The Detroit times., 1910-08-18
FIRST CHURCH
CALLS NEW PASTOR
Leading Cong1 Body Wants Rev. ].
Percival Huget, of Galesburg, ILL.,,
To Succeed DR.. Atkins.

At special meeting of the First
Congregational church and society
Wednesday evening a unanimous call
was extended to the Rev. J. Percival
Huget. Of Central church. Galesburg.
ILL.,, to become the pastor OF the
church, in conformity with the recon-
mendation of the committee Of IL
chosen nearly q year ago to select q
successor to Rev. Gaius Glenn At
kins, who went to Central church OF
Providence. r. L.. Jan. /. 1910.
In calling the Rev. ]. Percival
Huget pronounced Hu-gay) TO q
church that has rejoiced In such
a notable succession Of pastors
as Eddy. Davis. Boynton and At
kins, the First Congregationalists
have followed their custom OF choos'
ing with deliberation man who has
proven that he measures up to the
requirements OF metropolitan pas
torate by splendid and sustained
efficiency in the field from which ne
is called.
The Central Congregational church
OF Galesburg, seat Of Knox College
has a membership Of 1888, Sunday
school enrolment of 1924 and q
young peoples society OF 220. This
places it. at the forefront OF Congre'
gationalism In the United States. Its
| loyalty and devotion to its pastor are
such that the separation will be pain
full indeed, although the GalesburG
congregation has felt that IL was In.
evitable that their gifted leader would
~ IN q
work and a wider leadership.
Mr.. Huget's name went before the
committee In its first meeting, along
with several others. and was constant
ly recurring with commendatory ex.
pressions and reports while various
men were being investigated. Twice
the gentleman declined TO consider
change, feeling that his work In Gales
burg was not completed, but was dnal-
" over-borne after an interval OF sew
eral months following his first dec
lipation, Cby the urgency OF the De-
troit situation and the outlook for
larger usefulness In a city OF half
million people.
The new pastor Is product OF the
middle west and this fact Is renected
in the directness and frankness OF his
hearing and speech. He gives the I'm.
preston OF singleness Of purpose, OF
being tremendously In earnest, but
doesn't herald the fact with obtru-
siveness, affectation or frills. He Is q
fluent, effective speaker, inspirational
rather than scholastic, with a readi-
ness OF Illustration and familiarity
with good literature that give to his
~ nd o.
ping interest. He believes In organ
ization. hard work, the long look
ahead and In the value OF close per-
sonal relation with his people In
quickening the spiritual life OF the
church. Not long ago In sermon
to his people he gave the four-fold OBJ
jective of the church as Christian
nurture, evangelism, social service
and missions, and likened the four
detectives TO individual motors ener.
gized by one central power plant. The
dynamic power energizing the machin-
cry of the church he described as
faith working through love.
The new pastor who reports for
duty on Oct. /, preaching his first
sermon here on Sunday, Oct. 2, was
born Dec 80, 1873, on farm near
Fort Dodge, Iowa. He was educated
In the public schools. graduating from
the Fort Dodge high school In 1890
and from the Iowa State Teachers
college in 1892. He was for eleven
years In educational work In public
school, college and university teach
irg, at the came time carrying for
ward special lines of study. He re-
celved a degree from the State Uni
versity OF Iowa in 1903 and the degree
of master of arts from Coe college
in 1905 He established the depart
ment of education In Coe college, and
later, accepted position as university
examiner and instructor In education
at the state University Of Iowa.
While at Coe college Mr.. Huget was
often called upon to preach, lecture
address conventions, etc. This public
work increased so that In 1903 cal
to leave the university work and &C
cept the pastorate of the First Con
gregational church of Cedar Rapids
was accepted. He was ordained July
2, 1903, and remained four years a
| Cedar Rapids. In 1907 he was called
to the Central Congregational church
Of Galesburg, Illinois, the largest Con
gregational church In the middle
west.
He is largely interested In state ant
national work, chairman OF the II
linois committee on benevolences, sec
rotary of the board of trustees OF thu
Illinois state conference; also cor
porate member Of the American Boart
| of Commissioners for Foreign Mis-
slons. and will deliver one Of the ad
dresses at the meeting Of the Nationa
Council In Boston In October.
Mr.. Huget was married in 1895 Il
Miss Annie Lees, a woman of charm
ing personality and gifts Of mind ant
| heart which have contributed largel,
to the success OF the past years
There are three children, ranging II
ago from three to thirteen. The fam
lily are spending the month OF Angus
with the Sequanota club, at Charlie
voix. Mich. Mr.. Huget speaks al
Frankfort on the 21st and returns Il
Galesburg on the ed to put in the
last month Of service with Contra
church.
4 Tar.Months'-OldR abs Fatally &c Aida