BAPTIST UNION PROCRESS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 834, 4 June 1910, Page 9

BAPTIST UNION PROCRESS.

WELDING THE DENOMINATION. The report which'the Baptist Union Council will present to the assembly next week is a variegated record of much work and many new departures designed to wold the denomination into homogeneity (says the " Christian World")- It is true that the- report opens with a dismal fact —tliat there has been a decrease in church membership of 1553, though the number of churches had increased by 16, and 477S additional scats have been provided in 22 new chapels. But apart from the arrest in statistical progress, the report is a very cheery document. The total income of the year was £22,526, and the. expenditure" over £13.000.' All the accounts show the signs of health and prosgeriijjc-

The development of the local preachers' organisation within the Union continues, .".ml the fact that under the Union's encouragement 2373 new books wore bought by local preachers is elociuent of the salutary influence which is being exerted on the unpaid ministers of the Baptist - churches. The Publication Department, with, a turnover of £8350, has yielded a considerable profit. The Church Aid section of thb Ronm Work Fund made 111 grants amounting to £1493, and 16 grants amounting to £537 were made from the Evangelisation section. Tho Annuity Fund is in the happy position of being able to pay full annuities for 1910 to ministers and widows, a number of laymen having agreed to maintain the present standard ' foi five years. The formation of a Baptist Colonial Society is an inndribtion now recommended by the council. The Autumn Assembly has been fixed for October 2-6 at Glasgow-, which has not been visited by the Union for over thirty years.