The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-11-10
HENDERSON: 3 YEARS AFTER
Some Pleasant Things Said About Us
BY Former Resident of This Town
At One Time Pastor of the Baptist
Church Here.

ADutGh tbtIC.
In the columns OF the Biblical Re
cOrder OF IL recent date Rev. Junius
W. Willard SAYS this of his late visit
to Henderson:
On Monday, Sept 10Th, reached Hen
derson to help Pastor Larkins in a meet
ing in the church at that place. Though
| had made two flying visits to Hender
son as | was passing through to other
places, this was my first opportunity of
really seeing the city and renewing my
acquaintance with the people since leav-
ing for Baltimore in 1896. They were
ten happy days to me, and ! shall carry
the memory of them with me for many
a year. suppose that every pastor has
a peculiarly tender feeling for his first
passionate and am no exception to the
rule | love the saints of Henderson. But
the surprising part of it to me was that
the people there should show such kind
ness to one who had left them so long
agO-and yet not so long. 1t did seem
that the people OF the other denomina-
lions had entered into a friendly compe-
titiOn with the Baptists to see who could
shower more unstinted kindness upon
the returned exile, and it was almost an
even toss up in the end. 1t was pecu-
liarly fortunate thing for me that | hap
pened to arrive in the very midst OF the
scuppernOng grape season, for it allowed
me to renew my acquaintance with that
luscious fruit
was greatly surprised at the growth
which Henderson has made in material
way in these past eight years. They
have something like million dollars in
vested in two magnificent cotton mills,
besides a buggy factory, a cotton-seed
oil mill, knitting mill, a new machine
shop, and many other smaller Industries.
Having read so much in the papers up
this way about the mills in New England
running on hall time, or having entirely
shut down, owing to the high price OF
cotton, it was pleasant sight to see the
mills at Henderson running both night
and day. found also that many OF the
stores had been greatly enlarged and i'm
proved, while the Citizens Bank had
opened a savings department. The city
has fiourishing graded school system
under the excellent management OF that
| trained educator Prof. Alderman, and it
| was my privilege on two occasions to
| talk with the student body about my re-
cent trip to the Holy Land and Egypt.
| learned that the city had but recently
| voted on an issue of bonds to the amount
of forty thousand dollars for a sewer
age system and general street improve
| ment.
| in the affections of his people, and in the
with the progressive spirit of the city,
| the Baptists feel that they have right
| to the best, and they are assured that
they have it.
Many were the kinds words spoken in
appreciation of that prince of men and
| preachers, Dr. Hufham. 1t was a great
| deprivation not to be able to see and
| touch hands with that man of the silvered
| head and the crowned heart.
| His was not the only face which
missed while there. | found myself con-
stantly looking for Mrs. Parham, and to
| me Henderson will never be the same
| without that queenly woman, whose de-
! parture has so greatly enriched Heaven.
| | also missed the face Of Mrs. J. B. Owen
at the meetings. and learned that she
was exceedingly ill. Many were the
| prayers which went up from that entire
city that God would save her life and
raise her up to larger usefulness, and He
| answered the prayers, not indeed in the
narrow way in which they were uttered,
but in the larger way of taking her to
Himself, (Which is very far better" 1t
was melancholy pleasure to be present
at that tender and impressive funeral.
Mrs. Owens illness and death were the
occasions OF my seeing twice in Hender-
son her brother-in-law, Dr. Tyree, from
your own beautiful city OF Raleigh.
learned to love and honor him many
| years ago.
| greatly enjoyed the hospitality OF
many of the Henderson householders
whose names are written On high.
have now returned to my work in this
place greatly efreshsd in spirit, and with
a deeper desire that my ministry may re
suit, under the blessing of God, in the
saving of souls to the glory of Gods
anOinted one
JUNIUS W. WILLARD.
Pastors Study, Eutaw Place Baptist
Church, Baltimore, Nd