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the throne, Christian Union will prevail, and God's people will be one. have served as pastor of Graham, Union, Rocky Fork, and Pleasant Valley churches during the year past; have held five protracted meetings on my work, all resulting in grand success; God's people were revived, sinners convicted, and mourners converted at each meeting; I have witnessed forty-eight conversions during the year, and received sixty.five members in the churches; I leave my charges in good spiritual condition; to God be all the glory. Pray for me that I may be an humble and successful co-worker with you for Christ and Union.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES OF THE CHRISTIAN UNION.

In the beginning, when God created man, and then woman, and brought her to the man, he pronounced them one. Of one family,-most intricately united-he started the wheels of generations. The extensive domain of earth was to be thronged by one and the same stock of human beings. The early generations were kept in the favorite relation of unity and peace as long as they remained in favor of and under the guidance of the original All-One-Father. When, by the introduction and conquests of sin, the normal status and condition of man was changed; then war, disquiet, unrest, discord and division tided in upon the world's destinies, and consequently, the world's happiness. Satan and sin have ever been the fruitful, prominent and effectual causes of the absence of peace and union, and the presence of war and disunion. The position has historically demonstrated itself in all and every age of the past developments of human life and society. It would be doing an injustice to God, to intimate that He created intelligent, immortal, and undying souls, for the mere purpose of variance, inharmony, hate, and cruel vengeance. His spirit, and every attribute, puts the Great Maker on the side of quiet, peace, comfort, and joy to all beings into whose nostrils He breathed the breath of life. Jehovah has frowned upon and condemned every divisional and discordant note that ever broke its remorseless sound upon the ears of ever-living and eternally intelligent mankind; the angelkind, before the world's birth, or before the stars had hymned their songs of joyful praise, knew that peace and union must tranquilly ever play its balmy zephyrs around the dazzling throne; that there could not be a heaven with warring winds, and roaring storms; croaking raven, and screaming eagle; roaring lion and howling wolf, God carefully maintained the blessings of unity among his chosen people, until they turned their backs upon him. When any people, of any country, turn away from God, they are left to themselves, and are riven and torn in twain. Had past generations remained loyal to the King of Kings, the floods of blood, carnage, conflagration, and death, that have devastated the earth, would never have occurred. The great hand and arm of God has been visible at all times, and the evident maintenance of peace and pleasantness among his children, has ever written in letters of adamant-that the Divine One was not pleased with the presence of the elements of discord and sin. Historic Israel teaches that God desires and designs to preserve a united commonwealth. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came heralded by peace messengers, and messages of "Peace on earth, good will to men." Fittingly the Temple of Janus was closed, and the whole world was desirous of universal rest and peace. The angel host sang "good news," while the audience of har

monious stars gave them noiseless reverence; and Bethlehem's happy, social, and united shepherds looked upon the scene with rapture and delight. Christ came to unite, and keep united, the hearts of his followers; hence, he bound them with every common tie and sacred chord of love; finally, sealing the consummated union with his own royal and divine blood. One with the Father, he came to make his people likewise

one.

The same holy principle led and stimulated the mission and work of the apostles, and was proclaimed and clearly inculcated in all their teaching. Paul forcibly presented the necessity of this doctrine in his epistles, and doubtless urged it in all his wondrful and vivid discourses. The principle of the unity of God's people lies in the very genius of the gospel, and the effects of saving grace on the heart and life of every rescued sinner proves the naturalness of the holy and lovable sentiment: "As ye receive Christ Jesus so walk ye in Him." The good Christian, who can read the illustrious prayer of Christ, recorded in the 17th of John, and not believe in the union of Christians, has not been found.

meant that his people should be divided. Christ emphatically taught us to be one, declaring that "there shall be one fold and one shepherd." Paul says: "Since there are wars and divisions among you, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"

For about two hundred years after Christ there was love, union, peace, and quiet, when wicked and ambitious priests created discord, schism, heresies and sects. The long series of sins and mistakes that followed, until over six hundred rival sectarian bodies were formed, cannot be noticed in this connection. Now, what? The object of the Christian Union movement is to go directly back to first principles, take up the same doctrines of Christ and the apostles, ignore all the isms and dogmas that have caused sects, and seek to promulgate pure primitive Christianity, standing on essentials only. These churches, now numerous, and these Christians, now an army for multitude, declare that they adhere to and advocate the following sentiments, common to every real child of God: (1) The oneness of the church. (2) God, our Creator and Father. (3) Christ, our Savior and only head. (4) The Holy Spirit, our regenerator. (5) The Bible, our only jcreed. (6) Good fruits, our only condition of fellowship. (7) Each local church governs itself. (8) The right of private opinion. (9) Christian and church union, without controversy about questions that neither save nor damn the soul.

LAWSON BAPTIST CHURCH.

This church was organized October 4th, 1879, by Elder W. C. Barrett. Following are the names of the original members: Mary Hollingworth, Josephine Palmer, Tillie Asbury, Lottie. Asbury, Mary Jones, Puss Hatfield, Mary L. Smith, Sarah Ahart, Jennie Robinett, Eliza Garrison, J. L. Smith, William Ahart, M. Nicholson and John Garrison.

The house of worship is frame; was built in 1879, and cost $1,082.92. The building was dedicated on the first Lord's day in 'August, 1880, by Revs. W. C. Barrett, of Plattsburg, and T. W. Barrett, of Jefferson City. The pastor of this church is Rev. W. C. Barrett. The present membership is seventeen.

EDUCATIONAL.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF RAY COUNTY.

It is to the interest of every man to live in a refined, moral and educated community. Ignorance is the handmaid of vice. Education promotes the happiness, harmony and general well-being of society. Where ignorance prevails, religion is neglected, progress impeded, crime increases, and disorder reigns. The only way of improving the social, mental and moral status of mankind is, by the dissemination of useful knowledge among all classes, in every community. The great aim of education, in the true meaning of that term, is to make moral beings of those upon whom the advantages of learning are bestowed. Therefore, every member of society is equally interested in the diffusion of intelligence. Every man and woman in Ray county is mutually benefitted by the means of education, placed within the reach of all. The good of society demands that every member thereof shall receive at least a common school education. It is the one true way of promoting the peace, good order and prosperity of the state. Where public instruction is fostered and maintained, men are prosperous and progressive in every department of life. Education upholds religion, propels the machinery of government, and sustains the whole fabric of society. To no community of Christian people is this fact better, or more appreciatively known, than to the citizens of Ray county; and to their encouragement and maintenance of common schools, under the laws of the state, is largely due the enviable prosperity the county enjoys.

Section I. of Article VI. of the first constitution of Missouri, declared, that: "Schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged in this state; and the general assembly shall take measures to preserve from waste or damage such lands as have been, or hereafter may be granted by the United States, for the use of schools within each township in this state, and shall apply the funds which may arise from such lands, in strict conformity to the object of the grant; one school, or more, shall be established in each township, as soon as practicable and necessary, where the poor shall be taught gratis."

The general assembly subsequently provided for the appointment of commissioners by the county in each county court, to preserve from waste or damage the school lands mentioned above; and at the first term of the county court in Ray county, April 2, 1821, the court "ordered that John Shields, John Stanley, James Snowden, Sr., John Hutchings and Samuel Tilford be appointed to superintend and preserve from waste, all school lands in this county; and that they be empowered to lease or rent the same for any term not exceeding five years.'

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Thus, at a very early day, was an interest taken in free schools by the officials and residents of the county.

As soon as possible after the completion of hovels in which to live, and of preparations absolutely necessary for their sustenance and comfort, the first settlers commenced the building of school houses. Such as they built were poor and mean, it is true, but they could do no better, and doing their best, they did well.

The character of the first schools, and school houses, and where located, have been given elsewhere in this work.

There are, at present, (May, 1881,) one hundred and twelve school buildings in the county. They are commodious, comfortable and substantial, and comport well with the advanced and improved condition of the county, in other than educational affairs.

The municipal townships are divided into school districts; and the employment of teachers and the control and management of the schools (except as to the authority of teachers) are vested in a board of directors, composed of three members, elected by the qualified voters of each district, at the annual school meeting, which is held on the first Tuesday in April, of each year.

The public teachers of Ray county, who receive a certificate of qualification from the county commissioner, are liberally, though perhaps not quite adequately, paid for their services, and it is fair to say that, as a rule, they are exceptionally industrious and competent.

Mr. Lindsey Dickey, a courteous, agreeable gentleman, now principal of the Taitsville public school, has, doubtless, been longer continuously engaged as teacher in the public schools of Ray county, than any of his brother teachers, he having taught in this county for fifteen successive years.

Thomas M. Deacy, Esq., county commissioner, kindly furnishes us the following educational statistics of the county, for the year 1880. It is simply a copy of his report to the state superintendent of public schools; and it is believed that, especially in after years, it will be of peculiar interest.

Following is the report:

TO HON. R. D. SHANNON, Superintendent of Public Schools, Jefferson City, Missouri:

SIR:-In obedience to section 38, school law of Missouri, I have the honor to submit the following report:

Number of white children in the county between six and twenty years of age: Male, 3,535; female, 2,946.

Number of colored children in the county between six and twenty years of age: Male, 329; female, 227.

Number of white children attending school during the year: Male,

2,448; female, 2,112.

Number of colored children attending school during the year: Male; 192; female, 153.

Total number days attendance all such scholars, 306,720.

Average number days attendance by each, 63.

Number of days school has been taught: Summer, 34; winter, 102; total, 136.

Average number of scholars attending school each day: Summer, 14; winter, 26; total, 40.

Number of teachers employed during the year: Male, 102; female, 28; total, 130.

Average salary of teachers per month: Male, $37.52; female, $25.94$31.73.

Number of school-houses in the county, 112.

Number of buildings rented for school purposes, none.

Number of scholars that may be seated in the various school-houses in the county, 5,432.

Number of white schools in operation, 97.

Number of colored schools in operation, 15.

Value of school property in the county, $46,560.

Average rate per $100 levied for school purposes in the county, 40 cents. Assessed value of property in the county, $39,415.95.

Amount on hand at beginning of school year, $8,818.27.

Amount received for tuition fees, $10.

Amount received from public funds, state, county, and township, $11,285.95.

Amount paid for teachers' wages in the county during the year, $22,484.60.

Amount paid for fuel, $851.66.

Amount for repairs or rent of school-houses, $632.44.

Amount paid for incidental expenses in the county during the year, $615.95.

Amount paid for erection of school-houses or purchase of sites, $1,548.55.

Amount expended in defraying past indebtedness, $1,918.66.

Amount paid for library, $30.10.

Amount paid as salaries of district clerks, $81.55.

Amount of unexpended school funds in the county at the close of the year, $7,895.48.

Very respectfully,

THOMAS M. DEACY, County Commissioner.

This 18th day of September, 1880.

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