Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-17
HIS LAST SERMON.
Rev. Collins Denny Bids His
Flock Adieu.
The Methodist Church Crowded to Hear
His Last Sermon as Pastor of the
Church.

The Methodist church was crowd
ed last night with congregation
composed of members of the various
churches in the city to hear Rev.
Collins Denny preach his last sermon
as pastor of that church. 1t was
very large crowd and the closest at
tention was accorded the preacher
throughout his discourse of neatly
an hour. 1t is not the intention of
this article to give a synopsis OF the
sermon. The text, however, was as
follows: Sand We shall know the
truth and the truth shall make you
free. John 8-xxxii.
The central thought, as the text
implies, was that Christ is truth and
by knowing him we shall be free
from the blight of sin and reap re-
ward hereafter. This sermon was de
signed to follow up one the minister
had preached in the morning on pref
ty much the same line of thought.
The sermon was grand one and the
large audience was greatly pleased
with it.
AT the close of the sermon the
minister made few remarks on the
treatment he had received at the
hands of the people of GAINESVILLE.
He said he had been treated very
kindly and that he would always
cherish the warmest feelings for
them. He told the congregation
that the next man who preached in
the church would probably be pas
tor sent them by the Annual Con-
ference, which convenes at Nash
vile this week. Whoever that man
might be every member of the
church should be his friend and do
all they could for him. A minister
can do little without the cooperation
of his entire membership. After a
song the congregation was dismissed
and the choir sang: "God be with
you till we meet again. During the
song the members of the church
crowded around the chancel to bid
their pastor adieu and the ceremony
was an impressive one. DR.. Denny
has won the hearts of the MethOdists
of GAINESVILLE by his strong, eloquent
preaching and by his good work in
the pastoral field. He is a fine
preacher, a companionable man and
true gentleman.
In view of the fact that he has
been such favorite with the church,
it may not be out of place to men
ton the fact that for man of his age
he has very interesting history. He
is Virglnian by birth and is about
IS years of age. He was born in Win
chester, Va, and graduated from
Princeton College in 1876. The fol-
lowing year he graduated from the
University OF Virginia. Hepracliced
law for two and a half years ut Balti-
more, but in 1880 he entered the Bal
timore Conference as a minister, and
for several years filled important APP.
pointments, both in MARYLAND and
Virginia. 1t was in 1867 that he
made tour around the world with
Bishop Wilson, and on this tour he
piked up much information that is OF
great value to him now in preparing
his sermons. He is a close observer
an untiring student, and is possessed
of very retentive memory. His oh
servations on this tour supply hiln
with valuable fund Of information
which always make his sermons
more interesting than they possibly
would be had he never taken the
| trip. He returned to his work in Nir'
ginia and was made chaplain of the
University of Virginia. In the fall
OF 1891 he was appointed to the chair
of Mental and Moral Philosophy in
the Vanderbilt, and was holding this
position at the time he was appointed
to fill out DIR. Vests uneXpired term
here. He still holds his position in
the Vanderbilt, and is one of that in
slitution's most valuable men. His
work in GAINESVILLE has been excel
lent, and the people will give him a
hearty welcome whenever 1T peases
him to return. He and his family
have the best wishes of the people
who know them here.