The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-09
CITIZEN PRAISES DR. TRUETI Vallie c. Hart Tells of the Ministers Work in His
 Home City

Vallie c. Hart Of Dallas, rex, IS III the city a guest of the Metropolitan. Con corning Dr George ". Truett, the dis tinguished minister and Bible teacher who has beer delivering special nightly addresses to the Bible Training school in this city, he said;
 q doubt if there Is another minister who puts in as many hours of hard labor in his work as does Dr. Truett. He Is never idle. Those who have heard him each night at the Orpheum during the past week have expressed surprise at the ease with which he speaks, every word being heard throughout the great building and far out in the street. He is wonderfully gifted in his vocal powers, his voice being rich and full and pleas ing. He does not use manuscript, but looks straight at his audience. and seems to keep in touch with every one present. Dr. Truett has been my pastor for the past six years, and I think that the last sermon he breaches to us is the best one yet. He mas had two pastorates since he began his ministry about 20 years age. For the past 14 years he has been pastor of the First Baptist church at Dallas. and the membership has increased from small congregation until now the church has membership of 1900. The church building has been recently remod- eled at a cost of s125,OOO. and has seating capacity Of about 40O0. When he dis misses his congregation the streets and sidewalks for blocks are crowded. The Texas people never seem to tire of his preaching, and he is one preacher that has made good in his own land. On last SunGey morning in Dallas, at the Il o'clock service, he preached to a crowded house Of his own people. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon at the First Methodist church he delivered the principal address to hundreds of Dallas business men on the Religious Forward Movement At o'clock he addressed a great mass meet ing of colored people, and after deliver ing d great sermon to his own congrega- tion at the night service he administered the ordinance of baptism to quite num- Der of new converts, among the number being one of the prominent policemen of Dallas. pr. Truett was the founder of the great Memorial Baptist sanitarium located in Dallas, one of the most com plete and up to date sanitariums in the United States. This building cost $500, 0O0. There is not a piece of wood as
 
 of thu building. Another thing is that pr. Truett had this institution chartered so that it made no difference what re- 'igion a man or woman believed, nor whether the unfortunate one seeking it's shelter and help had any religious con- yictor5 or not, they were to be forever welcomed to this institution. Not only this, but if the man, or woman. or child that needed the assistance of this insf1- tut aud t,o1 to pay for doctors, medicines and nurse hire, they were as heartily received and cared for the same as the ones who were able 10 ray. Only last year the deficiency in the charity fund amounted to s1O,OO0 Dr. Truett takes the position that preaeh- ing tlt gospel means helping the sick and afflicted, and hence his conception of the great sanitarium. It would have given the Baptist brethren of Texas great pleasure to have had the santarium named after Dr. Truett, but such a course would have been displeasing to him, as he does not believe great insti- tutions should be named after men, The Ruckner Orphans home, located near Dallas, with its 600 orphan children, has warm friend in pr. Truett, and I speak advisedly when I say that notwithstand- ing the handsome salary our church pays Dr. Truett. yet he gives it all to help his church in it's work and to the orphans and to the memorial sanitarium, and to for e'gn and home missions, and also to- ward helping the Baptist schools of Texas since he has been our pastor, he has received numerous calls from wealthy churches at larger salary in the north. yet he prefers to remain in Texas I No wonder the people of Texas love Dr. Truett. He has participated in the dedi- cation of more houses in the south than any other Baptist minister. It is always the pleasure of our church to let Dr.. Truett assist his brother pastors in their work.