Wichita eagle., 1889-04-27
DIR. GATES WRITES.
His New Home and Charge and His Frs
Sermon.

Or. NJ. l.. Gates writes the editor OF the
EAGLE quite lengthy personal letter in
which ne says several very pleasant things
about Wichita and about the EAGLE.
which still goes to him in his eastern home
and which he says must grace his study
| table to the end We quote some brief
sentences from his letter, here and there,
for the sake of his many friends. He says:
Il am delighted with my new home. This
| is royal people and they gave Us a grand
! welcome, but shall miss, as you suggest,
/ the stirring activities of the west, yet this
/ city is enterprising and as large in popula-
| ton, with the great metropolis of the ma
ton but twenty minutes ride away. 4
! The season is not as far advanced here as
at Wichita. Ny twelve years in Kan
sas shall, of course. ever lie the
closest to my heart. They were
best years of my life and I am happy in
the contemplation of the thought that l
added somewhat in the mighty develop
ments in the moral, educational and spirit
uai departments of the progress of your
great state. Wichita is in the mouth of
everybody in the east and am continual
~ surprised hearing people speaking of
that wonderful Queen City. Iwould not
be astonished TO hear that you had doubl-
ed your population in few years,
had no idea that your city was half as
we'll advertised and personally you ought
10 be very proud. x While in
New York today on Broadway regular
blockade of an hour occurred. remarked
to the passengers that it reminded me of
Wichita. r The latch string at
1859 Mary street, this city, will always be
on the outside for you, and the Lord bless
you and yours"
The following which we clip from the
Elizabeth City Journal will give the Dr's.
friends the public side of his reception,
home and work:
There were no special Easter services at
Park church, but large congregations
greeted their new pastor yesterday, DR.. NJ
l. Gates, who comes from Wichita, Kan
where he filled the pulpit of the largest
church in that city, bringing with him all
that there is OF western enthusiasm, vigOr
and energy, coupled to an earnest, heart
stirring desire to save souls and to upIift
humanity. DR.. Gates indicated that his
mission and ambition in coming among
the people was TO preach the gospel, tell
the truth whether it was pleasing or not,
convert men and labor for Christ at all
times as well in the pulpit as in practice.
He did not seek praise, not good opinions,
not fattery-but souls.
Park church, with such a pastor, Will
undoubtedly meet with marked success
the coming year. and his presence will be
a great and blessed inspiration TO better
and nobler living, beneficial to this entire
Christian community.
DR.. Gates style Of preaching is new to
al rf "a xaS of a hnI
fearless, deep elOquence, essentially relig-
Ious, simple and plaln. straightforward
and illustrative, of a nature so interest
ing that he holds the most earnest atten-
ton OF his congregation from beginning
to end.
In the morning DR.. Gates took as his
text Nehemiah Ais, Every man
unto his work" 1t is necessary for
every Christian to work: to do his own
work and to work now. Every man Gre
ated by God had his work allotted to him,
to be done by himself only, and by no one
else. If he did not do it, it would never
be done, and the responsibility resting
upon each Christian to fulfill his own
work constituted the awfulness of living.
The church is not IN accommodation nor a
palsce car for ease and idleness. Chris
tianIty is not simply good thing TO have
when you are sick or when about to die
but belongs to the prime of life when you
are in full health, strength and power.
The motto of the Christian church was
go, work We have our work right |
1t our hand; as We elbow with the world |
We should work Wherever in the course |
If our business, OF our pleasures, of our
iuties, we elbowed with humanity there /
ay our work.
DR.. Gates breaches a short sermon on /
sundays before the morning service to the /
and extended a most loving in /
;itation to all the little folks to be at the /
church half an hour before the regular |
service.