REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CHURCH WORK.
The church work of the Association during the year has been steady, growthful, and encouraging. Quite the average of progress has been attained. This will readily appear by reference to a few statistics. Six new churches have been added to the list, making in all eighty-three. Ten houses of worship have been erected. It is a remarkable fact that every one of the eighty-three churches, except one whose minister died a short time ago, has a pastor. And equally remarkable that fifty-one of these pastors are native preachers. As showing the value of theological seminaries established by the Association, and the ability and usefulness of trained colored men, the average membership of sixty-eight in each church exceeds the average of all the Congregational churches west of Pennsylvania. The addition of 709 on profession, and the conversion of about an equal number who have found other church homes, make an average of seventeen conversions to each church, an increase of 20 per cent. Where else can an equally good exhibition be made? Only about one to a church throughout the country. There are seven churches which have added from twenty-five to forty-five to their membership. There are only six that report no additions. So far as reported all but eleven churches contribute money for church purposes. Thirty-seven report benevolent contributions. One church reports $350, another church reports $158, another church reports $86, another church reports $83, another church reports $60, another church reports $50. Seventy-four Sunday-schools are reported. One Sunday-school has over 500 members, another 400 members, ten schools 200 members, and seven schools 100 members. These figures indicate vitality in the churches, for Sunday-schools do not thrive very well, excepting where there is activity in the churches with which they are associated. In nine localities precious revivals have been enjoyed. The local associations indicate growth in fellowship and power. When we remember that these results have been reached amid manifold hindrances and discouragements arising from ignorance, prejudice, superstition and vice, we may well exclaim, “What hath God wrought?” “Thank the Lord and take courage.” But the best results of the year do not admit of tabulation. The unwritten history of these churches are the tears, the struggles, the sacrifices, the prayers, the burdens silently, uncomplainingly borne. This is their real history. God knows it all, and those who have been the patient workers in its making will be remembered in that day when he counts up his jewels. Then it must not be forgotten that these churches represent almost infinitely more in the South than their small number would indicate. They are tonic in their influence upon all the other churches around them. Their simple New Testament polity, which encourages self-government and self-development, their high standard of ethics, which is a constant rebuke to an emotional religion apart from morality, make them peculiarly lights shining in dark places, and invest them with that quiet, but inscrutable transforming power that belongs to good leaven.
In this has been vindicated the wisdom of the policy which has preferred quality to quantity, good character to great numbers, intelligent piety to ignorant devotion, a pure life to a noisy profession. Without doubt the Association might have doubled its present number of churches during these seventeen years. It has cost something to move slowly in this matter.
We have said that the past year has witnessed the average growth. The rate of progress during the last seventeen years has been uniformly very constant, about five churches a year. Ten years ago six new churches and ten houses of worship were reported. The question now comes whether it is not quite time to change the rate by doubling it, at least to quicken the pace. The church work is initial and fundamental. It underlies all else. The Association is in the South for no other purpose than to make Christian manhood and womanhood. For this glorious work the church of God is the divinely appointed agency. Others are auxiliary. There is but one opinion as to the sore need of more churches. The Macedonian cry is heard in many directions.
It has been demonstrated that Congregational churches can exist and thrive west of the Hudson and south of Mason and Dixon’s line.
The polity and faith of the Pilgrim Fathers is not for the elect few but the unsaved many. And if the methods, influence, and example of our churches in the South are greatly stimulating to the churches round about them, that is an additional argument for their multiplication.
It can hardly be doubted that the schools and universities, by their direct and indirect influence, have prepared sufficient material for more churches. What are eighty-three among the millions who sit in darkness? It must be kept distinctly in mind that educational facilities are multiplying in the South, and that to educate without Christianizing is possibly to augment the perils instead of the defenses of the Republic.
The sanctifying and consecrating forces must be held in close contact with the secular, so that education may be hallowed, or it will end in defeat. We must hold steadfastly to our fundamental principle that nothing but the gospel of Christ will uplift and save the South. And while our educational institutions are thoroughly Christian, yet the church must be the energizing and radiating centre of Christian influence and power. Brethren, does not the church work need and deserve a fresh impulse? Ought not the momentum gathered during the seventeen years to accelerate its progress very greatly now? Would not all hearts be gladdened, if the next annual report should bring tidings of twelve instead of six churches organized under the favoring auspices of this society? Opportunities are (I was about to say waiting, but they don’t wait) passing. Much has been irrevocably lost. Much yet remains. Ideas are changing rapidly. We had feared that crystallization would occur earlier than this, and society become so incrusted with prejudice and hardened by vice that the helpful activities of this and kindred societies would be hindered or defeated. But God is mercifully holding the elements still in solution that churches and schools, like ours, may become the dominating centres of the new civilization. Let these blessed centres of light, healing, influence, be multiplied, surcharged with transforming energy, with assimilating power. The multiplicand already exists; men and money must furnish, under God, the multiplier.
Arthur Little, Chairman.