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RISNER-PEACOCK—BROADWAY— Words of Magic in Knoxville
THRILLING STORY OF THE GROWTH AND INFLUENCE OF ONE OF THE GREAT
EST CHURCHES IN THE SOUTH.
One of the most remarkable churches in the
South is located in Knoxville, Tenn. It is
known as Broadway Baptist Church, and Dr.
H. C. Risner is the brilliant and beloved pastor.
Twenty-four years ago the membership oc
cupied the basement of what is now one of
the most beautiful and artistic churches in Knox
ville. The membership at that time was com
paratively small in number. Numbered in its
membership were some of the best people in
Knoxville, but not very strong financially.
Rev. 0. L. Hailey, the gifted son-in-law of the
famous Dr. J. R. Graves, was its first pastor.
Since that time the following named ministers
have been pastors of the church: Dr. M. D.
Jeffries, Dr. W. A. Atchley and the present
pastor, Dr. H. C. Risner.
The membership now numbers 1,110, with a
Sunday School of 785.
During these twenty-four years, the Broad
way Church has organized the following Mis
sion Churches: Oakwood, Fountain City, Gil
lespie Ave. Beaumont, and North Side Mission.
All of these now have become self-supporting
churches, except the North Side Mission, which
will ever be a Mission Station. There has been
organized a board to operate, what is now
known as North Side Settlement House, with
a salaried Missionary on field. They are to
teach special courses in Domestic Science, Dom
estic Art, the regular Liteary Course of Public
School work, and also a Bible Student Class.
A Remarkable Leader.
Dr. Henry Clay Risner the present pastor is
MOUNTAIN PEAKS OF MY EUROPEAN
TRIP.
(Continued from page 5.)
when he soulfully exclaims “Zellissimo!”
(most beautiful!) A wonderful blue light per
meated the entire Grotto, the water seemed a
trifle darker in color, a turquoise blue tinged
with a silvery sheen. When the oarsman light
ly drew his oar through the water an oar of
silver seemed to trace a silver line therein
and the small boys, paid to dive, appeared to
be clothed in silver tights.
After lunch at Capri, we left for Sorrento,
where we arrived at 6 o’clock in the after
noon. At a short distance out our steamer
was surrounded by row-boats from all the
hotels, and the air resounded with the clear
cries of the oarsmen, “ Tramantano, Victoria,”
etc. Our room at the Tramantano overlooked
a magnificent garden in full bloom on one
side, and on the other an orange orchard
heavy with fruit.
Following dinner that evening, the guests of
the hotel assembled in a little “salon,” where
they enjoyed a concert given by some Neapo
litan singers and dancers. Their costumes
were very original and attractive, the young
girls wore red or green skirts, bright colored
Roman scarfs, necklaces of large silver-like
heads, little white aprons and shoulder frills
of wide lace. The men wore short trousers
of bright colors, also large scarfs as belts, and
THE GOLDEN AGE FOR WEEK OF MARCH 19, 1914
a remarkable man, with a very strong personal
ity; thoroughly educated; a student of Baylor
University, Waco, Texas, Chicago University
and graduated from The Theological Seminary
Louisville, 1898. He is also a man of extended
travel, making a visit to Europe, Palestine and
the Holy Land. Before coming to Knoxville Dr-
DR. H. C. RISNER, Knoxville, Tenn.
Risner had been pastor in Baltimore, Md., Roa
oke, Ala., and Tyler, Texas. He is a man tall
and imposing in appearance, and his sermons
are marked with tremendous power, swaying
his congregations with his sacred oratory. Dr.
Riser spends much of his time in Chautauqua
Engagements. Mrs. Tyson, President of the
City Beautiful League of Knoxville, says:“ Dr.
Risner’s lectures were so brilliant and his wrnrd
small caps to match. Their programme con
sisted of pretty Neapolitan songs, well-known
Italian melodies, and the charming “Taren
tella,” a dance characteristic of this people.
There were a number of Americans in the
audience, so at the end of the entertainment
the dancers began, “My Country ’Tis of
Thee” and the “Star Spangled Banner.” All
the guests joined in and sang as only a patri
otic American can.
The company soon dispersed but for a long
while after one heard the National airs float
ing still in the corridors. Everyone was hap
py and unanimously agreed that Italy was a
country of gaiety, and charm, yes, the coun
try where the sky is always blue.
CAMPBELL MORGAN’S EPIGRAMS.
“Henry Van Dyke said, “In every life worth
writing about there is a master-passion,” I
amend that by striking out the three words,
‘worth writing about.’ ”
“The sealing of the Bible by men follows
idolatry in some form.”
“Richard Le Galliere said a book is judged
by the length of time it took to write it. Judg
ing by this the Bible is the most perfect piece
of literature in the world.”
“The iceasless raving of the worldly is evi
dence of the search for God.”
painting so wonderful, his poetic nature so rich,
that he leads his audience into realms of the
supernal.”
Dr. Risner has been pastor of the present
church for three years and holding the revival
meetings in his own church. The church has
grown so rapidly, that in order to meet the
great demands of the city at large as well as
the needs of its own membership, the church
recently called Rev. E. H. Peacock, of Atlanta,
Ga., as Assistant Pastor and Financial Secre
tary. Having had many years experience in
church and philanthropic work, Mr. Peacock
is well fitted for the place. Mr. Peacock tak
ing up his work on the first of January, 1914,
began at once to strengthen the financial sys
tem of the church work, apportioning the mem
bership of the church and opening up an office
at the church with a secretary and a complete
set of books. The “Climax Hour” came Sun
day, February 8, when the last dollar of the
$13,000.00 was raised, which pays every dollar
of indebtedness on the church. The plant is
now estimated to be worth $75,000.00.
There was never known a more faithful band
of Christian people than the members of Broad
way Baptist Church. They are now supplying
a great need in the city of Knoxville, doing
very much the same sort of humanitarian work
that made Broughtons’ Tabernacle in Atlanta
famous around the world. “Risner, Peacock
and Broadway,” these three words spell magie
in Knoxville, and the metropolis of East Ten
nessee witnesses great multitudes flocking to
the Bread of Life. DAVID.
“The modern mind tries to define sin as
“continual abnormality in the moral realm.”
It’s just plain iniquity. lam tired of the mod
ern mind. It is getting ancient while I breathe.
I am tired of Bible conferences called to adapt
the Bible and religion to the modern mind.
There is no substitute for the word of God.”
Humanity, without the word of God, blindly
gropes its way.”
“Today, everywhere, in my own land and in
yours, men are mystically and strangely turn
ing their faces towards God.”
“The hour has come when men are far more
interested to know what’s in th© book than
where it came from.”
SHE LOVED IT TO THE LAST.
Dr. Robert L. Motley, whose pastorate at
West Point, Miss., is being so wonderfully
blessed, writes:
“Miss Nettie Bond, the dear old saint of
Nashville, Tenn., to whom we have been send
ing The Golden Age for several years, went
to Heaven last Sunday morning. She read
the paper—every line in it—with eager de
light till the very last. She fairly reveled in
its sparkling, enriching pages and thought
The Golden Age the greatest paper for the
home in all the land.”