New Providence, Warren county, Va.

September 8th, 1855

Dear Brethren in Cooperation assembled:

Another evangelical year is now about to expire. We have reason to be thankful to the great Dispenser of all the good which we enjoy for having bestowed upon us and upon our common country the blessings of an abundant crop, and of general health.

For these, the greatest of temporal blessings we should lift our hearts to him that rules and governs the universe according to the councils of his own will; and who has granted peace and national prosperity to our beloved country, while the scourge of war with its numerous and attendant afflictions, is permitted to savage other countries. Let us for these great privileges which we are thus permitted to enjoy, look higher than to mere proximate causes. It is we that mus (sic) acknowledge that there is a God who rules over the kingdoms of men; that is he that permits the mighty commotion that is now rending the civilized world; that is he that commands the clouds of heaven to pour down their rich treasures upon our heretofore parched earth.

But though so highly blessed with temporal things, yet our improvement in spiritual matters, it is to be feared, is not nearly so great as we could hope for. It is not, however, the duty of the christian to utter unavailing regrets upon the past, but to endeavor to make up past losses by better arrangements for the future.

You (sic) evangelist begs leave to say that according to the arrangements made previous to the commencement of the present evangelical year, I have been preaching for the four congregations worshipping at this place, Walnut Spring, Zion, and Narrow Passage or Edinburg. Though my labors have not been attended with the results which were desired, yet (notwithstanding there is but little visible result) we are not led to utterly despair of the cause in our part of the moral vineyard. It has been the endeavor of your evangelist to lay before the world the great truths of the gospel of the Son of God and to enforce obedience to the same by every lawful motive. He has also aimed to teach the disciples the great necessity of living more devoted lives, of being more zealous in the preaching of the gospel by example; the best of commentary on the evangelical truths. It has also been his object, by a mild and conciliatory course, to win back to duty some who had become disaffected; though not universally successful in his humble endeavors in this, yet he hopes believes that his endeavors have not been altogether fruitless. There are, however, a few which we believe no course, (consistent with principle,) however mild and conciliatory, can ever be reclaimed back to the bosom of the church.

Since our Cooperation meeting of August 5th there have been sixteen additions to the cause, in my jurisdiction, principally by the labors of bro. Orvis and Flippo. Twelve of these were at Walnut Spring, three at Zion, and one at New Providence. After taking an accurate view of the State of the cause within the bounds of this cooperation, (or what constituted its former bounds,) I am rather inclined to the conclusion that the aspect is rather more favorable. There are many places however where there is an entire destitution of the preached word, but where there is a great desire on the part of the people to be visited regularly by an evangelist. It is however much to be regretted that the brethren seem to be so careless in regard to efficient measures to obtain regular preaching. There is ample room for the operation of at least three evangelists within the bounds of this cooperation, and we believe that by efficient and zealous cooperation of all the brethren, with a liberal contribution of the means with which the Lord has entrusted them, that that number might be sustained. In hopes, therefore, that you how are here met in the fear of Almighty God to attend to those duties which we think best calculated to advance the interests of Messiah's kingdom, will do all things in the spirit of love, and with an eye single to the glory of God our heavenly Father, we submit the foregoing and prey that his blessing may rest upon the humble efforts endeavors which we are making for the conversion of our fellow men.

J. A. Cowgill