Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-20
THREE ANDREW BRoADUssEs.
They Fill the Passionate of Salem
Church Seyenty-Fiye Years.


nave filed the pastorate OF Salem Bap-
list church, In Caroline county. He
writes:
Among the names OF Virginia baptist
preachers, ii can hardly be questioned
that the most distinguished IS Broaddus--
written by some OF the family Broadus
SO John A., the great professor and elo-
ueqnt preacher. wrote 1t; while his uncle,
William f.. Of high reputation for nearly
hali a century, urgently protested
against the change.
The first Andrew Broaddus possessed
oratorical gifts that were truly wonder
fuL When | was a little child, he was
my mothers pastor at Beulah. and have
distinct recollection now, not only OF
the expressions Of enthusiastic admira-
ton which 1 was continually hearing, but
OF the impression produced on my own
mind-somettmes by eloquent speech,
sometimes by impressive and pathetic
reading. sometimes by fei vent and tender
prayer. There are some old hymns that
never fail to remind me OF him. His man
ner or reading them was unlike that of
any other man / ever heard-so express
siye. so pathetic, as to give them new
power and meaning. So, also, with read
Ing the Scripture His very accent and
emphasis seemed to expound Il. Often his
reading OF some tender appeal or invita-
ton Of the Gospel would move a congre-
cation toNtears. think | heard him
preach more than once at Beulah from
jeremiah Will, %: us there no balm in
Gilead-iS there no physician there? Why,
then. Is not the health of the daughter
of my people recoyered?' | am sure /
never heard any other man read that
text as he read IL. / am sure 1 never
heard any other man tell of the balm in
Gilead. and OF the great, infallible ever
present Physician as he did. 1 suppose l
was some or 10 years old at the time
/ have heard since that time hundreds Of
sermons-and preached many that | have
utterly forgotten; but / remember that
sermon can see now his expressive face
kindnng with joyful emotion his grace
full attitudes. his perfect gesticulation,
and 1 can hear his musical voice, with
its wonderful meditation, though more
than sixty years have passed. But, with
all his signal oratorical gifts, his forte
was exposition OF Scripture. He was truly
a teacher of the people.
lie was the first preacher I ever knew.
He gave to me many precious tokens Of
his kind regard, and Just a few months
before his death. although very inirm,
he came over to Beulah to lay his hands
upon me in ordinatiOn-the other men,
bers OF the presbytery being his son, the
present DIR. Andrew Broaddus, of Sparta,
and Elder John o. Turpin. He hlmsels
arranged the whole order Of the service.
lie examined the candidate, he preached
the sermon. he delivered the charge, he
presented the Bible. called on Elder Tur-
pin to pray, and his son to give me the
hand OF fellowship. His text was Col.
l., S: Whom we preach, warning every
man and teaching every man In all wis
dom, that We may present every man per-
feet in Christ Jesus" His subject was,
Christ, the Preachers Theme" So IL
was always with himself. | have my
ordination certificate now, written by him
in his beautiful handwriting on parch-
ment.
1 must beg TO be excused for writing
SO much that Is personal to myself.
At the time of which l write, Mr.. Broad
dus Che was offered the ID. ID. by Column
bian College in 1913, but declined iD was
pastor OF Iour churches-Salem, In Caro-
line; Upper King and Queen, i'm King and
Queen, and Beulah and MangOhick, In
King William-preaching at each. /
think, on one Sunday, with the preceding
Saturday I'm every month. His Saturday
sermons were considered by many his
best They were usually eXpository. He
was repeatedly urged TO accept great
city charges, but preferred his country
field. He became pastor Of Salem church
In 1920. of Upper King and Queen in 1877,
and retained both charges till his death,
in December, 1915 He had been ordained
at Upper King and Queen in 1871, by
Robert b. Semple and Theodore Noel
In both these charges he was succeeded
by his son Andrew-mentioned above
who. with signal ability and unchangng
fidelity. prosecuted his work until obliged
10 relnquish II on account of sickness
and advancing age. He first surrendered
Upper King and Queen, as that was at
quite a distance from his home, but con-
tinued to serve Salem, only a mile or two
away. He was long called ANDREW, Jr., y
but is now Andrew the aged, having
nearly reached fourscore. He IL signally
alike his father in some respects; signally
unlike him in others-aiike him I'm that
he is an able expOunder of the Scripture
clear, direct, instructive, and edifying,
yet without the elegant graces OF oratory
which were so conspicuous in the other.
He has somewhat OF the nervousness and
sensitiyeness of his father, but Is TAR
more aggressive and positive In his man
ner have often said after hearing him
preach. that IL was the easiest thing IN
the world to look right back straight
through the sermon and see the whole
course along which we had been brought.
In on-building he is a maSter-work-
man. His personal influence as a Chris
tian minister and as a citizen has been
an incalculable blessing 10 the commu-
nifty in which his long life has been
passed Years ago he 'was often called
upon 10 address the people on the court
green on public questions, and whenever
il was announced that MIR. Broaddus
would speak the people fiocked TO listen.
They knew he had no personal interest 10
advance and likewise that they would
hear something worth thinking about.
DR.. Broaddus's life has not been with
out sore Affections. Right many. years
| ago his son. Luther, a young preacher
| Of remarkable gifts and most lovely char
aCter. was removed by death. just as he
| had entered upon a field OF labor full OF
| hopeful promise. The father was proud
| and Justly so-of the son. Bright hopes
were suddenly extinguished-a lovely anc
useful life brought, as IL would seem e
us. to an untimely close. 1t was hard Il
| bear but the needed grace was given
Faith did not fail, nor was patience lack
| ing.
| Some time after this the noble woman
| who had walked lovingly and faithfully
| al his side for more than fifty years, an,
I who. / have often thought, was one o
the most helpful wives ever knew, wa
i taken from him. Within short time h
has been called upon to weep at tn
| grave of a devoted daughter. between
| whom and her father was intense mutua
love: and so earthly ties have been sun
dered one by one, and Heaven and re
union draw near. He has kept the faith
and the faith keeps him.
will not say more. The memory o
the days when he and / had inexpressibl
Joy In working together is fresh In m.
| mind and heart. He knows that i hav
| rather under-stated than over-stated N,
estimation Of him.
And now tho third Andrew leads tn
| Salem flock. For seventy-nlne years tn
| Salem pastor has borne the same name
| grandfather father, aud son. Where shal
| church bs found with such a pastora
history MAY the pastoral century en'
| without ehange ! have only one thin
Ito say about Salsm's present pastor:
| do not think he Is unworthy OF the nam
he bears.