The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-01-01
ReY.J.D. Huffman, D. D.
CITIZENS OF HENDERSON PAY HIM
DISTINGUISHED TRIBUTE.

Great Public OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
pie of all Denominations Unite TO
Honor the Man and His Work.
The Most Notable Event in the His
tory of North Carolina, Said Gov
ernOr AyCOck.
The retirement OF Rev. j. ID. Hufham,
D. D., from the active pastorate after fifty
years work in the ministry was made the
occasion for a most remarkable demon
stration in his honor last Sunday night
Indeed, as Gov. Aycock truly said. it was
the most notable event in the history OF
North Carolina.
Some time ago Dr. Hufham resigned
as pastor OF the Henderson Baptist
church. The resignation was reluctant
Iy accepted. Sunday morning he preached
his last sermon as pastor of the church..
Taking as his.text." The Love OF Christ
Constraineth u" he preached a singu-
larry sweet and comforting sermon, full
| OF beautiful thought and tender pathos.
Dr. Hufham was at his best and his re-
marks we're deeply touching. There was
| feeling Of sadness about the occasion
! which all seemed to share. The speaker
was visibly affected and the audience was
| frequently moved to tears.
At the various churches Sunday morn
| ing it was given out that in the evening
| n meeting would be held in the Methodist
| Prot ch, in, bnoor If Dr II ,f
| ham-tO pay some slight testimonial to
the worth of the man and his work The
idea OF holding such meeting while Dr.
Hufham is yet living, so that his ears
might hear and his heart be gladdrned
thereby, was conceived by Rev. j. s.
| Williams. pastor of the Methodist Prot
estant church and heartily cO-operated
in by the other pastors and congrega-
| tiOns.
An interesting program had been ar
ranged and the church was packed
out the services, even after chairs. had
been brought in and the aisles filed up.
Gov. AycOck was present as was Rev.
Livingston Johnson, corresponding sec
rotary of the Baptist State Convention
The music was a delightful feature of the
service which was opened with the sing
ing Of "A'l Hail the Power of Jesus
| Name Mrs. F. r. Harris was Organist
and Miss Myrtle Harris accompanied on
the violin. Mrs X. p Watson, of Will
son, assisted the choir and sang u solo
with good effect After Offering feeling
and appropriate prayer following the
singing of the opening hymn Rev. J. S.
Williams stated the nature of the meet
ing and made some remarks pertinent
to the occasion. He announced that a
committee representing the five Christian
denominations of the town 1.-TWO from
each) had been appointed to prepare res
buttons expressive of the sense of the
meeting and that the report OF said COM
mttee would then be heard Mr.. Andrew
J. Harris read the following, which were
unanimously adopted by rising vote:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN:-We, your committee
meeting, respectfully submit the follow
| ing:
WHEREAS, For fifty years ourState has
| had the services of DR.. j. d. Hufham in
on" OF her most progressive denomina-
| tons, and these years have been filled
| with labor which now crowns his lie, and
we, in common with all the citizens of
| the State rejoice with him in what we
can now see of his work and the splen-
| did issue of this period of his labor; and
WHEREAS. Henderson has seen the cul-
mlhatlon OF that period of service and
received the blessing of his presence in
her midst during these last years; and
WHEREAS, he has been among the fore
| most men OF his denomination in every
good word and work for half century,
leading his church and State steadily for
ward to high and noble efforts, and his
life has been an inspiration to many of
our best men and women; and
WHEREAS, We desire to express to him.
while his ears may hear and his heart
respond thereto, something of our deep
love and appreciative veneration: there
fore be it
Resolved list, That while we, without
regard to denOminatiOnall lines, regret to
see him sever his pastoral relations with
one OF our churches, our regrets are min
gled with the joys that come to those
who look upon the bounty of gathered
harvests
Resolved, 2nd, That we rejoice that he
has been permitted to round out so
great period of duty done, and that he
has eXemplited for us the renewed truth
OF our. Bible lesson OF Caleb and Joshua.
has the nOOntide glory and morning
homo tpin~IoI + h,> oil
OF future light that only such sunset
can give.
Resolved, 3rl. That the heightened
course of his life shall teach us also to
so number our days that we NAV apply
our hearts unto Wisdom and walk in
her ways as he has done
Resolved. 4th, That we assure him
anew OF our love and esteem, and ear
nestly pray that he may long stand on
the walls OF Zion pointing a world of
SINNERS 60 that saving Cross he has
borne so long, so faithfully and so we'll
These resolutions were signed by all
the committee as follows: Methodist
Protestant church-Andrew j. Harris,
chairman, R. s. McCon. Episcopal-D.
\. Cooper, a. c. Zollcoffer. Presby te-
~ lt"lS. HuU II.
Methodist Episcopal-J. H. Bridgers, J.
l.. Currin. Baptist. T. Alderman, W.
B. Shaw.
Rev. Jesse H. Page was then called
upon to speak for the Methodist Episco-
pal church Gin the absence OF the pastor,
Rev. J, ID. Bundy) and responded in a
most apropos manner. Mr.. Page began
by saying he was happy in having the
honor OF an intimate acquaintance with
DR.. Hufham so long-covering a period
OF more than fifty years. Il am glad
have lived to be present tonight said
he. 1T is enough for Il man to have
lived as Cody a lie as Dr. Hufham and
to have served his State in manner to
call forth such denomination of affec-
ton and regard from the people among