The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-21
DIR. OWEN,S GREETED.
He Refuses to Talk About His Troubles
sketch of His Life.

NORFOLK, VA. october 2O.-The ac-
ton Of the deacons Of Court-Street
Baptist church, Portsmouth, in demand
ing the resignation OF the pastor. heN.
A. +. owen, ID. D., continues 10 De me
sensation of the hour on b0th sues VI
the river. and all day TODAY the tes'ueIiI,e
Of the divine has been thrOngtd WIZ
members of his congregation ana irienps
~ the outside flock who have come 10
offer their sympathy and 10 tenuer ~
pressious of regard and confidence. ~ /.
owens himself hardly realizes the DOW IL
has been so great. and meet all ms
friends with a smile and genial NVIu
as was ALWAYS his wont, his manner CIV
ing little indication OF the GRIEF tnat "
at his heart. To-day a reporter was
received very gracously but he refused 10
talk about the letter which has orodSht
him so much trouble, beyond saying lnat
he did not understand why II should taNs
been written. that II was unueseINei g., a.
cruel; II hurt him worse IMAM any 'nl'S
that had ever happened 10 him. ne sa' ~
he was going to leave the whole Wa'tei
10 God and his church. He was caItlui
to say that he bore no ill-wiil towatu
any of the deacons. There were tears IN
his ewes. and his voice broke when ne
said that he had thought any one OF
them would have died for him as ne
would have shed his last drop Oh 'ioOu
for any of them.
would be. Dr. owens said he did not
know. 1t would depend upon what MS
church did Sunday. If it gave him vote
of confidence. he would stay, for while
ANYWAY He was going 10 fight his
thing and did not intend TO allow his rep
utation TO be swept away In 4 si"e'e
day. 80, ,,,,,
Rev. A f. owen is one # the best
known and most popular Baptist Z. each
ers in the State. He was born IN row
hatan county. Va, on September -, le5f
His father was Richard Johnson owen, a
carpenter, and his mother was, before
her marriage Miss Narcssus IanEsdon,
a lady of Hugenot extraction. Der family
having come over to this country in 1851
DR.. Owens grandfather. Elisa Ov en-,
was a brave soldier in the Revolutioh'
and was in the operations around York
town. DR.. owens brother. William ThOs
owen, was killed in the battle OF Drew
rvs Bluff, in the late war
A. T.. owen was poor boy-NeTy poor.
He left home when he was sixteen years
old and spent four years working at va
rous trades. In 1851 he entered Richmond
College as a ministerial student, leaving
there in the spring Of 1861 and taking
charge of several churches in Brunswick.
In the ten years that followed ne hau
charge Of the following churches: Reedy
Greek, Brunswick county Malones, Meek
lenburg county; Fountains Creek and
HicksfOrd. Greensville county; High HIS
and Antioch, Sussex county; wilson =
DinWiddie; and Hebron, in Southampton.
On December 6. 1866, he was married to
Miss Henrietta Mary Hail, daughter OF
Clement Hall, prominent farmer.
FOR TWENTY-SIX YEARS.
In December 1871. he was called TO the
pastorate of the COurt-Street church in
Portsmouth and has had that charge
ever since, twenty-siX years in all. In
that time the congregation has grown
from about 300 to $50, Notwithstanding
the fact that IL has sent out two rev
churches with a membership Of about 300
each. Ii has sent out seven preachers IN
that time from its congregation has been
repaired extensively four times. and has
one of the finest lecture rooms in the
State, a comparatively recent addition.
The congregation is now one of the
wealthiest and most liberal in this sec
ton.
DR.. owen received his degree Of j.. ID.
about twelve years ago. from Baylor
University, Texas. He is a trustee of
Richmond College, and of Ryland Insti-
tute vice-President Of the Foreign Mis-
sionary Society for Virginia. and Ceres
ponding Secretary of the State Board Of
Foreign Missions. He has seven children
three Of whom are married He has the
reputation of having dedicated more
churches than any one else in the state.
except Rev. w. Il. Hatcher, ID. D, Of
Richmond.