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\ August ii, 1909. TH1 Announcement from the Permanent Committee on Evangelistic Work of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. In announcing the election of Rev. J. Ernest Thacker, Ph. D., of Norfolk, Va? to the office of "Secretary of Evangelistic Work" in the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and his acceptance of the same, the Permanent Committee on Evangelistic Work commends Dr. Thacker to the prayers, to the sympathy, and to the co-operation of our brethren. Ohr newly elected secretary is a child nf the Smith. era Church, having been bora in Columbia, Mo., December 14, 1869, and reared under the pastoral care of Rev. J. Henry Smith, D. D. Dr. Thacker received his academic training at Davidson College and his theological education at Union Theological Seminary, Virginia. In 1892 he was called to Oxford, N. C., remaining for three years and a half, from whence he went to Louisville, Ky., where for one year he filled the Robinson Memorial church. The church flourished under his pastorate, but because of the health of his family he accepted a call from the Second Presbyterian church in Alexandria, Va., where he continued until January, 1900, when he entered upon the pastorate of the Second Presbyterian Church of Norfolk, Va. The church on Freemason Street soon proved too small for the congregation and the present handsome building was erected on Yarmouth street, where he has done a fine work. Dr. Thacker has recently declined calls from the First Church, of Jacksonville, Fla., and the First Church, New Orleans, La., feeling this call to the evangelistic work to be from God. The committee cannot but agree with this conviction because of the combination of circumstances leading up to Dr. Thacker's election, and the earnest prayer that has gone up that God would lay His hand upon some strong man to lead in this work. While Dr. Thacker has been in the pastorate for seventeen years, he has done a goed deal of evangelistic work which has been greatly blessed of God. For some time he has felt a strnne inplinntion to enter the evangelistic fleld, but has not done so heretofore because of his conviction that one element in God's call to a worker is 'the call to a apeciflc work." Having now received that call he recognizes the hand of God in it and dedicates himself to the work. Of his ability as an evangelist we have no doubt. He was associated with the Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman in the great Boston revival during the month of February of this year. Writing to him, Dr. Chepman says: "The service yon rendered was simply superb, and you were a great factor in moving the eity and making the Boston campaign the greatest in a generation." Hare?ice A. Yineent, writing in the WI10I cgauuamioc auu VllllOll?n r*UHU, says: '"Bie preaching at Rev. J. Ernest Thacker, of Nerfolk, "\?a., was marked by simplicity, strength, literary finish and real eloquence. No place was given to the sensational; the appeal was always to the conscience and based upon the truth. i PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOUT Results of the meeting visible are, many who will join the churches, the acquaintanceship of the Christian forces of this district with one another, the deepening of real unity, the preparation of the Church for continuous evangelism through regular work, and the lesson which the community has learned, that the religion of Jesus Christ as believed 5111/1 nractlooH hv h non i n I'.t.wiovu u J V.UUI VUCO 19 LUC greatest power in the world still." Rev. J. J. Dunlop, D. D? writes in the Christian Endeavor World: "The Evangelist there was Rev. J. Ernest Thacker, Ph. D., an able, conservative Southerner. He is a Presbyterian and he gave his audiences the 'strictest theology; but though many of the churches united in the meetings?there were seven denominations, Presbyterians, CoDgregationalists, Baptists, Free Baptists, Advent Christians, Disciples and Friends?they all sat up together and said Amen." Writing in a volume entitled "Boston's Awakening," Dr. Dunlop says: "Dr. Thacker's preaching was an earnest, eloquent presentation of the fundamental truths of the gospel. The response which it has met has shown that when aroused men feel a real hunger for the gospel of Christ." Speaking of an evangelistic service in Hinton. W. Va.. Rev. D W. HnllinRwnrth writes in the Independent Herald, of that place: "To Dr. Thaeker we owe a debt of gratitude. No better man could have been secured tot- the work. His earnestness, great love for Christ and men, and his Christian spirit, inspired the people to better lives and service. * His loyalty to the gospel and passion for souls, fit him in a peculiar sense for the work of the evangelist." The Committee feels that Dr. Thaeker is peculiarly fitted for the work before us in our Church. In the first place he is a Southern man, having been reared under influences which insure his sympathy with all the traditions, convictions and methods of the Southern Church. In the second place, born of Presbyterian parents, reared under the pastoral cpre of Rev. J. Henry Smith, D.D., and pdllPfitpH at HovMann Pa11a<*q TT?? ion Theojpgical Seminary, we have no raisgkvtng with reference to his training in the Scriptures. In the third place, sevenjasen years of pastoral experience will be a valuable addltlcti to his equipment as an evangelist, giving him thai sympathy with the pastor whieh is so often lacking among evangelists, and also giving him an insight into the situation in each ckurch which otherwise he could not have? In the fourth placo, his splendid success in all his pastoral charges together with God's great blessing upon all the evangelistic work he has been privileged to do, assures us of his physical, mental and spiritual equipment for the work befers him, and inspires us to look for God's continued and aDuiraani Diessmg upon the great work upon which he is about lo engage. We believe that the seeds of our field in the city, town and country, call as never IHHHBnlHIHB H. 17 before for aggressive evangelism and we believe tbat all over our Church the conviction is very strong that our Church, must press its evangelistic work. The work heretofore done by the Committee through our Corresponding Members in the several Presbyteries will be continued, while Dr. Thacker will devote himself to all the work ordinarily done by the Secretary, and to holding evange listic meetings throughout the Church. We ask for him the -prayers, sympathy and co-operation of the whole Church* for only thus can we expect the best results from his labors. Dr. Thacker will enter upon his labors October first. In the meantime he can be addressed with reference to holding evangelistic services, at Norfolk, Va. lie will be present at the Evangelistic Conference at Montreat, N. C., on the afternoons of August 12-13, and the Committee earnestly desires all ministers and laymen of our Church interested in Evangelistic Work, to attend that Conference. Charles R. Nisbet, Chairman. PALMER ORPHANAGE. Four years ago we took charge of this work. It has grown and expanded along all lines. Three new buildings have been erected, a farm of 200 acres has beeu puivuaocu, uur uaru uas oeen enlarged, electric lights have been installed in every building, and sewerage connection has been effected with the city line, all through the generosity of our friends, under the blessing of our kind Father above. We closed the month of June with a balance of $2.35 in our treasury. But the number of our children has grown from 40 to 60, and others are pressing for admission. The question is, shall we admit them? Our beds are all full, we have not the money with whic\i to finish some rooms in our girls' building, which, if completed, would enable us to take a dozen more, provisions have all gone up and we are now, July 29th, threatened with a deficit, at the end of this month, of more than a hundred dollars? We are getting 15 gallons of milk per day, with no dairy to help in its management. A car load of coal must be paid for, and new desks must be purchased before school opens. Now to meet our various and sundry wants we do not ask any great or unreasonable tbing. All we ask for ts for each church and Sabbath school to count the number of its members, and to send as one cent for each member, in the two Synods of Louisiana and Mssiasippi. And this too we ask only of the churches and schools that are net contributing regularly. Many de contribute regularly, and they are the very life of our work. Some do not give even oace a year. For any and all help in thtu our time of need, we shall be very grateful. Our children are all welj, at khfs writinr h a nnr AaH - ? Bl r r J v? wtivciivcu. xidp 9 IS IU keep them so. And may Itie Ged of the fatherless reward you oae and all. Yoar servant In the work, W. V. Frlerton.