Newspaper Page Text
HE real architects of our civilization,
after all, are not the builders of “sky
scrapers” and the projectors of vast
commercial schemes. The unselfish
preacher of righteousness, the man who,
in the pulpit or in the school room, sows
living principles in human hearts and
plants wholesome, commanding ideals
especially in the sky of youth, is the
T
force that molds and makes worth while the artisan
in the factory, the farmer between his plow han
jHHHF* * TMB
- ri l *
HHrm^k ■■ ■ *. sis&4i- •-- ■
" ».• -’KC!t - < ‘ 7
* • - • /
WMT'
wgMiMWWoKt. I
... X
“BISHOP” NUTT AND HIS WINSOME WIFE.
dies, the merchant behind his counter —and all the
depositors in all theMMjjks of the land.
An unknown lays his sacred
hand on the plastw? f boy ,and,
under God, that bc«| A llis virile
power io be a “maX X* aEk -■ tS fxstate or
nation. I J
JThese thoughts life
story and still mortA stirring life-victory of a
certain God-inspired, self-made young preacher
whom we know in Choctaw county, Missis
sippi, who is doubtless touching as many lives for
good and for God as any man in the state.
He is J. R. Nutt, of Ackerman, Miss., the possessor
of one diploma, the husband of one brave wife, the
father of one fair girl baby and the actual pastor
of seven different churches.
The readers of The Golden Age are not wholly un
acquainted with this stalwart’’young builder of our
civilization, for we have occasionally made references
to his strong personality, his noble friendship and his
effective work, but the editor was not aware until
recently how much sure enough work Robert Nutt
is really doing. Learning that he is the spiritual
leader of seven different church organizations, this
valiant member of the band of unsung heroes was
asked to give a list of his churches, how he reaches
them, and a statement of his concept concerning the
vital field of the town and country pastor.
Because the faithful wife of the faithful preacher
(especially if he travels much) is always “a queen
without a crown,” we give here the picture of Mrs.
Nutt beside her husband. She was Miss Madge Lea
veil, a niece of the famous Dr. J. B. Gambrell, one
of Mississippi’s greatest sons, who is now the leader
of missionary triumphs in Texas.
The popular young “pastor of Choctaw county,” as
he is called, does not claim any episcopal honors
or powers in the accepted sense, but from the
Baptist viewpoint of a “bishon of one church” he
is a "bishop” seven times over.
“Ackerman, Miss., Dec. 23, 1909.
“Dear Bro. Upshaw:
“You<ask for a list of my appointments and a
vmadEEmt my work: On the first Sunday I preach
En at 11 o’clock. At 3 o’clock in the
Ipreach at Chester, six miles north of
Bind at Ackerman again at night. On
\Sunday I preach at French Camps
Eight. On the third Sunday I preach
ffi\in at 11 o’clock, and at Bethlehem
afternoon and at Ackerman again
(he fourth Sunday, and Saturday
Creek, fifteen miles in the
Kalian, and at Weir, Miss., at
= * / Chester on
awTJT "BISHOP” CHOCTA W "DIOCESE”
J. 'Robert Nutt, of Ackerman, Miss., is Preaching to Seben Churches and Wields Great Influence as
"the Pastor of Choctalv County.”
The Golden Age for January 6, 1910.
Saturday at 11 o’clock. This makes in all thirteen
appointments a month. It means work and lots
of it. But taking everything into consideration I
regard my present work as an ideal pastorate.
“There are several reasons why this is to me an
ideal pastorate: In the first place these churches
have a membership of between eight and nine hun
dred. It is a glorious privilege to preach to folks.
I know several preachers today who receive a larger
salary but have very small congregations. Not
only do my churches have a large membership,
but they have large congregations, many of whom
are not members. This gives the pastor a large
opportunity for active service in the Master’s
Kingdom. It gives the pastor a splendid oppor
tunity for evangelistic service. He not only has the
opportunity of leading these people to Christ but
he can develop them as well. From a denominational
standpoint a work like this is ideal.
“In the second place, the pastor on a work like
this comes in contact with the best young people
in the country. The hope of the church and the
nation is in ‘the country boys and girls.’ Some
of the best members we have in Ackerman today
were once country boys and girls belonging to some
of these country churches where I preach now.
S. B. Dobbs, Dr. J. D. Weeks, John Adams, L. M.
Adams, H. L. Rhodes, and others I might mention.
The young man raised in the country and trained
to love God and to believe in the ‘old-time religion
when he ‘moves to town’ will not likely go astray.
♦! - +
f *
X ■ X
4- +
t t
: - U 7.t
♦ Ji-A +
X . ■ > *
X ♦
X I t
X JMI JRki If t
x SEHMSiHEM' ■■ ■ +
t BAPTIST CHURCH f
t J :
f PASTOR J. R. NUTT AND HIS J
X NEW CHURCH. >
He believes in his mother’s religion and his mother’s
religion will shield him from the alluiing tempta
tions of city life. Much might be said on this
phase of the question and ought to be said. What
a privilege it is to get your hands on a tough, rugged,
country youth, and help to stir in his breast an am
bition to be something and do something. Will you
pardon me here for saying something that I have
long wanted to say? It is personal, but I will take
the risk any way. I was raised in the country
five miles northwest of Blue Mountain, Miss. When
I gave my heart to God I soon felt a call to preach.
The first man who put his arms around me said, ‘l’ll
help you. Go to Mississippi College,’ was Rev.
W. E. Berry, of Blue Mountain. No better man lives
on earth today, and whatever I am or may be I
owe more to him than anyone else. As I think
of this today, and even as I write now my heart
goes out in sympathy to the country boy. Ignorant
and uncouth as he is, yet he may be a ‘diamond
in the rough.’
Measureless Opportunity for Missions.
In the third place, the problem of missions rests
largely with the country churches. The reason
why so many of our country churches do not give
more to missions is because they have not been
taught. I have my first appeal to make for missions
yet in the country where they did not respond after
the subject had been properly presented to them.
When our pastors who live in our smaller towns
go out in the country and teach the people then
the people will respond. I can count any number
of men today who give readily and willingly to
missions who would not give a cent five years ago. I
repeat that the problem of missions rests with our
country churches and the pastor who is wide awake
and who gets there first will have the largest share
in their development.
“Ackerman has done nobly and well. The third
Sunday in December, 1909, I closed my sixth year
as pastor. No better people can be found in Mis
sissippi. Six years ago they had a very small
house which they had built more than twenty years;
before. Now we have a beautiful brick building
which cost about eight thousand dollars. And close
by its side a nice pastor’s home will soon be com
pleted. Our noble women are untiring in their
efforts to advance the cause of the Master’s King
dom.
“One of my best congregations is at French
Camps, Miss., a beautiful country village in the
western part of this, Choctaw county. French
Camps is ‘the Athens of Choctaw,’ being the home
of French Camp Academy, and also the Central
Mississippi Institute. Both of these splendid
institutions are under the control of the Presbyterian
Synod of North Mississippi. It is encouaging indjgQf}—-
to have the privilege of preaching to this_4arge stu
dent body. Who can tell what the future will bring
forth 9 Most of these boys and girls come from
the surrounding community. These institutions
mean much for the educational development of this
part of Mississippi. Too much could not be said
in praise of Rev. F. L. McCue, the principal of the
academy, and Prof, and Mrs. Sanderson, who have
charge of the Female Institute.
“God has blessed me on my field of labor, and
as I stand now at the close of 1909, I face the
future with hope and courage.
“J. R. NUTT.”
Mrs. O. H . < B. 100 div or th —Gone!
She went from earth at Christmas to the everlast
ing Christmas-time of the skies. Mrs. Oliver Blood
worth, of Forsyth, Georgia, was
She V» is the one of the sunniest, brightest spir-
Friend of Youth its we ever knew. As the friend
and the Dispens- of youth, the friend of her church,
er of Sunshine. the friend of Bessie Tift College
and its magnificent beneficent
work for women, she was always loyal, genial and
beloved.
Coming to Atlanta to welcome her daughter, Mrs.
Louie Jackson, of Beaumont, Texas, at her first
home-coming since her marriage, she was suddenly
stricken and carried home to suffer a few brief days
and then go to the peace and rest of folded hands
and pulseless heart.
Her husband, Hon. O. H. B. Bloodworth, one of
the most prominent lawyers in the state, has not
served God in vain, and in this great sorrow—ifjr —
himself and loved ones, he will hear, we know, the
priceless comfort of the Voice Divine.
1 e
2 “
♦j Miss Jennie Hogan, a cultured teacher at 2
Agnes, Ga., says:
+ tz
ZZ “Enclosed, find $lO. Enter me as a life- ♦
4-
ZZ time subscriber to The Golden Age.” ♦
4- tt
$ n
