IN MISSISSIPPI.
3^3
There are many reasons why we should have an or¬
ganization of this kind : first, that we may know our
strength as to number; second, that we may know our
strength as to intellect; third, that we may know our
strength as to property ; and fourth we make the last, but
not least by far, that we may know our strength as to vital
piety and pure religion. There are other reasons why we
should have an organization of this kind, more than either
time or space will allow. But as we profess to be the fol¬
lowers of Jesus Christ in all things, and as we understand
there are many heresies abroad, and many irregular prac¬
tices even in our Own churches, and also many imposters
are going about imposing on good, innocent and unsus¬
pecting persons. That we may be better prepared to con¬
trol all these evils, we need an organization of this kind.
In this body we should take counsel as to the erroneous
doctrines that in being preached by our brethren as well as
by others, and decide upon how they should be treated,
and then let us all speak the same language We should
take the ordinances of the church, and find out who, ac¬
cording to the New Testament, are the fit subjects for
them—that we may go down from this place; not only
preaching one Lord, one Faith and one Baptism, but also
the practice of holy living in ourselves and in our churches,
administering baptism only to believers, and inviting none
to the Lord's table but those who have been regularly
baptised by immersion and are in good and regular stand¬
ing at home.
Now, dear brethren, we are about to enter upon a
great and noble work, and if we enter upon it for the
gratification of any selfish motives, we shall not be able to
succeed. But if the great end and object of our coming
together is to glorify God and advance the Master's king¬
dom, the Lord will bless all our labors, and make us the
praise and honor of His glory.
The committee appointed to select an appropriate
field of labor for the association recommended in their
report the State of Mississippi, the southeastern part
of Louisiana, and the southwestern part of Alabama.
within the bounds of this territory, there was much
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