The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-27
NOTABLE TRIBUTE TO LOVED PASTOR Handsome Present for Rev.
 Theo. Copeland SOON 10 LEAVE COLUMBUS 1t Is Understood Former Birmingham Man Will Go to the Louisiana Conference of the Meth
 odist Church.
SOON 10 LEAVE COLUMBUS

Columbus, Ga., November 26.-(Special) The Rev. Theodore Copeland. who has been pastor of St. Luke's Methodist church in this city over two years, and ] who will be transferred from the South | Georgia Methodist conference, going. 1t is understood, to the Louisiana confer ence of the Methodist church. receiyf. very substantial evidence last night of the esteem and affection in which he is held by his Columbus friends. The Rev. MT. Copelands old home is Birmingham. and his father resides there.
 The Rev. and Mrs Copeland were in- vited to the parlors of the Rankin House and found many of their friends assem. bled there. Captain Wiley Williams | Judge Reese Crawford and others madz short talks. Judge Crawford making the i formal presentation to them of chest of silver and game set valued at s25o. On | the plate of the chest are engraved the words: Rev. and Mrs Theodore Cope land From Columbus Friends. 1S05" The name Copeland" is engraved on each of the numerous pieces of beautiful silver forming the costly contents of the chest
 Chief Williams Speaks.
 | Capt Wiley Williams, chief of the Co., lumbus police department, in his talk tv night. gave an interesting history of the circumstances which led up to the pre- sentation this evening. He said:
 "Dr. Copefand Several nights ago. while reading a newspaper in my office l mo- ticed that the South Georgia conference would meet on the 29th. Immediately my thoughts turned to you. For more than two years you have been the police de- partments friend-my friend. And the thought occurred to me that it would be something nice, and the proper thing, to show my appreciation of you, to get you a nice little present. something that you could take to conference with you,
 'I walked up to Broad street and saw genial clever Alex Reid standing in front of the Rankin House. l told him my thoughts and said to him that I intended | to get god-headed cane for the Rev. l MT. Copeland. ''I want to be in on that, too." he remarked. We then agreed that we would each see five men and get s5 from each, making $50. When we met the next day we found that we had too much money for a cane, and decided that we would buy handsome watch and chain. The next night when we met at Smenner' s drug store corner our contributions had grown and we again found that we had too much money for the watch and chain. While standing debating the situation AL derman Loewennerz came up We told him our trouble. Why let's get a box 1 of silverware, and then nis good wife can be made happy, too said Mir. Loe- wenherz. Straightway we went to the | jewellers, selected a chest of silver and | all felt jubilant. When we met again we found that we had $50 more than was necessary to pay for the silverware. and | we added the handsome game set.
 "So now, MT. Copeland, you have the story of the presents we will shortly pre- | sent to you and your good wife.
 | "I wish to add that every penny con tributed came from friends outside of your church. We positively refused to accept a dollar from any member of St. Luke. although we were begged to do SO Your friends literally fell over each other in making contributions. and they included | Jew and Gentle the rich and the poor man, the saint and the sinner. We actually had to refuse several contributions be- cause we did not need the money-we had enough.
 Many Acts of Kindness.
 And now just a few more words and 1 I will make room for more eloquent speakers than myself Holding the position of chief of police, I see a great many things that other people do not sec I have seen you do many acts of kindness, many good deeds, that the members of your church never knew of. And right here I will state that one man who gladly contributed to this fund to buy you a present told me that you were the only minister in Columbus who had ever asked him to attend church. Is 1t any wonder that you have so many friends? In all the months that have known you have never heard you criticize the shortcom- ings of your fellow man. You seem to be lmbued with the spirit to say something kind and something good of everybody helping the weak and strengthening the afflicted and these traits have endeared you In the hearts of the people.
 Tt is my sincere hope and the wish of us all. that, matter where youl calling may lead you, no matter where you may be stationed In the years to come that your life may always be as bright as and as beautiful as the ches of shining silver which Judge Crawford will now present 70 you.''
 The Rev. MT. Copeland was deeply touched by this beautiful evidence of ap preciation. Tomorrow morning he will preach at St. Luke's church his farewell sermon to his Columbus friends. Th police force Of the city will attend in body. The policemen have gone out sev eral times to hear him preach during th'