The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-20
WILL CALL
DIR. SMITH.
First Church People to Meet
Tomorrow.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
Will Suggest the Name Of Or. Egbert
W. Smith. a Distinguished Pastor
Of Greensboro. Who VIII
Be Called.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS

At a meeting OF tho congregation, to
be held tomorrow after tho morning
service, the Rev. Dgbert Watson Smith.
D. D., distinguished Presbyterian min
ister of Greensboro, N. c.. Will be elected
tD succeed the Rev. DR.. r. P. Kerr. now
OF Baltimore, TO the pastorate OF the
First Presbyterian Church Of this city.
Information obtained yesterday Is to
tho effect that the pulpit committee OF
the Richmond church has definitely fixed
upon the name of tho North Carollnan
for recommendation to the congregation.
IT'S report will be submitted tomorrow
morning, and that It will be adopted
there can scarcely be doubt Tho gen-
tlemen. It Is understood. were endowed
with p!enary powers. and they have gone
about their work slowly and carefully.
Their recomm endaton will doubtless
meet with the unanimous endorsement
OF the people OF the First Church. who
Will promptly extend call to DR.. Smith.
with reasonable chances OF having It
accepted
SOMETHING ABOUT HIM.
Dr.. Smith is one OF the ablest and best
known ministers in the Southern Pres
byterian Church. He Is one of tho finest
OF the denominations speakers and one
OF its most energetic pastors. and his
acquisition to the Richmond ministry
would be hailed with delight here.
native OF North Carolina, DR.. Smith
Is yet the son OF man who was born
In Virginia, and who during his lifetime
held many warm friendships in this sec
ton. HIS father was Dr. Jacob Henry
Smith, who was for nearly fifty years
tho pastor OF the First Presbyterian
Church In Greensboro. The present oc-
cupant OF that pulpit was born in Green's
boro on January 18th. 1862 He was edu-
Gated at Davidson College. being gradu-
ated in 50 with the degree OF B. A.
Twelve years later this same college con-
ferred the. degree OF D. D. upon him.
He attended Union Theological Seminary
in Virginia, and was graduated here IN
49, In the same year he was Licensed
to preach. and In October. 1885. he was
ordained by the Presbytery OF Orange
For the next two years the young man
was assistant pastor at Greensboro. ana
then he took full charge OF the West
minister Church there. serving in this
field until 1890. After this time he en-
tered the evangelishc work Of tho Synod
of North Carolina. and in 1892 he was
made synodical superintendent OF this
work. Between SO and NJ ne was as
sistant to his father at the First Church
OF Greensboro. upon whose death, IN the
latter year. he assumed charge OF tho
congregation.
AS a prea acher DR.. Smith is regarded az
one OF the finest In the South. He has
spoken here several times, and he Is
much admired in this city. He is mem
Der of the Board OF Trustees OF Union
Theological Seminary. and was in Rich
mond at the recent commencement Of
that institution. His work as a pastor IN
Greensboro has been OF a notable sort
In that city no occupies with reference to
his people a position parallel to that
borne In Richmond by his distin guished
predecessor at the First Church hero.
His congregation are much devoted to
him, and II he lea~es at all It will only be
after a struggle.
COMMITTED HEARD HIM
The committee Of the First Church.
Richmond. or some of the MEM
bers thereof. recently paid visit
to Greensboro and heard Dr. Smith
preach. That they were pleased
is indicated by their recommendation. 1t
1t said that the people Of Greensboro
threatened to lynch this said commit
tee II 1t ever came back again. Upon the
previous visit they were not aware OF
the purpose OF the gentlemen IN coming
thre.