nineteen hundred and forty-six - Amazon Web Services

RELIEF AND ANNUITY BOARD 433
" 'The Sunday School Board, therefore, requests the appointment at the
present session of a special committee to whom this proposition shall be referred,
and to whom the Convention, if it deems best, may refer all similar
requests from other sources, the said committee to report to this session as to
the whole matter. The entire $100,000 for this fund is now in hand and is
included with the invested funds of the board. It will be held subject to the
decision of the Convention.'
"This report was adopted and President Gambrell appointed the following
as the Commission: Alban Fort, J. F. Brownlow, O. C. Barton, Howard E. Frost,
W. W. Landrum, William Lunsford, I. J. Van Ness, Austin Crouch, A. C. Cree,
T. B. Ray, A. B. Hill, and E. W. Stephens. It will be seen that the president
appointed twelve members on this commission, thus accepting the recommendation
that more than nine might be appointed if thought wise.
"The new commission met in the city of Nashville, on the 11th day of June,
1917, and organized by electing Allen Fort chairman and William Lunsford
secretary. On account of his study of the question and his deep interest in the
work, the responsibility of collecting facts and material with a view to formulating
a definite program was given to the secretary. He immediately began his
task, and visited the headquarters of the various denominations of the country
engaged in ministerial relief. Conferences were held with the different secretaries
and insurance men, and others interested in annuities and relief work
were consulted. It ought to be said in passing that the cooperation given the
commission by these men of other denominations and in the insurance world
was very graciously given and proved of great value.
"Many sessions of the commission were held. The members took their
work very seriously and gave freely of their time. The discussions were
most interesting and helpful. Every point was gone into, and every recommendation
thoroughly discussed before passed. The men on the commission were
men of experience in denominational affairs who had an intense interest in the
success of the movement entrusted to them. The leadership of the secretary,
Doctor Lunsford, and the cooperation of the members of the commission resulted
in the comprehensive report of the commission which was made to the Convention
at Hot Springs in 1918.
"Perhaps the most important phase of this report, so far as the future of the
work was concerned, was the recommendation that a BOARD OF MINISTERIAL
RELIEF AND ANNUITIES BE ESTABLISHED. This recommendation was
suggested by Dr. I. J. Van Ness. He realized the limitations of a commission
and felt that a board should be organized to continue the work permanently."
CHAPTER H. AN HISTORICAL REVIEW. 1918-1925
CONTENTS
Southern Baptist Convention Creates the Board of Ministerial Relief and
Annuities.
Dr. William Lunsford Elected Corresponding Secretary by the New Board; Dr.
S. P. Brooks was First President.
Charter Secured July 31, 1918. Charter Amended 1920.
Departments of Relief and Annuities Set Up.
First Annuity Certificate Issued July, 1919.
John D. Rockefeller, Sr., Makes Substantial Gifts.
Financial Undergirding Through the Seventy-Five Million Campaign.
CHAPTER n. AN HISTORICAL REVIEW. 1918-1925
PROMISING BEGINNINGS
The report of the Commission on Ministerial Relief and Annuities having
been adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention, May 20, 1918, the convention,
through its committee on boards, appointed the following named
brethren to constitute "The Board of Ministerial Relief and Annuities," viz:
STATE MEMBERS: H. B. Foster, Alabama; G. W. Puryear, Arkansas; J. J.
Darlington, District of Columbia; N. A. Blitch, Florida; J. E. Sammons, Georgia;
D. C. Jones, Illinois; F. L. Hardy, Kentucky; G. M. Harrell, Louisiana;
J. H Strong, Maryland: A. H. Logino, Mississippi; J. J. Brown, Missouri;
J. J. Hurt, North Carolina; W. Royal, New Mexico; A. N. Hall, Oklahoma; C. C.