appointed time. Before the time for our next meeting we were all made to
rejoice by the coming of Rev. M.R. Carlisle, a graduate of both the
collegiate and theological courses of Talladega College, from Alabama,
to assume the pastoral charge of two of these churches--Dodd City and
Bois D'Arc.

He and I drew up a plan to re-organize the old Conference into a more
excellent and practical one. We offered our plan at the next meeting of
the Conference, and it was cheerfully received. The effect of this plan
was to change the name from Conference to Association, and to divide the
Association into three distinct departments, each with its own set of
officers, as follows: a Sunday-school Department, composed of the
different Sunday-schools of the churches; a Missionary Department,
composed of the different church missionary societies; and a Church
Department, composed of the different churches.

Each department had its own distinct programme and business; but the
combined programmes of all made up the "general programme" of the
Association. This plan works excellently, and serves as a wonderful
stimulus to each of these departments of church work. We have, in our
next meeting, to add the department of Christian Endeavor.

Our last session, held with our church in Paris on the 28th of December,
1889, was indeed a grand success. Previous to its meeting, I heard of
four other Congregational Churches in the Indian Territory, under the
auspices of the American Home Missionary Society. I sent them an
invitation to join the Association. These churches promptly sent
delegates who connected their churches with the Association.

One brother from the Territory heard of the Association, but was not