DR. 1861.       July 26 — To balance in hand at last report, for Minutes . . . . . $24 03     Welsh Neck Association, for Minutes . . . . . 20 00     Treasurer Furman University, for Minutes . . . . . 20 00     Barnwell Association, for Minutes . . . . . 5 00     Edgefield Association, for Minutes . . . . . 16 25     Charleston Association, for Minutes . . . . . 11 50     Tyger River Association, for Minutes . . . . . 7 95         $104 73   Female missionary and Education Society, First Baptist Church, Charleston, for Indian Missions . . . . . $50 00   July 28 — To public Sabbath collection . . . . . 54 30         $104 30       [total,] $209 03

CR. 1861.     July 27 — By paid Rev. M. T. Sumner, Secretary, for Indian Mis. . . . . $50 00 1862.     Jan. 7 — By paid Rev. J. M. C. Breaker, for printing Minutes . . . . . 64 00 July 27 — By paid G. F. Townes, Treasurer Education Board . . . . . 18 11   Rev. J. M. C. Breaker, for Minutes . . . . . 40 70   Balance in hand, Domestic Missions . . . . . 18 11   Balance in hand, Foreign Missions . . . . . 18 11     [total,] $209 03

This Board has not been able to accomplish anything since the last meeting of the Convention.

The following report, which was presented at the last meeting of the Convention, in Spartanburg, was not placed in the hands of the Secretary in time for publication, on account of the absence of the Treasurer, whose report was deemed necessary to the completeness of that of the Secretary of this Board. The Education Board has been greatly embarrassed in its operations during the last year (1860 — '61). The Secretary made application by private letters addressed to the Churches, and the President made an appeal through the Southern Baptist, which efforts resulted in obtaining contributions from two or three Churches only.

With these funds the Board has assisted three young men who were pursuing their studies in the University, and the Board has pledged for their support several hundred dollars beyond its resources.

Quite a number of students have been prosecuting their studies in the Theological Seminary, who needed aid, and who would have been under the necessity of discontinuing their studies, had not money, to the amount of several hundred dollars, been advanced them by the liberality of a few individuals, who ought not to be so severely taxed for this object.

This Board ought to be able to render efficient aid to ten or twelve young men from year to year; whilst its resources have scarcely enabled it to sustain one. Will not brethren who feel interested in this object bring it before their Churches, and urge upon them the necessity of regular annual contributions to this Board, in addition to what they an doing for their own beneficiaries. Must the pledges which have been made to beneficiaries be paid by the individual members of the Board, or will the Churches assist in this important work?

Although most of our young men are now in the service of their country, it is hoped that the Churches and Associations will continue their efforts to raise funds for this object, which will be greatly needed as soon as it shall be practical for young men to return to their studies.

The Sunday School and Colportage Board report to the Convention: That in accordance with the recommendation of the Committee in their last year's report, they continued their operations in the important work assigned them, under the general superintendence of their active and efficient agent, Brother Rice, to the first of December last. The General Superintendent, finding everywhere the hearts of people warmly enlisted in the spiritual welfare of our soldiers, and looking to the Board to meet, in a great measure, this urgent want, and finding it difficult, on account of the excitement and all-absorbing interest of the war, to maintain efficiently both of the two great interests committed to them, determined, for the time, to devote their labors principally to the cause of colportage. To this direction of their labors the Board felt that they were guided by the clear leadings of Providence. At the close of the year, the Board determined to continue the valuable labors of Brother Rice — this generous and self-denying brother, on account of his love for the work, expressing a willingness to depend upon Providence and his own success for a compensation for his labors. We have not been disappointed in our expectations. There has been, and still continues, a great enthusiasm throughout the country on the subject of colportage in the army. In view of this most interesting state of things, the Board felt bound to waive all considerations, for the present, of denominational lines and peculiarities. They have confined themselves to the publication and distribution of tracts entirely undenominational, which have been scattered, without money and without price, among our suffering soldiery. Pursuing this course, our Superintendent has received everywhere the cordial sympathy and support of our own and other denominations of Christians. We now have in press a valuable tract from the pen of Dr. Thornwell, and have printed and circulated another interesting tract, on the subject of temperance, written by the Rev. J. Harris, of the Presbyterian Church. The Board and their agent have received the warm sympathy and most timely cooperation of brethren Huckins and Winkler, of Charleston. These excellent brethren, without stint or hesitancy, have given their time and labors to the Board in the composition of tracts, and in the general superintendency of printing them. The Lord reward these dear brethren, and all others who have done like them, for their trouble and self-denying labors.

The Board respectfully call attention to the fact that the pledges made two years ago for the salary of their General Superintendent, have not yet been redeemed.

For all specific information, we refer the Convention to the report of the General Superintendent, herewith respectfully submitted.

Immediately after the meeting of the last Convention, it came to the knowledge of your General Superintendent that there was in the army a very large deficiency of all religious reading, as well as the almost universal absence of the New Testament. One Chaplain, applying for New Testaments, said: “I do not believe fifty men in the regiment have brought New Testaments with them.” Upon consultation with many brethren, whose judgment was valued, it was determined that the religious interests of our soldiers demanded immediate attention on the part of the Colportage Board. Whereupon your General Superintendent addressed himself at once to the matter of receiving funds for the purposes indicated, And is gratified to be able to state that he has succeeded, to some extent, in supplying our brave men with those means whereby some have been made wise unto salvation.

The contributions to this work by the various Associations visited, were, in many cases, beyond our expectations; while they were made with tears and prayers for God's blessing to rest upon the enterprise.

Responses, too, by, Churches, and individuals, and societies, to circulars issued at various times, have been equally hearty from all parts of the State. state.

The deep interest shown, not only by contributions of money, but by “kind words” and earnest prayers, attending these gifts, makes the memory of whatever has been done most pleasing.

One mother, to whom we had made no appeal, said: “You, sir are engaged in visiting our soldiers, and sending them Bibles and tracts? I have a son in the army; I would not be afraid of his being killed; I have given him to the country; but, sir, I should have no hope in his death. Here is a contribution I which I have been wanting to give. Can you not throw some religious influence about my dear boy? Oh! I if I could but know he was a child of God, I could bear it all.

The very best evidences, too, are had that the soldiers themselves are grateful for this concern for their spiritual interests.

Rev. Tilman R. Gains, who was at the time of writing a colporter of the Board, says: “After preaching, I told the soldiers who those who were present that I had some New Testaments to distribute to those who were desirous of obtaining them. As I did not have my Testaments at the tent that night, I told them that at eight o'clock the next morning I would give them out to those who called. But before leaving the tent that night, many of them came to speak for Testaments. At eight the next morning I appeared in the tent door, and soon was surrounded by soldiers, crying, ‘I will take one of your Testaments,’ and in less than fifteen minutes the last one of the lot was in the hands of the soldiers. Very few of them were given out of one company. While I was distributing, members of other companies chanced to pass by, and would ask ‘How do you sell your New Testaments?’ Our dear soldiers are hungering and thirsting for the Word of Life.”

Rev. J. G. Landrum writes: “The soldiers do not wait for me to go among them to distribute, but they crowd around my tent by scores, asking for something to read. They receive and read with eagerness. I require them to read and return, and take others, which they do punctually. I am much pleased with the work of a COLPORTER. I had no idea it was so pleasant an employment.” Again he writes. “I have supplied two regiments from North Carolina. Soldiers read with eagerness and seeming delight the tracts and books which I am almost daily placing in their hands. I have just conversed with a Lieutenant, who, I fear, is on his death-bed, but who is rejoicing in hope of eternal life through a pardoning Redeemer. I have found the goodness of God and his Promises true in a camp life as well as in the sanctuary at home; and that faithful labors, wherever bestowed, shall not be in vain.”

Rev. J. M. Bostick says: “The regulars, even Catholics, took the tracts with eagerness. In no instance were they refused, or even treated with indifference. I have found the work a pleasant one, though I have seen with distress a very great degree of wickedness among some of the soldiers. I find them all more or less accessible, and have been able to speak plainly to some of them. I have sometimes found a room with twenty men, who had neither Bible nor Testament among them. There were several such cases.”

Rev. H. B. McCallum writes: “I am in receipt of a bundle containing tracts and camp hymns. The tracts are on subjects much needed in camp. The one on the observance of the Sabbath will do much good. The camp hymns supply a want long felt by Chaplains. The selection of hymns I think very fine.” At another time he writes: “These little messengers (tracts) are doing much good. I like much the one-paged tracts of your Recent publications. In an evening's walk last week, I met two young men who had together retired to the woods to read and meditate upon ‘Doderidge's Rise and Progress,’ which I had loaned to them a short time previous. One of them said to me that he felt it to be much better to have a good book to read than to spend their time in idleness. I shall be glad to get a number of good small books for a ‘circulating library.’ I shall be glad for another supply of tracts. One in particular, I think I could use to great advantage — ‘The Swearer's Prayer.’ I find that the soldiers generally receive tracts eagerly, and I believe many read with the proper spirit. Again: I sometimes see a group of soldiers listening attentively while one of their number reads a tract, and I have no doubt many hearts are strengthened by this exercise — many good resolutions formed.” Rev. H. B. McCallum writes again: “The camp hymns have just arrived. I distributed a few throughout the regiment, and such was the eagerness of the soldiers to possess a copy — so many came to me asking them — my supply is well-nigh gone, and would have been entirely exhausted, had I not retained a few to distribute in three companies that were on picket. I can think of no tract which will exercise so happy an influence on the morals of of the camp as this little volume of hymns.

Rev. J. F. Buist says: “The men were as happy to welcome the arrival of the camp hymns as I was. Applications for them are great. They are extremely popular. Every man desires one for himself. Since their arrival, the singing at night is not only general, but of the most heart-stirring and reviving character — I thank God for their publication. I feel that one of the great wants of the camp have been met. I feel glad to write you that the word of truth is having its effect in this regiment. One has professed conversion; another appears anxious to a saving interest in Jesus.” Again he writes: “I rejoice to be a colporter. The little messengers are silently doing their work. I but speak truthfully, when I say that the tract cause is a powerful instrumentality. A Lieutenant, the other day, who had been reading the little tract, ‘One Hundred Years Hence,’ was deeply impressed with it, and said to me: ‘Chaplain, that tract is enough to reach the hardest heart.’ It would cheer your heart, could you see how the soldiers flock around me, anxious to receive a tract. I have never yet presented a soldier with a tract but he would say, in return, ‘I thank you, sir.’ ”

Rev. W. B. Carson writes: “The camp hymns are in great demand, and I think are doing doing much good. Much of the time formerly spent in card-playing is now spent in singing these sweet hymns. Please send me one thousand copies of the hymns, and some eight or ten thousand pages of tracts. Many may be distributed among the surrounding regiments.” Again he writes: “The tracts and hymns are always eagerly received by the soldiers. I hope and believe many of them will bless you and your ‘labor of love’ in eternity for the instruction and comfort afforded them. Reading is taking the place of hurtful amusements.”

Rev. W. E. Wattus, who has been laboring in Virginia, reports that the soldiers there are moved with emotion when they are reminded that Christian friends at home are concerned for their spiritual interest. Instances are narrated in which the big tear tells how deeply the toil-worn soldier is moved by the presentation of a tract or Testament in the name of the loved ones at home.

Rev. J. M. Bunion has also been employed in Virginia by the Board, in the distribution of tracts, Bibles, &c. His experience is the experience of every man who has labored among soldiers, namely, that they are most susceptible of religious impressions, and are ever grateful for any interest in their spiritual well-being.

SCHOOLS. DISTRICTS SUPERINTENDENTS. POST OFFICES. Date of organization. No. months kept up. No. offices and teachers. Average attendance. No. scholars on register during the year. Average attendance. No. conversions during year. No. of Books in Libraries. Amount of contributions. Anderson Anderson Thomas Hall Anderson C. H.   12 16 14 88 65   180 $35 00 *Antioch Orangeburg J. H. Felder White Cane 1861 8 8   40         *Antioch Barnwell     1860 6 4   30 20   78   Antioch Spartanburg J. H. Ezell Cowpens 1862 8 60             *Antioch Kershaw C. J. Shiver Camden 1859 6 19   70   4 350   Antioch Marion W. White Marion 1854 8 5 5 27 20 2 50   Antioch Darlington P. K. McIver Leavensworth   7 6   20         *Antioch Pickens J. Lewis Clayton's Mills 1861 4 10 6 25 20   70   *Antioch Colleton J. E. Thomas Broxton's Bridge 1860 4 5 4 15 15   78 7 00 Bennetsville Marlboro' A. N. Bristow Bennettsville 1836 12 5 4 35 16   100   *Broadmouth Abbeville W. Davis Honea Path 1849 4 15   49   8 78 7 00 *Blackville Barnwell   Blackville                   *Beaver Dam Kershaw Thomas Ellet Camden 1860 8 6 6 25   4 75   *Barnwell Barnwell W. Duncan Barnwell   12 10 8 76 35   560   *Bethlehem         8 10   46     200   *Beaver Dam Anderson W. Singleton Piercetown 1861 8 10 4 40     150   *Buffalo Abbeville W. P. Hill Greenwood     1   15         *Bethlehem Williamsburg J. Nettles Myersville 1860 6 16 12 70 60   100   Bethlehem   W. Merriwether Woodlawn 1860 12 1   17         Burch Branch Beaufort J. T. Sweat Beech Branch 1852 12 6 16 16     130   *Broxton's Beaufort Mrs. Mole   1861   2   12 9       *Bethel Sumter H. Wells Sumter 1824 6 17   35     400   *Brier Creek Barnwell W. Connelly Midway 1861 8 3   14     50   *Bethel Barnwell E. M. Cope Buford's Bridge 1861 8 6   40         *Bushy Creek Greenville J. Howell Greenville 1830 8 8 3 39 25 4 150   *Berea Greenville C. A. Stiles Greenville 1847 10 8   67   5 350   *Bethel Spartanburg   Woodruff's     10   65     150   *Beulah Richland —Smith Gadsden 1859   5   40     20   *Black River Williamsburg     1860   3   30     50   Black Creek Darlington J. A. Williams Leavensworth   9 8 8 35 20   150 2 35 Brownsville Marlboro' Y. J. Dupru Brownsville 1860 12 10   70     270   Bethel Lexington                       Brushy Fork Chester G. W. Picket Carmel Hill 1861 8 10 10 50 30   50   Beach Island Edgefield J. M. Miller Augusta, Georgia 1859 12 8 8 30 25