AMERICAN BAPTIST FOREIGN MISSION SOCIETY. Among the five young men whose sailing to foreign lands in 1812 constituted the founding of the foreign mis sion enterprise of American Christianity was Adoniram Judson. On the long voyage to India his study of the New Testament led to a change of conviction regarding baptism and accordingly he offered his services as a mis sionary to American Baptists. His challenge in 1814 called into existence "The General Missionary Convention of the Baptist Denomi nation in the United States of America for Foreign Missions?' In 1846 the name of this organization was changed to "American Bap tist Missionary Union,D and in 1910 the present name of "American Baptist Foreign Mission Society') was adopted. Since 1826 the head quarters of the Society have been in Boston, Mass., and in 1905 the offices were removed to the new Ford building where they now occupy the entire eighth floor. The by-laws of the Society state that the purpose of the organization is to diffuse the knowledge of the religion of Jesus Christ by means of missions throughout the world. The passing of a hun dred years brings on many changes. In the days of Judson the Baptists of America were of little influence, few in numbers and poor in financial resources. To-day they constitute a great denomination, a mighty power in the religious life of America. Their foreign mis sionary society has come to be one of the largest and most influential in the realm of Protestantism. A hundred years ago only $1,059 represented the financial expenditures for Baptist foreign missions, whereas . during the past five years the receipts in support of this work have exceeded $1,000,000 an nually. The work of the Society covers a vast expanse of territory in the non-Christian world. Ten mission fields are maintained — Japan, the Philippines, east China, west China, south China, Burma, Assam, Bengal-Orissa, south India and Belgian Kongo. In addition, by a co-operative arrangement, the Society since 1835 has been assisting the Baptist cause in Europe, and separate missions are main tained in eight European countries. The mis sionaries supported by the Society to-day num ber 688 (including those of the Society), and these are assisted by 6,673 native workers. In Europe 2,480 workers were ir service in 1914, but what effect the war tas had upon their number has not yet been de termined. In the 10 missions of the non Christian world there are 127 regularly main tained stations with missionaries in residence and 3,237 out-stations or preaching places. It:
non-Christian lands to-day 183,505 church members are enrolled in 1,732 regularly organ ized Baptist churches, of which 1,07, or 5& per cent, are self-supporting. It is a note worthy fact, and one productive of deep grati fication, that among the Karen people Burma the percentage of self-supporting Bap tist churches is greater than in any State of thr Northern Baptist Convention. In 1916 the mis sionaries on all fields baptized 12,355 convert_, and the total number of baptisms since the work first began has exceeded 625,000.
The service of the medical missionary is of value in that it visualizes the Great Physician, and at the same time opens the door to the evangelist with his healing gospel for the diseases of the soul. Fifty-one, missionary physicians, assisted by 133 native nurses and other helpers, give their full time to this im portant work. Sixty-nine dispensaries consE lute the equipment for their service. More than 83,000 patients received medical and surgi cal treatment during 1917, and plans are being made for a great advance in this phase of the Society's work. The educational work is con ducted in six colleges, 35 theological seminaries and training schools, and 2,608 schools of all grades, with a total enrolment of over EG,003 pupils. More than 89,000 pupils receive re ligious instruction in 2,301 Sunday schools. The missionaries have translated the Bible, in whole or in part, into over 30 dialects and languages. Three printing and publication plants are connected with the Society, when bibles, periodicals, hymnbooks, textbooks and other literature are printed. The administra tion of this great enterprise is placed in the hands of a board of managers of 27 members nine of whom are appointed each year at a Northern Baptist Convention. The plans and policies of the Board are carried out under the direction of the executive officers. At the present writing these are six in number. In the Foreign Department, which is charged with the responsibility for the work on the field there are two foreign secretaries and an asso ciate secretary.
In the Home Department for the presenta tion of the work to churches and the securing of funds there is a home secretary and an assistant secretary and treasurer.