The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-03-05
DR.. WHARTON MAY
ACCEPT CALL FROM
LONE STAR STATE
ELOQUENT PRESBYTERIAN DIVINE
MAKES SAD ANNOUNCEMENT
TO HIS CONGREGATION.
NOTHING DEFINITE AS YET
Has Been Here For a Number Of
Years and is Greatly Beloved BY all
Christian People.-8roader Scope
of Field.

The congregation OF eAe First Pres
byterian church, and in fact the
Christian people of Columbia are un-
easy today over the news that DR.. T.
A. Wharton, the beloved pastor of the
church, may accept call to another
field.
AT the morning service of the church
DR.. Wharton requested a meeting OF
his official board at o'clock Sunday
afternoon. The board met, twenty
two members being present, and at
the meeting DR.. Wharton talked frank
ly of his recent visit to Sherman,
Texas, told of the field and the oppor-
tunity for a broader. greater work out
there, and explained that while he
had made no definite decision in the
matter, there was possibility Of his
accepting a call to the church at Sher-
man and to the auxiliary work in the
big Presbyterian College and in the
influential home mission board at that
place.
The scene following DR.. Wharton's
remarks was touching. First one
member of the church board at
tempted to discuss the matter, and
would break down, then another mem
Der would try, until within a few min
utes the twenty-five members of the
board and the minister were all in
tears.
DR.. Wharton came to the First Pres
byterian church from the leading
church of Memphis about eight years
ago, the malarial climate of Memphis
having impaired his health and a
change on that account being neces-
sary. Since coming here he has en-
deared himself to his congregation and
to all the people of the community
An eloquent divine, a true and
faithful servant of the Master
he is withal polished, elegant gentle
man and in every sense of the word a
Man, and fortunate indeed has been
this congregation in his services and
his lovable companionship. Since
coming here he has had opportunities
for service in larger churches and at
much larger salaries. but the question
of money has never Influenced him, it
has simply been a question OF service
and of duty. Chicago, Atlanta, New
Orleans and others cities were anxious
for his services, but received no en-
enlargement.
And in this present case it is not a
question of salary. The church at
Sheman is of about the same mem
bership as the one here and there is
practically no difference in salary, but
the field there is growing rapidly and
the church is increasing IN member
ship. The Presbyterian College for
boys has an attendance of 300, and
is closely allied with the Sherman
church. The Home Mission Board,
which has charge of the mission work
for large part of Texas, Oklahoma
and all that section is located at Sher-
man and expends annually 100000.
DR.. Wharton would be closely identi-
fed with this work.
For the past five years the leading
men in the Presbyterian church have
realized the need of man of scholar
ly attachments, of ability and broad
and lofty ideals at Sherman and they
decided long ago that DR.. Wharton
was the Man, and have urged that ne
accept the work. Should the change
take place it goes without saying that
it will cause sincere sorrow to DR.
Wharton and his attractive family. II
is only question Of duty, question
between Dr. Wharton and his God
He loves the people of this community
and a parting from them would prove
sad to all concerned.