Smyrna times., 1898-04-06
PASTOR HILLS INITIAL SERMON.
Makes a Popular Hit With Large COngre-
cations Last Sunday.

Rev. Chas. A. Hill, who was ap-
pointed to succeed Rev. Adam Stengle |
as pastor of Asbury M. Z. Church, of |
this town, for the coming year,
preached his initial sermon on Sunday |
morning. 1t was a coincidence per-
haps not known to him. that his text |
was the same as that used by his
father, Rev. Chas. Hill, for his first
sermon as the successor of Rev. W. H.
Brisbane in this pastOrate 80 years
ago-I Corinthians, 2-2.-"I De-
termined not to Kn0w Anything
ADlOnq You SaUe Jesus Christ and
Him CJucifed. " Some few remem-
bered the two discourses and the
sincerity of the preachers in their de-
livery-the singleness of purpose in
the gospel workout how much wider
and varied the scope of theology in its
treatment of to-day, to the restricted
but earnest soul-effOrt of the Fathers.
The claim is not inaptly made that the
pulpit has advanced to meet the wider
and more direct vision of the pew.
The Rev. Mr.. Hill came to Smyrna
in response to a unanimous invitation
extended to him last summer while
serving Ebenezer Church, EastOn,
Md, and his sermons on Sunday
| leaves not the first cause of regret we
have heard, that this call was extended.
| The Reverend gentleman might be
characterized as an ''up-to-date"
preacher, that is, besides eloquence in
utterance and strong conception of
theolOgical tenets, he quotes history and
literature aptly bearing on the subject,
and does not disdain imagery and pict-
ure painting when it serves the better
purpose of catching the attention and
fastening his subject on the mind of
his hearer. All the while, the gospel
is being presented in its strength and
purity, and his hearers feel he is
"Master of the situation" Besides a
strong, deep, but well mOdulated voice
he possesses that essential feature of sue
cessful oratory, magnetism, that is al
WAYS popular with the masses.
We will not attempt a synopsis of the
sermon further than to say that be-
sides succintly stating the historical
and commercial relation of COrinth
to the world at the time the
Episte was written, he elaborated the
Pauline method as set forth in his let
ters and as applicable and essential to
the successful ministry of to-day.
In closing he asked the indulgence
of his audience while he alluded to q
matter personal, but which in meas
use identified him with the community
Twenty-one years ago he said he re
turned from school to his fathers
home (then a resident of Smyrna
Presiding Elder of Easton District
and entered on the study of medicine
with DIR. W. 7. Collins, though feel
ing his duty was in another direction
In q few weeks he was waited on on
dav while engaged in his study by
committee of the Official Board of tn
church, headed by Rev. John Hough
then Presiding Elder of Dover Dis
trict, and asked him if he felt he wa
: in the place God designed he shOul,
, be. He said he did not, and frankl
said so. They told him what thei
a mission was in thus waiting on him
and feeling their visitation fur
ther call in the direction of the minis
. try, he assented, his name was pre-
sented to the Quarterly Conferenc
!, which unanimously voted him licens
, to preach, his first credentials bearin
q the signature of his father as Presidin
Elder. ''Iwent out from among you
boy" he said and ''return to you
mature life"
S The pathos of the sermon was items
n fed by this personal allusion, tn
speaker, closing by saying he came
minister to them in the hours of a
Fiction, to share with them their so
rows, and if need be, to stand befol
!, them in the last sad parting hour.
;" At night he preached from the sui
ject: "IEe that rUIeth his OlUR spirit
.e greater than he that tdketh q city. ;"
n an equally effective discourse, IL
IS audience overfowing the audltoriu
J. into the gallery.