Evening star., 1909-05-08

Rev. John e. Briggs. pastor OF the
Capitol Avenue Baptist Church of At
lanta. Ga, has accepted the recent call OF
the Fifth Baptist Church of this city. and
will preach here May 30. The acceptance
of the pastorate was embodied in a letter
received from Rev. Mr.. Briggs this morn
ing by J. ]. Darlington, one of the officers
of the Fifth Church. 1t will be read to
the congregation at the morning service
tomorrow.
Rev. Mr.. Briggs was educated at Bethel
Hill Institute, North Carolina. and Mercer
University. Macon, Ga. where he took
the A. B. degree in 1898 with honors. He
last year at college he was pastor Of the
Bellevue Baptist Church in a suburb of
Macon.
the Southern Baptist Theological Semi
nary, Louisville, KY, leading to the mas
ters degree, along with postgraduate.
work in 1901. When in the seminary he
was called to succeed Dr. w. J. McGloth-
lin, one of the faculty, to the pastorate
of the Baptist Church at Millville, KY.
He held this pastorate during his semi
nary course The church prospered and
greatly increased in membership and con-
tributions during these three years.
Has Had Notable Career.
Leaving the seminary he became pas
tor Of the Baptist Church at Green's
boro. Ca, In succession to DIR. Strickland,
DR.. Straton. DR.. j. II. Gambrell and Rev.
A. NJ. Bennett. The church grew in
numbers and strength. Plans were adopt
ed, money raised and work begun on the
new and commodious building which the
church now occupies.
Leaving this field. after three years the
pastor worked under the direction of the
state mission board of Georgia for a year.
visiting all sections Of the state from the
mountains to the sea, holding evangelistic
meetings, organizing churches and Sum-
day schools. He worked at this SO con-
stantly and earnestly that he came near
breaking down In health.
About Ave years ago he accepted the
call Of the Capitol Avenue Baptist Church
of Atlanta. Ga. During this interval the
bled. The young peoples work has in
The South Side Mission has become an
independent. self-supporting church. with
more than 800 members. A large colony
helped in the organization of the new
Grant Park Baptist Church. The church
has more than doubled in contributions
and membership since Mr.. Briggs as
sumed the pastorate.
Dr. and Mrs. ]. McF. CASTOR left the
church eight months ago to become medi-
cal missionaries and take charge Of the
hospital at Laichow Flu, China, and are
supported by the church. During these
five years more than one thousand have
been added to the membership Of the
church. Mr.. Briggs has evangelistic
gifts. and usually holds two or three
meetings year. He recently conducted
a successful meeting in Hattiesburg,
Miss.
Wanted Him to Stay.
There were many influences brought to
bear upon Mr.. Briggs to remain in At
lanta. not only by the members of his
flock. but by the ministry at large and
the citizens in general. Mr.. Briggs is
member of the home mission board of
the southern Baptist convention. and is
chairman Of the committee on work west
of the Mississippi river. He was recently
northern Baptists, at which time he over
looked the church property and field of
the church to which he comes to be
pastor.
Last year Mr.. Briggs was president of
the Baptist ministers conference of At
lanta. and is now vice president of the
evangelical ministers conference Of that
city.
The church he leaves is now raising
money and considering plans for a new
Sunday school house. and eventually a
new and larger church building to ac-
commodate the increasing numbers who
are turning in that direction. The church
is now In the midst Of an evangelistic
meeting. So far about fifty have been
added to the membership.