Evening journal., 1903-09-10
WORDS OF PRAISE
FOR Mr.. SELLERS
CONTINUED from FIRST Page.)

administration. He next went into the
general merchandise business EVith his
brother at Nevada, Iowa, but remained
there only few months.
Studied Music Many Years.
For a number Of years previous. how
ever. Mr.. Sellers had been leading chors
and studying voice culture. He lead his
first choir when "A years old. All his life
Mr.. Sellers has been an ardent lover Of
music and as he has an exceptionally fne
voice, his services as a singer at churches
wherever he has resided have been great
ly in demand. After retiring from business
at Nevada Iowa, he went with the Moody
Bible Institute and studied harmony and
conducting under Professor ID. B. Tow
ner, who for years was associated with
the great evangelist Moody Since then
he has done a great deal of leading of
convention music. lie has wriaten a num-
Der Of hymns. anthems and solos which
have bene published.
1t was probably more on account Of his
dove for music than anything else, and be'-
cause it gives him a much wider field in
that line that Mr.. Sellers accepted the
position In Cleveland. During the years
1Ss6-@ he engaged in general evangelisdc
work and was associated with the noted
oNoNHNtANA HAhA D. SMITH, Ah'1 NAt'hNANN
throughout the West and South. Mr..
Sellers singing made strong Impression.
Started in Y. M. c. A. in 1889.
Mr.. Sellers first entered association
work at Macon, Georgia, in 1899. He re-
mained there two years and during ,hat
time built up one Of the finest associations
IN the South. lie doubled the membership
and when he left a new building had been
erected which is valued at S250O0O.
He next went to Washington and be-
came assistant secretary OF association
there. This was principally to get the ex-
perienre which he could only get IN a
large city. lie remained fifteen months.
Came Here in December.
Mr.. Sellers received the call from the
Wilmington association in June Of last
year but 1t was not until the first OF
September Of the same year that he took
active charge The good work that he
has done here IS probably too wel-known
TO those who are in any way connected
with the association for comment. The
membership has been increased from 25l
to over 800 and all departments have ad-
vanced under his direction.
Notwithstanding the fact that he has
been greatly handicapped during the past
few months on account Of the uncerta .nty
as to securing temporary headquarters
until the proposed new building Is com
pleted
The greatest jump has probably been N
the gospel work From an average adten-
dance of 80 at gospel meetings the last
Shscai year II increased to an average OF
29s for yhirty meetings this year Five
shop meetings have been held with an
estimated attendance OF 1000. The cost Of
-fthese meetings was 500. There has alsJ
been large increase in the Bible classes
The educational department is another
branch which has taken a big jump. The
classes have been increased and the re.
cent taking over Of the Wilmington Insti
tute Drafting School will be a great hell
10 many young men.
Mr.. Sellers has been ably assisted in al
his work by Physical Director Wales ans
Assistant Secretary Frank j. Kucltert
The physical department under Mr.. Wales
is one Of the special features Of the asso
oiation. Mr.. Sellers was lover Of base
ball and often witnessed a game al soutl
Side Park.
His New Position.
His new position in Cleveland will b,
the secretaryship Of the Mems Club O
the Euclid Avenue Baptist Church. Thl
club now has a membership Of 800 an,
plans are now under way TO equip a club
house next 20 the church for the men FOL
social and religious work. John D. Rookie
feller the oil king, is a member Of tn
church. Mr. Sellers will have charge o
all the music. The church is TO be re
modelled to provide for choir Of 10
voices.
Pleased With Wilmington.
Tho retiring secretary, in talking TO
reporter for the Evening Journal yester
day Of his departure, spoke in highes
terms of Wilmington and the people here
He said that his stay here had been yer.
pleasant and jokingly remarked thai H.
could not have been treated better ha,
his grandfather been born on the bank
OF the Brandywine. His wife and thre
children, who are now at his old hom
in Lansing, viii join him in Cleveland.
Mr.. Sellers Successor.
=. d. Hopkins, who is to be Mr.. Sci
lers' successor is now secretary Of the as
sociation at Racine, Wis. He Is unmar
red and lives with his mother and 3; 4
on account of her health that he desire
the change. He has been IN association
work for twelve years and for seven year
has been at Racine, where he is doing
work beyond anything that was ever don
here During the past two years he ha
received calls from Orange. N. j.
zfapngstown, Ohio, Harlem branch, n. J.
ant lher places.
F. w. Fem, one of the directors ant
Mr.. Sellers recently had a conferenc
with two members of ahe lnternationa
Committee. Mr. Ober, editor OF the As
socation Men, and Fred b. Smith. The.
both expressed themselves as mucl
pleased over the prospects Of Mr. Hoplin
coming here and thought Wilmmgto'
should feel fortunate over securing sue
a good man. He will arrive in Whining
ton about October IS and until the
Physical Director Wales win be q
charge.
Plans For Winter Work.
Mr.. Sellers will leave the Associa
ton In good condition for the winte
work to be carried out by Mr.. Vale
until the new secretary arrives. Al
though the headquarters of the Asso
citation will probably be changed mex
spr hg everything possible is beini
done for the convenience and comfor
Of the members in the present building
All the work viii be started now Il
a short time. Plumbers and stesmht
ters have been busy for several day
replacing pipes and putting the bath
in good condition. More intesest thai
ever is being displayed In gymnasti
work, and Mr.. Wales expects lars
classes
Special attention is to be paid to tn