Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-04-23
A Young Man, Well Lnown Lecturer
and an Able Preacher.


tial sermon to an Akron congregation
Sunday morning.
DR.. Pratt comes to this city as the
successor of Rev. Frank G. Haddock,
who for the past two years has been
pastor of the First NJ. T.. church. and
who was recently appointed pastor OF
the Boston Street NJ. r. church Of
Lynn, Mass, which has just been va
Gated by DR.. Pratt.
The new pastor arrived in Akron, Fri
day, with his wife and two children.
To representative of the Democrat,
he stated that he had been received by
the people of this city with a hospitality
that far surpassed his expectations.
Every one has been very kind and
cordial" said he. AN the reception
given us has bern al that could he
asked
DR.. and Mrs. Pratt Will reside at the
parsonage on s. Broadway. as soon as
their hou, thold goods arrive. In the
meantime, they are being entertained
by MIR. and Mrs. j. c. Ewart, of 902
II. Market st.
Dr. Pratt was born 80 years ago, in
the state of Maine. Upon both sides of
his family his ancestors figured in the
Revolutionary war At the outbreak
of the Civil war, his father, Rev. David
Pratt, ID. d., organized the Fourth
Maine regiment of volunteers and re-
ceived the commission Of first lieuten-
ant.
Rev. Pratt fitted for college at Maine
Wesleyan Seminary, of which the IA
nous DR.. Torsey, "the Thomas Arnold
of America" was president. He after
ward entered Boston University, from
which institution he graduated in 1887.
In 1889, he was ordained to the minis
try, and his first charge was at Cor
ham, Me. Later DR.. Pratt was trans
ferred to the East Maine conference,
and was stationed at Dover, one of the
largest churches in the district. Thence
he went to the New England confer.
encc and located at East Saugus.
where he remained two years. Four
yeas ago, DR.. Pratt was called to the
Boston Street church in Lynn, which
is only few miles from East Saugus.
A large number of his members fol-
lowed him, and located in the parish.
DR.. Pratt is member of the Mason
ic fraternity, and also of the Clerical
club of Boston, of which organization
he has served on the executive commit
tee. He has travelled extensively, and
has been upon the lecture platform.
His lecture on Abraham Lincoln" and
other patriotic subjects, have been in
great demand.
In the pulpit Dr.. Pratt possesses un-
usual strength. His delivery is clear
aud distinct and with II ALL there is an
earnestness that makes lasting i'm
preston upon his hearers.
Sunday morning he was introduced
to his congregation by Mr.. d. y.
Wheeler, who among other things,
said: "Dr. Pratt never met a single
man, woman or child of this congre-
cation until he arrived here Friday
night. Hence he comes as the pastor
of every one. He knows 10 difference.
All are his brothers and siiers. His
only desire is to preach Jesus Christ;
the plain pure gospel"
Dr.. Pratt's text was taken from
Acts 1872, and he said IN part; "What
Alexandria was to the Macedonian
Empire; what Luther was to Protest
antism; what Wesley was to Method
ism; what Washington and Lincoln
were to this nation, that Paul was to
the early church. Rome mastered the
world and all was peace. Her CONNER
cial instincts had threaded the empire
with roadways facilitating transporta-
tion, Rome was heartily sick of her
gods, and already despised her religion
Gods hour had struck. The world s
hour had struck. There was conjunc
tion of planets.
"In the Apostolic college was calm
and conservative Thomas; diplomat,
and statesmanlike james, and many
others. But among them all, there
was no one with n masterly grip upor
the great forces of the day. But Goo
was preparing man. In the city OF
Tarsus, a lad was born, His father