Marching On: The Conquest Campaign of Texas Baptists Page: 2
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Origin and Progress of the Campaign
D UE TO expansion mostly in buildings
demanded by increased patronage, and
projected largely under prudently estimated
income from the 75 Million Campaign,
but completed without full receipt of such
expected income, Texas Baptists a short
while ago awoke to the awesome fact
that they were grievously in debt. Our
people found solid comfort in the knowl-
edge that most of this indebtedness was
represented by real property, permanent
investments, in seventeen large institutions,
schools, and hospitals. Some of it, indeed,
was the result of charities extended to the
helpless sick in our hospitals. Some of it,
too, was accumulated in the effort to grant
free tuition to young ministers and to
ministers' children. Again, much of it
accrued as interest on the principal. It
included also legitimate amounts allotted
to the State and Southwide boards on debt.
But the debts when aggregated amounted
to the large sum of $6,144,624.00, and
clamored for payment.
Not even the solace that our plight was
the common plight of every Baptist State
from Maryland to New Mexico and our
embarrassment the same embarrassment as
suffered by every evangelical denomination
in America since the World War could
silence the arresting cry for the payment
of our debts. Nor could the colossal size
of Texas, nor the vast superiority of our
numbers, nor the amplitude of our
resources, nor even the safe margin of
our assets above our liabilities. As Cato
of old kept warning the Roman people,
"Carthage must be destroyed," so the stern
monitor of judgment in all our people cried
out insistently, "These debts must be paid!"
Every suggestion of relief, every avenue
of approach was carefully considered for
months during 1926 by a special committee
composed of successful business men,dependable lawyers, and responsible pas-
tors. Their final, unanimous verdict was
that we should at once begin to liquidate
the debts and so stop the payment of
interest, no matter how reasonable the rate.
The Baptist General Convention in San
Antonio took the same view of the situa-
tion. The unanimous adoption of the
committee's report, first by the Executive
Board at 1 a.m. and by the Convention at
1:30 p.m., after prolonged consideration,
formed undoubtedly one of the most
thrilling actions ever taken in the glorious
history of Texas Baptists. After the lapse
of more than a year it stands out as one
of life's high moments.
Dr. Truett yielded to the call to direct
the campaign in profound emotion, pledg-
ing not only the utmost of his endeavor,
but in addition to the tenth of his income
for the usual local church and current
denominational budgets one-fourth of his
income to the Conquest Campaign. In
like manner Dr. Scarborough joined him
as State Organizer. Mr. Kokernot con-
sented to act as General Chairman and
together with these two consecrated
crusaders carried the Campaign into every
section of the State in the most heroic
itinerary possibly ever undertaken. Thou-
sands of others, without one cent of
remuneration to a single person, joined
them. In two short months more than a
million dollars was secured in subscriptions,
above $700,000 of which has already been
paid in cash. Could the Campaign have
had right of way for the entire year as
during those two months no one doubts
but that the $2,000,000 desired the first year
would have been fully realized. Yet with
some of the money still awaiting distribu-
tion to the causes entitled to share, the
debts have been reduced more than
$500,000.00.The Conquest Campaign must be pressed to a successful conclusion. An excellent beginning
was made last year. The response from the rank and file of our people was remarkable. No
more heartening event has occurred in our denominational life in many years. Substantial
reduction was made in our indebtedness. The Budget Control Committee is now in a position
to prevent any increase, so that it is only a question of time until the entire debt is wiped out.
I have never before felt so encouraged. We ought to do better this year than last. First, because
we are more prosperous; second, we have stopped the growth of the debts; third, the result last
year shows us it can be done; fourth, no matter what adjustments may be made the existing
debts must be paid. The sooner the better.-E. G. Townsend, Dean of Baylor College, Belton.
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Conquest Campaign of Texas. Marching On: The Conquest Campaign of Texas Baptists, pamphlet, 1927~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth253209/m1/2/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.