Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-07
DIR. LANDRuM NJ LEAVES
He Will GO 10 Atlanta 10 Succeed Rev.
DR.. Hawthorne.
THE CALL EXTENDED on SUNDAY.
An officer of the Congregation 10
lie Here To-day to Formally Ten
Among the Second Church People.

rev. Dr. W. W. Landrufn, tOr fourteen
years pastor Of the Second Baptist church
will soon leave Richmond.
He will so to Atlanta, Ca, to succeed
DR.. Hawthorne as pastor Of the First Bap-
tist church, and his present intention is to
enter his new field September lst.
The call to the vacant Atlanta pastorate
was extended on Sunday by the unani-
nous vote OF the congregation, but there
had been a good deal Of correspondence on
the subject prior to that time.
DR.. Landrum has not yet formally ac-
cepted the call, but he will do so this
morning, when an officer of the church
calls at his house and officially lays it be-
fore him.
This will be sad news to the people OF
Richmond. douby so to the Baptist de-
nomination. and intensely so to the mem
bers Of the Second church Few ministers
have so won the hearts of the people as
Dr. I.andrum has during his wonderfully
successful pastorate of nearly fifteen
years, and the entire city will regret 10
see him leave. He is one OF the leaders OF
his denomination in Virginia and the
South is a man OF fine and well-culti-
vated mind. is natural leader among
men, and his great heart and good sense
have made him as popular as pastor as
! his remarkable gifts have made him re-
nOwned as a pulpit orator.
THE CALL EXTENDED.
DR. Landrum received two kilograms on
Sunday with reference to the Atlanta call.
one was from Ex-Governor Northern.
chairman of the Nominating Committee
OF the First Baptist church Of Atlanta,
telling him that he had been unanimously
elected pastor Of that congregation. The
seCC IA message was from Mr.. John NJ.
Green, treasurer of the church, stating
that this gentleman would be In Richmond
this morning to call upon Or. Landrum
and extend to him the call In person.
Dr. Landrum yesterday wrote the dea-
cons of his church that he had decided TO
accept the call 10 Atlanta, and would
therefore tender his resignation as pastor
here. This letter, though tender and ar
fectionate I'm tone. was direct, and showed
that the writer had well made up his
mind on the subject.
Last night a number Of the influential
members OF the church visited Dr. Ian
drum at his home. on Park avenue, with a
view to urging him to reconsider, but ne
toll them he felt it 10 be his duty 10 ac-
cept the call, and while parting with his
hosts OF friends here would be source OF
great sorrow and pain TO him, he could
but do 1t.
TO SUCCEED HAWTHORNE
It seems something OF coincidence that
the First church OF Atlanta should again
draw its pastor from Richmond. IL was
! about twelve years ago that the gifted
| J. b. Hawthorne. a prince among preach-
ers. laid aside the pastorate or the oid
First church here TO accept the Gate CITY
| charge, and that now he should be sue
! ceeded by another of Richmond most
talented divines Only about two months
ago Dr. Hawthorne accepted call TO the
/ First church. Nashville, which DR.. Ian
drum but few weeks ago declined
though most strongly urged by the church
through Rev. DR.. j. NJ Frost, as itS per
sonal representative. 10 accept
DR.. I.andrum has declined a number
Of calls during his pastorate here. A
! few years ago he decided to accept the
pastorate OF the broadway Bapust
church. Louisville, Ky, where he would
have preached TO hundreds Of ministerial
students, but his people induced him to
reconsider. That Sunday was a memora-
bic one with the Second church. DR..
L.andrum rendered his resignation at the
close OF the morning service and retired.
| Nv the time he got home some OF his
| leading members were there. and there
was a stream OF callers throughout the
afternoon. He could not resist the earn
est pleadlngs for him to stay, and tnat
| night made the welcome announcement
| that he had determined to remain. There
was a great demonstration or JOY IL
was on this occasion that Dr.. Landrum
told his congregation that he expected 10
spend the remainder Of his days In Kich-
nond and be buried I'm Hollywood.
GTnDGTA
Dr. Iandrum Is native Of Georgia,
having been born in Macon, and was
reared In Savannah, in both OF which
| cities his father was for many years
pastor Of Baptist churches. As soon as
/ he finished his education he accepted a
! call TO Shreveport, La, and went thence
to Augusta. coming from Augusta to his
present charge, I'm this city. He succeeded
| as pastor OF the Second church Rev. j.
B. Taylor and has served continuously
! in this pastorate for fourteen years. Du-
ring his pastorate here his church has
had a steady growth, and from time TO
time DR.. Landrums salary has been In
creased, until he now receives $40. IL Is
understood that he will get much more
than this in Georgia, but this can be no
inducement 10 him 10 leave. He is moved
entirely by his sense Of duty.
GREATER WORK IN STORE.
When seen by Dispatch man last
night DR.. Landrum expressed his regrets
| al being forced TO leave Richmond "Of
| course" said he. Il shall not be among
| strangers I'm Georgia, as my mother lives
there, and all my family ties are there,
| but have lived here so long that j have
become attached 10 Richmond. and love
every member Of my church. Some Of
my dearest friends are here. / consider
| ii my duty to so 10 Atlanta, as the pos
/ sibllities for carrying on tho Masters
work are greater than they are here.
| Georgia is one Of the greatest Baptist
States In the Union. and in Atlanta 1
have broad field for labor"
DR. Landrum said he expected 10 enter
his new pastorate on the first Sunday in