Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1918-05-10

Head
ther the Captain of our salvation and through the
guidance of the Holy Spirit who is our sealer and
comforter attempt to deliver to you my first an
nual address.
must confess that it was through the guidance
of the Holy Spirit that prompted you to select and
elect me unanimously at Colp. last year for which
| was and am STILL quite grateful to you for the con
fidence imposed in me Moderator.
No undue influence was brought about by me
over any one to be elected to said office, but you
thought b. past association with me, my long eNper
ience and connection with the said Mt. Olive Asso-
citation and ny loyalty TO the Baptist principles and
land marks Of the Baptists, handed down by Jesus
Christ and practiced by his Apostles would fit me
TO guide the old Baptist ship upon the turbulent
waters of opposition to the haven Of peace
We are pleased to meet many Of you at this
annual gathering and to know that most of you
have succeeded in your fields of labor, and to know
that YOU have been enabled to add to the ranks
OF the Baptist faith also TO note that the brethren
are preaching a whole Christ and contendng Tor
One Lord One Faith and One Baptism. eontendng
for a regenerated membership and restricted COM
munion and baptism by immersion and that by a
proper administrator, which only be authorized
by regular Missionary Baptist church.
We have earnestly prayed for the day when
there would be a oneness among Baptists in Southern
Illinois, in particular when all the churches would
practice the thing. and the pastors and minis
tiers would see eye 70 eye and have perfect union.
not al. nanse. bsessazfacs ,li-l in truth.
WARS
There have been wars and rumors of in
our land as never before since the world began and
this. OUR cOUNTRY.is now engaged in state Of
war with Germany. and our churches are robbed of
our young Christian men who have either voun-
teered to offer their lives their eountry's altar
for liberty and the flag which fathers fought,
bled and died for. have been drafted TO to ior
egn battle fields and there die in the trenches and
on the battefields Of France This has greatly in
terupted the constructive work Of the churches and
unsettled OF the pastors in their fields Of labor,
and in many instances caused the church work to
be almost at a standst But God is the ruler in
this matter
LOYALTY TO THE FLAG
The negro today is loyal to the flag of his coun-
try protecting those who are willing to protect
him. He is the most loyal citizen of the u s. today
one that be trusted during these trying ordeas
for which we commend him.
The high cost Of living and the scarcity of food
in the past year have greatly injured the church and
assoeiational work
PEACE AND HARMONY
We have contended for peace and har-
mony in the district. not only within own bounds,
but between US and the brethren of the East Mt.
Olive Baptist Association and are pleased to say we
have lived to the desire of heart thus far and
trust such peace may continue to abound | attend
ed the meeting of the East Mt Olive Association at
Murphysboro, last month and royalty received
and accorded all the rights and privileges of a
Missionary Baptist minister and Moderator of this
Association and given a collection to assist me
on my fare, for which we thank them. | found them
doing great work in the district from the reports
which were made, and financially speaking they are
leading US which ought not to be. considering our
numbers.
The two associations in this part of the state
are accomplishing more than any other religious
bodies in the state. The day of friction between the
two associations has passed except, possibly few
i'll informed brethren to the law of Christ which
is love. Whoever says he loves God, whom he has
not seen and hates his brother whom he has seen is
liar and the truth is not in him."
In union there is great strength for divided we
fail as Baptists. Because to be Baptists we must
have ONENESS. Jesus prayed that the members
of his church be
have been informed that some of the churches
and pastors of this association are practicing the