The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-03
GOOD PROGRESS
IN Three YEARS.
DR.. Ramsay Tells How Grace
Street Baptist Has Grown
Under His Passionate.

Rev. David M. Ramsay, D. D., yes
terday celebrated his third anniversary
as pastor of the Grace Street Bap.
tlst Church. AT the morning service
he preached sermon appropriate to
the occasion, and reports were read
showing the progress in the three
years Of his pastorate.
DR.. Ramsays text was chosen from
Luke x. IS: II beheld Satan as light
ming fall from heaven" the theme be-
ing THE Value of a Good Tendency"
The seventy missionaries whom Jesus
sent to the villages OF Palestine hav-
ing returned with reports of success,
the Master exclaimed, II saw satan fall
as lightning" few victories over
evil prophesied the full triumph of the
Kingdom of Christ
The subjec. was developed with
these steps: L. A good tendency bears
good results at once. 2. a. good ten
dency Is harbinger of complete VIC
tory. B. good tendency has behind II
the power OF the living God. 'It is by
thinking In this way OF our religious
work that we take courage" asserted
the pastor.
Refers to Woodrow Wilson.
woodrow Wilson'S presidential boom
was referred to by DR.. Ramsay in his
sermon Quoting the statement made
by the professor of history at Prince
ton when Woodrow Wilson, then
student. had submitted his thesis on
The State" DR.. Ramsay said: II think
all OF you Will agree with the re-
mark that professor made then-
T woodrow Wilson has sense enough
to be President He has grown in
wisdom since the time when that re-
mark was made, and think that you
VIII agree that the comment OF the
professor was strik!ngly true"
The point which Dr. Ramsay was
illustrating was that great discoveries
and great achievements are based upon
small beginnings. THE State" at first
the thesis of n mere student he said.
was the small but bright commence
ment of Woodrow Wilson's notable
contributions to American govern
ment, history and theory. The CLEAN
OF scholarship was intensified into
luminous achievement
Record of Three Years.
Statements read showing the prog
ress of the church in the three years
of the present pastorate were highly
gratifying to the congregation. Dur
ing this time lis new members have
been received into the church. The
financial showing is equally crafty
ing BY the use of bequest the main
auditorium has been decorated and
equipped at a cost OF $4,000, making
1t one of the most beautiful in the
South. The church Is free from debt
In the three years the sum of s43,5s5
has been raised for general church
purposes. The increase in the beneve.
lent contributions to education and
missions is worthy OF comment. Tho
first year of this pastorate the church
gave s2.555 to these causes; the sec
ond year. s3,9s2: last year ss.s32. Or
counting the increase of benevolence
by percentage. the second years In
crease over the first was IS per cent.
and the Increase of the third year over
the second was 121 per cent. The
growth in contributions to foreign
missions Is particularly noteworthy. In
the year 1905 the church gave STATS
to this cause: in 1909, $3.50; in 1910
the foreign mission gifts reached
s342i. The Sunday school Is we'll or
ganized, and yesterday numbered 4o4
in attendance.
DR.. Ramsay referred pleasantly TO
the gro, tn of Richmond In material
prosperity as shown by the census,
and expressed the belief that the city's
progress in things ethical and spiritual
has kept pace with the secular ad.
yancement