ts permanence."

"It claims the principal place in my activities, and its unity,
peace and progress, concern my life in this world and that which is
to come."--F. Hyatt Smith.

XLI

THE PRESBYTERY OF KIAMICHI

CONSTITUTED IN 1896.--ORGANIZED AT GRANT.--BOUNDARY ENLARGED IN
1907.--REPORT IN 1913.--GROWTH, 1868 TO 1913.--DEARTH OF
MINISTERS.--FAVORITE SONS.--NEW ERA.

"Neglect not the gift which was given thee, with the laying on of
the hands of the Presbytery."--Paul.

The ministers and group of churches, that first formed the Presbytery of
Kiamichi, belonged originally to the Presbytery of Choctaw; which
included the territory allotted in 1832 to the Choctaw Nation,
comprising the southeast one-fourth of Indian Territory, after the
establishment of Oklahoma Territory in 1890.

CONSTITUTED BY SYNOD

The Synod of Indian Territory, at the meeting held at South McAlester,
Oct. 22-25, 1896, in response to an overture for division from the
Presbytery of Choctaw, established the new Presbytery by the adoption of
the following resolutions:

1st. That the Choctaw Presbytery be divided into two Presbyteries,
according to the following geographical boundaries: First, beginning
at Durant on the M. K. & T. Railroad, east on the 34th parallel to
the Arkansas line, thence South to the Texas line, thence west with
the Texas line (Red river) to the M. K. & T. Railroad, thence north
with the M. K. & T. Railroad to Durant, the starting point; this
Presbytery to be known as the Presbytery of Tuskaloosa, and to
embrace the following churches now within its bounds: St. Paul, Oak
Hill, Bethany, Forest, Beaver Dam, Hebron, Sandy Branch, New Hope,
Oak Grove and Mt. Gilead--10; and to embrace the following
ministers, now members of the Presbytery of Choctaw: Rev. E. G.
Haymaker, (white) Rev. E. B. Evans, (white) Rev. Wiley Homer, Rev.
J. H. Sleeper, and Rev. Samuel Gladman--5.

2nd. That the Presbytery of Tuskaloosa meet at Beaver Dam (Grant) on
the Saturday before the third Sabbath in November, 1896, at 11
o'clock a.m. and be opened with a sermon by Rev. E. G. Haymaker, or
in his absence, by the oldest minister present, who shall preside
until a new Moderator is elected.

ORGANIZED AT GRANT

The first meeting of this new Presbytery was held at Grant, in the
Beaver Dam church of which Rev. Wiley Homer was