Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-05-29

10. JtioA+
6.32 m ..--
WEATHER PRoBABnITIEs.-For this
lotion light showers to-day; fair Tuesday;
,,gbtIv warmer; variable winds
s"e"'!
CALI. FROM BALTIMoRE.-The Bal
timore Sun of this morning says:
Alta general meeting of the congre-
ratjou OF the First Presbyterian Church.
Isdison street and Park avenue, held
aner morning service yesterday, it was
unanimously decided to extend cali
n Rev. Theron II. Rice, il, of Alexan-
irjs, Va, to the vacancy in the pastor
ate occasioned by the resignation of
Rev. DR.. James t. Leftwich. The
meeting was presided over by Rev. DR..
Icf,wich as moderator. In calling it
10 order he stated that the session had
assembled to receive the report of the
committee selected to recommend
n suitable pastor for the church.
This committee consisted of w.
". spence, Joseph Il. Rieman,
J. Y. /. Graham, Robert H.
Wvlie and Frank Prick, jr. Mr.
Spence, as chairman, said The COM
mittec has visited New York, PennSyl-
yania. Washington. Richmond, Nor
folk. Alexandria and other places. It
investigated fully the capabilities of
every clergyman brought to its atten-
ton, and had endeavored to come into
personal contact with all of them to
better enable it TO make up satisfac-
tory Judgment. During the last two
months the committee had been engag
cd in this work and had received the
opinions of many leading minds i'll the
church as to the capacity of the several
candidates suggested. After complet-
ing this labor the committee unani-
mously decided to recommend Mr..
Rice. He was the only one who re-
ceived the unanimous approval Of the
committee. Rev. Mr.. Rice was visited
by each committeeman and each
left him favorablv impressed with his
usefulness and sincerity in successfully
carrying on religious work Each
member of the committee approved
ali that Mr.. Spence said, and
gave to the general meeting his
experience and impressions Of
Mr. Rice's qualifications. Letters
strongly endorsing the committees Sc
lection were read from several leading
ministers of the Presbyterian Church.
DR.. Chisolm offered q resolution that
the congregation accept the recommends
alton of the committee and extend
call TO Mr.. Rice to become the pastor
If the First PRESBYTERIAN Church at an
annual salary of s., 900 with the use of
the parsonage. This was unanimously
adopted by viva voce vote. On mo-
ton of Mr.. Reynolds the committee
was continued, to represent the congre-
cation in prosecuting this call TO It's
close before the presbytery.
Rev. Theron III. Rice, jr., was born i'll
northern Alabama 26 years ago. He
WAS educated in Tennessee and then en-
tered the Union Theological Seminary
at Hampden. Sydney. A.,er graduation
he received call to Kansas City where
he remained about year. He then
took his present charge in Alexandra,
where he has been successful in build
ing up a large congregation. He is
post graduate of the University of VII.
cinia. A few months ago he declined
a call to a chair in the Union Semlna-
~. The committee fear that Mr.. Rice
NAV be so welded to his work in Alex
audria that he may refuse to accept the
call 10 this city. He is said to be Wig
orous and impressive speaker, with
strong, full and musical voice. lie is
about six feet tall, with commanding
figure, and possesses a gentle, and SYM
pathetic nature. Those who know him
best saw he is one of the strongest and
most promising of the young preachers
in the Presbyterian Church. Rev. Dr.
l.eftwich, in whose place Mr.. Rice has
been called, resigned the pastorate OF
the First Church about two months
ago on account of falling health. DR..
lleftwich has not yet determined where
he will 20 or what he will do when re-
lieved of the active duties of his pas
toFate.
IA representative of the GAZETTE
called on Mr.. Rice this morning. Inc
reverend gentleman said that he mad
lust received q telegram stating that
the committee from the Baltimore
church would arrive here this evening
bearing the official call Mr.. Rice said
he could not say what determination
he would arrive at concerning this call
which, however, had not been uneX-
pc.tcd TO him. He, Of course, natural
" appreciates the unanimous tender
which has been made him of the pulpit
so long occupied by Mr.. Leftwich,and re-
gnrded it as an approval of his work IN
the ministry. 1t is thought by some
that the call will eventually be accept
cd. though the removal Of Mr.. Rice
from Alexandria would be deplored by
tho entire community among whom ne
has moved for the past year:
At 4o'clock this evening the commit
tee from the First Presbyterian Church
Of Baltimore, waited on Rev. Mr.. Nice
aud formally extended to him the call
to become rector of that church. Mr..
Rice received the committee most cor
daily and stated that he would give
the matter his most earnest consldera'
ton and communicate with them by
letter at future date,
PERsoNAL.-Dr. NJ. w. O'Brien, &C
companied by his wife, left YESTERDAY
for Omaha, to attend the session OF the
National Association of Railway sur
geons. of which DIR. Brock, OF klcn=
nond, is president. This association