Page:Mennonite Handbook of Information 1925.djvu/33

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
OF INFORMATION
25

years there are a score of workers on the field with a native membership of twelve hundred ninety-three. This body of believers has for a number of years been organized into a conference, in which there are two bishops, seven ministers, and seven deacons.

Since the year 1917 missionary effort has been opened in Argentina, South America, where there are now six stations, five ministers with their wives, and a membership of one hundred fifty-six. This body has in recent years been organized into a conference.

On May 22, 1906, the Evangelizing and Benevolent Board merged with the Mennonite Board of Charitable Homes and Missions, to form the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, and under this last organization, all the mission and charitable interests of the Church are now directed and controlled.

Under the auspices of this Board, all the missionary activities of the Church became combined under one head. It became the duty of this body that consists of twenty-five charter members, to see that every missionary sent to the home or foreign field is spiritually and physically fit for service, and along with that, to ascertain as far as possible as to whether they are truly and safely grounded on the fundamental doctrines, taught and upheld by the Mennonite Church.

By its direction and provision, the American Mennonite Mission in India and the Mennonite Mission in Argentina, S. A., are being provided from time to time with workers, teachers, and finances.

Along with these two important foreign mission