The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-09-16
REV. THOMAS DIXON.
NETTING. ABOUT THE Net NJ.
RfkIt AII>T.
First an Actor. then "A Politician. then IA
LAWYER and Now u PIeacher--fbat'> -
Progression OF the Right Kind.
From the Wilson Advance
n rt.tJ <4fe-rtr canon sent

weeks ago the papers We're discuss -nS the
question whether man eolld oe I. l"'t'-
ciaH anu christian ne discussion "''s
suggested Dy the Pubicatloh .. car" ~
Thomas Dixon, j., oI shelby; y :. "ho
announced tnat inasmuch aS ne coAld not
continue IN PoiltlcS ana n3lh'ah ms ehIlI
tan integrity he had decided 10 forego al
participation IN poluci ana'r'. ihi9
statement OF MT Dixon ; coming from d
young man OF recognized talent, VINO was
member ot the last legislature, caused
comment and criticism. ~ the time' re
member 10 nave peeh interested III tiS
character OF the cFlt-ciailS anu lLil ilI,teSSIu
WIN me u!heIeHcI ~ '"0 ~" ~ 'it0 -"
tors who discussed MS proposiuo1' Nhich /
was: - cannot De poii'lciah ana aeilFlS-
titn-
one editor dismissed the subject with |
the lppant remark, ne .oo!S are n"l
all dead Yet. Another thought MI, IN
on vas a man oi narrow views anu ntiy
consituted 70 MAKE ii'at-cl''9S I'H"ilci
Others sald ne was uiaappolhteG' "HuG
Others atlH thought he WAS Jua5l"S an
neH oy hllnSeiI' anu S;'lu lH"' ms t. n1oI'.
stamina needed Slreil9 tH0u5Hl
nelthef OF theSe cFltlclSHlS lu90- A4c"
| Mr. DIXON was young man oI fcLnATh-
able brlllIancy ana earnestheNS- WINE
many thought his ar was rather tragic
IN the delivery OF ms Slccch's III 'he
! Legislature, recognized lhe Iatj mat tieH
were the speeches 0i 4 Young man oi
brains. Knew 'Iat ne WIS 'iH"'' ''o'I' an"
| thought ne WAS rather 700 ANXIOUS 10 "p-
taln notorlety ne ha' 9uccetl'eo aL'ii"S, l,
! beyond precedent having been hohiiht'ed
for the Legislature before ne was twenty
one and elected few days after attaining
his majority lie had begun the pfattIe
Of law with bright promise or success
Why then, did he step aside from 'He
alluring paths that ms ambition poin'eo
ot.t and resolve TO apJure polllcSs II Is
llpt enough ~ Ndy 'iaO liO = . '''iN -
That is not true. He is a very smart young
man.
The truth as every man, young OF ol'i'
who has had anything 10 90 WIN pf"C'l
cal politics knows, the temptation either
actively to 90 wrong or 10 l'@35'ltlH "t"" low.
your friends to do 1t IS 50 strong that feN
can resist IT. Men ought to resist II; chrla
tans can resist 1t, but the Tact remains
that few men who attain success 90 aiW'l!a
stand up manfully for right. lhefe IS no
disputing this. | would 1t were otherwise.
Carlyle says, truly great Is the actual.
My own opinion is that Mr. DIXON was itc-
tuated by the best Of motives and that ne
decided to renounce politics because he
feared that he could not resist the temp
tations and beca lse he felt called upon to
preach the gospel. He did not at hrst
recognize this call. He says himself that
he struggled against it. His first step III
, the direction Of responding to the call TO
preach was his letter announcing his de
termination to quit politics.
The actual picture OF practical poilllcs
is not as beautiful as clear SKY. IL Is
;, not as white as the snow lli'Ke, 1t i
not as clear as pendant lclcle. IL IS not
= like the clear peilucld Ice That IS MADE
| from HltprpG W3tpr-It more resembles tDe
! frozen water lett III a tuo alleI the Wech
. washing. All this Is true flty us llS
true" &c.
+, Sunday, Aug. 29th, Mr.. Dixon began 70
= preach III the Second BaptlSt church III
Raleigh. 1t was here, III the Legislature,
that he was known as more than an ordl-
nary orator and as brllllant legislator
= Naturally a large crowd attended the open
ing service. With Major Finger, Superln
!, tendent of Public instruction, | started
!, early in order to get good seat.
"a The Second 5aptlSt church IS situated oi
. Hargett streets a large brick, unpreten
tious looking building. Its chief attrac
- ton is comfort. | found 1t already full
> Shortly the singing began The choir lee
= - by Mr.. n. B. Broughton, sung familla
~ tune and everybody Joined IN the singing
1t was refreshing to be III a crowded chufcl
where nearly every person joined II
le the service of song. Mr.. Dixon made tn
iNe N opening prayer. There was nothing nota
:. bic about it. He seemed to breathe heart
1T felt PRAYER for Divine help. There wer
no light sounding phrases in it. 1t was
- simple, unaffected humble petitlon-on
: : that touched the heart.
~ He then rose to give out the hymn. lie
=, Us look at him as be stands by the pulp
~ reading the lines He is tall and TIM
n with wilowy grace Of motion lie ha
es piercing eyes and raven locks, which IA
7h in a negligent manner over his forehead
ul Every few minutes he pushes them back
Dh h this is at once natural thing to do, bt
|" if is likewise a striking gesture. He has
dark complexion, almost sallow and dot
oi not look strong. His voice is not as swe'
ie, a as a lutte or as clear as a bell. tits thrill
" ~ ing by reason of the earnest manner
n la1 the delivery. Mr.. Dixon is 23 years old
on W but looks q. He has a small black mu
70 10 tache. If You were to meet him IN al
I'd I'd crowd | think you would inquire 'Who
m 'mul that"
1es OF his sermon sunday morning | ca
'"' give no idea In facJ, although he took
-. text, it was not a sermon. 1t was mo
a; a. of a recital Of his own experience and
vi reasons Tor preaching the gospel. lie {
o peclaIly dWelt on the ldcI tnd1 'he ili'
W., who makes pleasing either others or hli
~ - self his object in life vii be miserable /