Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-07
NEW PASTORS HEARD
THREE MINISTER'S ENTER iron
THEIR LABoRs IN RICHMOND.
RECOGNITION o. REV. DR.. SMITH.
interesting service i'm HIS Honor. nj
which Dr. Hcgc and others Speak.
rr. Witherspoon and Rev. Mr..
Ga,lc Given Cordial Greetings.

Very auHNl'''"Ss ItVtVui was the begin
r.nv Of the pastorato of Rev. W. Il. l..
smith. ID. d.. az the Second Baptist
church. 4 great audience heard his n-st
sermon sunday morning. 1t was a dis-
course Of eenuinc value and power. and
PRODUCED profound effect
In the afternoon the beautiful main
room was filed. galleries. floor. and plat
form. with an eager and Joyous throng.
Representatives OF every religious faitA
and OF none were present to Join with
the Baptsts in general, and particularly
with the members of the Second church,
in welcoming their new pastor.
The music was sweet and stirring. the
prayers were fervcnt the speeches brief
and appropriate. and nothing untoward
married the brightness OF the occasion.
Rev. J. ID. Hutson presided over the
gathering with grace and tact. In III
Producing the exercises he incidentally
mentioned that he had participated in
welcome services 10 about thirty BAPTIST
pastors during his own term of service
no The Pine-Street church.
DIR. HOGE'S BENED1CTION.
He introduced Dir. Hoge as the first
sneaker. The distinguished minister was
al his best and made thvilingly inte-
resting address. closing by Warmly
shaking DR.. smiths hand and breathing
tancdicUon on his work thus happily
icguu.
Following him DR.. r. II. Pitt brought
tho greetings Of u5O0 white Bapilsts
~ Virginia He said that his task ,gas
ty u1 means merely formal. His own
lar, was in IL, Tor he was welcoming
NJ warm personal friend. Thousands of
N.rlua Baotists were actually rejoicing
ft tas return OF this protigal. The speak
e. went on 20 speak of the history OF the
people Tor whom he spoke. of their stout
hearted loyalty 10 their distinctive tenets.
o. their cordial friendship for people Of
other faiths. of the harmony and unity
which dwell among them. and of the
great tasks which lay Immediately before
them. For them he brought a most sni-
ccre. cordial welcome to this new. but
nos raw, recrJnt-this seasoned and dis
C'plinci leader and worker.
Dr. Hiden was introduced TO speak on
behalf Of the Baptist Ministers Confe-
renee lie said that he would rather
utter a few friendly warnings to his
Brother Smith. He then wittily ran over
the list Of distinguished men in whose
succession the new pastor stood. and
said: so YOU see, my brother, you nave
got 10 preach beyond a doubt Ever
since they have been living on the Euro
ptan plan (alluding TO the period when
the pulpit has been supplied by visiting
preachers they have been living high"
Or. r. J. Willingham spoke for the
Second church. With great feeling he
welcomed him TO the homes and hearts
o. The people. He paid high tribute TO
the church, 10 the spirit Of brotherhood
which prevailed among them to their
Inc Organization. TO their high ambition
10 De increasingly useful. I'VE have
waited over year for you, brother"
said the Doctor, but we feel that our
waiting has been fully rewarded"
THE NEW PASTORS REPLY.
The new pastor then, in simple. touch
Ing fashion. acknowledged these kindly
greetings He could not hope he said,
70 I'LL the places Of brilliant and beloved |
brethren who had formerly ministered |
~ them, but he would endeavOr TO MI /
his own place. He relied on the love and |
sympathy Of his brethren which he was
already experiencing. Above all he relied !
On God. and in this confidence he would |
enter upon his work
DIT. Cooper closed the service by sug-
costing that the right hand Of fellowship
should be given to the new pastor by
the congregation which was done with
genuine heartiness
ON the platform besides the ministers
already mentioned were Pastors L. r. |
Ihonhil ]. NJ. Mercer, j. r. Harrison,
and d. $. Dill, while in the audience were
noticed Rev. I. T. Tichenor. d. D.. Rev.
g. J.. Dickinson. ID. D.: Rev J. William
Jones. ID. D.; Rev. George f. Williams.
Rev. II. l.. Quarlcs, Rev. f. l.. Pell. Rev.
w. ID Thomas, d. D.; Rev. F. W. Clay
brook, Rev. James Nelson, ID. D.; Rev.
H. A. Bashy, and others.
MIR. WitherspOon's First Day.
Rev. Dr. Jore Witherspoon preached his
ri sermons Sunday at the Grace-Street
presbyterian church. and was greeted
morning and night with large congrega-
u"ls. Before and after both services The |
'iie pressed forward and were in,ro-
....u 10 their new pastor. 10 whom al
lF lhey stand firmly attached.
TT NNntiSloou took as his text I'm the |
u, ing. and lie said so is The Kingdom !
-. ''i as ~ man should cast seed into |
.t -i'unl' and should sleep. and rise
l-AiI ana day, and the seed should spring
u' Tie knOWeth not how" Dr Withcr-
t.'.l announced chat his subject would
r'. t7 nus text so plainly indicated. "rhe
Iei CROWN OF the Kingdom"
iu beslnnlng his sermon the Doctor
"y4 lh pam and simple way how nat
lIal huhoandry was Ike spiritual hus-
'''' GNU blat lHrIc were mysteries
- k,eal 10 our finite minds IN the former {
is thtre were DO the latter Then the {
'Ltdhtf bfanched off on the kingdom r
'I heaven How. in many instances.
pr ,v4Iu see The Kingdom of Heaven. and ! (
a." tht unseen was as real as the seem ! 4
~. most touching and Impressive part | [
pa 'I. NlthtIspOOn's sermon was that IN
IHllh ne alluded 90 how the kingdom OF
raven within you is brought about: how
'i, '; ih ways mat We cannot understand,
90. MS servants for the Kingdom I
-. 4.Ent Di WiiherspOOn chose for his
81, Nhat doth hinder me to be bap-
Ized|' and announced as his subiect.
iiharance 10 Confession" In handling q
n's SUBJECT the Doctor enumerated some {
. lt' many reasons the uncOnVertcd give | /
i hot cohiessins their faith in Christ n
'.' li a mastery way answered them all q.
-Ilhs Up with an appeal 10 all who are :
aNils me greatest question that could ,
'iol( be cOnsdercd-the salvation OF l
.elr souls-to delay no longer DR. With y
spoon p good speaker. becoming at | Ii
mes IN his delivery eloquent and i'm :,
siNe, carrying truth TO the hearts OF n
ls hearers.
Ntkt sunday morning the celebration OF
't Lore supper VIII be observed and | u
pr. NlineIspOOn gave notice for prepare "
'iF services next Wednesday and Friday Z;
.gnlngs at s O'Clock II
he pastor viii be In his study in the | II
'ement u The church Thursday eve !,
't from 90 $3.50. and Friday afternoon | =,
pm " 10 o.oJ TO talk with any persons =,
H' Dtslfe 20 converse with him with a | -
u" 10 uniting with the church. on
heN. MIR. Gayle at LaureI-Strcet. cl
Rev. r. T. Gayle. the newly appointed *
aston Of Laurel-Street Methodist church =,