The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1896-01-02
WELCOME DIR. PRESTON.
Baptlsts, MethOdisis and PrCsbyterians
Unite in Kindly aud Cordial Words.

Unite In Kindly aud Cordial Words.
On Sunday afternoon at the Second
Presbyterian church a large congrega-
ton representing the different denomi-
nations assembled to give welcome to
DIR. s. r. Preston, recently elected pas
tor of that church.
Judge J. s. Cothran presided and
after an earnest prayer by the Rev. W.
L. Richards, of the Pendleton street
Baptist church, the Rev. DIR. G. S.
Gardner, of the First Baptist chnrch,
was introduced and in % few well
chosen remarks extended to the new
pastor cordial welcome to our COM
munity on behalf of the Baptists of our
city.
Judge Cothran then briefly reviewed
the history of the Second church from
its beginning three and half years
ago with membership of twenty-five
until today it numbers 105, during
which time it has always had the ear
nest ministration of the loved former
pastor. the Rev. n. j. Holmes. He
slid that when few weeks ago Mr..
Holmes offered his resignation as pas
tor to accept more laborious duties as
evangelist, the announcement came to
the congregation as a thunder clar
from a clear sky. The resignation
was accepted with unanimity but with
feelings of profound regret. Now
while the nest was still warm, DR.
Preston came in Gods providence tC
continue the work so ably begun by
him. "We welcome you, he said, ''tC
our church, our hearts and to oul
homes you and your charming family
and may your coming among vi
prove to be blessing to this whole
community"
DR.. Gardner in his remarks on be
half of the Baptists of the city extend
ed hearty welcome to DR.. Preston
There was room, he said, in this worlt
for Christian men and women it mat
ters not what creed. For himself h
would say that he was aBaptist all owe
but his denomination was only on
column that supported that grea
superstructure whose roof was Christ
and while we may all have our littl
differences as to creed we are all one il
Christ. He said that it would befoun,
that Baptists are about the averag
with other denominations. Some O
them are good, some bad and some in
different, just the same as other people
DIR. Mcconnell, of the First Presby
terian church, on behalf of the Pres
byterians of the city, made one of tn
handsomest and most eloquent an
complete addresses ever heard from
church platform in this city, prolific q
it is of clerical eloquence. He said.
"It is with peculiar pleasure, m
bi other, that / undertake the duty a
signed me upon this occasion, aud frs
of all l welcome you on my own az
count. Our paths in life have thu
far run we'll nigh parallel and singr
larly near together. AS playmates i
the happy days of the childhood W
stood by the side of the babbling broo
and watched the sportiYe minnov
darting through it's crystal waters {
chased with eager feet the gray-winge
butterfly from flower to flower; an
later on we bent with feverish bro
over the puzzling pages in the bus
school room, or joined our companion
with bat and ball upon the merry pla
| ground, and when boyhood's dreal
had passed away and ripper years ha
come, we met again in college hall, an
later still amid the more sacred seen,
of seminary life. Then for awhile oil
paths diverged and we went for th'
duty's call to preach Gods truth to d,
: ing menyou in the sunny home of I'll
Magnolia and the mocling bird, and
where the frost king reigns and cloth'
the landscape in crystal beauty. BV
before many years had come and go1
we met again upon our soil, and on
more clasp hands in our Masters scaus
Nor shall / soon forget your kindly a
and sympathetic interest in my wor
A second time our paths diverged, b
the swift months sped by on fyir
wings and once more we meet tod,
amid these sacred surroundings, and
lit be His will, "whose we are and who
L II 4