The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-07-18
AN ESTING FAREW ELI.
Brethren-.SOme Very Affecting Incl.
dents of the Farewell.

Brethren-.SOme Very Affecting Incl.
dents of the Farewell.
Mr. Sylvester j. Belts and family left
here yesterday afternoon for Brooklyn,
N. L., which city will be their future
home. Mr.. Belts goes there to devote
himself to city missionary work in con-
nection with the church Of which Rev.
G. 5. Williams, formally of the Baptist
Tabernacle Of this city, is pastor.
Mr.. Belts is member of the Taber-
nacle and the last service he attended
there was the prayer meeting on We'd
nesday night
After the regular services were con-
cluded Mr.. n. B. Broughton an
nounced tc tie congregation the inten-
ton Of NJ. Belts to leave the city; and
after expressing his regret at losing such
an active and consecrated Christian
worker from the church, presented him
on behalf Of a number of his church
brethren with q handsome teachers
Bib.e
Rev. DR.. Nash, who was present, arose
and told what he knew about Mr.. Belts
earnest work III this city in behalf of
temperance and evangelism. He re-
marked that it was seldom that young
man with ample means and ability
such ar Mr. Belts possessed enter an
attractive and inviting life of business,
gave up all this to do the work of an
humble but earnest missionary.
Rev. DR.. Hall. pastor of the Taber-
nacie, freely spoke Of Mr.. Belts energy
and zeal as a Christian, and Of what he
had accomplished as church worker
Rev. Alvin Belts, MIR. Belts father,
spoke feelingly and pathetically of his
sons departure. He regretted and sor-
roWed, oh SO much, SO deeply, to give
him up; but if there was greater work
for him elsewhere than here, then he
yielded with submission to the parting.
Mrs Curtis, the wife of Rev. A. w.
Curtis, who is sent here from the North
As missionary among the cClored peo-
t pie, was IN the congregation, and she
: a.oSe. She asked permission to say
f.w words. She told how they had
come here, aud how, soon afterward
their family was afflicted with vk-
ness. They were among strangers md
felt desolate and lonely. But one
4 day Mr.. Belts came to their b use,
4 aud by his kindness and ,od-
ness made their borrowings lighter and
more easy. She told how Mr. l;ette
2 prayed and sung with them, and now
i by his words and influence he Light
- ened and dissIpated the sorrows they
! were under.
) Then q man arose IN the audience.
,e His voice faltered as he tried to speak
!, and his eyes filled with tears. 1t may
u be sad here that this man was once
# known all over the city as hard, des-
10 perate character. To-day he is a true
1 gentle Christian-m so through the
Influence OF Mr.. Belts. And this is
what the poor man tried to tell about,
bat he could not command the language
to express his thoughts. He did STAN
merHout, however, that he had been
m wicked desperate reckless man; but
one day Mr.. Belts approached him and
talked to him gently, kindly and in ear
!, nest friendly tones. To-day he 0he
+" speaker) was another man and his home
us was a DIFFERENT HOME sWEETER
l.. HOME. Next to God he had TO thank
d. Mr.. Belts for this change.
IS Another member Of the audience
ct arose and tried to say something about
what Mr.. Belts had done for him. But
be couldn't tell it. His throat filled
aud choked with feeling. The mar
broke completely down, fell on Mr.
It Belts shoulder and sobbed like child
Yesterday morning Mr.. Belts callet
upon this same man while he was al hi
daily toll. The man was shoyelling sane
4. near the city cemetery. When Mr
est Bits called, the man stopped work for
bis few moments and said: 81 want to max
ar prayer for you" Both stepped asid
the into the shade Of tree, and kneelin
there, the grateful man poured out a fer
vent earnest prayer for God Almighty
blessing to forever rest upon his friend
Mr. Belts Then there was parting
not Of words but Of silent hand grasI
ing and feeling which meant "God
'ou with you till We meet again"
'da These are simply one or two incident
the illustrative of the way MIR. Belts live
tod He has ever been quiet and unobstrusiy
49, in his work. lie did not do it for til
-" sake Of praise or to be seen Of men, bI
Eho because be saw there was need Of sue
'led work and he hoped he might be able
the DO something IN that way.
III lie has not only done this, but he h;
by found and relieved the home OF suifcril
time and again. He never heard Il
voice Of distress that he did not set
work to relieve it at once. The poor al
unfortunate Of this city will miss one
their best friends in Mr.. Belts, and d
" city loses one Of that class Of citiZc
:. that no community ever learns to appr
~ clatc properly.