The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1894-09-14
A popuLAR pAsToR.
lClnclunaIi Times Star.

n POPULAR PAS OK.
lCincinrali Times Star.
A scene that will not soon be for
gotten occurred at Grace Methodist
church, Newport, yesterday. Rev.
G.. IL Williamson, the brilliant
young pastor concluded his labors
with that church nj the close of last
nights services. This great edilice,
supported by perhaps the wealth.
est congregation in Newport, was
Respondent yesterday in its rich
adornmtnt Of pleasing tints and
artistic frescoing, making il exceed
ingly inviting and pleasing 10 the
worshipers. Not only the interior
but iheeNterior has also been great
IS improved and beauiilied. The
ediiicc was filled to is fullest eapac-
ityat the late morning service. It.
Is doubtful If a member of the vast
congregation was absent. Not d
single member had aughl but a
feeling of affection for the pastor
who has ninistered to them for the
extreme limit of five years. The
choir, led by Mr.. Noumans, render
ca an exceptionally pleasing music
al programme, prepared expressly
for the OCCASION. The retiring pas
tor, before beginning his discourse,
stated that there was balance Of
800 due and il would be eXceediug-
~ pleasing 60 him and he knew IL
would be to The congregation il CH-
cry cent OF Indebtedness was wiped
out before his retirement. lleaSk-
I'd the officers OF the church TO 90
among the congregation and take
their subseriptions,and in less than
fifteen minutes over $500 was rails
ed. Dr Williamson during his dis
course, stated that he had come 90
Grace church five years ago when
he had hut five years experience
and was but q hey in the ministry,
aud ho knew but little Of the vast
labOrs he was about 10 undertake.
| Many who greeted him five years
ago and were most generous ia
their assistance, are not present to-
day to wish him God speed. They
have passed to their reward. lie
/ had been with the congregation 10
their joys and in their sorrows, and
In taking his departure il was like
saying goodbye 10 a member ol his
Iown family, but, he stated, the
strongest tie on eartli must be bro
ken During the years he has been
with the church, not an unkind or
an ungcncrous word had been spo-
/ ken 10 him. There have been no
/ divisions in the rauks,uo seeessions
nor breaking up into sets, as are
too often seen in congregations.
The congregation has been a unit
concerning himself and the church.
/ There have heen the strongest evil
dcnres OF l0Ncand good will toward
the pastor, which have been most
sincerely appreciated. He did not
preach 10 please men, he preached
10 please God, lie preached what
he believed Ia he the truth, the
I whole truth and nothing but the
truth, and because he underworld
/ 20 practice what he preached and
because the congregation was con,
WINGED of his sincerity, they loved
him the more. lie thanked The
members Of the official board, who
/ had 50 faithfully stood by him from
the beginning and who had oma
terially aided in making his labors
'among them SO successful. He al
so thanked Inc other officers Of The
church, of the SUNDAY school and
the congregation in general. He felt
grateful to the other churches, Prot
Iestant and Catholic for the uniform
4 kindness and Courtcsies extended.
1 llc thanked the mayor and othcr
city officials and police officials for
the Willingness in which they at all
times responded TO requests. lie
was especially grateful To the 'Iime,
Star for faVOrs extended. He had
read the paper, he stated, during all
the years he had been IN Newport
aud he will continue 10 read it, be.
cause ne considers it not only tn,
clcancst but the newsiest and most
reliable paper published in Cincin
Inati, aud he advised every member
Of the congregation not taking it I,
become subscriber There was ;
farewell service last evening it
which the Epworth League took ;
leading part
Dr Williamson has taken a live
~ interest in the public schools, il
looking after the poor of the cit,
aud other affairs OF public interest
aud no citizen had become NOR
popular among all classes, AM
r should he return again 10 Newpor
he certainly wlllreeeive a gcnerou
welcome.