Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-07
REV. DIR. A ]. BARTON.

He has written 70 the Sunday-School
Board. of which he was once a member,
that he would accept the position. pro-
vided he was released by the Foreign
Mission Board here
his NEW FIELD OF WORK.
Should he 80 to Nashville. his duties
will be varied and wide-reaching. Briefly
stated. his whole time and thought viii
be given 10 raising the standard and In
creasing the usefulness of the Sunday
schools in every part Of the territory COW
cred by the Southern Baptist Convention.
lie will probably leave Richmond about
the first Of the year II he goes at all.
The first few months Will be spent North.
probably in Philadelphia or New York,
specially fitting himself for bis new work.
Then he will begin 10 travel all over the
South. from Maryland to the Mexican
line. and from Rocky mountains 10 the
Atlantic He will cndeavOr 10 stir up
greater interest into Sunday-schoOl work,
organize new schools whore That Is pos
siDie. and strengthen those already or
ganized This office and his work is q
new one. no such position having ever
existed before among the Baptists of the
North or South.
The closing year Of the nineteenth CEN
tury will be marked among the Baptists
OF the South by an unusually great effort
TO advance Sunday-school work.
\ WISE CHOICE.
All who know Dir. Barton must realize
that the Sunday-school Board has made
a wise choice. Few men. by tastes or
training or natural ability are so well
adapted for leadership among young peo-
pie as Dr. Barton. He is q young man
himself, being only 81 He is capable Of
great enthusiasm. is full of energy and
great planner. executor, and organizer.
lie became DR.. Willingham's associate
on the 4th of July. 1856 lie has lived.
with his interesting family, in Richmond
since August 10Th. following. and has
greatly endeared himself TO the people
OF the city and State He has been
in great demand as a preacher. His SER
mons are always interesting, and deliver
ed IN an easy and attractive style.
lie has won some distinction as an elocu-
ZIONIST. While yet at college, ne was
awarded medals as the best declaimer
and orator in the institution. He has
delightful way Of conversing. making
the stranger feel at home at once and
making a friend of him.
A BRIEF SKETCH.
DR.. Barton was Dorm near Jones5oro'
Craighead county, Ark, February 2, 1867,
and Is the son Of William Il. and +. NJ.
Barton. His father ia still living. He
was converted at u years OF age. He
continued on the farm Of his father until
IS years of age, at which time he went
TO preaching. He entered the South
western Baptist University, Jackson.
Tenn, January l, 1856, and remained in
school till June, 1891, except one year
October. 1855. to October, 1880 wDen he
was pastor at Batesville, Ark. In Sep
TENDER 1871. he became principal of the
Gadsden Male and Female Academy,
Gadsden, Tenn. In September. 1892. ne
became president of the Lexington Bap-
list College, Lexington, fem. lie con-
tinued as such two years. During these
years he raugnt. and preached TO the
surrounding churches. In May. 1875, he
accepted the pastorate OF the North Edge
field Baptist church, Nashville, Tcnn.
In December, 1898. lie married Hiss
Georgia May Jones, I'rcn-on, Tenn. She
Is the daughter OF Major LeGrand NJ
Jones, major In the Mexican war, a
lawyer Of marked ability, and starch
Baptist.
The Foreign Mission Journal says of
DIR. Barton: lie IS a man of ine physi-
que. excellent mind, and noble LeaIt.
He is GOOD speaker and writer.
His Alma Mater mas conferred on
him the degree Of Doctor o. Divinity.
The Foreign Mission Eoaro honored him
also, electing him 10 his present
position. when yct younger man. by
a decade, than any one ever chosen TO
the same position.
DIR. Wilingham is in North Carolina
at present. and knows nothing G. what
has happened in bis hsence. except what
he may have seen In the papers.