Texas in 1850. By Melinda Rankin. Page: 93 of 196

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TEXAS W: 1850.

many a premature death has been the result, and probably
will be, until this department of moral Zion
becomes reinforced, so as to strengthen the hands of
those already in the field.
The sparseness of the population has been, hitherto,
a difficulty in securing congregations of sufficient size to
secure the stated preaching of the gospel. Those difficulties
are becoming obviated by a rapid increase of
population
the towns and country are fast filling up
with the class of people who require a regular and able
ministry.
Here, it may not be ungenerous to remark, that sectional
feeling exists too much among the different
denominations of Eastern Texas to facilitate the general
religious interests, as is desirable. It is a melancholy
fact that there is a party spirit manifested which is
entirely unbecoming the spirit of the religion of Christ.
The attempt to build up a religious denomination by
pulling down another is an absurdity which will eventually
dovelope itself in an utter failure. The circumstances
of the country, new as it is, demand union and
co-operation, to a certain extent, in advancing its religious
interests.
The cause of Christ should be one of general importance
to all the friends of Zion; and though that cause
be propelled by different agents, it ought to be regarded
with equal interest.
The introduction of false systems of diffusing truth
under the auspices of Christianity, has had a deleterious
influence upon the cause of Religion in some parts