Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1907-02-09
Letter From a Pastor.

Dear Editor: Will you kindly give
me space in your valuable paper 10
make public acknowledgment OF the
kindness which the good people OF
Retbel Church have recently shown
Ms. Bethel has the reputation Of being
kind to her pastors, and she has GER
tainly shown herself worthy OF TINS
reputation, since we have had the
honor of serving her. The three years
of service rendered on this Held mas
been very pleasant period to us. All
the way has been marked by more or
less of genuine progress. The path
along which this pastor has come has
been paved by the sympathy ana
LOYALTY of the people, and the work
has been made comparatively easy py
their prayers and cooperation. IL
seems, however, that Bethel mas Oh
late been outdoing herself. She mas
II think, gone beyond any previous
record. She has raised the pastors
salary for 1907, by the sum OF Sloo'
and this on the heels Of her increase
to 1878 for Missions last year.
| But the deed that inspires the writ
ing of these sentences is the pound
,npn that the charch gave us on the
night of January 18th. This is what
, started out to write about, but as
often do when trying to preach go
away from my text. We have max
"poundings" before OF various sorCS
We have been pounded on the pack
!, on the nose, on the head, in the rae
It and ewes and sometimes in the mouth
k we have been"pounded" at home an
y abroad, on the land and sea; we nav
!. been pounded" by father by mother
3 bv brothers, by sisters, by sweetheai
~ and wife, by friends, and foes; W
l. have been "pounded'with STICKS VIII
Of paddles, with palms, with list, VIII
70 words and with looks; but the De-
la "pounding" of all was that which I'll
~ church gave us on the date give
r. above. They rushed in upon US liz
'. a mighty army and pounded" UNI
Do we were mot sore) happy in the Pc
st session of too many nice and user
things to enumerate here. I'M
brought us their smiles to cheer
they brought us their loving words
ia inspire us, they brought us their gu
To enrich us. When they had finish
the Job, we could truly and ]oyful
'"' say lit is we'll DONE" For none
these things do we in the least II
er, worthy, but for them all we are I
Tx more grateful because they are 1
deserved.
IT,, have two reasons for wishing the
,do things made public. I feel that IL
hut due the dear people VINO u
make us happy that their LOVING a
ev- shall be known. At the same tir
we the publicity of these things may
md reminder and an example to OF
churches. who do not see the neee
d., such things. If you wish to add a
for tie more happiness to your PaS''
DDS life and make his work seem hgn'
lere "pound" him. If he is in good s'a
ing and gospel order as a PAP
preacher, the more you pound
,ew and the more you raise his salary
.aS happier will be his life'and the ns.
pau w;ll he his work. My other res
louS for putting these things in print is
mas NAV use them as a preface 10
m nl expression of constantly grow
"a. conviction which 1 have had Tor
ounV time. Hear it! There is no Of
church than Bethel! Do you a
with met Ifyour faith is little
70 take hold of this statement
and TO see US, mingle with US IN
/ be worship, hear our people praise
Lord, and you will be convince
know that we have room LOT /
Improvement. we are noU VIII"
al " ought to be, we are not what we
to be, we are not what by GODS
yable we shall be, but with all her II
even Bethel possesses a loyalty TO
is not that ia not often surpassed. Myp
,iven. today is that I may be as faitht
'eatly are nv people, andunder coos
NAV we continue to rise higher
40 ~ bonds of fellowship, higher II
81 tross sphere of Christian activity ant
aos r higher in the vision OF God ana
TOos even until the perfect day. Thei
~ tho we all share in the glory OF that
noon where the voice of sorrow Is II
They unheard anu "n' q Mo
Il our sing together. w. o. wv