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SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
Dr. Bronson Ray was connected with the Foreign Mission Board from 1906
to 1932, first as editorial secretary, and successively as secretary of education,
assistant secretary, foreign secretary, and executive secretary. He was a pioneer
in the field of mission study and was the author of a number of missionary books
At a time when the Foreign Mission Board was under the crushing load of
a tremendous debt, and interest in world missions was at a low ebb, Dr. Charles
E. Maddry was elected executive secretary of the Board, and gave twelve years
of glorious service, displaying all those qualities of leadership which inspired
confidence and created enthusiasm. One of the highest hours in the history of
the Board was witnessed at the April meeting of the Board in 1943, when the
last bit of financial indebtedness was cleared. For the first time m seventy-one
years, the 1944 report of the Foreign Mission Board contained no reference to
interest payments. While Dr. Maddry was secretary he visited all of our mission
fields, being accompanied on most of the trips by Mrs. Maddry. Regional secretaries
were selected for three great areas: the Orient; Latin America; and
Africa, Europe, and the Near East. A workable pension plan for missionaries
and Board employees was adopted. A secretary of missionary personnel was
appointed. The Commission, the monthly missionary magazine of the Board, was
established with a circulation which has now reached the high point of nearly
85,000. There has been a commendable beginning in the field of visual education.
Work was opened in Hawaii (1940), Colombia (1941), and Paraguay (1945).
On Dr. Maddry's insistence, the Board accepted his resignation as secretary,
effective December 31, 1944, and Dr. M. Theron Rankin, secretary for the Orient
for a number of years, was elected executive secretary. Under Dr. Rankin's
leadership the Board is planning an enlarged world-program with a secure
financial base. We face the big task of relief, reconstruction, and rehabilitation.
God has set before us open doors which we must not fail to enter.
The Foreign Mission Board has been honored in the men who have served as
presidents: J. B. Jeter (1845-1849; 1853-1866, 1867); R. B. C. Howell (1850-
1853); J. L. Burrows (1866, 68-70; 1872-1874); J. L. M. Curry (1871-72; 1874-
1886) ; H. H. Harris (1886-1895) ; C. H. Winston (1896-1901) ; J. B. Hutson
(1902-1916); William Ellyson (1916-1919) ; R. E. Gaines (1920-32); L. Howard
Jenkins (1932—).
WORLD PEACE THROUGH WORLD ACQUAINTANCE
SIMULTANEOUS CHURCH SCHOOLS OF MISSIONS
W. B. IOHNSON*
He will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.—
Isaiah 2:3
During the past year there have been 283 Schools of Missions in the
churches, in almost every state in the Southern Baptist Convention. This
missionary education has done a great deal to stimulate interest in missions
and has led to increased giving to missionary causes. One chairman wrote:
"The greatest interest in our southwide objects ever known in Kentucky." His
grand total attendance was 12,259. Another pastor wrote: "Surely there will
be more and better support of the great cause of missions now that we have
had such splendid enlightenment." In a Missouri School of Missions there was
contributed $1,200 for relief, and 113 subscriptions to The Commission were
secured. The largest attendance was in Arkansas with a grand total of 15,000.
There were similar figures in other places.
All of our missionaries on furlough, except those who were sick or engaged
in some other special work, have been kept busy with Schools of Missions programs
and other deputation engagements. During the summer months requests
for missionaries to work in camps were more than we could supply. Several
of our missionaries helped in as many as nine camps during the summer.
Reports from these camps were excellent, showing many conversions and also
a good •Rev. number W. B. Johnson of dedications returned to to China Christian in November, service. 1945. Since that time, the work of
the Department The encouraging of Schools reports of Missions from has the been chairmen efficiently make and effectively us hope that carried the on Schools by Mrs.
of Rachel Missions Dickson, programs of China, can who be is in carried this country on; so on that a prolonged the people furlough.—Editor.
in the churches may
be awakened to the great obligations that are theirs in winning to Christ men
and women all around the world.