Newspaper Page Text
14 (996)
by the special program committee. The
sixty-fifth Psalm was read by bhe leader,
and many appropriate verses were
read by different ones when the meeting
was thrown open. There were
many short prayers of praise and
thanksgiving for the beauties and bounties
of Ood'B nature. Special musicwas
furnished by the Austin College
Quartet. Standing on the boat-landing
and facing the multitude seated upon
the grass of the sloping bank under the
overhanging boughs of the tall, farreaching
cypress trees, presented a
sight Chat was heautlflil nnH Hnanlrinn
and brought to mind the words of Stevenson:
"We should be thankful for
bouses to live in, but after all there
is no place like God's out of doors."
Coleman, Texas. T. 0. Perrin.
Westminster Church, San Antonio,
has }ust sustained a great loss in the
death of Ruling Elder James & Moffett,
who had faithfully served the
church for a score of years. His last
official service was to participate in a
meeting of the session, at which a
meeting of the congregation was called
to elect additional eldere and deacons.
This election has been held and the
church greatly strengthened by the addition
of two efficient young men to
the ruling eldership and two to the
diaconate.
Through, the self-denying labors of
the ladles of the church a new carpet
has been laid, adding much to the comfort
and appearance of the church.
The superintendent and teachers are
actively planning for the fall campaign
In the Sunday school. The Presbytery
of Western Texas will meet with this
congregation October 4th.
Bev. C. M. Button, of Polytechnic,
Texas., writes:
After six months in a visit with my
daughter at Gotha, Fla., during which
time I preached twice a month and superintended
a Sunday school in a school
house, three weeks were pleasantly
spent in a partial family reunion at
Daytonia Beach, where we enjoyed
ocean baths. From June 30th to August
4th was spent in preaching to five
of my former Alabama churches, and
besides preaching at four other places.
Often two services a. dav were held, din
ners on a long table under the shade
of the treee being served and the Interims
affording; convenient times for
renewing ties with dear friends, young
and old. Communion services were held
at some places; four infants were baptized
and the funeral of another
preached.
The last service was the seventy-fi/th
anniversary of Hadden church, of which
Rev. W. H. Wlhite is pastor, and served
by me in 1877-88. An interesting history
was read "by Ruling Eider W. <M.
Elliott, and addressee were delivered by
the pastor and Rev. W. J. Bakens.
One youth was received into the church.
In alll the rounds 28 sermons were
preached, three the last: day, going
eleven miles through the country to
preach at night. The dear friends were
extremely liberal in voluntary offerings
valuable in themselves and especially
as expressions of love for their old
pastor.
May the seed sown bear an abundant
harvest
VIRGINIA.
Richmond: The pulpits of the
churches here were occupied last Sunday
as follows: Rev. Dr. P. T. McPaden,
the pastor, preached at the First
church; Rev. Dr. I. S. McElroy, of Columbus,
Ga., at the Second church;
Rev. D. K. Watlhall, of Waynesboro.
Va? at the Third; Rev. Dr. D. Clay
Lilly, the pastor, at Grace Street; Dr.
Juan Orts Gonzalez at Sinter Park;
Rev. W. E. Edwards, of the Methodist
Church, at Westminster; Rev. Dr. P.
D. Stephenson at Mlzpah.
THE PRESBYTERI
The Union Seminary professors are
rather widely distributed just now.
Drs. Dingle and Rice are at Montreat.
Dr. Moore Is recuperating at Hot
Springs, Va.; Dr. English is at Dewlsburg,
W. Va.; Dr. Johnson is at Healing
Springs, Va., and Dr. Strickler is on
an outing at the seashore.
A Proposed Donation: The church at
MitchellB is putting down a new carpet,
and proposes to give to any country
church that may desire it, the old carpet,
which is about 40x60 and in good
condition. Address J. G. Sommerville,
MitchellB, Va.
ArYonia: Kev. w. j. King, of Haknpden-Sidney,
pastor of the College
church, arrived here on Monday afternoon
and preached in the Presbyterian
church that night, continuing his services
twice each day throughout the
week.
Kev. B. F. Bedinger reports the following
meetings held in Mb churches
this summer: At Oak View, Rev. C. W.
Maxwell assisted and preached for ten
days. The church was edified and
fourteen people made profession of
faith.
At Rough Creek, Rev. A. J. Ponton
did the preaching for several days and
one 'person united with the church on
profession of faith.
Rev. W. T. Doggett assisted at the
mid-summer communion preaching for
a week. Large congregations gave
earnest attention. There were two additions
to the church by profession o.
faith and baptism.
Alexnndrlx - Our nannla oh^.1,1/1 ?^
? - v? *** ywl'lW UUVUIU A
member the communion services for the
first Sunday in September. This will
also be Dr. Allison's first Sunday with
us again after his vacation rest So
many of our people wdll still be out of
the city, all of us who are at home
should be on hand to give him a warm
welcome and to reconsecrate ourselves
for renewed activity in the season just
before us.
?Payne Street Chapel: Dr. Geo. GL.
Bitzer, of Valdosta, Ga., gave us an interesting
and earnest talk on Rev. 3:2,
last Tuesday night. Next Tuesday Mr.*
Lucke will be with us again and perhaps
for the last time, het us show a
good farewell service.?Alex. Pres.
WEST VIRGINIA.
CRMwpII Vlnn^aiin nan
? ? ? v ?u vbwu uvn mviuuci
bav? recently been received Into tMs
church.
Richlands: Rev. R. B. Hudson, of
Sink's Grove, is conducting a meeting
at this place, preaching each night this
week.
Lewlsburgs Rev. J. E. Booker, Superintendent
of Home Missions for the Synod
of Virginia, occupied the pulpit of the
Old Stone church, .both morning and
evening, on August the 18th, telling the
congregation of the great home mdssion
work being done by the Synod.
Old Stone Church* Lewlgburg: At a
recent meeting at Caldwell chapel nineteen
members were received on profession
of their faith. The Snnday
school has a membership of 61. Mr.
W. W. Pharr, of our Seminary, has
filled the Caldwell pulpit, and supplied
our other mission points during the
summer very acceptably. B.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS.
Rev, J. F. Naylor from Leonard,
Miss., to Waco, Texas, R. 2.
Rer. J. E. Fnrcell, Jr., from Mill Gap,
Va? to Red Springs. N. C.
Rer. R. A. Mcleod, from Huntington,
W. Va., to Carthage, N. C.
R?y. 6. M. Howerton, from Crawfordville
to Hartwell, Ga.
Rer. F. T. Charlton changes his address
from Comanche to Quanah, Tex.;
he takes charge of the churches at
Quanah and Hedley.
Rer. W. L Sfnnott from Centreville,
Ala., to Saltus Depot, S. C.
AN OF THE SOUTH
PERSONAL.
Rot. Joseph RennJe, D. D? of Greenwood,
Mlsb., has been in Richmond for
medical treatment, but has Improved
sufficiently to go to Cro.zet, Va., to recuperate.
Hot. II. A. White, D. of Columbia
Seminary, S. C., with his wife, is spending
a few weeks In Richmond, at 200
E. Franklin Street.
Rev. Dr. J. B. Shearer has returned
to Davidson, >N. C., after a visit of several
weeks to Virginia.
Rev. R. L. Benn, whose able contributions
are familiar to our readers, and
his wife have the sincere sympathy of
a wide circle In the loss which they have
sustained in the death of their youngest
child, Virginia Ruth.
Rev. Dr. T. P. Hay, of Ensley, Ala.,
is summering at Tate Springs, Tenn.,
on/1 .MAntraot W ^
Huling Elder William T. llardie, of
the First church, New Orleans, will
have the loving sympathy of a great
host of friends in the death of Ms fourth
son, Meade, which occurred on the
evening of August 6th.
Prof. Addison llogne, of Lexington,
Vs., after spending the summer at
Nantucket, Mass., is in New York for
a few days tMs week. He will soon
return to resume his duties in Washington
and Lee Unlveraity.
Mrs. Owen, the widow of the late
Rev. C. C. Owen and four children are
visiting relatives In Halifax county, Va.
it will 'be remembered that Mr. Owen
went as a missionary to Korea some
years ago and there married. Alter an
absence of a year Mrs. Owen will return
to Korea.
The remains of Her. Samuel U. Gill,
who was run down by a fast-moving express
train at Harper's Ferry on Friday
evening, August 16th while trying
to save the life of his little son, who
had fallen in front of the fast approaching
train, were taken directly to his
late home at Mtonfcicello, III., where
they were buried upon their arrival.
Rev. Mr. Gill, who was 44 years of
age, was for many years a minister of
the Reformed Churoh, but upon receiving
a call to Monticello, he accepted,
and Joined the Presbyterian Church.
His sudden death is greatly regretted.
UNION SEMINARY CENTENARY.
Arrangements for the Centennial
Celebration of the founding of Union
Seminary are nearing completion. The
Seminary Bulletin announces that the
synod of North Carolina "will come from
Goldsboro to Richmond 'by a special
train on. Wednesday morning, October
16th, and -will unite with the Synod of
Virginia in the celebration of the Centennial
of the Seminary on Wednesday
afternoon. It is expected that some preliminary
exercises of less general Interest
will be held 'before the main celebration
in which the two synods are to
unite. There win probably be a historical
sermon in the Seminary chapel
on Sunday morning on "The First Fifty
Years," and another Sunday night on
"The Last Fifty Years." On Tuesday
from 2 to 4:30 'P. M. there will be an
alumni dinner and reunion of old
students, with six or eight after-dinner
speeches. The two Synods will convene
in their respective places Tuesday
night Wednesday morning In the First
church at Richmond, with the Moder&t
or of the Synod of Virginia presiding,
there will probably be three addresses
of twenty tndnutes each on Union Seminary
In the pastorate. Union Seminary
in Home Missions, and Union Seminary
in Religious Journalism.
The Synod of North Carolina Is expected
to arrive at Richmond about the
middle of the day Wednesday and to
dine at Richmond Hall on the Seminary
campus. The two synods will convene
immediately after dinner on the lawn of
the Seminary campus. Mr. George W.
t August 28, 1912 ^
Watts, the President of the Board of
Trustees, will preside, assisted by the
Moderators of the two Synods, and the
exercises will include the following
features:
1. AddresB of welcome by His Excellency,
Governor William Hodges
Mann.
2. Address: Union Seminary in Theological
Education and Religious
Thought.
3. Poem.
4. Address: Union Seminary in Foreign
Missions.
6. Greetings from the other four
Presbyterian Seminaries in the South?
presented by their chosen representatives.
6. Written greetings from Seminaries
outside of our own 'bounds, announced
but not all of them read.
A detailed program with the names
of the various speakers will be published
later.
THE HAEBOK OF THE SAINTS.
As I write J look out over a snug
little harbor, the home of the Nonowantic
Yacht Club, in which some fifty
small craft of various kinds find anchorage.
When a northeaster comes
sweeping down Long Island Sound, the
small pleasure boats which would
speedily be swamped by the mighty billows,
may rest securely within the bay.
it is necessary to spend some time
within proximity of the sea in order to
appreciate fully the significance and
calm of a harbor.
The Church is "the harbor of the
saints," but it is to be feared that It is
not often thought of as such in our day.
We eing of it so much as "a mighty
army;" me strive so hard to organize
and conduct its affairs as a great
modern corporation; we talk so glibly
of applying "business principles" to the
work of the kingdom; we h?ave succeeded
so thoroughly in commercializing it.
that men, alas! no> longer think of the
Church of God as "the harbor of the
saints" where they may find peace of
soul and rest from the disturbing
storms of life. The minister must be
the head of the corporation and he must
know how in vulgar parlance "to run a
church," or he can hardly hope to succeed.
His study becomes an office, and
he (must spend his time in serving on
committees, in hearing reports and issuing
cards and circulars, in devising
ways and means rather than in endeavoring
to master the word of God
that he may be able to bring out of its
storehouse "things new and old" for
the edification of the people. We are in
danger of developing a secularized ministry
who will 'be better qualified "to
organize" and "run a church" than they
are to proclaim the blessed evangel of
Christ to storm-tossed sinful souls and
conduct them to safe anchorage in "the
harbor of the saints." The plea for a
simple, pure gospel and a peaceful
church seems .to fall upon dull, un.
heeding ears, and the preacher with
such a message is not in demand. But,
It is to 'be hoped, that a better day is
Ho nrn^n ? whon orhflpv m on an A womfill
will seek for "the harbor of the
saints."
My sympathy goes out to earnest
Christian business men who are not
permitted to enjoy any peace in the
church. They come to the Sabbath da>
out of the awful stress and grind of
the week weary of brain and depressed
in spirit, and then often hear little that
is helpful and en heartening in the
church, but are hectored and badgerea
about politics and socialism and prohibition
and "movements" until they
despair of any true rest of soul. They
need rather to be comforted "with the
truth and encouraged to seek for "the
peace of God that passeth all understanding."
May I be pardoned for saying
that I would like bo lead a "move