Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-04-06
fFor THE HERALD
PITCHER AND PREACHER.

coming to New York. He has accent
ed call to the pastorate of the Cen
trail Presbyterian Church, one of the
oldest and most prominent in the
city. He is to receive $1,000 year.
the largest salary ever paid clergy
man Just past his thirtieth year. The
young mans name is Wilton Merle
Smith. He comes here nom Cleve-
land, O., where he created quite
furore. Originally, however, Mr..
Smith came from Elmira, this
State. He belongs to smart family;
his father was for many years one OF
the Supreme Court Judges, His
brother. Walter, only year or two
elder than himself, occupies the place
on the Supreme Bench that his father
occupied. He was appointed by Gov.
Hill. The boys are two OF the bright
est specimens of young American
manhood. Wilton Merle Smith grad.
uated from Princeton College in the
famous class of 1877; his brother was
in the same class. Wilton made his
mark in Princeton, he was the best
orator the college turned out for a de-
cade. He was also good scholar and
HAlG NIlltIs DQL ~ W 90 III hnCO olll
that Billy Smith, as Princeton called
him, made himself famous, He was
the second pitcher Old Nassau had
who could pitch curved ball; Smith
and his curves won. the base ball
championship for Princeton three
years in succession. Professional
teams went from all over the country
to practice on the young collegian's
curves. g Smith played ball for all he
was worth. and was also a very good
all-round athlete. AT the same time
he was decidedly religious. There
was no can't about him however.
, Converted during the visit of Moody
and Sankey to Princeton in 1876, he
remained faithful to his vows. Many
a student owed his change in charac-
ter to Billy Smith. He was never
hypocritical, he was just rs honest and
earnest in the prayer meeting as he
was on the ball field. He made up
his mind in the junior year to be a
minister. But he believed heartily
in muscular Christianity, and never
pitched worse in order that he may
preach better. He. was the classday
orator, and graduated as one of the
most popular students the college ever
turned out. From Princeton he went
to Auburn Theological Seminary. His
talents were Immediately recognized,
so were his base ball proficiences. He
studied Hebrew and became familiar
with Calvin's Institutes and Hodges
Theology while still twirling the ball
and winning the admiration of the
small boys at Auburn. During the
summer he occupied various pulpits.
His splendid elocution and the ability
and earnestness of his discourse were
in great demand. One summer athome
in Elmira, he was captain of crack
ball club. At the same time he was
supplying the pulpit of the famous
DIR. *. Beecher, brother of the late
Henry Ward Beecher. He drew
crowded houses on Sunday and crowd
ed the grand stand when he pitched
on Monday. There were hard boys
in the ball team, but they all went to
hear their captain on Sunday. They
sat in the front pews, and were as
proud of Smiths preaching as they
were of his pitching. After he was a
eral charges. The latest was at Can.
andaigua. The fame of his pulpit
talent began to spread.
He came to New York one summer
and preached for month in the mag
nificent Reform Dutch Church, at
the corner of Fifth avenue and Forty
eighth street, of which the Rev. DR..
Edward B. Coe is pastor. His audi
ences were perfectly delighted, and
from that time on his services were
sought by several leading Presbyter-
ian and Reformed Churches here in
the Metropolis. But young Smith
was modest, and was not ready as yet
to assume the duties of a Metropoli-
tan pulpit. All he wanted in New
York at that time was wife. He got
one in the person of the charming
Miss Zaidel Van Santvoord, daughter
of Commodore Santvoord, owner of
the day line of steamersbetween New
York and Albany. From Canandai-
qua, Smith went to the First Presby-
terrain Church in Cleveland. There
he remained until his recent accept
ance of the call from the Central
Church, i H4 B8 Doe if
His success as preacher never
caused his love of the national sport
to subside. Whenever he could he
got on the base ball ground and sent
his curved calls flying over the plate.
One of the hest incidents of his career
as a player occurred at Mackinaw
few summers ago. YoungSmith had
stopped off there with some friends 10
see the forts. The soldiers had a fine
ball team and were fond Of defeating
picked mines from the hotel guests. A
challenge was issued while Smith was
there. He accepted an invitation to
play. His pitching abilities were not
known and he was ordered to cover
second base. At the end, Of the third
inning the score stood to 0 in favor
of the soldiers. Thenthe young min
lister went to the catcher and said:
'Let me pitch little" The catch
er was a first class player from the
University of Michigan. He eyed
Smith incredulonsly, and then re-
marked: Can you pitch? A little /
guess, was the reply. Smith took the
pitchers box. The first few balls that
went Swimming over the plate con-
vinced the captain that an old hand
was at the helm and he took courage.
Soldier after soldier struck out, player
after player famed the air in vain
efforts to hit the puZzling curves.
From the moment Smith entered the
box not soldier scored. The score
of to 0 in favor of the holders Of the
fort in the third inning changed to II
to 8 In favor of the hotel team at the
end of the ninth. The soldiers had
met their first defeat and left the
field disconsolate. The spectators
from the hotel were wild with entbu-
siasm. Their enthusiasm was min
gled with surprise when they learned
that the pitcher who won the game
was a clergyman. 1t Is believed Mr..
Smith will score instantaneous sue
ces as preacher in New York.--Maa
and -Eapress. 8se IN