101
Foreign Mission Board Meeting
October 11-12, 1955
The Foreign Mission Board met in annual session at the Grace Baptist Church on
Tuesday, October 11, 1955, at 7*30 p.m. with Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Present: State Members: Samuel E. Maddox, Ala.; Waymon C. Reese, Ala.; W. 0.
Vaught, Jr., Ark.; James R. Staples, Aria.; J. Ray Garrett, D. C. ; Preston B.
Sellers, Fla.; Monroe F.Swilley, Ga.; Clifton A. Forrester, Ga.; Howard P.
Giddens, Ga.; Harry L. Garrett, Ill.; William Peyton Thurman, Ky.; James W.
Middleton, La.; W. Clyde Atkins, Md.; J. H. Kyzar, Miss.; J. Edwin Hewlett,
Mo.; A. A. Du Laney, N. Mex.; Eph Whisenhunt, N. C.j V. Ward Bair, N. C. ;
Mrs. Foy J. Farmer, N.
С.
; C. Murray Fuquay, Okla.; James A. Canaday, Tenn.;
W, Fred Kendall, Tenn.; M. B. Carroll, Tex.; James N. Morgan, Tex.; Mrs. R. L.
Mathis, Tex.; Arthur B. Rutledge, Tex.; Arthur E. Travis, Tex.; Neal W. Ellis,
Va.
Local Members: Howard L. Arthur, J. E. Boyles, Mrs. Earl Brown, Mrs. Kenneth
Burke, E. I3. Buxton, Solon B. Cousins, Mrs. Clyde V. Hickerson, Oscar L. Hite,
L. Howard Jenkins, John Moore Lewis, Garis T. Long, W. Rush Loving, Perry
Mitchell, Elton Phillips, H. B. Tillman, J. Hundley Wiley.
Staff: Baker J. Cauthen, George W. Sadler, Frank K. Means, Elmer S. West, Jr.,
Rogers M. Smith, Fon H. Scofield, Jr., E. L. Wright, E. L. Deane, R. A. Magee,
Bill B. Cody.
The devotional period was led by Dr. Clifton A. Forrester, of Georgia.
Mr. Jenkins recognized guests and visitors. Among those present were Dr. Alton
Reed, Dr. W. F. Howard, Dr. Frank Garrison, Dr. T. F. Adams, Dr. Eugene Hill,
Dr. C. L. Culpepper, Mr. W. B. Johnson, Dr. and Mrs. Charles Maddry.
Mr. Jenkins presented a portrait of Dr. M. Theron Rankin painted by Miss Marion
Simonson of Lively, Virginia, to the Foreign Mission Board. The portrait was
unveiled by Ronnie McMillan, grandson of Dr. Rankin and Mrs. Page Rankin
McMillan, Dr. Rankin's daughter.
Mr. Jenkins made the following remarks in presenting the portrait:
TRIBUTE TO DR. M. THERON RANKIN UPON PRESENTATION OF PORTRAIT
I feel wholly inadequate for the task assigned me tonight, but because of my
love and admiration for Theron Rankin, I could not resist the pleas of Mrs.
Rankin and Dr. Cauthen that I make the formal presentation of the portrait of
our beloved friend, who left us a short time ago.
I have no words to express what a benediction his life has been to me. So,
for this reason alone, I am sure, I cannot do justice to this occasion. What
I shall say will be a very sincere statement, but expressed in the words of a
plain, ordinary layman.
Some months ago the Board voted to have a portrait of Dr. Rankin painted and
appointed a committee to handle the matter. This committee selected as the
artist Miss Marion Simonson, formerly of White Plains, New York and now of
Lively, Virginia. She is in the audience and I will present her to you a
little later on. The portrait will speak for itself and I believe all will
say it has been most expertly done.
I have been engaged in church and denominational work for some time, but in
all that period I have never seen a clearer manifestation of Divine leading
than in the case of the selection of Dr. Rankin for the position he held at
the time of his death. I wish I had time to tell this interesting and inspiring
story.
We all know the wisdom of that selection. His memory is engraved upon our
hearts and we think of him tonight with gratitude, admiration and love. We
count it a high privilege to have served with him through these years, all too
short it seems to us. His accomplishments cannot be fully evaluated at this
early date, even by those who served closely by his side. We shall recognize
and appreciate these high qualities and accomplishments more and more as the
years come and go. To express it mildly, he served us most acceptably and
the Board wants to honor him tonight by presenting this portrait which will be
a constant reminder of our dear friend and a recognition of what he meant to
this Board and to the cause of world missions to which he gave his life without
thought of self.
