Foreign Mis sion Board Rooms
September 6, 1951
The Foreign Mission Board met in regular monthly session at 300 p.m.
on Thursday, September 6, 1951, with Mr. Jenkins presiding.
Dr. Wiley led in prayer.
Present: L. Howard Jenkins, Emmett Y. Robertson, Mrs. Paul LaRoque,
Garis T. Long, Mrs. Tom Smith, J. H. Wiley, E. P. Duxton, T. Rupert
Coleman, T. S. Medlin, J. G. Loving, M. T. Rankin, B. J. Cauthen,
G. W. Sadler, Everett Gill, Jr., E. L. Deane, Fon H. Scofield, S..E.
Maddox.
On the recommendation of the Personnel Committee the following persons
were appointed as regular missionaries of the Board:
Mr. Marvin Garrett, Nigeria
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Reeves, Siam
Miss Martha Tanner
Mr. and Mrs. Buford Cockrum
Miss Tanner ana Mr. and Mrs. Cockrum have been special appointees
to Africa and are now being placed under regular appointment.
Dr. Rankin gave the charge to the new appointees and Dr. Long led
in the prayer of dedication.
Dr. Rankin gave the following report:
I am glad to report that the affairs of the Foreign Mission Board
have moved smoothly and satisfactorily during the two summer months
since our last meeting in July. I think all of us have had vacations,
some of them combined with speaking engagements at Ridgecrest, others
rather short, consisting of one and two weeks spent at home working
about the house, but all of them bringing a measure or relaxation.
In my opinion, the main event of the summer was the Foreign Missions
Conference at Ridgecrest. Every report and comment that I have heard
indicates that this was jne of the most effective conferences we have
ever had. Dr. Means gave another instance of his thoroughness in
the complete program which he prepared before he left on his mission¬
ary tour around the world. Dr. Maddox served in Dr. Means* place as
general chairman. The meetings were well attended and the earnest
interest manifested throughout the conference is a most encouraging
indication of the constantly deepening interest of Southern Baptists
in world missions. All of the addresses were strong. Certainly one
of the strongest and most telling was presented by a member of our
Board, Dr. Rupert Coleman. His address would be on a top level on
any program conducted by Southern Baptists.
During the conference Rev. and Mrs. Charles Cowherd announced their
plan to make available for use by the Foreign Mission Board a three-
apartment residence which they have purchased at Ridgecrest. Funds
for the down-payment came from the indemnity which Mrs. Cowherd
received for the period of internment in the Philippine Islands of
herself and her son, Billy. All three apartments are fully furnished
and equipped for winter use. They will be rented during the winter
by the Ridgecrest Assembly and will be available for use by the
Foreign Mission Board for the months of June through August, mainly
for missionaries on furlough who will be assigned to represent
foreign missions at the various Ridgecrest assemblies, and for
Baptist students from foreign countries who have been sent to
America for further preparation for mission services in their own
countries. Mr. and Mrs. Cowherd plan to use the rental received
during the winter months to keep up the payments on the house.
It is their plan to make provision in their wills that this pro¬
perty shall eventually belong to the Foreign Mission Board.
Mrs. Cowherd has privately announced also that she intends to use
indemnity funds received for the death of her husband, the Rev.
Rufus Gray, to help in the erection of a building for a Chinese
church in Baguio, Philippine Islands.
I am happy to announce also that Mrs. Sidney Stegall, sister of
Dr. William Wallace, and her husband have provided funds for the
beginning of a memorial trust fund in honor of Dr. Wallace. At
present, the fund consists largely of the proceeds of a life
