Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-06-01

Church, with her great history, repu-
tation for good works and powerful
membership, stands out as one OF the
foremost colored churches in the Un-
ited states. And therefore, we :eel
that such a church ought to havs o
pastor OF weigh power and expert
ence, Such a man, we see in the per.
son OF Rev. Walter II Books, D. D..
the pride OF tbs American Negro Bsp-
tist pulpit. A man who stands head
and shoulders far above the average,
with only few Who can successfully
compete with him as q great pastor.
The First Baptist Church wants him.
We baptized him, we ordained him.
aud sent bim out TO the world and
wherever he has gone, his glory has
been the glory OF the old mother
church. say again, we want Dr..
Brooks.
REASONS GIvKN
First, becaase he is Q man OF great
Ohristian purity; secondly, because
among the Baptist ministry h mas
tors his whole flock from the hIphest
to the lowest and makes them ali feel
at home with him.
Inirdly, DIR. Brooks, though educat-
ec, brilliant and cultured, vet. has that
peculiar quality found In few hiehIv
educated preachers, which makes hin,
the peoples preacher. The most TO-
norant man delights to hang on the
Word OF God as is hows from this
powerful preacher OF the Master's eos.
pei; That is what our church needs
to-day. Not preacher OF the few
nos preacher of any certain el.ss'
0ut preacher Tor ell the people. Dr..
brooks 10 that preacher.
FourthIy, we want aim bscauso M
his great scholarship. He is the oniv
candidate before our people who has
really graduated from a Uuivers;tu
and yes with ell OF his learning. he is
gentle, humble, Christ-Iiks in his bear
ing.
Fifthly, we want him because he ia
Q spiritual man. VINO is there in the
city of Richmond thet has ever sat nm
Der the magnetic Influence of Dr..
'ooss without feeling the subtle-
drawing power that seems to lift your
so9i to the high re- aims above?
sixth, we want him because of his
lnnuence. We need not saw TO Won.
for everybody knows it, that DR.,
BROOKS, among white and eolored peo-
PIE IN power and strength is felt
throughout this broad land.
Bis VOICE HRARB.
His voice has been heard in the lead
ing white churches of Washington, ID.
o., the North and south.
o.venthly, but IL there is any reas-
on that have, which might SAVIOR of
selAshness, it lie, we want DR.. Brooks
because of his drawing qualities. All
Richmond kcows that the location of
our church demands the calling of A
pastor who Gan hold his own against
other strong pastors of the city. Take
for example DR.. u ID. Lewis, holdinv
his great crowds at the Second Ran.
tist DR.. W. +. Grah sm, with the great
thron2s erowdiDg his happily located
church DE-. A. s. Thomas, OVERT NV.
ing his house Of " Worship every SUNDAY.
Say what you please, the old First
Baptist church must have q pastor
that will either equal these strong
preachers or surpass them one. lido
not mean to say thas DR. Brooks il
their superior, but certainly do mean
TO say that he is their equal in draw
ing qualities.
FOUR OTHERS KNOWN.
know not but four other men ont
OF Richmond IN the whole state that
could come to Richmond and hold
their own against the three pastors
above named. They are DIR. G. b,
Howard. DR.. ]. M. Armiste ad REV, w.
ID: Mois, b. D., DIR. r. ii, Boiling.
There are three young men in our
city that can excell any man brought
here to preach by our pulpit commit.
tee. They are Revs. Bowler, D. Web.
ster Davis and Stokes. five are not
going to cali a man OF great and long
standing experience, why I would
rather take one of these true and tried
young men that we know. But sir.
we want DR.. Walter Brooks in the pul.
pit of the grand old mother church.
He will draw thu people from all
parts OF this city. We want him, We
are coming out Monday night not to
elect him but to call him by the voice
OF the church, not the voice of those
who have selfish motives ct stake, We
want him first, second and last to helm
build up Gods old Zion. We, who are
willing to work hard to support our
church want him, yes sir, and we ara
coming 70 call him. We do not have A
canvass and button-hole people. we
have no list going around to sec1re
names; thst is non -Ohrist-like, There
10 simply simultaneous, spontaneous
craving in the hearts OF the members
OF the First Baptist chursh. to have
Dr.. Brooks come and lead us on 20 vic.
tory.
Yours for Christ, Brooks and old
Firss Baptist Church,
J. Q. FARLEY.