The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-07
REV. DR.. HINToN'S FAREWELL.
METHODIsTs HOLD SERVICE IN
HIS HONOR.

4
NAL of Their Esteem-Dr. Hin
tons Personal Experiences as an
ItIneFant PPeRcher-sixty Years in
the Ministry and Twenty Years as
Presiding Elder in the south
Georgia C0nference--A Gold Heal
ed Cane From the Pastors.
The Methodists of Savannah held a
farewell service last night as a testimonial
to Rev James W. Hinton, d. D.. who is
just closing his last four years of service
as presiding elder of the Savannah dis
trict.
Trinity church was crowded at the SER
vice The pastors of the several churches
all took part Rev. w. L. Wooten of Au-
gusta offered prayer after the singing Of
hymn. which wss followed by the read
ing of part Of the third chapter of the
First Epistle of John by Rev. ]. H.
scruggs of Trinity church.
Rev A. NJ Williams of Wesley Mont
mental church offered the following res
olution on the retirement of DR.. Hinton
from the presiding eldershlp of the dis
trict:
To DR.. ]. w. Hinton: On the completion
of your term as presiding elder of the
Savannah district, and also the tenth in
such service. this congregation has as
sembled to bid you farewell
In this assembly we recognize the sacred
relation you have sustained to us as one
of our chief pastors.
In your punctual attendance on all our
official meetings and preaching service in
your earnest and able sermons; In your
generous and noble bearing to your
brethren, lay and clerical, you are entitled
to our honor and regard.
In this parting service we express our
sincere desire that you may live long in
the possession of all your faculties; that
kind providence may continue to smile
on your way, making your last years your
best years.
After reading the resolutions, Mr.. Will
liams entered into an explanation of the
functions of the Office of presiding elder
and paid high tribute to the retiring in
cumbent of this district. He also re-
ferred to the extremely pleasant relations
that exist, and have ever existed between
himself and Dr. Hinton.
Rev. e. r. Morgan of Marvin church
seconded Mr.. Williams motion for the
adoption of the resolution, and praised
DR.. Hinton for his work. and gave short
account of his personal history.
Rev. ]. NJ. Lovett of Grace church, put
the motion to the congregation, and by
rising vote ii was unanimously adopted
Mr.. Lovett then presented handsome
gold-headed cane to DR.. Hinton, in be-
- FnAh lfCf
churches of the city and one lay brother
saying that he did not present it because
it was needed but as a slight token OF
their esteem
DR.. Hinton opened the prelude to his
sermon by expressing thanks to all who
had honored him in any way. The preach
ers, who personally appeared in this little
drama to do him homage, he said, would
have warm place in his heart, in appre-
citation of their tokens of affection. He
referred to the splendid cane which had
been presented him as a symbol OF age,
and perhaps, he said, it will soon be
useful, if not yet needed to uphold bend
ing form. The cane, he said, would be
transmitted to the most worthy of his
male descendants, whether he be son or
grandson.
Making excuses for personal illusions,
Dr. Hinton spoke of his min
isterial life since his entrance into tho
itineracy to the present time. He was
born in Wilkes county, a county famous
in the history of the state. DR.. Hinton
was left an orphan at years, his father
and mother dying within thirty days OF
each other, and he was adopted by his
paternal grandfather, a planter, who, he
said could never make him love that vo-
cation. DR.. Hinton's ambition was for
the bar and craftsmanship, and he finally
secured the consent of his grandfather to
study with that end in view. He spoke
of the law as the noblest of professions,
and lawyers as the greatest benefactors
! of mankind, excepting preachers and in
ventors.
DIR. Hinton. however, never became a
practicing lawyer, but went into the min
istry, following the religion of his mother.
He spoke of Wilkes county as the birth
place of Bishops Andrew and Pierce, two
of the most renowned pulpit orators of
their daywho served the Methodist church
two generations ago. Jesse Mercer, the
| famous Baptist leader, was reared in
| Wilkes. Others he spoke of from that
! county were John nooley, Crawford the
! Campbells, father and son, Robert
Toombs. Alexander Stephens, Daniel
| Chandler, Cone, Dawson, the Cobbs and
the Lumpkins.
| DR. Hinton spoke also of his sister, who
! became the wife of DIR. Morgan Galloway,
| a man of learning and talents, who was
| for twenty-five years connected with Em-
| DRY College. OF her children he said,
Mrs. J. M. Lowell of Savannah was the
eldest surviving child, and DR.. Morgan
Galloway, Jr., Of the Texas State Uni-
| versty, the youngest.
DR.. Hinton then announced his theme.
"Altruism." The word had only recently
come into use. he said, and therefore he
began with definition of it. In general
way, he said, 1t is the opposite Of sell
fishness, being derived from the Latin
word 'alter," meaning other or another.
| 1t has broad, comprehensive import, he
said, and comprises schemes of thought
and schedules of action very variant
agreeing only in tine central idea, care
and concern for others than ourselves. a
| He discussed altruism in its various con-
| ceptions, and the views taken of IL from
! the standpoint Of different religions IN
concluding, he said: ITO eradicate ali
evil Is impossible, and to reduce mankind
| TO one level is the surest way of reducing
all In the scale Of being. The altruism Of
all people extends so far as to hold thai
the helpless should be aided by the gov
eminent when there is no other recourse
The altruism of Jesus Christ demands az
his votaries that they rely not wholly on