The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-26
Rslisious Nesos of
 Montgomery
LATE BISHOP WARD
TRIBUTE TO HTS LITE AND CHAR ACTER IN LEADING METHOD s
 IsT CHURCH PAPER
His Life And workS Set Forth By Dr. c. B. winton. Tn Nashville Christian Advocate, And The
 Traits Of The Well Known
 Churchman EuI0gined.

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 pr. c. B. wfnton. in The Nashville Christian Advocate, says:s
 pr. Ward. was elected to the episco- pacy in 1906. He had been for the previous quadrennium one of the sec- retaries of the Board of Missions HIS travels throughout the church and his sermons and addresses in the. interest of the cause committed to him had given the whole connection opportuni- ty to appraise those sterling qualities in him which had long been familiar to his fellow workers in the great State of Texas. He was not a showy man, but eminently q solid one Bishop Wilson. in letter to the Secretary of the Board of Missions has hit on in. single terse sentence the qualities which made us all look to this strong young colleague of his for service on. the highest order. He writes: '1 was calculating that Bishop Ward. with his calm. sober. earnest mind. devotion to duty and profound religious charac- ter. would, as he gained experience. prove of. incaiculabie value to the ahurch." This was a universal feel ing. Bishop Ward at once impressed you as a man whom you could trust.
 The choice of this man for the epis- copacy seemed exceptionally judicious.s Like his colleague. Bishop Tigert elected at the same time. he was phys- icallv a very robust man. Over six feet in height. of athletic figure. train ed in that best of all physical train ing schools. life on Q farm. he promis- ed at the age Of <7 to give at least a quarter of 6 century of vigorous ac- tivitv to the demands of his ofiice But the race is not always to the strong. He and the gigantic Tigert are both gone.
 Probably tho most eminent element in him of fitness for the episcopacy, among all those which offered them- selves for the recognition of his breth- rem. was his personal and Intelligent understanding of all the phases of the Methodist minister's life and work. The Methodist preacher belongs to brotherhood. His peculiar trials and triumphs are shaped for him by the peculiarity of the system under which he labors. It Is a system which has advantages and disadvantages. but it Is above all a peculiar system. For twenty-five years before his election to the position of general superintend- dent. Seth Ward had tested all the experiences of the itinerant ministry. Tn circuits. stations. districts. agencies. secretsryships, eto. he had run the whole gamut. He knew how to be in want. enthusiastically speaking. and how 10 abound. From first to last hs had been loyal and faithful, and no ttinerant whose interests were com 'mitted to him had any reason to Rup- pose that those interests would re- ceive other than intelligent and sym pathetic sttention.
 He was a constant and earnest stu dent. He read great books. His ser- mons and addresses constantly grew. That noble discourse of his On the missionary aspect of the book Of Rev. eiation. which many will recall. took form during the years when he was making special pleas for missions. He deliberately refused to tell stories or jokes when advocating the religious duty of the church to the world.
 Hes,was, In fact. serious man. though uniformly cheerful and amia-- ble. Deprived of the advantages of higher education in his youth. he more than made up for 1t by his per- Ristent studies in manhood. He loved to preach and to pursue those studies which help a man to master that diff ficult art. He dwelt constantly in' the Bible. and he trusted it so profound ly that he was not afraid to read the latest results of scholarly Bible study. He walked consciously with Him through whom the Word was given, and breathed evermore that atmos- phare of cheer and optimism which sat upon Jesus of Nazareth like garment.
 As e preacher he was impressive rather than captivating. He wrought his sermons out carefully, sometimes in seeming a little slowly. His man. ner was pleasant. but not especially ingratiating. But as he preached he worked his way steadily to the center and essence of his theme. and his theme was almost invariably a great one. s
 His best gift in preaching probably was his power of driving firmly to climax and riveting then in a few burning sentences the great thought