ip of the Presbytery was increased from
187 to 350; or, nearly doubled, during the period from 1898 to 1913, and
five new churches have been organized.

Parson Stewart, serving all his seven churches life-long periods, and
these favorite sons, following loyally and faithfully in his footsteps,
have greatly honored the permanent pastorate, though none of them have
ever been installed. In this matter of long pastorates, these ministers
and people have made a record, worthy of the emulation of the church at
large; especially those congregations that seem to take pride in having
"itching ears" and the consequent doom of standing vacant and idle half
the time, and those perambulating ministers, who remind one of the
proverb of the "rolling stone that gathers no moss."

NEW ERA REQUIRES THAT PREACHERS BE TEACHERS

On the other hand it is proper to note, that, commencing with Parson
Stewart all of these worthy men were licensed and ordained to the full
work of the gospel ministry, after taking a very "short course" of
educational training. This was due to the fact they were needed to meet
an emergency, an unexpected and unusual condition, that called for
immediate action. The extraordinary call, these men were encouraged to
accept, came to them during the Territorial days, when there was no
adequate provision for public education. They were then abreast of their
times, and the very best their several communities could furnish.

Now the times are different. The change came with the allotment of lands
in 1904 and 1905, followed by statehood in 1907 and the establishment of
a public school system immediately afterwards. Public schools are now
found in every community, where there are a sufficient number of pupils
to justify the employment of a teacher. The demand for good teachers is
now greater than the supply, and with passing years the call will be for
better ones. There are many reasons now, why every candidate for
licensure should first prove himself to be an acceptable and successful
teacher, as well as a good speaker. Teaching is now, and for many years
will continue to be, the secondary employment of the colored minister in
the rural districts. Recognizing that fact, every future candidate for
the ministry should be animated with the noble ambition, to stand at the
front in the teacher's profession, in order that there may be a constant
demand for his services as a teacher, in the community he serves as a
preacher.