The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-21
DIR. CALLED
Tho Congregation Of tho First Baptist
Church Selects tho Rev. w. b. divers
SuccossOr-Wh0 DIR. Br0ughtOn Is

OuCS0SSOE- DGs DKVoBnsOA 40
A meeting OF the congregation of the
First Baptist church was called last
night to receive the report of the COM
mittee appointed to CALI a pastor to sue
coed the Rev. VIII B. Oliver, whose pas
torate expires in May. The committee
reported that they had extended a call
to the Rev. DR.. Broughton. of Roanoke,
Va, and the report was adopted. We I'M
derstand that it is quite probable hat
DR.. Broughton will accept.
The present pastor tendered his resig-
nation some time ago, but withdrew it
after the church refused by a large ma
jority to accept it. In withdrawing 1t,
hiwever, he stated that his relation as
pastor would cease at the end of the
pastoral year, believing that he could
accomplish a greater work elsewhere. 1t
was in view of his statement that an
other pastor was called.
The Norfolk Pilot, Of yesterday, under
the headline Of "Roanoke's Great Preach
err says:
Rev. Len. G.. Broughton, of Calvary
Baptist church, Roanoke, whose sermon
in the Academy of Music in our sister
city last Sunday on eff Christ Came to
Norfolk is the topic of discussion in
church circles on both sides OF the Eliz-
abeth, spent several hours with friends
in Portsmouth yesterday. He conducted
a successful revival netting at South
Street Baptist church two years ago, and
is well and favorably known to hundreds
Of our church-going people.
1t will doubtless surprise many of the
people of Portsmouth and Norfolk to
learn that DR.. B%roughton has under seri-
GUS consideration a call from the First
Baptist church, of Wilmington, n. c.,
and another from the Third Baptist
bly, accept one of these. The severance
of his pastoral relations with the Roam
k church will cause him genuine sor-
row and be a serious loss, not only to
the congregation of Calvary, but to the
cause Of temperance, morality, religion
and good government in the Magic City.
His work there will never be accurately
estimated this side of eternity and is a
may we'll serve us d guide ITO his sue
cessor. When he took charge of Cal
membership weak, numerically and
financially, n the preaching place a
mere shed. The new and beautiful brick
church, erected and paid for, is made
Quate to the demands upon it's seating
capacity, the membership has been treb-
bled, for eign missionaries supported, the
poor SuccOred and cared for, all assess
ments paid, the pastors salary increased
and the people made better under his
preaching.
DR.. Broughton is yet quite a young
man-about 30 years of age-and it is not
strange that other churches are anxious
to procure him as pastor. Since he first
went to roanoke he has declined calls
to Pittsburg, Baltimore and other points.
He undertook to do a certain work there,
and the did it. He believed that God will
ed that he should stay there until Cal
vary chu1 oh was firmly established, and
he remained. If he goes elsewhere it will
be because he sees in the caH the will of
the Master. The church that secures
him will be fortunate. If there are any
dry bones in it's membership they will be
some good purpose His preaching con-
verts church drones into active workers.
| He has preached in Norfolk, Portsmouth,
Richmond, Atlanta, New York and else
where, with great power and grand re-
suits.
Before %entering the ministry. DR..
Blcuehton practiced medicine in North
Carolina and was regarded as a shin
ing light in the profession. He was
converted at Raleigh, N. c., under the
preaching of DR.. A. E. Owen, of Court
Street Baptist church, this city, and al
cnce began to prepare himself fol
preaching the Gospel, having promised
God, in a serious attack of fever, we are
informed, hat if restored to health he
would devote his whole future life te
leading people to Christ and salvation.
DR.. Broughton is now preaching al
Park Avenue Baptist church, Norfolk
for DR.. j. j. Hall, and will return tt
Roanoke this week. He will probably
nnounce his decision to Calvary churcl
next Sunday. His departure from Roam
Cke would be deplored by all good PEG
pie there, regardless of denominations
lines.