30,377 churches in the Convention t o place the Baptist state papers
in their annual budgets t o be delivered t o every family in the churches1 memberships.
Many churches already follow this procedure,
Louie D, Nefion, who was president of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1947 and
1948 and has served since as chairman of several Convention committees, was born in
Screven County, Ga., April 27, 1892. He was educated at Mercer University, Macon, Ga., and
a t Columbia University. E:cperience has included serving as professor of history a t Mercer,
editor of the Christian fnde,:, state weekly Baptist newspaper for Georgia, and as member of
numerous groups and committees. He served a term as associate secretary of the Baptist
World Alliance. Since 1929, he has been pastor of h u i d Hills Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga.
REZEASE: Af'ternwn papers
h i d a y , June 1
Albert McClellan
-
alla as, Tex., Field Secretary
Some p a r t of the Bible has been published i n 1092 languages and dialects, Thomas T.
Holloway, Dallas, f i e l d secretary of the American Bible Scoiety reported t o the annual Southern Baptist Convention.
This i s eight more languages than were included i n the l a s t report of the American
Bible Society, he said.
The e n t i r e Bible has been published i n 207 languages and d i a l e c t s ; the e n t i r e New
Teetament i n 265, and a t least one e n t i r e book of the Bible i n the remainder.
During the l a s t year, the American Bible Society has provided t r a n s l a t i o n s f o r people
in Northern Rhodesia, Belgian Congo, Angola, Sudan, Bum, Guatemala, Nigeria, Papua, ]French
Equatorial Africa, Mexico, the Philippines, New Guinea, and Dahomey (west Africa).
There are some 80 languages, according to Holloway, i n which short passages o r collections of passages have been published, but i n which no complete book of the Bible has
appeared.
A New Testament has been produced i n Portugese Rraille. I n seven large volumes, it
A number of copies are being sent t o Fkazil f o r use among
the blind there. The Society also has recorded a small volume of Scripture passages from
both O l d and New Testaments on talking book records f o r those Portugese-speaking blind persons who are unable t o read with t h e i r f i n g e r t i p s .
came off t h e press only recently.
Scriptures for the blind have been made available i n 41 languages during the 120 years
the American Bible Society has served t h i s handicapped group, the f i e l d secretary reported.
For the 18th year, the Society i s engaging i n an annual d i s t r i b u t i o n of Bible reading
seals. The seals t h i s year are i n blue and orange. They dramatize, according t o Holloway,
the basic purpose of the Society which i s t o encourage a wider circulation of the Holy
Scriptures,
Among planned Bible-reading programs reported to the Society i s one which was announced
by prisoners serving terns a t Western State Penitentiary, Pittsburgh, Pa. The pxfeoners
planned the Bible-reading crusade themselves and d i s t r i b u t e d several hundred daily reading
bookmarks furnished by the Society.
Thomas T, Holloway, f i e l d secretary f o r the American Bible Society in Dallas, Tex., is
a native of Dallas. He was born there July 30, 1904, He is a graduate of Southern Methodist
University, Binceton Theological Seminary and Princeton University. He was ordrzined into
the ministry a t F i r s t Ebptist Church, Dallas, i n 1933. I n Southern Baptist dellominational
work, Holloway has been h p t i s t minister f o r college students i n Dallas and a d i r e c t o r of
tours f o r Baptist students t o the student r e t r e a t a t Ridgecrest, N. C, Since 1942, he has
been with the American Bible Society as a f i e l d secretary,
FOR REUASE: Afternoon papers
Friday, June 1
1956 a t Kansas City, ~IO.
Albert Mc Clellan
-
(FEPoI~ OF C&PIAIMS' COMMISSION OF SOUTHERN BAPTIST HOME MISSION BOARD/
By Alfred Carpenter, Director, Atlanta, a.
7
Southern Baptists have 430 ministers serving on active duty as chaplains i n various
branches of the service and the veterans administration. This f i l l s the quota8 for activeduty Southern Baptist men i n a l l branches.
Alfred Carpenter, d i r e c t o r - o f the Chaplains' Comission, reported there are openings
f o r Southern Baptists t o serve in reserve capacities i n the army, navy, air force, V. A.,
and i n the c i v i l a i r patrol.
Southern Baptist chaplains have organized Sunday schools and Baptist Training Unions,
a s well as summer Vacation Bible schools, i n many cases, A booklet, The New Life, has been
published t o aid chaplains i n teaching d i s t i n c t i v e Baptist beliefs.
The denomination's chaplains also have taken p a r t i n evangelistic crusades, Chaplains
i n a l l branches reported numbers of servicemen making professions of faith i n Christ.
The Southern k p t i s t chaplains a l s o
t r u e i n places where there i s no Baptist
of men with him, are establishing a laan
Fort Worth, Tex., t o educate ministerial
organize B~ptistwork,
have mission op~ortunities. This is especiaUy
work, An Army chaplain i n Alaska, and a group
f b d a t Southwestern h p t i s t Theological Seminary,
students from Alaska who plan
return there t o
Another chaplain and group of men i n tlie A i r Force gave $4000 t o Southern Baptist
mission ~rorkduring a year la time.
An organization known as the
chaplains and ministers on active
Southern k p t i s t Convention. Its
help Southern Baptists keep alert
ministry.
Southern Baptist Chaplains' Association includes former
duty. It meets annually during the session of the
purpose i s t o promote fellowship among chaplains and t o
t o the s p i r i t u a l needs within t h i s s w c i a l type of
During the year, the Chaplains' Comission employed George W. Cumins as associate
director t o enlarge the scope and effectiveness of t h i s commissionls service t o the
Southern Baptist chaplains.
Director of the Chaplains Commission of the SBC Home Mission Board is ALfred Carpenter,
a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Tex, In addition to
pastorates i n Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma, he served f o r three years as superintendent
of missions i n Panama and l a t e r was with the Home Msssion b a r d within the United States.
I n 1945, Carpenter was on a special military mission, travelling around the world viewing
work of chaplains. A s a r e s u l t of t h i s and other government missions, he was awarded, i n
1947, the Presidential citation, "Medal for k r i t I' The Chaplains Commission has off ices
i n Atlanta, Ga,
.
FOR FWUAW,: Afternoon 'papers
Biday, June 1
1956 - a t Kansas City, W.
Albert McClellan
>
G p o ~ i o mLIEF
F
AND
By ~
x
e
v
-
mwIm mum OF sBc
i
~
a
a*~e
,
The year 1955 has been one of the most successful years of the Southern Elaptis* Relief
and Annuity Board, the annual report af i t s executive secretary declared.
R. Alton Reed said a s s e t s of the agency a t t h e close of 1955 were over $42 million.
He expected a s s e t s t o increase another $8 million during the current year.
1955 marked the inaugurettioli of new retirement and annuity plans. These plans benefit,
i n addition t o ministers, other persons i n denominational work. This especially p r t a i n s
t o persons employed by various denominational boards and agencies.
During the year, the Relief and Annuity Board also surveyed the need f o r a hospitalization insurance program f o r the more than 22,000 ministers of Southern Baptist churches.
A samplin8 of 1500 ministers--including various salary levels, ages, and size churches-was taken. I n addition t o asking them about hospital insurance, the Board also asked
their i n t e r e s t s i n a ministerst g o u p insurance plan and a systematic monthly savings plan.
There were 1129 replies. 66 per cent already had hospitalization coverage, but 4-6
per cent said they would be interested i n a hospital plan sponsored by the R&A Board.
73* per cent were interested i n taking part in a group insurance plan and 53 per cent i n
the systematic savings plan,
( ~ o t et o editors: A t the t h e thF! formal> printed report was prepared, Reed anticipated
additional information to develop i n time t o be added t o h i s oral report t o the Convention.)
The plan t o have group insurance was t o be considered by the Board's executive commit t e e prior t o t h e date of the Southern Baptist Convention but a f t e r the printed report had
been prepared.
fill effects of the government's offering social security coverage t o ministers has
not been felt yet, Reed said. However, he reported that some Bapti~tministers camelled
t h e i r denominational retirement participation a f t e r going on s o c i a l security coverage.
The R&A Board takes the position that ~ o c i a lsecurity does not replace the denomination's
program but supplements it.
Reed said there i s a large number of people who a r e e l i g i b l e f o r participation i n
Southern Baptist retirement plans who a r e not taking part. An e f f o r t i s being made t o
i n t e r e s t these people i n the plans.
Two associate secretaries joined the staff of t h e Board during 1955, They are L.
Taylor Daniel, who is i n charge of g i f t annuities and r e l i e f , and F'loyd B. Chaffin, who is
director of public relations.
R. Alton Reed became executive secretary of t h e Relief and Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention l a s t year. Before taking t h i s ~ o s i t i o n , he served the Board i n
a public relations capacity. He i s a native of Henderson, Tex,, born June 4, 1906.
Following education a t Baylor University, Waco, Tex., and a t Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary and University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky., Reed became chief announcer and
continuity sunervisor f o r 3-$ years f o r Station KRLD, Dallas, Tex. He a l s o has been pastor
of several Texas churches. In 194.7 he became director of public relations and radio for
the Baptist General Convention of Texas, serving u n t i l 1953 when he joined the R&A Board.
He i s credited with an idea which resulted i n Voice of America broadcasts t e l l i n g about
freedom of worship i n America,
1956 - at Kansas city, MO.
Albert McCle l l a n
REXZASl?,:
Afternoon papers
F Y I * , June 1
By ~ e o r ~W,e Schroeder, Memphis, Executive Secretary
"The year just past was one of the most outstanding years of advance i n the history of
the Brotherhood Commission,'' George W, Schroeder, Commission executive secretary, told the
Southern Baptist Convention.
He said there was a 5.8 per cent gain i n membership i n the Brotherhood organizations
i n 9,625 churches i n the Southern Baptist Convention. Membership reached 289,307 in 1955.
"During the past year the Brotherhood Commission reached a milestone i n the quarterly
circulation of i t s major publication, The Brotherhood Journal, " he continued. Fbr the first
time, i t s circulation went past 100,000 and had reached 110,000.
Psogress is continuing i n transferring r e s w n s i b i l i t y f o r Royal Ambassasor work from
This i s t o be completed by the
end of 1957.
the Woman's Missionary Union t o the Brotherhood Commission.
The RA's a r e a boys' organization which has chapters i n individual churches.
under the WMU, they w i l l be under the men's group a f t e r next year.
3brmerl.y
"The future work of the Royal Ambassador endeavor among our men looks promising. The
men (of the rot her hood) are assuming t h e i r responsibilities among the boys I n a most
telling and effective way," Schroeder declared. He predicted a record increase and growth
of the RA movement in the next decade.
The layman's group is planning for a National Conference of Southern Baptiet Men t o
meet i n Oklahoma City Sept. 18-20, 1957. From 8,000 t o 10,000 men a r e expected there, "The
program f o r t h l s Conference," according t o Schroeder, "is b u i l t around our denomjnational
work and dramatized i n such a way that these thousands of men w i l l be sent home with t h e i r
hearts on f i r e f o r the work of the Lord as Southern Baptists are projecting it around the
world. " 1957 i s the 50th anniversary year of the Brotherhood,
During 1956, the Commission was t o sponsor two mission tours by laymen into Mexico.
One was held i n the Spring and another w i l l go i n the Fall. They are in conjunction with
the Foreign Mission Board, with the men paying t h e i r own ways and v i s i t i n g SBC mission
work there.
The Comission hopes 1956 w i l l mark the time when the first unit of its long-range
building program will be completed. "We need t o enlarge the physical equipment of the
Brotherhaod Commission o f f i c e s ( i n ~emphis)t o better enable the Commission t o discharge
i t s obligations t o the Convention as well as t o the men belonging t o church Brotherhood
organizations across the Co~vention,"Schroeder said, Staff increases are needed, too, he
added.
he future of the Brotherhood mrk i n the Southern Baptist Convention i s most encouraging and has enonnous p o ~ s i b i l i t i e s , ~he' said.
The Comission said the Convention should consider giving it a "substantial a ~ ~ ~ ~ of
unt"
funds for capital expansion in forthcoming budgets "which will enable the Brotherhood
Comission to solve its housing problem. l1
Executive Secretary of the Brotherhood Commission, Gforge W. Schroeder has office and
residence a t Memphis, Tenn. He i s a native of Pfnckneyville, Ill., born Oct. 28, 1913. He
received bachelor's and master's degrees from Southern I l l i n o i s University. Schroeder
was Brotherhood secretary f o r I l l i n o i s Southern Ehptists and associate secretary of the
SBC Brotherhood Comission before being promoted t o h i s present position. He is
active
Baptist layman and has served as teacher and superintendent o f Eaptist Sunday schools.
FiELEAGE: Afternoon papers
~ i .June
,
1
1956 at m a s City, MO.
Office of 'Press Representative
Albert McClellan
-
,.
</REPORT OF SBC COMMJTTEX ON DENOMINATIONAL CALENDAR >
By Chairman Albert~
1
1
-
The Southern Baptist Convention today approved a calendar for 1957 that had been submitted by the Convention's cornittee on denominational calendar.
The calendar providee a special emphasis on world missions, since
as 'World Missions Year" among Southern b p t i s t s .
1957 is to be known
Albert McCleJJan, director of publications for the SBC Executive Comittee, and the
Convention's press representative, served as c h a i m n of this committee,
The calendar fallows:
PROPOmD CALeNDAR
mR 1957
A suggested Guide or Co-ordinated Denominational
Activities and Emphasis
(special emphasis fox a given month are printed first, followed by specific a c t i v i t i e s to
be observed during that month, )
WORLP MISSIONS YEAR--1957
January
Church Schoola of Missions
----Special Bible Study Week, January 7-11
(name of book to be added later)
W.M.S.
Focus Week, January 13-18
February
The Theological Seminaries and Carver
School of Missions and Social Work
- " - w e
hptist World Alliance Sunday, February 3
Y ,W ;A, Focus Week, February 10-16
March
Home Missions
----..
Week of Rayer for Home Iassions and Annie Amnstmng Offering*, b r c h 4-8
Tkafning Union Study Courses (avoiding Week of prayer)
Home and Foreign Missions Day in the
Sunday School and Offering*, March
W.M;U,
31
April
Christian Education
Chr5stian Literature and Church
Libraries
-*---
Youth Week, April 7-14
Jewish Fellowship Week, April 22-28
WY
Hospital Miniskry and Nurse Recruit-
ment
-----
Christian Home Week, May 5-12
G.A. Focus Week, May 12-17
W.M.U. Annual Meeting, May 26-28
Southern Baptist Convention, May 29
to June I, Chicago, Illinois
more
Report of Committee on Denominatioml Calendar--mge 2
June
Relief and Annuity Board (and Offering for the Relief and Aged Ministers*)
- 9 - m -
Life Commitment to Christian Service
Day, June 16
Vacation Bible Schools
Assemblies: Ridgecrest and Glorieta
July
Assemblies: Ridgecrest and Glorieta
August
Assemblies: Ridgecrest and Glorfeta
Sunbeam Focus Week, August 11-17
Off-to-College Day
September
Church Music
Foundations:
State
Southern Baptist and
""---
Associatiom1 Sunday School Planning
Meetings, September 10
Training Union Planning Meetings (or
fn October or November)
W.M.U. Ssason of Prayer for State
Miss ions and Offering (as promoted
by the state W,MDU. "s)
Student Join-the-Church Day (sunday
following college opening)
National Conference of Southern Baptist Men (sponsored by the Brotherhood Commission), Oklahoma City,
September 18-20
Sunday School Preparation Week in
the Churches, September 22-29
October
Cooperative Program
Assaciational Mission Rallies
Sunday School Training Courses
-I)---
Layman's Day, October 13
State Mission Day in the Sunday
School and Offering, October 27 (as
promoted by the states)
World Missions Week, October 27 to
November 3 (or nearest convenient
date)
November
State Papers and Missionary Magazines
-----
Enlistment Day and Every-Member
Canvass, November 3 (or nearest
convenient Sunday)
R.A. Focus Week, November 3-9
Orphanage Day and Offering (as promoted by the states)
more
Report of Committee on Denominational Calendar--page 3
December
Foreign Missions
*""W".
W.M.U. Week of Prayer for Foreign
Missions and L o t t i e Moon Christmas
Offering*, December 2-6
Waining Union "M" Night, December 2
Student N i g h t a t Christmas, December
29
YChe~ieofferings have been approved by the Southern Baptist Convention.
NOTI?,--At some time during the year, emphasize the serviceto a l l types of Southern Eaptiat
work, a t home and abroad, which the American Bible Society renders by supplying the Scriptures, without profit and usually below cost, and explain its need for contributions from
the churches.
Respectfully submitted,
Albert McCleUan, Chairman
Clifton 3. Allen
Milo B. Arbuckle
B. L. Bridges
h k e r James Cauthen
Wayne Dehoney
Arthur A. Dulaney
W, L, Howse
Alma Hunt
G. Kearnie Keegan
John Maguire
Merrill D. Moore
Courts Redford
R. Alton Reed
James M. Sapp
J. FJ. Storer
h a n k Tripp
C. C. Warren

6/1/1956 - Amazon Web Services

Transcription

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