Monroe Baptist Association Plans Efficiency Campaign

“An efficiency campaign, to include every congregation in Monroe Baptist Association was planned at Monroe City last Thursday as the beginning of a larger work in Monroe Association during the coming year. This campaign will begin at Salem on the morning of November 5 and at Paris on the evening of the same day. Experienced men of statewide note like Rev. Truex, of St. Louis, and Rev. King, of Louisiana, will lead in the effort. They bill be accompanied by pastors and laymen from the various churches in the organization. The schedule will be as follows: Salem, November 5, at 10 o’clock; Paris, November 5, at 7:30; Fairview, November 6, at 10; Crooked Creek, November 6, at 7:30; Oak Grove, November 7, at 10; Pleasant Green, November 7 at 7:30; Mt. Airy, November 8, at 10 o’clock, Madison, that night at 7; Mt. Prairie, November 9, at 10; Long Branch, that night at 7:30; Strother, November 10 at 10; Stoutsville, that night at 7:30; Evansville, November 11 at 7; Harmony, November 12, at 10; Grace Church, Monroe City, November 12, at 7. The pledges for work on the county field at the meeting of the Association last week amounted to $517. Part of this will be used to finance the efficiency campaign. 

The Monroe City News gave the following report of the twelfth annual meeting of the Association: The twelfth annual session of the Monroe Baptist session of the Monroe Baptist Association convened with the Grace Baptist Church in this city Wednesday morning at ten o’clock, continuing until Thursday afternoon. Between two hundred and fifty and three hundred delegates and visitors were in attendance. The meeting was the best from every viewpoint, of any in the history of the Association. A number of prominent state workers were present and took part as various hours. Among these were: Rev. S. M. Brown, of Kansas City, editor of Word and Way; Dr. H. E. Truex, of St. Louis, Secretary of Southeast Missouri district of home, foreign and state missions; Rev. W. L. Boyer, of Kansas City, representing the Missouri Home for Aged Baptists at Ironton; Rev. Chas. E. King, of Louisiana district missionary of Bethel and Salt River Associations; Rev. George O. VanNoy, of Fayette, representing William Jewell College at Liberty; Rev. J. W. Scott, of LaGrange College, and Mrs. C. E. Graham, of Hunnewell, member of state board representing Woman’s Work. Rev. A. J. Thanes, of Palmyra, and Rev. S. P. Gott, were enrolled as visitors from Bethel Baptist Association. Ministers in the Association are: Rev. P. D. Magnum, Paris; Rev. J. B. John, Deere; Rev. W. B. Green, Armstrong; R. T. Colburn, Stoutsville; Rev. J. H. Clay, Shelbyville; W.H. Johnson, Monroe City; Rev. T. L. Roberts, LaGrange; Rev. R. A. Jones, New London; Rev. L. M. White, Fayette; Rev. C. K. Green, Downing; Rev. T. R. White, Martinsburg; Rev. K. E. Magruder, LaGrange; Rev. M. B. Horton, Paris; Rev. J. H. Holland, Strother. J. N. Magruder, of Paris, was Moderator, and H. H. Utterback, of Stoutsville, Clerk. 

Monroe Association is composed of fifteen churches and has a membership of 1644. The total amount contributed by these several churches for all branches of work during the past year was $16,819.14. The oldest church in the Association is Paris which was organized in 1831. This church also has the largest membership, reporting 210 members. The youngest church is Evansville which was organized in 1910. A total of 67 new members by baptism was added to the association in the past year. Harmony church reporting 17, a record for the period. 

Wednesday 

The Association was called to oder {sic} at 10 o’clock a.m. by the Moderator. Devotional services conducted by Rev. White and Rev. S.M. Brown. Reading of church letters from following churches and messengers enrolled:  

Crooked Creek – Jesse Barrow, Wm. Wilt and W.P. Hickey

Evansville – Robert Meals, Eva Meals and J. Henry Meals

Grace – Jno. Lake, Jno. Umstattd, Jno. D. Utterback

Harmony – Carl Howell, Mr. and Mrs. Russell McCreary

Long Branch – E.M. Lipp, J.G. Crawford, J.W. Peck

Madison – Mrs. G.A. Farrell, Bessie Mallory, R.D. Broaddus

Mt. Airy – Jewel Dawson, C.H. Martine, D.A. Adkisson, Clara Martine

Mt. Prairie – N.B. Scobee, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Goodnight

Oak Grove – S.A. Wilson, S.W. Sanders, A.L. Styles, Mrs. Katie Lee Woods

Paris – O.G. Powers, H.J. Blanton, W.W. Barnes, J.N. Magruder, Mrs. J.D. Pryor

Pleasant Green – John Elam, Elkin Overfelt, Chas. Griffith

Salem – Mrs. Ernest Hardwick, Mrs. E.P. Smizer, Mrs. W.J. Davis

Stoutsville – B.J. Dye, J.W. Barnes, I.I. Harris

Strother – W.C. Reid, Frank Belmar, O.M. Simpson 

Following this came election of officers, J.N. Magruder being re-elected Moderator and H.H. Utterback being continued in the office of clerk. The introductory sermon was delivered at 1 p.m. by the Rev. N.B. Green, of Cario {sic]. The following were named as members of the executive board of the association: Frank Davis Evansville; J.W. Wilt, Crooked Creek; C. Heathman, Fairview; M.P. Nolen, Grace; S.J. Johnston, Harmony; R.D. Broaddus, Madison; D.A. Adkisson, Mt. Airy; J.T. Scobee, Mt. Prairie; S.W. Sanders, Oak Grove; W.W. Barnes, Paris; W.J. Davis, Salem; Dan Atterbury, Pleasant Green; H.F. Painter, Stoutsville; W.C. Reid, Strother; J.N. Magruder and H.H. Utterback, members at large. The report fo the executive board and treasurer’s report were made at the afternoon session. Dr. H.E. Truex, Rev. S.M. Brown, Rev. W.L. Boyer, and Rev. Chas E. King discussed mission and church work. This session closed with prayer by Rev. P.D. Magnum, of Paris. In the evening at 7:30 Rev. Geo. O. VanNoy of Fayette, delivered an excellent sermon. 

Thursday 

The session was called to order at 9:30 by the Moderator. Educational reports made. An efficiency campaign is to be put on in the association and will begin about November 1 to last eight days. A sum of $517 was raised for district work, the entire amount to be expended among the various churches in the association. The doctrinal sermon was delivered at 1:30 p.m. by Rev. R.T. Colburn, of Stoutsville. This was followed by the report of the Missouri Home for Aged Baptists at Ironton. A fund of $17.79 was raised for aid of this institution. Various reports and discussions occupied the closing hours of the association yesterday afternoon.” 
Source: Newspaper article from unknown source, dated October 13, 1916.