Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-21
DR.. BRUNER WILL co
Accepts Call to San Antonio
Passionate.
TELLS SEVERAL FRIENDS
Announcement to Be Made This
Morning.
SURPRISE IN CHURCH CIRCLES
His Decision the Result of Recent
Trip to Texas City-Marked
Success in Washington.
IN CHURCH CIRCLES

Rev. DR.. Weston Bruner. pastor Of the
Fifth Baptist Church. will accept the re-
cent call to the pastorate Of the First
Baptist Church Of San Antonio, Texas.
The pastor told several friends last night
that he had made up his mind to accept
the San Antonio pastorate and that he
would announce his decision from the
pulpit Of the Fifth Baptist Church this
morning at the close of the sermon.
The call from the San Antonio church,
which is one of the largest in the Lone
Star state, came to DR.. Bruner about
three weeks ago and the pastor at once
took the matter under consideration.
Several weeks before he had received a
third call in the space Of two years 10
become pastor of the First Baptist
Church of Durham, N. c., and had de-
clined that pastorate. This fact alone
made the membership of the Fifth Bap-
list Church feel inclined to believe that
their pastor desired to stay In the capt.
tai city Of the nation and would hardly
leave the church which he has been SO
largely instrumental in builCing up to
twice its size since he became pastor
several years ago.
When the call from the San Antonio
church was received by DIR. Bruner he
said very little of the matter and then
only casually mentioned II to several of
his Intimate friends Several days later
the news of the call was announced in
The Star and shortly thereafter the pas
tor made arrangements to leave for Tex
as TO look over the field.
On his way through the southland he
was joined by his brother, DR.. Ben l..
Bruner, secretary of the state of Ken
lucky. and together they made the trip to
San Antonio. Here the pastor was cor
daily received by the people Of the First
Church and strong argument was given
that he should accept the call.
1t was pointed out that with q minister
or his ability as an organizer the First
church, which now has a membership of
$40 and which Is one of the largest in the
state OF Texas, would soon be materially
Increased in membership. DR.. Bruner met
a large number of the members of the
church and was much Impressed with
the opportunities of the field. He later
conferred with his brother, with the re-
suit that he decided to take up the pas
torate Of the San Antonio church.
Surprise in Chulch Circles.
The announcement that DR.. Bruner Is
to leave Washington will come as sur
prise to a large number of local church
people. according to a prominent church,
man last night. Baptists and members of
other denominations who have attended
many of his services in the Fifth Church
have been much impressed with his elo-
quence and fervor. He also called atten-
ton to the fact that DR.. Bruner has had
marked success in the upbuilding OF the
local church during the past five years
that he has been pastor. This fact was
one Of the potent reasons for calling DR..
Bruner to the San Antonio church. The
members Of that congregation wanted a
young minister who had proven his worth
and they selected the local pastor after a
careful survey of the field.
DIR. Bruner. who comes of the Bruner
family of Kentucky. studied for the min
istry at the Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary at Louisville. After his grad
uation he accepted pastorate at Rich
mond, Va. and came to Washington five
years ago to become pastor of the Fifth
Baptist Church.