Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-02

AAio' hDNAtiD ObNd piCO iiCA easy NiIdll
on the left Of the chancel, and the
committee then turned their atten-
ton to her, each presenting beauti-
full bouquet of flowers.
DR.. Inman, as moderator and for
mer pastor of the church, delivered
the welcome address and congratula
tons in his happiest mode.
Mr.. Ely then read the congratula-
tory letters from all parts of the
country, from old friends and CO.
laborers of DR.. and Mrs. Sears
preachers whom he had brought into
the church, and couples whom he
had married, all full of sweet senti-
ment and tender sympathy.
DIR. Inman read snort historical
sketch of the church from its first or
ganizatiOn by Rev. Ruben Ross, the
great founder of the Baptist cause in
the early days of this county, show
ing its work and progress from 1881,
when it held its. meetings in the
court house, up to the war, under the
successive pastorates of Ross, Arson,
Shelton, Manton, Duncan and him
self, and then from the reorganiZa-
ton, with twenty-five members, af-
ter the war, Worshipping in the little
church on the corner of Third and
Commerce streets, now the court
house lot, in 1866, when DR.. Sears
was called to the pastorate and has
continued with it since, the church
now worshipping in splendid
building and having a membership
of 225.
DR.. w. II. Whittsitt, of the Baptist
Theological Seminary, Louisville,
delivered an elegant c0ngratulatory
address, full of inspiring sentiment
and Astounding in wit and humor.
He said in the outset that the
common understanding was that fig
ures would not lie, but in his hands
scarcely they ever do anything else
The present remarkable occasion has
put his mathematics to the severest
test to calculate the many millions of
chances since the birth of DR.. Sears,
eighty seven years ago, against such
an event as the present. lie spoke OF
him as the Nestor of the American
pulpit. There was not another in
stance to be found where minister
had preached twenty-five years TO
the same church and his eighty
seventh year finding him more Wig
orOus and efficient than in the begin
ming.
Hearts all over this country were
rejoicing in this event. lie congratu
lated the church and thanked GOD
that such a remarkable event should
ever occur in GAINESVILLE, a town
that bears the fairest name in Ten
nessee, His compliments to Mrs
Sears were touching and beautiful.
Further, speaking of the wonderful
work accomplished by the grand old
minister, illustrating the race he had
so well run, he referred to
the tomb of John Harper,
the great horseman whose name had
become famous in his line, and hi
expression, "LongfelloW is a good
horse; if Harry Bassett beats him
he will have t. run from cen to
to een.o DIR. Sears was making the
Christian race from cen to cen. The
illustration fell with happy effect
upon the large audience. The ad-
dress all the way through was full OF
beautiful figures.
This address furnished founda-
ton for the speech of DR.. 7
I. Eaton, of the Walnut street Bap-
fist church, Louisville, whose rare
humor flows spontaneously, like a
ripping brook. He was here as the
representative of Walnut street, bear
ing the testimony of love for the ven
cradle pastor who had served that
congregation many years ago, which
was also testified to by the letter
read from its old members. He was
here, too, because he could not af-
ford to miss such an opportunity to
pay his devOtions to the venerable
brother. He was once citizen of
Tennessee, and a man who has lived
in the State never gets over it.
DIR. Sears was truly the Nestor of
the American pulpit. There was no
other living active minister of his
age. The present century was but
three years old when he was born,
and it was now on the last decade
full of more great events than amy
century, except that of Christ, since
the world was made. He thought
tatly was better than epitaphy and
the daer old people We're able to
stand it without being hurt. He
then referred touchingly in a
way that no other tut DR..
Eaton can dc, to the we'll
spent life of DIR, Sears and his noble
wife, lie said he would like toI
know their courtship; he imagined
that it was so beautiful he would like