The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-11-04
MEETING OF THE MARION
BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
A Great Day for the Baptists of Mar
ion, Alachua and Levy
Counties

4
The annual meeting of the Marion
Baptist association is always looked
forward to as a cred letter" time in
Baptist circles. This year the place
of assembling was Pennington, one of
the garden spots of the county.
The association was in session two
days. There were representatives
present from twenty-eight of the thir-
lty-two churches. Large numbers came
in automobiles from nearby towns. The
church proved altogether inadequate
for Fridays crowd. The men adjourn
ed to the oak grove about the church
and conducted the business of the as
ISOLATION there while the women were
given the church building for the con-
duct of the meeting of the Woman's
Missionary Union.
This association is made up of
churches from the whole of Marion
county and few churches on the bor-
der from sister counties. Micanopy and
Williston mark the north and north
western border while Lake Weir and
Ocklawaha Bridge form the line on
the south and southeast. Island Grove
On the northeast and Crystal River on
the southwest give an idea of the pro-
portions of this associations tessitory.
The Baptist membership in this ter
ritory is approximately $500, with a
total of $4,000 in gifts to the various
missionary and benevolent objects
fostered by the Baptists of the state.
The next session of the association
will be held with the Baptist church at
Oak-Griner Farm the first week in
November 1917.
The officers elected at this meeting
were G. w. Scofield of Inverness,
moderator; Bunyan Stephens of Ocala,
clerk; J. T. Rawls of Dunnellon, treas
urer For the Woman's Missionary
Union Mrs. E. Van Hood of Ocala, was
elected president; Mrs. j. K. Christian,
of Mcintosh, vice president, and Mrs.
II. T. Rawls of Dunnellon, secretary.
Mrs. w. A. Coin of Ocala, was elected
lassociational leader for the Young
Woman's Auxiliary, Mrs. H. o. Cole of
Ocala for the Royal Ambassadors, and
Mrs. o. T. Moncrief of Micanopy for
tbo Cupboayo PopJ
The Introductory sermon was deliv-
cred by Rev. Bunyan Stephens of
Oeala, the address on education was
delivered by DR.. A. P. Montague of
Lake City, and the state mission ad
dress by Rev. T. F. Hendon of Jackson
vile. Mrs. II. C. Peelman of Jackson
vile, spoke to the Woman's Mission
airy Union.
The opening day, Thursday, was of
Indian summer perfection, sunny and
bright with just pleasant tang of au-
tumn in the air. The crowd was i'm
mense during the session, fully 1000
persons were present. By actual count
there were so automobiles beside other
vehicles. One noticeable feature was
the number of handsome horses. This
section is becoming a leading one in
fine live stock. We were told that one
land owner of 100 acres was soon to
enlarge his holdings by the addition
Of 2200 acres for large stock farm.
The pretty little church was spic and
span with a new coat of paint, new
carpets and new lights, largely the
work of the consecrated and faithful
women The personnel of the associa-
ton was fine. DIR. S. FL. Bitch, who
has been regular attendant for
many years, pronounced it the most
representative gathering he had ever
seen. Ocala was represented by such
men as Rev. Bunyan Stephens, Rev.
R. F. Rogers, Messrs. w. T. Gary, J.
L. Edwards, J. D. Robertson, d. N.
Ferguson and DIR. Van Hood; the
Bitch brothers and sons from Bitch
ton; from Citra there were Capt. j.
r. Williams and DR.. Creekmore; from
across the river the stalwart Rogers
brothers; from Spar ]. L. Stevens;
from Mcintosh j. T. Christian and J.
II. Dixon; from Inverness States At
torney Geo. w. Scofeld; from Fort
Mccoy, Martin and Harper, and so on,
the best from every section.
| Present as visitors were DIR. Mon
tague from Columbia College, who
made a great speech on Christian ed
ucation, and DR.. Fl. F. Hendon, eff
cheney secretary from Jacksonville.
The business of the convention was