(For the new mailing list - I am transcribing T. W. Powell's book, Five Years in South Mississippi. The book was published in 1888, but has not been in circulation since then, so the copyright's to the book expired long time ago. While the book is "religious" in tone, T. W. Powell gives is personal observations of the region at that time. It's pretty good reading, so I will send the list a few pages of it as I have time. It also has a personal note, as both my great grandfather and my great great grandfather are mentioned in the book. Ira. H. Mikell was listed as being the Sunday School organizer. It also recounts the night of the death of J. J. Mikell. Interesting, of course, to me, but interesting on the custom of raising the costs of the coffin via subscription from the local church. Could provide some side interest in your family line. - Cheers, Eddie Mikell) In the fall I was constrained to hold a meeting at Columbia. I had no help in the ministry. Yet some of the sweetest meetings I ever held was when I felt I was alone with God. Then it has seemed to me that the consciousness of divine presenee remained more constantly and more clearly upon me. I held meetings for nearly a week, prayer-meetings in the morning in which our Methodist brethren freely took part, and preaching at night. It was one of the times when the Spirit of God moves mightily upon the people, and chains them with interest. It was a delightful season, leaving its impress on the town as it did also on the soul of the preacher. The close of the meeting was one of the most impressive baptismal scenes with which I have been connected. A quarter of a mile above the town, on a curve of the river, where the extended sandy banks are shaded by bending willows, conceal the view from the town, I led two trembling female converts far out into Pearl River, which at that season was shallow, and, at this point, is very beautiful; and in sight of almost the whole town performed the rite made them declared followers of Christ. This was about the first baptism administered there, at least for many years. As the scene closed a lady of another persuasion was heard to remark, "Yes, and I believe that is the right way, too." The meeting of Pearl River Association drew nigh. It convened at Antioch Church, to the South of Columbia. Rev. R. R. Turnage was the respected moderator and W. J. Armstrong the efficient clerk. Among the proceedings of the Association a resolution, in substance, as follows, may be found : Resolved, That the. State Board be requested to appoint a missionary to labor next year within the bounds of this Association. The appointment was given to Bro. Chastain. The Williamsburg and Columbia Churches were turned over to him, and the time had arrived for me to make arrangements for next the year.