Foreign Mission Board Rooms
April 10, 1951
The Foreign Mission Board met in semi-annual session at 7:30 p.m. on
Tuesday, April 10, 1951, with Mr. Jenkins presiding.
The following members were present either at the evening session or
the' morning and afternoon sessions on Wednesday:
State Members : John H. nuchanan, Alabama; Wayraan C. Reese, Alabama;
William Barclay, Arizona; J. Ray Garrett, D.
С.;
E. J. Morgan, California
R. Kelly white, Florida; Searcy Garrison, Georgia; R. C. Gresham, Georgia
Russell W. Wallis, Illinois; R. E. Humphreys, Kentucky; william Peyton
Thurman, Kentucky; J. H. Kyzar, Mississippi; Vernon B. Richardson,
Maryland; D. M. Nelson, Jr., Missouri; Earl Keating, New Mexico; Eph
Whisenhunt, North Carolina; R. Knolan Benfield, North Carolina; J. n.
Rawlinson, South Carolina; Grady Cothen, Oklahoma; Russell Bradley Jones,
Tennessee; 0. E. Turner, Tennessee; A. Hope Owen, Texas;
С.
E. Hereford,
Texas; R. P. Downey, Virginia.
Local Members : E. P. -ouxton, Clyde V. Hickerson, L. Howard Jenkins,
Mrs. Paul Lauoque, Garis T. Long, w. Rush Loving; R. C. McDanel, Hill
Montague, nmmett Y. Robertson, Mrs. T. W. Smith, H. P. Thomas, Elmer
West, J. Hundley Wiley, John C. williams.
Staff: M. Theron Rankin, George W. Sadler, Everett Gill, Jr., Fraik
K. Means, S. E. Maddox, E. L. Deane, Fon H. Scofield, Louis P. Seay,
lone Gray, Edna Frances Dawkins, Mary M. Hunter, Genevieve Greer.
Guests: Dr. G. Keamie Keegan, william Hall Preston, Wayne Oates,
J. Lynn Elder, Mrs. George Martin, Cal Guy, M. P. German, Mrs. 0. K.
Armstrong.
Rev. E. J. Morgan of California led the devotional period.
It was the unanimous decision of the Board to make a telephone call
to Dr. Charles E. Maddry on the occasion of his 75th birthday. Dr.
Clyde V. Hickerson was asked to make the call and to express the
appreciation and love of the board for him.
Mr. Jenkins made the following address:
WILL WE SEND GOD OR GUNS?
While we meet in a time of world crisis it need not be a time of
discouragement. It is true men's hearts are filled with fear. In
spite of the fact that men of all nations, including millions in
Russia itself, want peace, we do not know if tomorrow will bring
peace of war. we are jittery, even scared of what tommorrow might
bring. Our sons are being taken, some for the second time in a short
life time, and some are dying, with many others suffering beyond our
power to comprehend.
This is being done in defense of freedom and for the things we hold
dearer than life itself. Freedom is the universal urge in the hearts
of all men. Freedom is the thing men desire above all else; and they
will fight and, if need be, give their lives to preserve this precious
heritage. I believe this freedom will eventually be the lot of all
men for it is an urge that cannot be denied them.
As a Board dealing with foreign missions we could, with good excuse,
be downcast because of the situation we face in China. But even there
we have things that make our hearts glad. We have been cut off from
that country, formerly our largest mission field. Our property, repre¬
senting millions of dollars, has been siezed by the enemy and all but
four of our missionaries have left the country.
They did not leave because of fear. They remained until it became
evident that their presence threatened the safety of the Chinese
Christians whom they loved with a deathless devotion. While all
this is true, I maintain that all is not lost, for we know that
Christ lives on in the hearts of thousands of the faithful who have
professed him as their Lord and Master, and who will remain true to
their faith in spite of suspicion and persecution.
I am convinced that some will elect to die rather than renounce
their faith. So, do not let us be discouraged, for we have made an
impression on that country that will endure through the ages. What
has been wrought by our faithful missionaries cannot be erased by
