The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-04-05
REV. M. O. J. KREPs RESIGNS
As Pastor Grace Church, Prosperity
Will Travel for Theological
Seminary.

Prosperity, April 4-When Rev.
ar. Kreps rendered his resignation
the council Of Grace church Wed
sdav evening general consterna-
ion prevailed. We do not remem-
pr when we have been before 50 re-
Etant to announce, believe and
.hza that such misfortl lie para
hunt is true. This came as an en-
sely unexpected, unpleasant sur
.fse to the many warm friends ne
and his family have made during
/ their sojourn in our midst. 1t IS IN
deed a blow to have to give up our
beloved pastor and friend, for we
;. had hoped he would long remain
shepherd of his present sheep. How
ever, since he has considered the
question and decided that he could
do more effective work q travelling
agent of the Theological Seminary
Fund, it is not the policy OF Grace
.church to be selfish, and perforce she
has been made to agree to sacrifice her
persona, feelings and local welfare
to the good Of the Southern church
at large. Realizing that the Semi
oarv and the future training OF our
ministerium are two Of our most VI
tai questions, We feel honored that
<sthe powers that be" chose to hon
or Grace church by deciding that
her pastor was the man best quail
fed to discharge the difficult task OF
augmenting the present fund. we
y are more than grieved to have MIR.
Kreps leave us for he has not only
BEEN a factor in the religious life Of
the community, but Of the social
and political as well. Being a broad
minded, well informed, unprejudlced,
! aggressive man, his loss will be deep
'~:ly felt on all sides. The stands that
he has taken on all questions have
been for the best interest Of church,
town and state.
As to his executive ablhty-nlS
success il the doing Of difficult
,6hings-we need but mention the
magnificent pile Of brick and NOR
, tar and stained glass that now rears
its tower heavenward from the same
grove where the dear, but antiquated
: old Grace church called our forefath-
ers to prayers. This church was
monumental undertaking and a.
Inonument it will remain to the pa
hence, judgment, good taste and
leal Of him who labored so long, so
faithfully, 50 diligently and ultl-
mately, so successfully, long after
its present members and frequenters
are one with Ninevah and Tyre.
1t is gratifying to know that since
Providence has seemingly shown
us a frowning face in this rerlovai,
that Mr.. Kreps leaves us frel GIFTED
with nothing but goodwill, love md
p! esteem, and that he bears towards
Us nothing but the hndest, tender
est feelings.
AS a congregation We have often
been remiss for We are not a model
one in all respects, but We feel that
a little explained, a little endured, j
little passed over as folble, and
to the Jagged atoms will fit like a
smooth mosaic. Ard who can do this
more generously. fully and readily
than this one who has served us so
well in sickness and IN health, IN
~saaeehfne and in shade?
: And yet there is another! "Not
that We love Caesar less, but Rome
more,'' that We repeat this little
pleasantly. One day a stranger
seeing Mr.. Kreps and being impress
ed by his bearing inquired ''Who is
that?" Back came the reply, "Oh,
that's Mrs. Kreps' husband. u
When We begin to say how much
we shall miss Mrs. Kreps, or attempt
:, to paint a word picture Of her We
know not where to turn. We think
of Wordsworth IS poem about " per-
feet woman nobly planned-a crea-
ture not too bright nor good for hu-
man nature IS daily food''-these in
turn are supplemented by innumer-
able lines from Tennyson which
crowd into our mind and yet We are
at a loss to find just the one that
tvpifes her. It is mild to say that
she is the modern version-the per-
sonifcation Of the Masters last COM
mand-the very quintescence Of the
missionary spirit. Her motto and