Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-12-22
A PREACHER WITH MANY Ex-
PERIENCES.

The Baltimore Sun Of this morning has
the following to say concerning Rev. r.
T. Benson, formerly pastor of the NJ T.
Church 10 this city
"Gihed with keen discfrnment and
the power vigorously 10 express the re-
suits of bis observation, Rev. Frsnklip
T Benson. the pastor of St. Johns In
dependeut Methodist Church, Madison
avenue aud Laurens street, has made The
most of the varied opportunities that he
has met in one place or another during the
81 years that he has been in the ministry.
TO his nstual qualifications as preacher
and pastoral leader Rev. Dir. Benson
hes added determination &c face the
problems of the community in which he
happened TO be- even when those problems
led him beyond what many ministers
might regard as the limits OF their pasto-
raj duty. Among his achievements, that
standing out perhaps as the grestest, was
bis sue, ess in putting an end to policy
shop,, gambling dens and rscetrack bet
ting in Alexandra, Va. Few ministers,
young or old, have ever had more
sensational experiences than bis there.
lie got his first glimpse Of Alexsudr's
while be was yet at the Westerl Mary
land Seminary. That WAS at the time
when the immoral set Of men snd
women of Washington made Alexandra
their rendezvous. For three months prior
to rece,virg his bachelor OF divinity de-
gree MIR. Benson filled the pulpit at The
Alexsndris church Until regular ap-
pointmenl could be made Then, after
eight years service here aud there IN the
MARYLAND Conference of The MethG1ist
Protestant Church, be was sent back to
Alexao1ris, this time ss q regular pastor
he began his psstorate with deelsrS-
ion OF var sgainst the vice OF the pla'e
I In his owp church, wearing the cloak
| respectsbili.s, he found men VIZ ".
only condoned the evils f lhe 'owo.
week days and in tne que PLACES " =
practiciDg those evllr. Al prs b Z
sermons 90 gambliug, be woull h We me-
come 10 him and admit that be had siru +
home with them. His WORDS had fsscina
ton even for those whom he WAS thunder
| ing against. Many lie won into the church
and away from their old ways, bat corrupt
system Of government continued. Then
he made his attack OF the men inaathc
| i'y who permitted those conditions.
Then, after the reaction had set in, the
other ministers OF the town, who had
held sloo( from the crusade, joined hands
with him. Two racetrsckr were closed,
the gamblers departed. some 10 go out
of business and others to brave the law
in Washington or in floats on the Poto-
mac river At one time during the cru
sade there was conspiracy to kill Mr..
Benson. While many Of his enemies
confessed that they wanted his LIE, the
man could rot be found 10 take it. Dir
Benson had three thrilling years at
! Alexandra. The strain told on him.
Broken down 10 health, but buoyed up
higher than ever in spirit, be was sp-
pointed to the charge at Centreyiiie,
| near bis birthplace. Mr.. Benson was
born in Queen Anne county during the
| civil war. He was son OF the late Rev.
DR.. B. F. Benson, for IS years mem
Der OF the Maryland Conference Of the
Methodist Protestant Church, and for
many years a professor of theology in
Western Maryland College"