The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-29
MISSIONARY PASTOR
RECEPrION 10 RTT. MR. BIdIN Ar
THE FJKsf PREsATTERIAN.
At the East Hanover Pre-bytcry DIR. Kerr
Church Was Commended for Its
Zeal in Ihl- Great Work.

The Presbyterians Of East Hanover met
at Y o'clock yesterday IN the chapel OF
the First Presbyterian church. Rev &.
r. Hyde was moderator. and Rev. e. NJ.
Chumbley clerk All of tho city Pres
byterian pastors were present. and lay
delegates from the churches
The Rev. J. Mercer Blair was received
by letter from the Presbytery Of West
Hanover
On motion OF Or. Kerr a paper was
adopted expressing the pleasure Of the
Presbytery IN receiving Mr.. Balm. and
assuring MN OF the deep interest which
all the members would ever feel IN his
work in China. whittier he goes as "a mis-
siOnary.
Dr. Fair offered a resolution. which was
adopted, commencing the zeal and lib
crafty of the First Presbyterian cnurcn
in undertaking the entire support Of Mr.
Blain, ana also IN cefraying ms expenses
I'm reaching mis- distant held. The eX-
ample on l'r. Kerr church IN this mat
ter was suggested for Imitation by other
congregations.
The Rev. j. Il. Wilson. u. D.. LII. d.,
stated clerk of the General Assembly
and a member of the iresbytery OF
Nashville. being present. was invited 10
sit as a. corresponding member.
Special prayer Was offered for the
blessing Of God upon Mr.. Blain and his
work. ana the Presbytcry adjourned.
RECEPTION TO Nr.N. .ll,. ILAIN.
A great congregation d5~, m1led in the
First Presbyterian church last evening
10 attend q reception rendered 10 the
Rev. J. Mercer Blain, who ia 10 be sup
ported in China as a. missionary by
this congregation.
DR. Kerr introduced Mr.. Blaln. and con-
graduated the people Oh securing him
TO represent theni In The mission-feii.
Dr. Kerr also commended the church
for the work they had done. end are do
ing ia severe directions. first, Tor the
work done in the Westminster church.
which is an oiishoOt from the First
church. sixty members having dismissed
10 organize IL: the building being gift
from the mother church. and larg
part Of the support of their pastor be-
ing contributed from the First church.
When the fourishng Presbyterian church
In Manchester was orga Eized some years
ago all of IT'S members. except two. Wee
from the First ~ esbyterlan church. the
church has also contributed largely.
both Of money and members for the
establishment Of the Nrzpah. and the
colored Presbyterian churches. Fif;y
years ago the Second Presbyterian
church went our as q colony from the
First church. Or Hoge then entering
his ministry. being made pastor.
The First church has sent out from
its men bership twenty-four young men
info ODD. T.Is- tgfrf.frtr rfrrrie~ uf
whom have been distinguished IN the
rulpts Of the land. -Four of these have
gone ont recentiy-The Rev. +. T. Well
ford. pastor ar Newport News. the Rev.
d. l.. Walthall, pastor on Chestnut Hin.
and the Revs William C. and Walter
McC. buchanan. the last two being now
missionaries !n J1nan.
Or. Kerr thanked the congregation for
their loyal support which he had received
in all his thirteen years of pastoral
work among them.
PRESENTED WITH a BIBLE
At the close Of DR.. Kerrs remarks. the
Hon. b. r. Wexford. Jr. presented Mr..
Balm with n handsome oxford Bible. the
gift of the W0man's Foreign Missionary
Society of the church. and made some
tender and eloquent remarks.
Mr. Blain responded 10 the addresses OF
Judge Wexford and DR.. Kerr i'm words
tender and appropriate. He expressed
his high appreciation Of the call of the
church 20 be its missionary pastor.
saving he would strive 20 be worthy Of
their confidence. and not 10 disappoint
their expectations. begging that they
would do for him the greatest kindness
which could In done 10 a missionary TO
constantly pray for Gods blessing upon
his work and himself
The remainder Of the evening was spent
i'm personal introductions and social con-
verse. The whole occasion was ono OF
great interest and deeply enjoyed by all
present.
Mr.. Balm left last night for his home.
IN Albemarlc county. He will sail from
san Francisco November 2l 1895.