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' li/Slg: * / /<? .X re S I .Fk EZr iHlx * BkEJM w Wwil -ffie Gr f - *W£ .„ Xho<“W _Jft W’.lEty "w The ■■■ ~ ■ . *4 *~ Vol. IX—No. 4 POWELL’S POWERFUL PERSONALITY NEW PASTOR OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, CHATTANOOGA, MAKES NOTABLE BEGINNING—GENIUS LINKED TO t “OLD TIME RELIGION’’ BRINGS SPEEDY VICTORY IN TENNESSEE METROPOL S. gr F “the greatest battle of the 19th cen tury was religion,” according to the brilliant Edwin M. Poteat —the con quest of vital Christianity over effete systems of folly and philosophy as well as over the selfish hearts of sinful men —even so the most newsworthy “happenings” of the 20th century are not the triumphs of captains of finance nor the masteries of artisans and engineers, but they are the true stories of the victories of love and labor in the redemption of men and women. During my recent visit to Chattanooga—the third generous invitation in about a year to address the Y. M. C. A. in that great and growing city—l heard much of the notable success attending the new pastorate of Wil liam Francis Powell at the historic First Bap tist Church. This gifted and deeply consecrated young Carolina-Virginian had just come December Ist from seven years of remarkable success at Calvary, Broughton’s old church in Roanoke, and yet in some seventy days of service, with out any “protracted meeting” there had been about fifty conversions and seventy additions to the church. So wisely had the new pastor builded tow ard a great day of decision in the church and Sunday School that forty-two of these conver sions had come on the Sunday that I spent in Chattanooga (February 15th)- Superintendent and Pastor—A Rare Combination. H .D. Huffaker, president of the Interstate Life and Health Insurance Company, who thinks religion during his six days of business and talks it and works at it “every day and Sunday, too,” is the wide-awake superinten dent of the Sunday School, and hand in hand and heart to heart with his pastor he had sought to lead all hearts toward that wonder ful hour. Then the new pastor took hold. Talk about fascinating employment —the most fascinating thing on earth is “throwing the net,” winning the individual —winning the multitude to Christ. Powell is deft and dar ing, winsome and wonderful as a fisher of souls —and children in their tender years, and grown-ups in the beauty and glory of their STARTLING FOLLY OF AN ALABAMA LAWYER—Page 4 ATLANTA, GA., MARCH 19, 1914 By WILLIAM D. UPSHAW, Editor. young manhood and womanhood, pressed into the Kingdom in that blesed hour when “the bottom of Heaven fell out” on that glorious . scene. Building On a Firm Foundation. Seldom does any new pastor find himself more fortunate in a predecessor than W. F. Powell in Chattanooga—for he followed on our •■Georgia giant,” Jasper C. Massee, and Mas- I - ■ ' It I ■ ■ ■ AA/ ■ i Jr- ' I C :■■■. -.11 I | Lt.. ■bßs * DR. W. T. POWELL. see, himself a great soul winner, is also a co gent preacher of foundation verities, and be fore he left to lead the First Baptist Church at Dayton, Ohio, he planted seeds of truth and sanity and deep spirituality which make it all the easier for a constructive leader like Powell to enter with wisdom and conquest into the harvest of a master builder. He Fascinates “Young America.” One of W. F. Powell’s strongest faculties is his ability to fascinate “Young America" into the highest enthusiasm for the things of God: and righteousness- He can tell a baseball story with such masterful genius that, before the boys know it, they are up on their feet shout ing “nine rahs” for some hero of Christian manliness. And yet this same “little man” of tact and versatility can walk into the fellowship of such stalwart num as Senator Newell Sanders, Hon. George W. Chamlee, or R. 11. Hunt, the fa mous architect, who are active members of his church, and impress them at once with that calm clearness of judgment and that humble simplicity which true greatness always re veals. How Roanoke Loved Him. A prophecy of what W. F. Powell will mean, under God, to Chattanooga, is found in the following story from The Roanoke Times con cerning Dr. Pjwell’s leaving the Virginia city: Dr. Powell Accepts Call to Chattanooga. Evidences tis the affection and love for their pastor was shown last night when a large number of the congregation of the Calvary Baptist Church assem bled at 8, o’clock in the Sunday School room of th© church ‘for th regular Wednesday night business meeting, received, with tears and sobs, the resigna tion of their pastor of seven years past, the Rev. Dr. W. F. Powell, who resigned his charge here to take effect December 1, when he will accept a call to the First Baptist Church of Chattanooga, Tenn., the call being received in a telegraphic message by him early this week. But a few of those at the meeting last night knew that Dr. Powell had decided to resign, following the receipt cf the call. The resignation was submitted by him at the close of the business meeting. In a few simple words he told his people that during his seven years’ stay in Roanoke among so many he loved and whose friendship he cherished, he al ways had attempted to eliminate the personal side of his office as pastor of Calvary from all his deal ings concerning the church. “Tonight,” he said, “I must be more personal and say something of myself. I feel that in going to the Chattanooga church I am doing God’s will and am going into a field where there is work for me and where I must do the same work that I have done here with you. When I came here, you ac cepted me with the knowledge that the work 1 was to do is not simply for you here alone but is a field which extends everywhere; for God’s work must extend everywhere; and I ask you to release me with the same spirit that you accepted me seven years ago.” ONE DOLLAR AND FIFTY CEWTf A YEAB :: FIVE CENTS A t*Ft