Boyce Digital Repository (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)

Neighbour was pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle, Athens, Georgia. This publication was probably produced sometime between 1913 (when Baptist Tabernacle held its first service) and 1921 (when it renamed as the Prince Avenue Baptist Church). Source: Emily Doster and Gary Doster, Athens (Postcard History Series, 2011)

Neighbour, R. E. (Robert Edward)

Pre and Post Millennialism :  Vital Issues at Stake

Scanned in cooperation with the Kentucky Baptist Convention

Bryan, O. E. (Oscar Eugene)

What About 
State Missions? 
0. E. Bryan 
BAPTIST STATE BOARD Of' MISSIONS 
205 East Chestnut Street 
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY 
WHAT ABOUT STATE MISSIONS? 
0. E. Bryan. 
1. Is State Missions included in the 75 
Million Drive and in the $6,500,00 for Ken-
tucky? 
Yes, Stat.e Missions receives $900,000 of the 
above amount for Kentucky in five years. 
2. What is meant by State Missions under 
the present management? 
State Missions is the General Fund under 
our State Doard which takes care of the run-
ning expenses of the denominational machine-
ry as unified in Kentucky at this time. 
The State Board employs a General Secre-
tary and an Office Secretary and several 
stenographers and bookkeepers; five General 
Evangelists; one Sunday School Secretary; 
one B. Y. P. U. Secretary and two W. M. U. 
Secretaries. They supplement the salaries of 
more than a hundred Missionary Pastors; the 
salaries of several City and Association Mis-
sionaries are provided for by this fund; they 
pay the salaries of more than half-dozen Negro 
Workers. It is from this that our Church 
Building Fund is supplemented. If there is 
a deficit on Children's Homes, Ministers Aid, 
Ministerial Relief, or any other department of 
the State work, this is provided for out of the 
State Mission fund. 
SOUTHERN BAPTIST 
THEOLOGICAl SEMINAAV UBfiARV 
~ '-"i\INGTOH AD 
LOUISVILLE. KV 402IlO 
State Missions is also bearing all the ex. 
pcnses of the 75 Million Drive, under Prof. 
Hill, in Kentucky. All the expenses such as 
the incidentals connected with our work are 
paid by the State Board. It can be seen that 
State Missions represents the larger part of 
the work done in Kentucky. 
3. Will what we give on this year for 
State Missions be counted on the 75 Million 
Drive? 
Yes, everything given to any interest in-
cluded in our State Budget since May 1, 1919, 
will be credited on the 75 Million. Money 
given to State Missions this Summer and Fall 
will be credited to the church and individual 
when pledges are taken in December. 
4. What part of the State Budget is in 
greatest need at the present time? 
Unquestionably State Missions, b·earing the 
expenses of the 75 Million Campaign and 
bearing the expenses of all our regular work, 
has the greatest need at the present time. 
5. Is there any danger of having a debt 
on State Missions this Fall? 
There certainly is unless churches give 
more for this interest than ever before. 
6. Do you believe that this extra amount 
will be provided for before the General 
Association? 
I believe that Kentucky Baptists are united 
and ready to start in this drive with a clean 
slate; I believe they will pay every dollar of 
this indebtedness before the first day of 
November. 
7. Where will we get information concern-
ing a report on State Missions? 
In the report of the Corresponding Secre-
tary found in the minutes of the last General 
Association. 
The tremendous responsibilities that are on 
us now call for unusual consecration and 
prayer. God is able to give the victory. 


What about State Missions?

Mullins, Edgar Young

A True 
Denomina-
tionalism 
E. Y. 1'lULLINS. D.D. 
DENOiVlII\'ATIONAL SERIES 
Sunday School Board 
Southern Baptist Convention 
Nashville. Tenn. 
This is one of a series of 
twelve brief tracts presenting 
various arguments for Bap-
tist doctrines and practices. 
~iThis series, in sets of fifteen 
copies of each tract, will be 
sent free to Southern Baptist 
pastors on application or 
quantities of selected tracts 
can be had on request. 
If this tract is found to be 
helpful we shall be glad 
to hear of it. 
A True 
Denomina tionalism 
E.- Y. MULLINS, D.D. 
T HE purpose of this paper IS to show that there is a true and worthy denomina-
tionalism, and also to indicate what should be 
the aim of a loyalty to the beliefs and work 
of the denomination. A member of a Bap-
tist church ought to know what Baptists be-
lieve, what they are trying to do, and how 
they are trying to do it. This knowledge 
ought to become the keen edge of his effi-
ciency as a church member. 
SOME REASONS FOR DENOMINATIONAL 
LOYALTY 
1. The fundamental reason for denomina-
tional loyalty is found in our fundamental 
principle. There are various ways of stating 
the fundamental Baptist principle. For prac-
tical purposes the best form of the statement 
is that it is obedience to Jesus Christ. This 
is the plumb line for us which keeps the build-
ing of the wall on the right line; the ballast 
which holds the ship in an upright position. 
Obedience to ChriS: is f~r80 a100Xy 
,2.3?' P lIItdeted Ira 
/I/?17t 
obedience is not obedience. Hence every man 
should read and interpret the Scriptures for 
himself. 
Hence a Baptist cannot accept infant bap-
tism, which is proxy and not personal obedi-
ence. Hence he also rejects priests, bishops, 
and ecclesiastical courts. They are forms of 
proxy obedience. Hence our doctrine of de-
mocracy and self-government in the church. 
Our view of the ordinances is determined 
by the principle of obedience to Jesus Christ. 
So, also, our view of missions and all Chris-
tian enterprises. 
In the Bible we find the will of Christ ex-
pressed. The principle of obedience to Christ 
leads us, therefore, to accept the teachings of 
the Bible as our rule of faith and practice. 
All these things belong to the priceless 
heritage of spiritual truth which has come 
to us. We must preserve it and perpetuate 
it. Our denominationalism is based upon it. 
The world needs these principles today, and 
it is for us to hold them as a sacred trust for 
all mankind. 
~ 
2. Again, denominational loyalty makes 
for denominational efficiency, and denomina-
tional efficiency is the highest known form of 
organized Christian efficiency. Efficient peo-
ple are those united by common convictions, 
common purposes, and organized for common 
ends. Conviction, deep and strong, is a psy-
chological necessity ff'I real efficiency. Con-
viction is like the VIip of the hand on a tool 
• 
one uses. Unless the grip is firm, the tool 
falls from the hand, or makes no impression 
on the material to which it is applied. 
Christian history shows that the denomina· 
tional group, in so far as it has been united 
and strong in a common organization and 
purposes, has been the most effective means 
for spreading Christianity. Multiplicity of 
denominations is not the ideal. It is hoped 
the time will come when all will unite in 
obedience to the revealed will of Christ. But 
the unifying power of common convictions 
will still be needed when all are in one or-
ganization. 
3. A third reason for denominational loy-
alty is that an intelligent Baptist cannot ac· 
cept the set of doctrines held by any other 
body of Christians in the world today. If an-
other denomination holds to sacramental sal-
vation, priesthoods, and prelacies; or if it 
holds to infant baptism, or rejects the New 
Testament teaching as to immersion and as 
to a regenerate church membership, a Baptist 
is debarred from accepting these beliefs, since 
they are against his own fundamental con-
viction as to the revealed will of Christ which 
is set forth in the New Testament. 
"0-
The effort for Christian union is most de-
sirable if conducted along wise lines. But it 
would be fatal blindness on the part of Chris-
tians generally to imagine that any kind of 
mere external union would prove successful. 
Union on a basis of compromise would be 
morally wrong. No man can be asked to 
surrender a conscientious conviction to secure 
any kind of a desired end. There is no Chris-
tian way of carrying on a barter and trade 
in moral principles. 
For a Christian to admit that Christ re-
quires a particular act, and then declare that 
it does not matter whether this act is per-
formed or not, is to betray a woeful lack of 
appreciation of what Christianity means. 
Christian union on a· basis of common con-
viction, a common obedience to Christ, will 
be the only enduring form of union. 
~ 
It follows from what has been said that 
an intelligently loyal Baptist is one who knows 
the reasons for the faith that is in him and 
holds that faith as a clear teaching of the 
New Testament. A Baptist who is a Baptist 
merely because his parents were Baptists, or 
because it is more convenient or agreeable, 
or profitable in a social or business way to be 
a Baptist, has not yet found the highest mo-
tive for his allegiance. He needs to obtain a 
clear view of the great principles which are 
the basis of his denominationalism. He needs 
to acquire a strong sense of the value of these 
principles to the world, and a consciousness 
of having a mission to make them known. A 
man must have a profound denominational 
self-respect if he is to do his best work in the 
world. 
6 
IN OUR DAY SOME OBJECTIONS ARE MADE TO 
DENOMINATIONALISM OF ANY KIND 
1. There are a number of these objections 
which men urge against denominationalism. 
One is the alleged waste of money in redupli-
cating efforts in a given community. A half 
dozen churches in a small town, a half dozen 
pastors, a half dozen salaries are said to be 
too many for Christian service. 
There are situations where this may be 
granted. And no one should insist on this 
number of churches who can conscientiously 
avoid doing so. All bodies which can con-
scientiously unite should do so. Baptists are 
under obligations here as well as others. 
But no Baptist can unite, for example, with 
bodies who practice infant baptism, or deny 
the necessity for a regenerate church mem-
bership. I would not prescribe a course of 
conduct for other denominations save on the 
general principle named above. Let all such 
organizations unite which can do so without 
violation of the principle of obedience to 
Christ. 
We must remember, moreover, that finan-
cial considerations can never weigh against 
moral and spiritual principles. We should 
save our consciences first,not our money. 
~ 
2. Another alleged objection is that it in-
dicates a narrow spirit for Baptists to stand 
apart from other Christians. "Baptist ex-
clusiveness is hurtful," it is said. The reply 
7 
is that a man does not cease to be a Chris-
tian gentleman in becoming a loyal Baptist. 
On the contrary, every impulse to courtesy 
and consideration of others is stirred by his 
Baptist loyalty if a man really understands 
what it means. 
All denominations are "exclusive" in the 
sense that they hold their own doctrinal views, 
their own form of organization, their own 
worship and church life, and maintain them. 
Baptists respect and honor all of them for 
their devotion to their ideals of right. 
Baptists have ever insisted on religious lib-
erty. Their alleged' exclusiveness is simply 
the free exercise of their liberty in Christ, a 
liberty they recognize and approve in their 
brethren of other names. 
3. Another objection frequently heard is 
that the divisions of modern Christendom are 
hurtful to the cause of Christ. This implies 
that every denomination should therefore be 
abolished. Undoubtedly it is true that a 
divided Christendom has many disadvantages. 
But other conditions might be worse. All 
should pray for unity of faith. All should 
strive for it. 
But as between a divided Christendom 
where the divisions are based on conviction. 
born of a desire to obey Christ, and an arti-
ficial unity based merely on a desire that all 
should belong to one church, the intelligent 
Baptist will not hesitate. Better many de-
s 
nominations of conscientious people than one 
great organization of indifferent people. 
Artificial union on a wrong basis would in-
evitably lead to new divisions. For just as 
soon as some man, or group of men, came 
to feel that the organization failed of doing 
the will of Christ at certain points, there 
would arise a new Protestant mov.ement and 
new divisions. 
OUR ATTITUDE TO OTHER DE~O.MINATIONS 
The basis of a Baptist's attitude toward 
Christians of other names is mutual respect 
to convictions held honestly by both parties. 
This also determines the limits of co-operative 
Christian work. There are many forms of 
general effort in which Baptists may co-
operate with Christians of other names with-
out any compromise of principle. As Bap-
tists we need to recognize this. Otherwise, 
we are in danger of going to an extreme in 
one of two possible ways: some will lose pa-
tience with all denominationalism and say that 
Baptist beliefs shOUld be ignored in order to 
make way for fraternity and union. This is 
disastrous whenever it occurs. On the other 
hand, some will treat Christians of other 
names as heathen and publicans, and have no 
dealings with them. This is also disastrous. 
"'0-
Baptists are not Ishmaelites with the!r 
hands against all other Christians. They are 
9 
rather a great body of men and women who 
desire supremely to do the will of Christ. 
They love and honor their brethren of other 
denominations:and are trying to show them 
certain great truths fundamental to Christian-
ity in its pure form. But they gladly welcome 
Christian fellowship with men and women of 
all names,. and seek to co-operate with them 
for common ends where this can be done with-
out violation of their own sense of obligation 
to Christ. 
A TRUE DENOMINATIONALISM 
A true denominationalism therefore will 
include loyalty to Christ and his command-
ments as a sacred duty, without compromise, 
respecting, but not yielding to the views of 
others for expediency's sake. 
A true denominationalism will desire to 
have part in the great enterprises of those 
who share in a common New Testament faith 
and practice, and will include loyalty to the 
brethren who hold this common faith, with a 
desire that all men may come to know the 
truth of God. We must not permit our Bap-
tist brethren to bear all the burdens and re-
sponsibilities of our general work without our 
aid if we ourselves expect to be regarded as 
loyal Baptists. 
A true denominationalism will also include 
love for all who have faith in Jesus the Lord, 
a,nd a willingness to work together in ad-
vancingthe interests of the kingdom of God 
10 
on earth with Christians of other names, when 
this can be done without impairing Baptiltt 
efficiency and the violation of the Baptist con-
science. 
11 


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Pre and Post Millennialism : Vital Issues at Stake

What about State Missions?

A True Denominationalism

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