Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-01-18
INSTALLED HIM.
Rev thomas Now in Z barge
of the sharon Baptist
Church.
A GRAND TIME--ENTHUSIASTIO
DISCO URSES.
Members Jubilant

On January Sth at s p. m. hundreds
of people gathered at the Sharon bap-
tist Church to witness the installation
of Rev. A. = Thomas. pastor OF sSlu
church. The pastors of the city were
our in full Richmond Theological
Seminary was we'll represented by the
teacaers and students OF that institu-
ton At So clock sharp Rev, James
II. Holmes, pastor LIST Baptist Chufch
who had been selected masterot Oere-
monies announced that the, services
Lwould now be opened with hymn 10y
Rev w II. White, pastor Mt Carmel
/ Baptist hurch. Scripture Lesson zno
| Timothy, 1st hapter was re ad by Dr
| J. K. Jones Prayer 10y Prof. g. X. hov
| ey Tho choir sang selection OF theirs
most charmingly ; after which KEY.
| Holmes announced that Kew " :.
| Graham would nov preach the instaiia
| ton sermon. The young scholarly ol-
vine of the Fifth Street Baptist ehurcn
came forw ard, took for his text is'
Timothy 5:7 be sermon was elo-
quent and impressive DR.. ID. \ vas
sar offered prayer; Address OF We
come by Rev. r Wells charge 20 the
church by Rev e Payne; charge 10
| the pastor by Rev y ID. Lewis b. u.
| then Rev Holmes led the way and al
the pastors passing around gave Kew
Thomas the hand of welcome, making
, him welcome to the city and their pu
pits. Rev. w. E Nash gave the bene-
, diction. after which the pastors AnC
> their wives were invited to the lecturs
] | rooms where a committee OF the Shar
on Baptist hurch had prepared iarg'
reception in honor Of their 'esSeeme'
| pastor.
He set the members to work and Il
q short while, paid every obligation
the church owed.
. In 1893, he was called TO the pastor
ate care OF the Calvary Baptist Churc
of Danville, Va a new flock whic
had Just gone into organization. Ee,
Thomas came, surveyed the field, cal
n ed the little flock around ana tol
y them that by Gods help and the
e hearty corporation, he would lea
'e them TO success, and truly he kept n
- promise.
IL 1t seems that if ever God sent ms
as to lead a small struggling church. !
10 sent Rev. Thomas TO Danville. II
De work done is evidence of It. When
ae assumed charge, the members const
IN tuting his church were discourage
mt numbering about seventy two.
n church in this state, numbers consl
cred. has raised so much money al
- built such fine edifice in so shori
.irsle as the Calvary Church has und
Rev. Thomas.
In October last, the Sharon Bapt
Church OF Richmond, Va called k'
Thomas TO its psstorate. tie 10
charge in December and IS now me
ing with great success in his new III
4 | OF labor.
Rev Thomas is a preacher, no
n sensationalist, not a haranguer,
/ q plain. straightforward, forcible &
uel preacner and practitioner OF
own teaching Oh for more 81
u nastors as Rev Thomas, who shall
III only cry the alarm to perish
|& world ARD direct sinners 60 the eros
A Christ. but shall demonstrate in Il
IA lives the efficacy of the gospel {
preach.
pears in this paper was born IN be
- ton. Va. in 1850 Although the
snrinc of poor and uneduceted
onts. yer young Thomas endowed '
indomitable pGsh aud unhinching
h erev persevered to make himse
man. Attending school when op
tunity permitted, he applied hin
40 diligently TO his studies tina
soon o0tranked many who had
favorable advantages.
He made profession OF reilgi'
,.l 1872 was baptized By Rev. h.
con- nor and connected himself with
upon | 1t Paul Baptist Church In lo1s
sree- ing seriously impressed with a ca
the gospel ministry, he made kI
+, as his feelings to his church, who
.ates, fully satisfied as to his fitness
been ceee in the work authorized him
forward in the service OF the Mt
eage, To better fit himself for enc
ldies, uovk he entered Leach's Acad
ve re- Tnnenburg Co. After spendiI
mong sno-4 uhile in that institution /
OnieI gagged in school teaching In Nee
man burg county, preaching IN the
80 re- time upon any and ali occ'
wherever his services were req
would Finding thathis sphere OF usei'
oe- was widening and that his lntell'
y Ne ability was not such that no
dining n~osecute his mission with eife
lthern ness. he repaired to Washington
pit the in 1880 and entered Wayland e
ghts OF rv. graduating from the Norma
10 1eei Theological departments IN 1875
not pro hioh honors. He then assumed
speak of the First Baptist Church OF
armlnR hammock. Va, also OF the IA
OF the Star Raptist Church of King and
Co Va. He found both of
churches heavily embarrassed
Pastor cially. He succeeded IN re
'''sO them of their embarrassment
signed in 1885 to accept the pc
Ut We of the Enon Baptist Church. W
OF sne ton. d c., which was also bu
e 80. with a debt.