nineteen hundred and forty-six - Amazon Web Services

430 SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
collecting and distributing funds to indigent ministers and to the widows of
ministers.
It, therefore, may properly be said that the intervening years between
1845 (the year the Southern Baptist Convention was organized) and 1918
constitute a period of preparation for the truly large work upon which Southern
Baptists entered during the last named year. It is an admitted fact that Southern
Baptist achievements in ministerial relief during this period were meager.
We do well, however, not to undervalue these achievements, small though they
were. We should remember, too, that "great oaks from little acorns grow," and
that the ministerial relief efforts of the churches during these yesteryears gave
rise and impetus to the movement which led to the formation of the Relief and
Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in May, 1918.
Prior to 1918, state organizations or committees for the promotion of the
cause af ministerial relief came into being in many of the states. Our archives
contain records of these in South Carolina, Virginia, Missouri, Maryland, Kentucky,
North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. In
several states, notably Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky,
Texas, and Missouri, considerable endowment funds were raised. Some of these
endowments have been transferred to the custody of the Relief and Annuity
Board. Other sums are held by state bodies, the income being used either for
supplementary relief grants or sent to the Relief and Annuity Board to aid in
meeting the obligation of the Ministers Retirement Plans. The aggregate of
state funds thus administered is approximately $300,000.
SOME IMMORTAL LEADERS IN THE CAUSE OF MINISTERIAL
RELIEF BEFORE 1918
In Maryland, there was Wm. Crane, a great Baptist who first suggested the
organization of the Widows' and Superannuated Ministers' Fund. This organization
dates from 1839. Professor J. H. Deems also gave his services without
stint and without pecuniary gain for a long period of years.
In Virginia, there was Chas. L. Cocke, who became the first president of the
Virginia Board of Ministerial Relief, organized in 1872. Other devoted Virginia
leaders in later years were Mr. T. H. Ellet and Mr. A. W. Patterson. An endowment
fund of $77,427.27 was reported by the Virginia Board in 1944.
In South Carolina, Wm. Thayer and W. A. Gaines were early leaders.
Through their influence a Board of Ministerial Relief was organized in 1873.
This Board disappeared in the 80's, but was revived in 1890 under the able
and zealous leadership of Dr. C. C. Brown, pastor of the First Baptist Church
of Sumter. Dr. Brown served as secretary of the Board in conjunction with
his pastorate, and, first and last, he raised an endowment of $50,000.
In Tennessee, Wm. Huff led in the creation of a Board of Ministerial Relief
!/nnn£ earS aft ? r ? e ?i e °L the Civil War - Eventually an endowment fund of
$10,000 was raised. T. E. Glass was secretary and treasurer of the Board for
many years.
_ * n l 88 jj the Missouri Baptist Ministers Aid Society was organized. Governor
C - w H ^ , n .l nd J> A - G "thne led m this movement. Governor Hardin made a
$10oToO an e n d ° W m e n t fund which eventually grew to more than
In Texas, in 1887, a Board of Relief for aged and disabled ministers was
organized with Dr. H. M. Burroughs as its corresponding secretarv Endowment
notes of $35,000 were secured and a fair sized sum o/money wis cSeSSTfS
numoer 1 oTyea^s * mmiSterS &ls0 Was 0perated at Pa?acioS for a
In Kentucky, General Green Clay Smith started a movement to mir the
General Association of Kentucky behind the work of ministerial relief The
present Baptist Ministers Aid Society was organized in 18S4 m l , Z.C1 \aaA„
$&&%.£& a?£ 0wensboro ' and an «^^- nd s^sa&
In Georgia, Dr. J. H. DeVotie during his long term of service as statp minion
secretary devoted earnest attention to the care of dependent ministers In fetor
years, an endowment fund was created out of several bequests and t^oVfW
endowment is approximately $45,000. requests, and today that
In several other states there were doubtless equally noble souls who plea
the cause of ministerial relief whose names the writer has been unable to obtain!