sentative Negro organization as this, the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention presented in 1904 a plan of co-operation for the further religious development of the Negroes, to lift them up to nobler ideals and higher standards of living. The plan was accepted, and according to its terms, the National Baptist Convention selects the missionaries -of the colored race-agreeing upon their salaries and fields of labor. The other Board shares in the responsibility and expense, and the report of 1906 showed thirty-three missionaries so maintained, and a work to their credit of incalculable benefit not only to the people whose need is so great, but to the spirit of brotherly love and harmony which is bringing the Gospel of Christ to bear in fuller measure upon the problem of the races. American Home Mission When the A. B. H. M. S. was organized in 1832 "to promote the preaching of the Gospel in North America," its principal field of labor was the Mississippi Valley. In twenty years, the westward course of empire had extended its opportunity for service to the Golden Gate. In thirty years, the fall of broken fetters gave entrance to the Sunny Southland, and straightway it entered in, to share in the growing work of winning the Freedmen to the hope and knowledge of the Gospel with all its blessings for the life that now is, and that which is to come. Very simple was the entrance effort-just to teach the poor ministers who could not read their Bibles; then those others who were so eager to learn; then the schools developed into large and flourishing institutions, and the educational service of the Society was assured. It has been a definitely Chris tian education given in all these schools, with the Bible for a text-book, Bible Schools and prayermeetings, missionary and temperance societies for added means; and soul culture and upright conduct for an end. How great has been the measure of success, no figures can fully tell, but from the latest annual report are gleaned the facts which need the touch. of a spiritual imagination to make them glow with life and beauty. Colored missionaries have been employed in 19 states and territories; among the colored people, 46 missionaries and 260 teachers have given loyal, earnest service; about 30 schools and colleges have been supported wholly or in part by the Society; conversions have been numerous; homes have been transformed; industrial education has been advanced; teachers and preachers have been trained; and a missionary spirit has been cultivated which. promises much for the regeneration of Africa, as well as the enlightenment of the dark corners of the Homeland. Omitting the schools supported in part by the National Baptist Convention and the Woman's Societies, the following are some of the most important institutions under the fostering care of the American Baptist Home Mission Society: Atlanta Baptist College, Atlanta, Ga.-founded in 1867 at Augusta, but later transferred to Atlanta-Rev. John Hope, President; Benedict College, Columbia, S. C.-founded in 1870 and named for Mrs. Stephen Benedict of Pawtucket, R. I., whose generosity made it possible— Rev. A. C. Osborn, D. D., President; Bishop College, Marshall, Tex.-founded in 1881-Rev. A. B. Chaffee, D. D., President; Shaw University, Raleigh, N. C.-with Law and Medical Schools, founded in 1865 and named for its generous donor-Rev. C. F. Meserve, LL. D., President; Virginia Union Univer sity—a consolidation of Wayland Seminary founded at Washington, D. C., in 1865, and Richmond Theological Seminary—Rev. G. R. Hovey, D.D., President; Florida Institute-founded at Live Oak, Fla., in 1876; Roger Williams University, Nashville, Tenn.; Hearne Academy, Hearne, Tex.; Houston Academy, Houston, Tex.; Howe Bible and Normal Institute, Memphis, Tenn.; Jeruel Academy, Athens, Ga.; Walker Institute, Augusta, Ga.; and Western College, Macon, Mo. Over 500 students for the ministry are annually enrolled in these schools; in view of this fact, and the constantly improving public schools of the South, the Society now faces the important question, whether its future efforts may not wisely be centered on such work as will serve to give a better qualified ministry to the 15,000 Negro Baptist Churches, in which are enrolled over two-fifths of the more than 5,000,000 Baptists in the United States. "To promote the preaching of the Gospel in North America," is still the highest aim of the A. B. H. M. S. in 1907, as in 1832. Women's Baptist The women who publish the tidings are a great host, whether working independently in so magnificent an organization as the Woman's Home Missionary Society of the M. E. Church, or as auxiliary societies in most of the other denominations. Both co-operation and freedom characterize the efforts of our Baptist women. The Women's Baptist Home Mission Society, organized in Chicago, Feb. 1, 1877, has for its distinctive work "the Christianization and elevation of the homes of the people," and most of this work is done independently, but part in connected with the A. B. H. M. S. Three months |