Runnels County Baptist Association, 1913 - Coke & Runnels Co, TX Submitted by Mary Love Berryman 25 July 2005 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/txfiles.htm ***************************************************************** MINUTES OF THE FIFTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE RUNNELS COUNTY MISSIONARY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION Held with the Baptist Church of Miles, Texas, Oct. 14, 15, and 16, 1913 The next Annual Session to be held with the Church of Wingate, beginning Tuesday night before the 1st Sunday in Sept. 1914. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Runnels County Missionary Baptist Association Officers of Association J. H. Tyre, Moderator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winters, Texas. J. C. Boyd, Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winters, Texas. B. Broome, Cor. Secretary and Treasurer . . . . . . . Ballinger, Texas. Executive Board Ballinger First Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. N. Adams Ballinger Ninth St . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W. B. Ray Drasco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. H. Crow Eagle Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. V. Brandon Guion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. F. Gladden Hopewell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hatchell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neil Nutt Johnson Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E. Brown Miles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F. M. Wiley New Prospect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .W. A. McGuire Norton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .L. Overman Ovalo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. P. Ross Paint Rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .W. D. Woodruff Pleasant Retreat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .W. A. Esmond Sweet Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E. H. Colburn Truitt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P. M. Caudle Wingate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. A. Brice Winters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. E. Cox Valley View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Runnels. County Missionary Baptist Association Order of Business 1. Introductory Sermon. 2. Reading of Church- Letters. 3. Election of Officers. 4. Reading of Petitionary Letters. 5. Call for Correspondence and Visitors. 6. Appointing of Committees. 7. Report of Committee on Associational Mission. 8. Report of Committee on State Mission. 9. Report of Committee on Home Mission., 10. Report of Committee on Foreign Mission. 11. Report of Committee on Temperance. 12. Report of Committee on Sabbath Observance. 13. Report of Committee on Pastorial Call and Support. 14, Report of Committee on Christian Education. 15. Report of Committee on Ministerial Education. 16. Report of Committee on Sunday School. 17. Report of Committee on Church Building. 18. kepoit of Committee on Woman's Work. 19. Report of Committee on Memorial Sanitarium. 20. Report of Committee on Buckner Orphans' Home. 21. Report of Committee on Books and Periodicals. 22. Report of Cothmittee on Old Ministers' Relief. 23. Report of Committee on State of Religion. 24. Report of Committee on Ordained and Licensed Ministers. 25. Report of Committee on Young Peoples' Work. 26, Report of Committee on Obituaries. 27. Report of Committee on Finance. 28. Report of Treasurer. 29. Report of Executive Board. 30. Report of Committee on Nominations. 21. Appointment of Messengers and Correspondents. Runnels County Missionary Baptist Association Runnels County Missionay, Baptist Association Proceedings: The fifth annual session of the Runnels County Missionary Baptist Association convened with the Baptist Church at Miles- Tuesday, October 14th, 1913, at 7:30 P. M. Called to order by Moderator J. H. Tyre, after prayer and song service in absence of the appointee, Rev. B. Broome, Pastor First Baptist Church, Ballinger, preached the introductory sermon after which the association ajourned until 9:30 A. M. Wednesday Morning 9:30 o'clock Called to order by Moderator J. H. Tyre. Prayer and song service. In the absence of the Clerk, motion carried that Bro. W. D. Jennings be elected clerk protem. R. A. Scranton and A. C. Flemister were appointed reading clerks. Letters from the churches were read and messengers were enrolled as follows: Hatchell-Rev. W. D. Wiley, Mrs. W. D. Wiley, Sister Nina Mathis. Paint Rock-J. M. Davis, S. C. Cuttsinger and Mrs. J. M. Patton. Miles-Rev. D. H.Palmer, Miss Ethel Motley, Mrs. C. A Sewell, Mrs. R. D. Farmer, W. D. Jennings and J. T. Brooks. Hopewell-Jessye Stovall, S. H. Miller, Mrs. S. H. Miller. First Baptist Church, Ballinger-Rev. B. Broome, Claypool, Wood, Williams, Chastain and Smith. Wingate-E. E. Smith, S. T. Lawrence, A. L. Ganaway and S. T. Polk. Guion-G. W. Alldlige, M. A. Williams. Sweet Home-Claud Compton, Mrs, Claud Compton and Mrs. Will Jackson. After the reading of letters and seating of the messengers, motion prevailed to go into permanent organization. Officers were elected as follows: J. H. Tyre, Moderator; J. C. Boyd, Clerk, B. Broome, corresponding Secretary and Treasurer. Motion prevailed that the Association adjourn for preaching. Rev. C. V. Carroll preached. Body adjourned to meet at 2 P. M. Wednesday 2 P. M. Session Letters from other churches read and Messengers were enrolled as follows: Valley View-H. E. Lewis, Z. T. Griggs and Elbert Norman. Drasco-T. P. Massengale, Elbert Brewer and J. H. Crow. New Hope-Davis, Harrison, Bridwell, Hurt, Ed Thonipson, and Buckhanon. Ninth Street Church, Ballinger ---Rev. W. B. Adkins, J. T. Moore, W. B. Ray, Mrs, J. C. Hill, Mrs. A. S. Love and Mrs. W. B. Adkins. Truitt-R. D. Webb, Rev. J. N. Key and Mrs. J. N. Key. New Home-Sam Boyer, Clifford Parker and J. B. Cooper. Pleasant Retreat-J. M. London and Vernon Maddox. Norton-W. C. Barrett, Rev. L. Overman and Mrs. T. J. McCaughan. Winters-Rev. J. C. Boyd, Rev. J. H. Tyre, Rev. W. I. Dunn, J. V. Denwiddie, C. J. Blackwood, W. A. Jennings, Mrs. W.A. Jennings, Mrs. J.V. Denwiddie and Miss Jodie Pumpbrey. Ovalo-J. R. Landers, H, L. Lackey, F. E. Hodge and J. A. Martin. Petitionary, Letter called for and the following was presented- Eagle Branch Baptist Church. Motion prevailed that the church be received and the Mes sengers seated. The following letter was read: Eagle Branch-J. L. Elkins, and Mrs J. L. Elkins. The following visitors were cordially welcomed by the Moderator; Dr. J. M. Carroll, President Howard Payne College, Brownwood; R. A. Scanton, Abilene; C. V. Carroll; J. W. Elliot and A. C. Flemister. Motion prevailed to seat visitors. Motion prevailed that Dr. J. M. Carroll be asked to preach the missionary sermon at the evening hour. REPORT ON STATE MISSIONS, Report on State Missions called for, read and'discussed by J. N. Key, R. A. Scranton and C. V. Carroll, and adopted as follows: State Missions is the channels through which the Baptist Churches co-operating with the General Convention are endeiavoring to win the lost to Christ and the people of Texas the truth. This work is done in several ways, namely: By co-operating with associations in supporting associational missionaries, assisting weak churches in supporing their pastors, employing colporters to sell books and bibles and scatter tracts, employing evanglists, encouraging church building, work among foreigners, assisting in city missions, maintaining schools for Italians and Mexican children and giving such general help as is calculated to advance the work of the Baptist in every section of the State. State Missions is the department of our denominational work which stands primarily for winning the lost to Christ. All who desire the salvation of lost souls should support State Missions morally and financially to the uttermost of their ability. Last year the missionaries of the Board baptized 6976 persons, organized 155 churche- ind built 95 church houses. For every $18.00 given to State Missions last year the missionarieg got the followinq results: One baptism, one accession by letter, 51.8 pages of religious literature distributer, 15 religioils visits, 13 days labor, 16 sermons and addresses, $3.40 for church lots, $17.57 for new church buildings, improvements and $4.05 for other denominational interests. This is an investment that every person who wants God's work carried on ought to faithfully consider. This year the State Board is assisting 93 associations in supporting their missionaries, 366 weak churches in having pastors, employing eight state evangelists, 25 missionaries to the Mexicans, 3 to the Italians, 1 to the Bohemians, 1 to the Swedes, I state evangelist and several other missionaries to the Germans. There are more than 26 county seat towns in Texas in which there is neither a Baptist preacher nor church. There are 20 couuties in which there is not a Baptist preacher. In the whole plains section Baptist today have the second place because other demeninations have placed men in the county seats and they are building churches and pastors homes in many places where Baptist have no preaching. In the Rio Grande Valley and Southwest Texas the same thing is being done and Baptist are taking second and third place. Baptist have the means to double the State Mission work and it ought to be done next year. The Board has increased the work $25,000 this year and is asking for $150,0-00 but the overwhelming reed is far much more. All of the churches are earnestly urged to do their very best. For on this part of our work God is bestowing signal blessings. Recommendations. 1. That every church in the association make an every member offering for State Missions. 2. That every Baptist pray earnestly that the Board may be able to increase the work next year. 3. That every preacher Lyive the utmost assistance in the campaign from October 1st to the Convention to meet the obligation of the Board. J. N. KEY. REPORT ON HOME MISSIONS. Report on Home Missions called for. read and discussed by W. B. Adkins, J. T. Moore and various others and adopted as follows: It is highly important that every that every Baptist should have a good understanding both of the faith and the work of the denomination. He can not be a very valuable member of a Baptist church if he is ignorant of either our faith or our work. These Associational meetings ought to enlighten our people on Baptist faith and Baptist work, and the messengers present ought to carry that enlightenment back to their respective churches. Of all the work the denomination is doing, j2one is more important and immediately imperative than that department we call home missions. How any of the messengers understand fully what is meant by Home Missions, and can go home and explain this work to those members of their churches who do not understand what it is? Home Missions, in a word, signifies the work done by the Southern Baptist Convention to save the lost in the homeland, to organize churches, Sunday schools, etc., and in other ways to develop and strengthen those who are saved, so that they may be effective agents in saving others. The agency through which Southern Baptists do this work, is the Home Mission Board, located at Atlanta, Georgia, B. D. Gray, D. D., Corresponding Secretary. For the convenience of the brotherhood West of the Mississippi River, and for greater efficiency in the work, an office is maintained in Dallas, Texas, J. F. Love, Secretary. The work of the Board is mainifold, including missionary evangelistic, educational and church building departments, and work among the immigrants, foreigners, negroes etc. As it would make this too long to explain and emphasize this work so that all could understand it as they ought, your committee makes the following recommendations: 1. That every, pastor in the Association get at least one good book on home missions, and prepare himself to enlighten his people on the subject. 2. That pastors, churches and missionary societies make full use of the leaflet literature of the Board, which can be had for the asking of J. F. Love, No. 717 Slaughter Building, Dallas, Texas. 3. That an agent be appointed in each church in the association, to solicit subscribers for the Home Field, the monthly magazine published by the Board. These three recommendations are essential to an under standing of this great work. Respectfully submitted, W. BION ADKINS. MISSIONARIES REPORT. The Missionaries Report was read and adopted as follows: September 1st, 1912 to September 1st, 1913. Number days worked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 Number sermons preached . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Number other addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Number miles traveled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,131 Number visits made . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357 Number stations supplied, regularly and irregularly . . . 22 Number churches assisted in organizing . . . . . . . . . 1 Number members received into mission churches: By letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 By Baptism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Number Sunday schools assisted in organizing. . . . . . . 3 Amount collected for State Missions . . . . . . . . . . $ 31.80 Amount collected for Foreign Missions . . . . . . . . . . 9.10 Amount collected for Home Missions . . . . . . . . . . . 8.00 Amount collected for Educational Board . . . . . . . . . 5.00 Amount collected for S. W. T. S. Ft. Worth, by notes . . 30.00 By Cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.50 Number Bibles, Testaments, Books, etc, sold . . . . . . . 288 Number Bibles, Testaments. Books, etc., given away . . . 55 Number pages of tracts d'stributed . . . . . . . . . . . 5,000 Amount received for Bibles and books sold . . . . . . . . $162.75 Amount paid on Missionaries salary from books . . . . . . 38.00 Amount paid on Missionaries salary by missionary . . . . 30.00 Amount paid on Missionaries salary by State Mission Board 300.00 Amourt paid on Missionaries salary by churches . . . . . 532.00 Total Amount received . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $900.00 Cost of books on hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 13.53 J. H. TYRE. Association adjourned until 7:30 o'clock. Wednesday 7:30 P. M. After devotional service led by Rev. W. A. Esmond, Dr. J. M. Carroll, President Howard Payne College, preached the Missionary Sermon. Motion prevailed that Dr. Carroll be requested to submit the sermon preached to the Baptist Standard for publication. Association adjourned until 8:30 A. M. Thursday 8:30 A. M. Session. After prayer and song service the following business was transacted: Report of Nominating Committee. The report on nominations were presented and adopted as follows: Place of meeting of the next association, Wingate. Time, Tuesday night before the First Sunday in September. To preach the Introductory Sermon: Rev. B. Broome, Alternate J. C. Boyd Missionary Sermon-W. B. Adkins. Delegates to State Convention-Rev. Ed Thompson, J. N. Key. Delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention W. I. Dunn. Alternates: J. C. Boyd, S. V. Brandon and Ed. Thompson. B. BROOME. Motion prevailed to instruct Moderator to appoint committee of two to investigate matters concerning the church debt at Rowena. Rev. W. B. Adkins and W. A. Esmond were made the committee. Letter from Union church was presented, read and messengers were seated as follows: J. B. Poterfield, E. Koen'g, P. M. Caudle and W. R. Sisson. The following, visitors were cordiallv welcomed by Modator and invited to seats with the body: A. J. Morvan, of Simmons College and G. W. Light, Pastor at Santa Anna. Report On Associational Missions. The report on Associational Missionp. was presented, read, discussed by Ed Thompson and C. V. Carroll and adopted as follows: Jesus in Matt. 13:3S says, "The Field is the World," but the world is nigh as well as far. Jesus says again in Acts 1:8 "Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Therefore Associational missions is fundamental, only the beginning of a world wide movement. This Gospel of the Kingdom must be preached to all the world beginning at Jerusalem. This association is a part of the great field and is ripe for the harvest. There are 26 churches in this part of Gods harvest field. Some of them have not pastors. There are about eleven or twelve school house communities that ought to hear the gospel. There are obout 22,000 souls in the bounds of our association and only about 2200 Baptists out of that number. Your committee recommends that a wise able missionarv be put on the field at once and also that he he equiped with an adequate book fund for colportage worl. ED. THOMPSON. Report on Christian Education. The report on Christian Education was read and discussed by W. B. Adkins; J. M. Carroll, of Howard Payne College. Mrs. Nash, of Baylor College, Belton, and A. J. Morgan, of Simmons College, and adopted as follows: Our people do not realize the impdrtance of Christian education as they should. It is the crying need of the hour. If the young people are to receive a Christian education they must r~ceive it in a Christian school. Just bere mony of our Baptiq folks are wrong as I view it. They bave no denominational prede and send their children to schools that unchristian. We should build a strong wall about our young people. This can be done only by sending them to Christian schools, where they are surrounded by the very best Christialn influence. We are in close proximity to Howard Paym, and Simmons Colleges. Howord Payne is now equipped to render practically as good servIce as Baylor. In a large measure pastors are at fault in not presenting Christian education to their congregations as they ought. 1. I recommend that pastors preach oftner on the subject of Christian education. 2. That they make a great effort to put the Standard in every home for through R's columns we get ourselves right into the beauty of Christian education. 3. That we invite our educators into our pulpits that they may present this matter in it's proper light to our people. W. B. ADKINS. Motion prevailed requesting Dr. Carroll to submit speech made on Christtian education to Educational Board of General Convention for publication. Motion prevailed to adopt report on Foreign Miss"ions without reading same. This report not being ready at this time was mailed to the clerk at a subsequent date. REPORT ON FOREIGN MISSIONS. Our Lord said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Here is the basis for foreign mission work. The doors are opening now into the uttermost parts of the earth for our missionaries to preach the gospel. There are now on our foreign f1eld: 28O missioraries and 600 native helpers. There were more than 4000 baptized on our foreign fields last year. There are 300 churches with a membership of little above 22,000. We have 221 schools with about 6,500 students. We have also nine theological schools with 225 students. Let the churches in our Association lay great stress on foregn missions. Respectfullv Submitted, BARTOW BROOME. Association adjourned until 1:30 P. M. Thursday 1:30 P. M.. REPORT ON BUCKNER ORPHANS' HOME. The report on Buckner Orphans' Home was read and discussed by W. L. Hicks and adopted as follows: This great institution had it's origin with R. C. Buckner in Dallas on April 10, 1879. It began with three children and opened in a rented cottage. It's growth is wonderfal. God has greatly blessed Dr. Buckner and through him God has greatty blessed us. Not one orphan has suffered for food or raiment in this institution, and it has cared for thousands. The home owns 1010 acres of valuable land including, fields pastures, etc. Also it owns 30 Buildings occupied by the orphans and their attendants. There is a local telephone system owned by the home connecting the various departments of the home with the main office. The home has cared for over six thousand orphans. There are now in the home between six ard seven hundred. The home itself is producing about $5000 annually from it's farms. It is to be hoped that the home will soon be endowed. It will take an income daily of $125 to feed these children. We recommend that every Sunday school set a day in each month for a coilection for Buikner Orphans' Home. W. L. HICKS. REPORT ON. MINISTERIAL EDUCATION. The report on Ministerial Education was read and discussed by A. J. Morgan and adopted as follows: We your committee on Ministerial Education beg leave to submit the folloding report. We all realize the need of an educated ministry. We have the schools in Texas to educate every young man whom God has called to preach, but many of them are unable to go without help. We have above five hundred of these noble young men in our schools at the present time but many of them will be compelled to drop out unless they get help, if this help comes, it must come from the Baptist over the state. Will our people make it possible for these noble young men to stay, and get that training that will better prepare them for their life's work, or shall they be forced to leave school because the churches fail to help them? We recommend that collections be taken in the churches for this worthy cause. Committee: R.A.SCRANTON A. J. MORGAN. Collection taken for Ministerial Education as follows: Ilatchell, Baptist Ladies . . . . $5.00 Eagle Branch . . . . . . . . . . $5.00 The following churches promised to take collections for Ministerial Education: Ballinger first church, Ballinger Ninth Street Church, Drasco, Guon, Hopewell, Johnsou Valley, Mile3, New Home, New Hope, Ovalo, Pleasant Retreat, Truitt, Wincers and Valley View. Motion prevailed that the report on Temperance be passed without reading same. This report not being ready at this time is to be mailed the clerk at a subsequent date. REPRT ON TEMPERANCE. Your committee on Temperance is glad to report that the year 1913 has marked a steady growth of intelligence and conscientious temperance sentiment in our whole country, and especially in our own beloved state. As to reasons why this death-dealing traffic should be put from among us, we submit the following reasons: 1. The home is against it. 2. The church is against it. 3. The best interests of the State and National are against it. 4. All legitimate business is against it. 5. The American school is against it. 6. The interests of the laboring people are against it. 7. The practical workings of prohibition and local option laws are against it. S. The best interests of the saloon keeper are against his business. 9. Public sentiment is against it. 10. The law of civil liberty is against the liquor traffic. Respectfully submitted, L. A. SMITH. REPORT ON SUNDAY SCHOOL. The report on Sunday School was read and discussed by W. D. Wiley, W. B. Adkins and W. A. Esmond. This is one of the greatest works of the church and we believe that every member of the church should be interested in it because of it's greatness. Each Sunday school should have a training class because the training class is the life of the Sunday school. W. D. WILEY. Letter from New Prospect church read and messengers, were seated as follows: W. A. Tucker, Artie Harris. REPORT ON SANTITARIA. The report on Sanitaria was read and discussed by J. W. Elliot and adopted as follows Being requested by your body to make a report on our Sanitaria I beg to make the following report. We have at present two sanitariums operating under ownership and management of the Texas Baptist Convention. These are located at Dallas and Houston. These divide funds raised on the according to the expense and the work of the institutions. The territory being supported by the Texas Baptist Memorial Sanitarium located at Dallas will find more interest in studying this than in tryng to look at both, notwithstanding the grade of work at Houston is not inferior to the work at Dallas. Both institutions have all and more than they can do. The Sanitarium at Dallas has blessed and is blessing the lives of men as perhaps no other institution of the State is doing. This institution makes a rule to turn no one away without attention. Last year this Sanitarium did $30,000 worth of work for people who cannot pay for it. This does not in (Jude doctors fees. The doctors take care of that. Demands are upon its management for more buildings and equipment. We ought to make free wilt offerings for the charity work in our Sanitarium. But we must remember that this is not a charity instittuion. We need to give it our best support by sending men of means. Our Ladies Aid should make linen showers. Our Sunday sebools and churches should get a certificate of membership from the Benevolent Association at a cost of $10 per year. J. W. ELLIOTT. REPORT ON BOOKS AND PERIODICALS. The report on Books and Periodicals was read and discussed by C. V. Carroll and W. D. Jennings and adopted as follows: The Bible is, the book of books. In it we learn of man's origin and destiny. Ana in it we learn of his relation to God and his fellow man. Therefore we would recommend first of all the diligent study of God's word "Which is able to make us wise unto salvation." We shouid also read certain good i-,ooks that would help us to better understand the Bible. We would further recommend that every Baptist family provide as many good books as they can. We would also recommend that every Baptist family take the Baptist Standard, Western Evangel and Central Messenger for they are the best educators in Christian doctrine that any one could read. Also the Home Field and Foreign Mission Journal are great helps to a proper understanding of the mission question. Show us a man or family that is a close student of religious books and periodicals and we will show you a man or family devoted Christians and are not carried about by every wind of doctrine. A note of warning to our people. Beware of the Millenial Dawn books and Morman books and literature that are being scattered. We would suggest that the members of churches confer with the pastors about the best books and papers, also that the pastors recommend to their members the best books and papers for the home. W. D. JENNINGS. REPORT ON WOMAN'S WORK. The report on Woman's Work was read and adopted as follows: The report of the Corresponding Secretary of the Woman's Auxiliary to the Runnels, County Baptist Association, from August 1912 to August 1913. Amounts collected by each Aid: Ballinger First Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $806.35 Hatchel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149.30 Winters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263.25 Ballinger Ninth Street Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . 391.35 Paint Rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.41 Ovalo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.50 Miles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280.75 Total membership of the Auxiliary. . . . . . . . . . . 144 Paid Corresponding Secretary expenses Ballinger First $ .50 Ballinger Ninth Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Number of letters written . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 MRS. A. H. LEWING. REPORT ON AGED MINISTER'S RELIEF, The report on Aged Ministers' Relief was read and adopted as follows: If God spares our lives, we will grow old and feeble sooner than we think. Many preachers grow old without having property upon which to live. It is a sad condition to be in, but it is sadder still that the churches permit such saints to suffer. The Baptists of Texas pay to aged and dependent preachers six old preachers $120.00 a year, and there are now sixty or the widows of preachers, on the list of beneficiaries of this fund. This requires nearly $8,000 a year. At present, the fund is over $3,000 overdrawn. This ought not to be the case. D. H. PALMER. REPRT ON STATE OF RELIGION The report on State of Religeon was read and adopted as follows: The state of religion in the bounds of the Runnels County Association is not what it should be. Some of the churches have no prayer meetings nor Sunday schools. The children are not looked after in many places. We would recommend that parents take more interest in their children than they do. We acklowledge our own short comings in the religious training of our own children. J. T. MOORE. REPORT ON LAYMAN'S WORK. The report of Laymen's Work read and adopted as follows: Your committee on the Laymen's. Movement, begs to make the followng report: 1st. That we heartily indorse the Laymen's movement in our denomination and bedeve that if carried into edch church a this association, within the next twelve months a marked difference will be shown in the report of each church showing the progress made in each division thereof. 2nd. It is essential that the Laymen of the church should do and perform his whole christian duty. He should not only build and furniah churches and parsonages, looking only to the comfort aud appearance thereof, or considering only the financial condition of his church, but it is his duty to co-operate with his pastor in every branch of the work of the church. 3rd. It is through and by the effort - and interest maini fested by the Laymen of any church that the Church, Prayermeeting, Sunday school and the different societies thereof grow and become powers for good. The pastor alone can not do tl~e work of the whole church. God will not prosper a church where there is no co- operation upon the part of the laymen with the pastor. It is only a matter of time when churches, where such conditions continue to exist, will be blotted out. God can not use those who will not work in his vineyard for the Master asked," Why stand ye here idle, all the day.' Thus believing that co-operation is necessary for the spiritual and finaneial growth and development of the church, 2nd for the upbuilding of the Kingdom of the Master. We therefore recommend that the Laymen's Move be organized in each church of this association to the end that Laymen and pastors may be drawn closer to each other, that more efficient work may be done, and the Divine purpose of the church accomplished. As to the work of the committee appointed at the last annual meeting of this association which eommittee was to cooperate with the pastors and the Board for the purpose of creating a building fund and as the accomplishments of this work, your committee is unable to make any report since no data can be obtained at this time. Respectfully submitted, W. D. Jennings. B. BROOME. Motioir prevailed to instruct Moderator to appoint committee on Laymen's work. Committee is as follows - W. A. Esnond, Winters; W. D. Jennings, Miles: J. T. Garrett, Wingate. Motion prevailed to instruct Clerk to have minutes of proceeding printed and that he be allowed Ten Dollars for his service. RESOLUTIOSS READ. A resolution was read and adopted as follows: Resolved, That the thanks of this Association be accorded the Baptist and good people of Miles for their many kindnesses and unboundless hospitality shown us while in their midst. B. BROOME. CONSTITUTION. ARTICLE I. This Association shall be called the Runnels County Association. The bounds of the Association shall be the line of Runnels County on the west side and shall include the Missionary Baptist churches on the south side that may desire to unite with us, as it shall include those churches along the south line of Taylor County that may desire to co- operate with us. ARTICLE 11. The object of this Association shall be the promotion of harmony and concert of action among the churches within the bounds of this body, in carrying forward the benevolent work fostered by the denomination. ARTICLE III. This body shall be composed of messengers from regular Misionary Baptist churches co-operating with the AssociatioD. Each church shall be entitled to three messengers, and oae additional messenger for each fifty members above the first fifty; provided that in no case shall any church be entitled to more than eight messengers. The messengers, before taking their seats, shall produce letters or other satisfactory evidence of their appointment. ARTICLE IV. The officers of the Association shall be a Moderator, Clerk, Correspoinding Secretary and Treasurer, who shall perform such duties as usually pertain to such offices; provided that the Association Treasurer shall not handle any money not intended for the Asociation purposes. These officers shall be elected annually, immediately after the reading of the letters, by ballot, from the messengers present, and shall continue in office until their successors are elected. ARTICLE V. An executive board shall be elected annually, and shall be composed of the officers, of the Association, who shall be ex-offio officers of the Board, and one member &om each church cooperating with us; said member to be elected by the church. It shall be the duty of the Board to direct the work of the Association during the inter of sessions, and it shall hold regular meetings in connection with the fifth Sunday meetings. In the absence of any offcer of the Board, the Board may appoint any of its members to fill the temporary vacancy, and if the absenre be permanent the appointment may be made permanent. In the absence of any member from any church, any member from that church may be elected. ARTICLE VI. This Association shall co-operate with the Baptist Generai Convention of Texas and the Southern Baptist Convention. ARTICLE VII. The action of the bodyshall be advisory and not binding as law; since no ecclesiastical body on earth is superior to the church, it having but one head, Jesus Christ, our Lord. ARTICLE VIII This constitution may be amended at any regular session of the Association by a majority vote of the members present; provided that such amendment be offered, in writing, at least one day before final action taken.