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HATS OFF TO OUR NEW FIELD EDITOR
Dr, H. P, Fitch, Preacher of Power and Author of “In the Name of the Law," Becomes Field Editor of The Golden Age,
at the Ripe, Promising Age of “Seventy-Six Years Young."
T IS with peculiar pleasure that we
announce that Dr. H. P. Fitch,
whose gifted pen has made him so
well known to our readers, has be
come Field Editor of The Golden
Age.
He has resigned the pastorate of
Woodward Avenue Baptist Church,
Atlanta, where he has done a re
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markable work, and on last Sunday night an
nounced his acceptance of his new position in
connection with The Golden Age.
Through his thrilling reminiscences, publish
ed in these columns some years ago, through
his logical articles a year ago, on the duties of
Christian Citizenship toward the liquor traffic,
and especially through his powerful serial
story, “In the Name of Law,” which recently
appeared in The Golden Age, Dr. Fitch has
won a warm place in the hearts and a high
place in the thought of our readers.
Owning that superb property, Mineral Park
Springs, the Christian summer resort, at Mc-
Donald, Tenn., (near Chattanooga), and feel
ing that he and Mrs. Fitch are divinely called
to build up such a resort for the spiritual good
of the whole country, Dr. Fitch has felt that he
must be free to assist his “Lady Bountiful” in
the direction of Mineral Park. But he can’t
stay there all the time. Young as he is at
seventy-six, you could easier chain an eagle in
BEA UTIFUL MEMORIAL TO JUNIUS W. MILLARD
Business Man of One Denomination Tells of Tender Ties That Bound Him to Great Preacher of Another Denomination.
IE memorial service in honor of Dr.
Junius W. Millard, at Jackson Hill
Baptist Church, Atlanta, last Sun
day afternoon, was largely attend
ed, and beautiful in every detail of
word and song. Dr. Weston Brun
er, an old Seminary classmate, pre
sided, paying tender and touching
tribute to the reverential spirit of
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Junius W. Millard during his student days.
Dr. A. A. Little, pastor of Westminster Pres
byterian Church, spoke of Dr. Millard, as a
“neighboring pastor;” Dr. Chas. 0. Jones, pas
tor of Grace M. E. Church, spoke of his broad
ness and his loyalty; Dr. John F. Purser, presi
dent of the Home Mission Board, spoke of his
qualities of leadership and his “goodness,” and
Mr. A. W. Farlinger, a prominent Christian
business man, of Atlanta, represented the Cen
tral Congregational Church, for which Dr. Mil
lard acted as supply for nearly a year after his
returning health allowed him to preach.
Having accompanied Dr. Millard to the Holy
Land during his quest for health, Mr. Farlinger
had formed a strong personal attachment for
the great preacher. It is a striking commen
tary on the meaning of Christian fellowship,
when a busy business man of one denomination
pays to a preacher of another denomination,
such a tribute as the following. Mr. Far
linger said:
“It has been my privilege for many years, to
know and to esteem, as one of my very close,
intimate friends, Dr. Junius W. Millard. Dur
ing this period of intimate friendship and asso
ciation, I grew more and more to love, cherish
and sacredly honor the beautiful Christian
character, which ever shined forth upon his
radiant countenance, bright as the dew drops
sparkling in the morning sunshine, and enrich
ing those about him like the fragrance of the
noonday rose.
‘‘ I can truly testify that he has been 11 a light;
unto my pathway, and a lamp unto my feet,” a
positive inspiration to my soul. He has made
many crooked and rugged pathways straight*
The Golden Age for January 2,1913.
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DR. H. P. FITCH,
| Field Editor.
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and has vanquished mountains of difficulty in
my life —difficulties which have vanished be
fore his face and his faith as the mists flee be
fore the morning sun. He has been a friend
in the time of need, and as I passed through the
dark valley of sorrow, disappointment and de
spair, when it seemed thatthe waves would
overwhelm me, I could still, feel the gentle
touch of his hand, as he said, like his Master,
‘Fear not, my brother, I will never leave you,
nor forsake you, even though the earth tremble
and the heavens be darkened and the waters
overwhelm me. Lo, I will stand by you even
unto the end.’
“So lovable and deep and broad, was this
friendship of Dr. Millard, that it embraced all
classes and conditions of men, in every walk of
life, and the sympathetic throb of his great
heart, seemed to reach out and cover the whole
world, even as the waters cover the sea.
“Two years ago, when the pastor (Rev. Hen
ry A. Atkinson), of the Central Congregation
al Church, was unexpectedly called to Chicago,
to take up national social work, our committee
on pulpit supply knew not whither to turn, and
I as thoroughly believe, as I believe the inspi
ration of the Bible, that we were divinely direct
ed to Dr. Millard. We found him sitting at
his desk, in the Candler building, busy at his
books; after explaining to him our mission, and
asking him to supply our pulpit for a period
of six weeks, with a smile on his face, and a
grasp of the hand, he said, ‘I will.’
“Our people were so overwhelmed with his
first sermon, and his wonderful knowledge in
expounding the Scriptures, that as the bene
diction was pronounced, instead of turning to
ward the door, almost every man, woman and
child pressed down the aisle toward the pulpit,
and with smiles upon their faces and tears in
their eyes, they grasped his hand. But their
hearts were too full to express what they felt.
‘ ‘ Dr. Millard continued with us as pulpit sup
ply nearly one year, and it is needless to say
that our committee on permanent pastor did but
little work during that time, and I might add
its nest, than you could keep our grand old
man from preaching.
Dr. Fitch, who was a practicing physician
for twenty years, has been remarkably success
ful as an evangelist, and he will be ready im
mediately to hold meetings—individual
churches or union meetings—and his dates will
be made through the office of The Golden Age.
In prohibition campaigns he is also a power,
and every community will be blessed through
and through that will rally to his wise and con
secrated leadership. A schoolmate of Dr.
Robert Stuart MacArthur, at Woodstock Col
lege, in faraway Canada rich in the experi
ences of physician and preacher in all sections
of America, great of heart, brilliant of pen and
eloquent of tongue, we rejoice to commend Dr.
Fitch as the representative of The Golden Age
on the field, in the pulpit, on the platform and
everywhere.
His “Echoes from the Battle,” will hold vital
interest for our readers; and he will begin week
after next issue a series of articles on “Revival
Meetings—Their Measure and Method,” which
every Christian worker ought to read.
His visit to any community will not be com
mercial —he leaves remuneration wholly with
the people and the Lord —and thousands, we
are sure, will yet rise up and call him blessed
for the work with which he will crown the
mellow evening of his grand old life.
confidentially to you, Jackson Hill brethren,
that had he not accepted your call, our
committee on supply would still be at work.
‘‘ On acount of his business engagements, re
quiring his entire time during the week, it was
understood that he would only act as pulpit
supply for us on Sunday, but his heart was so
large that he could not do so, and notwithstand
ing his strenuous business life, he announced
from the pulpit nearly every Sunday that, if
any of our people were sick, or in trouble, or
would like to see him, he would be pleased to
render them such aid as might lie in his power
as pastor.
“He ever remained loyal to his former
charge, the Ponce de Leon Church, and always
looked forward with great joy to the Wednes
day night prayer meeting in his home Church.
“It is not generally known that our commit
tee of supply urged him repeatedly to assume
the regular pastorate of our Church, assuring
him a unanimous call should he decide to ac
cept. He invariably replied that he must first
be loyal to the denomination of his faith, to
which our committee replied: ‘Almost doest
thou persuade us to become Baptists.’
“Such was the esteem in which he was held
by the membership of our Church. I might
add that I firmly believe that the Central Con
gregational Church rediscovered Dr. Millard.
“Many times did he say to me that he had
passed through Gethsemane in giving up the
ministry temporarily, and that notwithstanding
the judgment of his good physicians and many
friends, he firmly believed the Lord had more
work for him to do. He was continually say
ing, “I never felt better in my life.”
“I am sure that we all agree that the last
two years were the happiest and best of his
saintly life, and the loyal response of this
Church to his appeal made three weeks ago to
day, in the closing day of his earthly career,
was a crowning climax, in which you must all
rejoice, to have been permitted to at least share
a part,
(Continued on Page 8.)
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