Newspaper Page Text
January 19, 1910. TH]
VIRGINIA.
Richmond: With elaborate preparation,
which resulted in a beautifully decorated
edifice and a menu that proved
irresistible, Westminster Presbyterian
church last night tendered a reception to
Rev. James Y. Fair, D. D., recently called
to that chiirco from Hovonnoli no
The decorations of red and green, with
holly and running cedar, encircled the
ceiling and chandeliers, while palms
were artistically arranged about the pulpit
As all Presbyterian congregations of
tho city were invited to shake tbe hand
of the new pastor, hundreds filed past,
the receiving line, composed of the pastor,
his sister and officers of the church. The
reception, which lasted from 8:30 until
10:30 o'clock, was thoroughly enjoyed,
and the hearty welcome extended to Dr.
Fair is but another evidence of the high
esteem in which he is held by the Rich
mv/UU X 1 voUj Lul 1 d 11 o.
The charge to which Dr. Fair has come
is really a remarkable one in its strides
forward. Fifteen or sixteen years ago
Westminster worshiped in a small structure
on Cary street, but under the very
efficient pastorate of Dr. English, who
has just retired, and the zeal of the faithful
officers, steadily increased from a
membership of less than twenty to an
enrollment of perhaps 150. A few years
ago the building on Cary street being unable
to accommodate the fast growing
congregation, a lot was purchased on
Grove avenue and a larger house of worship
erected. Soon, however, it became
necessary to enlarge this, and today
there stands on the Grove avenue site a
church capable of seating in the neighborhood
of 300 persons.
Some idea as to the growth of the
work among the members of the church
can be understood when it will be remembered
a few years ago the collections
for foreign missions and other benevolent
causes, which were less than
$5 a year, have grown to such proportions
as to make it possible to support
a missionary in Brazil at a salary of $600
a year.
Norfolk: Rev. W. H. T. Squires, pastor
of the Knox Presbyterian church, in
Park Place, has declined the call as synodical
evangelist of the Presbyterian
church of Missouri, and so announced to
his congregation yesterday. He will continue
as pastor of the Knox church.
Newport News: At the First church
on Sunday, January 9, the pastor, Rev.
E. T. Wellford, had the pleasure of receiving
twenty-one new members, twothirds
of whom were upon profession of
their faith. An even dozen of the children
of the church have been baptized
within the last ten days.
Ebenezer Church?Roanoke Presbytery:
This old church rejoices to occupy
* ? " -?x
its nandsome new Duuani? ai rvciiuuu6c.
Their former pastor, the Rev, B. F. Bedlnger,
preached the first sermon In it on
the 9th inst. The total cost is about
$2,500, and there remains but $400 yet
t be raised. This point with Lunenburg
C. H? ten miles off, and Victoria,
seven miles, on the Virginia railway, will
S PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOL
make a very useful field for an active
man. The Lord send the right one. The
Rev. Hugh Henry will supply them once
a month till the spring meeting of Presbytery.
Bayview: Christmas at Holmes church
manse, was marked by much thouehtfnl
kindness on the part of the people of
the church towards the occupants, besides
individual gifts. The day before
Christmas a splendid Galloway buggy
robe was sent in as a gift from the congregation,
and the last day of the year
was made memorable by a most generous
pounding. But the people have not
confined their thoughtful kindness to the
Christmas season, but all through the
year, they have been most generously
sharing their good things, with their pastor
and his family. For all 6f which we
are deeply grateful. W. C. F.
Eastville: There is a small organization
at this point, which the pastor of
Holmes church has heen supplying for
some time. This church has recently
elected Mr. Thomas B. Robertson elder,
and he was ordained and installed the
first Sunday in January. Some of the
members most generously remembered
their supply at the Christmastide, for
which thoughtful kindness he wishes to
express his grateful appreciation.
W. C. F.
Danville.?The work of construction of
the handsome new church edifice of the
First Presbyterian Church, located at the
corner 01 Alain street and Sutherlin avenue,
will be begun about May 1. The
church will be similar to the Madison
Avenue Presbyterian Church in New
York, though on not so large a scale. It
is to be of classic architecture, with a
portico front, the gable of which will be
supported by six massive columns of the
Corinthian or Ionic type. It will be of
brick, with brownstone and terracotta
trimmings, and will cost about $60,000.
It will seat nearly 700. Over the central
position of the main auditorium will be a
dome, adding a sort of composite effect
to the otherwise Grecian type of architecture.?Times-DiKnnteh
Leesburg: There was no lack of good
cheer at the Presbyterian manse at
Leesburg this Christmas. Besides a Presbyterian
"pounding," which resulted in no
bruises or broken bones, the Christmas
tree, which brought happiness to the
hearts of our Sabbath school, yielded also
a purse of gold from the men of the
congregation for the pastor and an envelope
well filled with yellow and green
treasury notes for tho pastor's much
better half. This coming from the ladies
of both this and the Ashburn church, in
less than a vear that our lot. has hoen
cast among God's people here. There
have been many evidences of their
thoughtfulness of the comfort of the
occupants of the manse. We often
wonder if the people of our churches
realize how their pastor's hearts are
strengthened and made glad by these
things. It is a privilege to serve among
such a people. W. M. M.
JTH 85
PERSONAL.
Rev. H. R. McFadden changes his address
from El Paso to Clarendon, Texas.
Rev. Dr. S. J. Foster, recently of Birmingham,
Ala., changes his address from
Union Springs, Ala., to 214 LeMaster
street, Memphis, Tenn.
Rev. Dr. J. L. Bell's address is changed
from Dallas to 3112 West avenue., Austin,
Texas.
Re\. J. R. McRee changes from Carlsbad,
N. M., to Soddy, Tenn.
Rev. Chas. L. Nourse's street address
in New Orleans is changed from 1525
Camp street to 507 Cherokee street. He
expects to be able to resume his evangelistic
work in February, and ministers
and churches needing his services are
requested to address him at 507 Cherokee
street.
Father Tabb, the poet-priest, passed
away a month or two ago. was born
in Amelia county, Virginia, in 1845, became
a Roman Catholic in 1872 and was
ordained in 1880. He was a poet of a
deeply religious spirit, writing chiefly
quotations and epigrams. On Damien,
who devoted himself to the service of
lepers and died of leprosy, Father Tabb
wrote:
"O God, the cleanest offering
Of tainted earth below,
unblushing, to thy feet we bring
'A leper white as snow.' "
If you are good natured there is nothing
you can not say; if you are not good
natured you can not say anything.?Henry
Ward Beecher.
HIS LAST SERMON READ.
A striking incident occurred Sundayr
January 9, at the Brick Presbyterian
church, Fifth avenue and Thirty-seventh
street- Tho Info r*.. wiiiin- t> *??_?.
.U?,V 1^1. u tillCl111 IV, IVltll"
ards, the pastor who died suddenly last
Friday morning, had left his sermon for
yesterday in complete form, even to the
words of the final blessing. So the sermon
was read, although the funeral of
its author was announced immediately
following the reading.
"Dr. Richards is not dead," began the
Rev. Dr. van Dyke, who took the services
VGSterdflV mnrninir ami rnoH
sermon prepared by the late pastor. "He
is in the next room and the door is
open." Then he announced possession
of the sermon found on the study table,
and as he announced the text he remarked
that preparation in ample time was a
chief characteristic of the late pastor.
"Even the details are noted," he said as
he glanced at the sermon manuscript.
The service leaflet stated that the late
pastor had played tenis on last Thursday
afternoon and during the evening of
Thursday was noticeably cheerful andi
happy and free from ailment.
The Spruell School is
IDEAL School for Boys, Marietta,
Ga.