The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-14
SYNOD HOLDS SERVICES IN
 MEMORY OF DR. PATTERSON

reasonably expect to be able to retain man whose ministry had won such wide recognition In different parts of the church at large, and after refusing 2 number Of dattering caiissto larger uelds. in May. ll9e1. with the consent or his Presbytery. Doctor Patterson accepted the enthusiastic call of the First Presbyterian Church. Montgofns cry, Ala.
 In this fleldesas pastor of one of fhe most important churches in the bounds Of the Synod of Alabama. the largest charge in the Presbytery ofLEast Asa- bama. at the Capital City of the State. Docto: Patterson had an opportunity to troadeh the scope of his work. which he immediately seized upon with all his energies and with the enthu- life.
 Here 1t was that he exhibited those i'aPe gifts of tea6ershp. tactful, wise. firm and yet withal sympathetic. that rendered his pastorate so successful, and bound his people to. him In such tender ties.
 Doctor Patterson was welcomed to Montgomery not only by his own. peo- pie, but by singularly hearty recep- tion on the part of his brother minis ters andA the other, churches of the city.
 He Pleased Ali. s
 Describing the welcome service. a writer in The Montgomery Advertiser says: Tt was plain that the people of all denominations wevo pleased when they looked Into the frank. cherry face Of the young man who had been called from Tennessee to till such an important charge ss and after listening to an able. forceful. but brief address by Doctor Patterson they were still more pleased by the ring of sim cerlty and candor in what he said. He then and there outlined course from which he never swcrved throughout his ministry of five years. Ii was a progressive course. q esolve to go fer ward all of the, time"
 During his administration the con- gregation of the First Presbyterian Church expended approximately $10.- 900 in Improving the interior of the church and lecture room. A handsome church organ was installed, but better than all this was the growth of ths membership ana the solldifying of the congregational life
 Two hundred and sixty-three mem hers were added to the church during the five years of his pastorate, 105 ot thls numf er being received upon pro- fession of faith, among the latter be- ing number of soung men of great promise ssS
 It was also d. ring '-his pastors ta that the congregatt responded to tho call of the Forward Movement in For eign Missions, and in one year thav' more than cuadrurled their offering for this. cause. /
 Doctor Patterson's splendid execu- tive gifts were ret.ognized by the church at-large also. For nearly eight years he was member of the Gen eral AssembIy's Executive Committee Of Foreign Missions, and Tennessee, as well as in Mississippi. he was connect- led with the PresbyteriaI Home Mis- siorary Committees. A ~ year before +hIs ceath he was made Chairman of the Home Missionary Committed Of the East Alabama Presbytery. Deeply In terested In tLN educational interests of the church, he was for many years a Director in the Southwestern Presby- terian University and for the past two years President of the Board of Trus- tees of the Alabama sSnodical College for Women at Talladoga.
 Man eff UnusuaI Powers.
 He was during his pastorate in Montgomery a, member of the Board of Directors of the .Aianama Bible so- ciety and for several years its Vice President. sa s.5s N. 4 AS Tay coTnmIsSioner- or PreSDyteFy m the General Assembly he was recogniz- ed as a man of exceptional powers of analysis, self control and balance of judgment.
 Notwithstanding his deep interest in the church and it's affairs, Dr. Patter- son found time to attend to matters of public interest. Montgomery and It's civic uplift was a subject dear to his heart. A man of fine common sense and l. Rras~ f ly sought in matters of public concern and he was invariably found on he right side of all public movements.
 His first message to the community at large on the occasion of his welcome service expressed fully his attitude to- ward his new home, and exhibited the warmth and richness of his nature.
 Responding to the welcome that had been extended to him, he said: "I trust you will let me become one of you indeed. l wish to be a citizen of your city and he known as such- l wish to be a friend and fellow worker and to be known as such. I trust l may be permitted to win your respect and conhd -nce Tam anxious for them, but more than all I am Eungry for your love. More and more do + real- ize the dependence on our human friends, and more and more do lean on those whom God has given me for my friends"
 Had Many Friends.
 This longing was satisfed in the re- sponse of the hearts of the people of Montgomery. Year by year his circle of friends enlarged, and during his last illness, which covered several weeks, streams of people from all walks of life visited the manse daily inquiring eagerly for news as. tc his condition, and when he was laid te rest the con-