Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-21

OF the Disciples persuasion. The pas
toral work OF his life has been done at
the church of Columbus, where he has
built up a membership from less than
hundred to LOO and more. Under MIR.
Harrison's administration he was Min
lister to the Ottoman Empire, where ne
was held with great distinction by the
Sultan. He is a man of 40, say rather
above the medium height, with a clean
shaven. intellectual face, a keen, pene-
trating eye, and magnetic voice. He Is
a pulpit orator, who has few equals on
the Continent. AS a pastor he has been
eminently successful.
When Mr.. Sweeny comes as IL is
earnestly hoped he will, and when OLD
Seventh-Street shall take new lease
on life of great usefulness, there VIII
be Joy in Richmond and among all Chris
tan people. but no heart will warm at
good report so much as that OF gentle,
scholarly Hall. in his Chair OF Bible
Study, at Butler University. Indiana TOOK
Hall from Virginia, but virginia Will
have her Sweeny in return.
Presbytery Receives DIR. Wfther-
spoon.
Rev. DR.. Jere Wtherspoon, pastor of
Grace-Street Presbyterian church. was
Yesterday morning received into the
The presbytery met at 10 o'clock at the
Second Presbyterian church, with Rev
]. f. Cook. moderator. presiding. a let
ter was read before the presbytery
dismissing DR.. Witherspoon from the Bar
timore Presbytery, and the examination
was then made with n view TO receiving
him into East Hanover. Rev. Dr. Hoge
examined the applicant on theology, Rev.
Charles X. Hyde on church government,
II. II Gv,afth
theology. The examination, always In
such cases n rigid one, was most salts
fctory. and the motion made to extend
TO him the privileges Of the Ecclesiastic
Council was most heartily carried. The
moderator appointed the following as the
Installation Committee: DIR. Hoge and
Rev. Drs. Kerr, Stewart, and Hyde. The
day of installation has not yet been
definitely determined. but the exercises
will be of an attractive and Impressive
nature.
DIR. Witherspoon preached as usual,
from the pulpit of Grace-Street church
Sunday morning. His subject. which
was ably handled, exciting warmest com
mendation, was the Power of God.
The trend of the discourse was how that
mower is given to and manifested In Gods
own people.
Rev. j. b. Wilson, representing the
Tuscaloosa (Alabama) Institute, preached
at night. also a very able sermon. DR..
Wilson spoke at the morning hour at
the Third Presbyterian church. lie Is
here in the interest of his school, which
is a theological seminary for colored
ministers
Sunday mt GrOve-Avenue.
Sundays services at Grove-AYenue
Baptist church were Of more than ordi-
nary interest. Dr. Hidens morning SER
mon was on 1.-The Mission of Christ
the text being the first verse of the sixty
first chapter of Isaiah. After preaching
he welcomed sixteen new converts to
their first Lords Supper.
At night, after preaching from Romans,
eighteenth chapter and fifth verse, he
haptized two persons. These make tWen-
ty-nine persons baptized since November
14th.
Brief Notes from Other Churches.
Rev. Thomas Needham, "a successful
evangelist. who has been engaged LOT
several weeks in revival meetings is mere
for a few days of rest. He preached
for DR.. Nelson at Immanuel church sun
day night. and the sermon was enJoyeu
by a large congregation. There was one
conversion.
DIR. ]. William Jones filled the pulpit
at Leigh-Street Baptist church sunday
morning. and DR.. j. r. Garlick at night
The congregations were good at both
services. and the excellent sermons or
,,.oII -Lpoun divinpS heard with