The association convened at the Star Bethel, Wyandot county, Ohio, May 17, 1877. It was called to order by the president of the last year. After devotional services the following permanent officers were elected: T. Koogle, president; G. W. Wilson, vice president; J. M. Cassel, clerk.

      The programme adopted was a good one, containing a number of subjects of interest and importance. There was also a considerable degree of interest manifested by those in attendance in the discussion of the various topics.

      One drawback was that there was not so many present as should have been. Those who apparently were so very much interested in these general meetings that at the Eldership when they were appointed should not let a trifling excuse keep them away. That the Association will be conducive to our good, if properly attended and rightly conducted cannot be questioned, and we who have had less experience in the ministerial work and are not so well posted in theological lore, should take advantage of the facilities thus offered us through which we are brought into association with minds well stored, judgments mature and experience which is well calculated to impart instruction. The meeting was certainly one of interest, and it is, I think, the opinion of all who were present, that we should made arrangements to meet oftener in the future. It was the opinion of a number who were at the convention that it should be separated from the Eldership to the extent that it would control its own affairs. The reason assigned for this is that it is believed that there would be more interest taken in the Association by those directly concerned. It would be well to think of this and come to the Eldership prepared to act, for it will undoubtedly be proposed. Elders J. S. McKee and J. V. Updike were chosen a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws to govern the association, and report at our next meeting. The Association was in the whole a pleasant and profitable meeting, and one that will be remembered by those who participated in it. I have taken this short method of representing the meeting in preference to a detailed account.

      I might also say in this connection, that we had truly a Pentecostal meeting. On Saturday evening, after the close of the convention and introductory to the Pentecostal meeting, Elder J. Koogle preached on the second coming of Christ. Sabbath morning Elder G. W. Wilson preached from Joel ii. 28. He treated the subject under the following heads: 1st. The import of the prophecy. 2d. The extent of the fulfillment. 3d. Evidence of the fulfillment. In the evening Elder S. Lilley discoursed on the ordinance of the washing of the saints' feet, after which we observed the same and realized that happy "are ye if you do them."

      Again we are separated, being undoubtedly benefited by this fraternal reunion.

J. M. CASSEL

[The Church Advocate 41 (June 6, 1877): 2.]

      J. M. Cassel's "West Ohio Ministerial Association" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 41, No. 49 (June 6, 1877), p. 2. The electronic version has been transcribed from a copy of the article printed from a microfilmed edition of the newspaper held by the State Library of Pennsylvania. Thanks to Adams Memorial Library for arranging for the interlibrary loan, and to St. Vincent College Library for the use of its microfilm reader/printer.

      Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained; however, corrections have been offered for misspellings and other accidental corruptions. Emendations are as follows:

            Printed Text [ Electronic Text
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 p. 2:      a a constitution [ a constitution
            saint's feet, [ saints' feet,
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 26 May 1999.
Updated 15 July 2003.