Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-25
Mr.. BABC0CK LEAVES
POPULAR MANCHESTER PASTOR TO
GO TO ANOTHER FIELD.
Mr.. RFIDEH MAY SUCCEED HIN.
The Change TO lie Made ON Account
OF the Minister'S ESTABLISHMENTS
ence of n Gatelseeper and watch
man-Thnnkssivins on south Side.

rev. james " BaDcOcK, now attend
ing the conference at Danville, Will pro-
badly not return to this city as the pas
tor OF Fifth-Street church. This in
formation, which carries with 1t deep
regret wherever in this city these tidings
are read. comes from Mr.. Babcock him
self In q personal letter 10 q member
OF Fifth-Street church. Mr.. Babcock
writes that the change will be made be-
cause he thinks II will benefit his health.
No other reason is stated, and there is
no other-certainly none that the church
Is responsible for for the congregation
to which Mr.. Babcock has been preach
ing Sunday after Sunday for three years,
is devoted to him. and faithfully loyal.
1t is the comment OF all that he has
done a good and lasting work In this
community. Since he took hold OF the
charge this church has made excellent
reports each year to the conference,
paid off the church debt, and made ex-
ceedingly gratifying contributions to all
the outlying work of the denomination
In the State. Each year OF the three
the pastor has been enabled to report
to the conference that the pastors salary
had been paid in full. and that every de-
mand upon the church by the denomina-
ton has been met fully and In good
faith. Such "a record TO leave behind
them is enjoyed by few.
While, by many this announcement
will be q surprise, it is not TO the
stewards and a few members OF the
church. 1t is the general impression that
xub hal a ha rqnafpad IN, "a AQld
three years he is well certain to remain
to the limit-four-but those closer to the
young preacher thought he would be
sent elsewhere.
Mr.. Babcock is yet az young man
almost boyish in appearance-but is
good preacher, and fully abreast with
the times He IS thoroughly awake
and progressive. His usefulness and
popularity extend beyond the limits of
his congregation and denomination. No
preacher of the city is more generally
known or more popular than Mr.. Bah
cock He is approachable TO all. polite,
kind. and sympathetic. His place VIII
be hard to fill.
Mr. Babcock thinks that Rev. George
III. McFaden, of Hanover county, Will
be sent to this field. He does not init
mate a word on the other interesting
point-where he will, himself, be sent.
Mr.. Babcock came home Sunday to
preach a funeral sermon, but returned
Monday to tho conference.
A NIGHT OF SUSPENSE.
A certain keeper of the gates at a GER
tain railway crossing in this city spent
hours of suspense Tuesday night, which,
he declared, he would never pass through
again, If human precaution could come be-
tween. This was the way 1t happened:
Late Tuesday, when the streets had clear
ed Of everybody, when he himself had re-
tired to his little round-house to dream,
with eyes and ears open, a tall figure
stalked in, silent as the grave and noise
less as a moving shadow. The stranger
was as dark in figure as raven, and In
the dim light, and 10 the gatekeeper's
Imagination he appeared to belong to some
forgotten race. Unlike certain raven,
however, he only sat there, doing nothing
and quoting nothing. Through long,
dreamy hours he sat there and looked
upon the being before him.
The hours wore on. until just before
day. when his unweIcome visitor, still
quoting nothing, left as silently as he
had come. Apparently, he disappeared
from the earth.
Last night, as the shadows were length
ening and even the shades of night were
creeping on. a telephone message vas
sent to the Manchester station asking the
police to come to the Keepers rescue, as
again the raven had appeared. The night
before was his first in the position, and
he did not want a duplicate Policemen
Smith and Jones went post-haste, re-
volvers in left hand and clubs in their
right. to look after the intruder. They
found him, gazed upon him with wonder
ing eyes. but alas! the charm was broken,
the bird or beast" spoke. 1t was only
the private Waterman of the road, and
his words were intensely human, for they
were: Hello, Dick smith,
The Manchester Cotillon Club gave the
third german OF the season at Leader
Hall last night.
THIS THANKSGIVING-DAY.
The people of Manchester will cele-
brate to-day and return thanks In just
SO many ways as there are individuals
comprising the people" Many will go
to Richmond to witness the football
games, unless the record OF all previous
occasions is broken; some viii go TO
the country FOR hunt, some will go TO
church in the morning-a few. But there
will be other events, to which the ladies'
of the city would call attention. The
Ladies' Aid Society OF Meade Memorial
church will provide a Thanksgiving dim
ner and supper at No. 1000 Hull street
The proceeds of the two meals will go TO
the church treasury.
The Ladies' Auxiliary TO the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers will have
q Thanksgiving Initial Tea" at the resi-
dence Of Mrs. c. +. Conley, 1908 Porter
street, this evening from o'clock until
H.
Another event will be a reunion of the
members and congregation of cambridge
Street Baptist church, also, this eve
Ming. The assembly will be held in the
main audlence-room OF the church. the
programme consisting OF addresses and
music. At the close of the exercises up
stairs those present will be invited TO
the lecture-room, where supper will be
spread No charge will be made for the
supper
Rev. W. F. Shinall. who has been con-
Quoting revival services at Cowardin-
Avenue Christian church for the past ten
days, will lecture at the church this eve
ming. A charge will be made
Services will be held to-day at II A.
NJ. at Central Methodist church. Rev.
w. w. Lear, the pastor, IL not expected
10 return from Danville In time TO con-
duct the service. and Rev. Charles N.
Van Houten will preach. A musical pro-
gramme OF much attraction has also
been prepared. At the close OF the de-
yotional exercises a pound party viii be
held In the basement of the churcb-that
Is. everybody is invited to come and bring
articles OF use in housekeeping, provi-
sions and money. which will be distri-
huted among the poor OF the church.