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Associations report--Indiana and Eastern Indiana; in
1887 Indiana reported 88 churches, 4,074 members and
244 baptisms. In 1888 Indiana made her first report
on benevolence; it was $238.75. In 1891 there was a
report on Sunday schools showing an enrollment of
1,790; in six years this enrollment had increased to
3,234. The minutes for 1898 show that the Second
church, Indianapolis, had a membership of over 1,700,
as also had the Liberty church, Evansville. The most
recent data at hand show that Indiana Association has
53 churches and 3,482 members.
EASTERN INDIANA ASSOCIATION.
This association was organized in 1884. The reason
for the organization of this new Association is not far
to see ; the State is too large for one body ; the dis-
tances to be traveled too great. If the white Baptists
of the state need thirty Associations, surely the negro
Baptists have need for at least two. In 1887 the
Eastern reported nineteen churches, 1,491 members,
and 151 baptisms. The benevolence of the year was
$165.10, of which amount the women gave $9.00. The
most recent data of this Association are the same as
above.
The line of division of these two Associations does
not seem to be very clear, as some of the churches
west of the center line of the state belong to the
Eastern Association. Just what determines the line
of division it is not easy to say.
Besides the Associations there was formed what
was called the Baptist Ministerial Convention�at first
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one for the whole state, and afterwards one connected
with each Association. The purpose of these conven-
tions is best set forth in the Constitution which is as
follows: "For our mutual aid as ministers of the
gospel of. Jesus Christ in carrying forward the great
work in which we are engaged, for the promotion of
the Redeemer's Kingdom, we form ourselves into this
Union." As the name indicates it was for ministers
and the condition of membership was "good standing
in some Baptist church in Indiana." The meetings
were held annually, and generally in connection with
the Associations. Here follow some sample topics
taken up. for discussion: "Do the scriptures teach that
there shall be a resurrection of these mortal bodies?"
"What do the scriptures teach us concerning the day
of judgment?" "What will become of the world at
the final dissolution of all thing ?" and "How shall we
make our churches self sustaining?" There has been
some effort of late, especially in Indianapolis, to form
Baptist Brotherhoods, and to provide for higher edu-
cation.
Among all the negro Baptists of Indiana the first
place, without question, belongs to the Rev. Moses
Broyles, for he was an efficient factor in the develop-
ment of the Second church, Indianapolis, in founding
other churches in and out of that city, and in helping
forward the Baptist cause among his brethren of the
state. In 1876 he published a seventy-five page
pamphlet in which were given a brief sketch of his
own life, and a history of the Second church, as well
as an account of the formation of several othet
