THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
GENERAL SURVEY.
This Association by its chartered rights is authorized to go anywhere that it finds people destitute of Gospel privileges. Limitation of means and coöperation with other societies may compel it to a narrower sphere than the demands call for; but this is the principle that underlies the Association's organization, and that has characterized all its historic development. The work is at present confined to this country. We have missions in sixteen States and three Territories. The combined population of these States and Territories is 17,459,610, and at least one-third of that number are the legitimate objects of this Association's care. By reason of the necessities of the people our work is both evangelistic and educational: the church and the school in their united aim securing the salvation of body, mind and soul; reaching home life, social life and business life; laying the only foundation on which can rest a progressive and enduring civilization. These mighty forces of Christianity—mother and daughter—in mutual helpfulness and in close proximity, are the agencies through which, with God's blessing, we hope to reach and save the people.
CHURCH WORK SOUTH.
STATISTICS.
| Churches | 112 |
| Missionaries, of which 89 are pastors | 119 |
| Members | 6,881 |
| Added during the year | 1,127 |
| Sunday School scholars | 10,569 |
In this department of our work we are permitted to report very decided growth. Heretofore, the average number of churches organized each year has been six. This year the number runs up to seventeen. This increase comes from the maturing of enterprises that have been nursed for a longer or shorter time, and also the fruiting of our school process and the enlarging of our mountain work. These new churches are at Pleasant View and Rockhold, Ky.; at Cedar Cliff, Melville and Johnson's, N. C.; at Jellico, Pleasant Hill, Robbins, Jonesboro, Grand View and Helenwood, Tenn.; at Rutland, Ga.; Ironton, Ala.; Greenville, Miss.; Abbeville, La.; and at Dallas and Austin, Tex. They have all been supplied with the ministry of the word, though several have been yoked two and two under one pastor. Eight of them have houses of worship, the others use school-houses or chapels of school buildings.