The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-10-14
DIR. WELL

The New Pastor of the First Baptist
Church-He Began His Work Here
Sunday-Glimpse Of a Busy Life as a
Newspaper Man and Minister
The Rev. Calvin S. Blackwell, Phi.
D., who recently accepted the call to
| the pastorate of the First Baptist
church of this city, arrived here from
Birmingham, Ala, on Saturday and on
Sunday morning and evening he
preached the initial sermon of his
pastorate. At both services there were
| very large and sympathetic congrega-
tons, and all were much pleased with
their able pastor.
DR.. BlackWelps text at the morning
| service was Romans viii, 9: eff any
man have not the spirit of Christ he is
none of His" His theme was the dis
position of Christ the standard of our
spiritual life. At the night service the
new pastors subject was: "The Bible
and in his discourse his aim vas to
demonstrate that the Bible is the spir-
itual biography of every man.. He
| pointed out the Bible from Genesis to
No $4,000 ~
spiritual experience from infancy to
| old age.
These two subjects were chosen to
introduce DR.. Blackwell's ministry
here and inferentially to indicate the
| course of his work. The morning theme
pointed the congregation to Christ for
it's Saviour and atOnement, while the
theme at the night service directed
their attention to the Bible as Gods
book Of instruction and guidance. The
whole theory of religious life was i'm
piled as swinging between Christ and
the Book Christ was the main figure
n the Book is our daily instruction.
Both mi constituted splendid
evidence of DR.. Blackwelps ability.
They were finished, scholarly, logical
and made a fine impression on his
hearers. He is tactful, graceful and
ence.
| DR.. Blackwell was born in Roanoke,
| Virginia, March q, 1S49. At the age of
| IA years he enlisted in the Second Vir-
| ginia regiment and served in Lees
army during the civil war. He was in
the battles of Fort Harrison, Fort
Gilmer and Chapin's Farm, around
| Richmond, and was twice wounded in
| the battle of Fort Harrison, once in
the arm and once in the side.
Immediately after the civil war DR..
| Blackwell went north. He was educat-
ed at Indianapolis, Ind, OSHKOSH Col
| lege, Iowa, and at Drake University,
Desmoines, Iowa. He graduated at
the university in 1875, and his first
pastorate was at Norfolk, Va. Suisse
| quently he served churches in Brook
lyn, N. Y, ST. Louis, Mo, Chicago,
Ills, and Augusta, Ga. He built
| churches in Norfolk, ST. Louis and
Chicago, and has been a very active
worker during his career. His latest
work was as corresponding secretary
of the Baptist Young peoples Union,
of the South, having filled that posi-
ton since it's organization. His head
quarters were at Birmingham, Ala
some idea may be had of the activity
required for that work when it is stat
ed that since DR.. Blackwell was here
six weeks ago he travelled 5000 miles,
and made ffty-twO speeches.
DR.. Blackwell began life as a news
paper man, having established the
New and Courier at Norfolk, Va. He
also served on the staff of The Bur-
lington Hawkeye with Robert J.. Bur-
dette, has been extensively connected
with the religious press, n for nine
years was on the staff of the Christian
Standard, Cincinnati. He is now as
sociate editor of The Baptist Union,
of Chicago. Ill, the official organ of
the Young Peoples Baptist Union in
America. Besides his literary work he
has also for the past eighteen or twen-
ty years been on the popular lecture
platform, having been in the engage
ment list of the Chicago syndicate.
The territory which DR.. Blackwell
had control of as corresponding secre-
tary embraced fourteen states, and he
was so much away from his family
that he decided to again enter the &C
tive ministry. During fourteen months
he was able to be with his family only
thirteen days, but located here as paS-
tor of the First Baptist church,, he
will be able to be at home most all the
time. His family will be here proba-
bly, this week and will come from Nor
folk. where Mrs. Blackwell is visiting
her mother. For the present DR..
Blackwell is the guest of Mr.. j. w.
Norwood. president of the Atlantic
National bank.
DR.. Blackwell's wife was the daught-
err Of the late Colonel r. Z. DeJar-
nette, former CONGRESSMAN from the
Fourth Virginia district. They have
two children. The eldest is Hugh
Burke. a u man is years Of age,
who has finished his collegiate course
n is taking a curse in the medical
department of the University of Vir-
{ ginia. The youngest is Calvin S. Jr.
: aged IA years. and he will be here with
: the family.
5 DR.. Blackwell will be here constant
~ from this time and will tht
: PRAYER meeting service at his churc
: next Thursday night. Hereafter the
: regular Sunday night service will be
: held at 7:45 o'clock.
. More than twenty million free sam