Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1893-10-31
THE FAIR RIvEE ASSOCIATIONS

the Association, and, as stated in our
} former article, all were represented
by delegation except Mt. Vernon and
Oak Grove, and the former of these
reported by letter. The total number
of members received into all the
churches during the associational year
by baptism, letter, and restoration, was
2S4. The total diminution of member
ship by letter, death and exclusion
was 1914; making the actual net in
crease, as reported, 80. The present
total membership, as reported. was
2,117. The number of ordained min
listers reported was 10, an increase of 3:
the number of licentiates, 2.
Owing, presumably, to the prevailing
financial stringency, there has been a
marked decrease in the contributions
of the churches to religious and be-
nevolent objects for the last two years
The total contributions reported for
all objects at this meeting was
s3,671.95, being an increase over the
amount reported the preceding year of
between six and seven hundred dol
lars.
The Christian spirit and brotherly
love which characterized the proceed
ings of the body were admirable.
Rev. J. H. Gambrell, the new Modera-
tor, made fine presiding officer and
won the admiration of delegates and
visitors. His Introductory sermon and
an address later on Ministerial Educa-
ton and Mississippi College, elected
universal praise. The other ministers
of the Fair River Association
in attendance were Revs. f. p. Doug
lass, W. b. Yates, j. A. Scarbor-
ough, X. j. Boone. j. j. Green, w. 7.
Jordan and last, but by no means
least, Rev. W. II. Bailey. the old veter-
an pioneer of the Cross. whose very
presence at these annual meetings is
always an inspiration and benediction
to the membership. Brother Dan
Chandler, an esteemed veteran layman,
and other members of the Mt Moriah
delegation, had "electioneered' for the
next meeting of the Association at
Mt. Moriah and had the thing all fixed
with the nominating committee and
majority of the delegates but when
the proper time came, Brother Bailey
INDUCED in some of his good natured
sarcasm and then made an eloquent
and touching personal appeal in behalf
of Fair River, his home church, and
the work of Brother Chandler and
Brother Boone and others was all
knocked into moonshine in five min
utes-the Association decided it would
go to Fair River. The cheerful, be-
nevolent face and silvery locks of Rev.
Elias Douglass, the other of the two
remaining pioneer preachers of the
Association, were looked for in vain
among the attendant throng by many
who are always pleased to greet him at
these annual gatherings. He was not
we'll enough to come, it was said, but
it may be a comfort to him to know
that many thought of and wished to
see him nevertheless.
Other ministers in attendance were
Revs r. H. Purser and S. Morris, of
Copiah; Rev. r. Drummonds, of Strong
River; Revs. j. r. Carter, Thos. Price
and E. Hanlan, of Pearl River, and
Rev. J. w. Finley, of Pearl Leaf.
Excellent sermons were preached on
Sunday by Revs. j. r. Carter, r. H.
Purser, Thos. Price, j. j. Green and
E. P. Douglass, services being held at
three places, the Baptist and Method
is churches and the Lawrence County
High School building. The writer
heard the first and last named breth-
rem, and went away feeling that he
had enjoyed a substantial spiritual
feast.
The Association took an advance
step on the subject of Missions, and
reatfirmed and emphasized the posi-
ton taken last year on the liquor
question, by declaring it utterly wrong
and inconsistent for any professed
Christian to drink intoXicants as a
beverage, vote for men or parties
which favor license, or to laid or
abet the soul and body destroying
evil in any ray"
The most animated discussion of the
session took place over the Temper
ance report, but when a rising vote
was taken on its adoption, there were
only three members of the body who
voted nay. The few deprecatory re-
marks made against the report and
speeches of those who favored it, re-
called wildly to our mind the speeches
and opposition of few years ago,
when the Association first took the
ground that it was wrong for any pro
fessed Christian to sign whisky pc
tition or vote for license in local OPP
ton election which all now admit
was right. These few brethren, we
are confident, are thoroughly honest
in their opposition, and we believe in
due time they will see their mistake
and realize that there is no difference
in moral responsibility between voting
( e far