The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-06-14
HOME coMINeo OF NEW PRESIDENT
OF MILLsAPs WAS MADE oc-
cAsIoN FOR REJOICING.
INFORMAL PROGRAM AT
MAIN STREET CHURCH
Number of Talks Made by Members Of
The Congregation, voicing the Love
And Esteem in Which The Pastor
Is Held by His People.

AS announced in The News Thurs
day, the home coming of DR.. A. F.
Watkins was made the occasion of
celebration by the Main Street Meth
odist church last night This was the
first opportunity given his congrega-
ton to testify personally to their
great qualification at his election to
the presidency of Millsaps College and
the informal program carried out last
evening was quite in emphasis of the
high esteem in which DR.. Watkins is
held by the people whom he has
served as pastor for three and half
years.
A large number of his church mem
bers met the incoming train, and when
DIR. Watkins and Mrs. Watkins reached
the station platform they were sur
rounded by a throng of hearty hand
shakers and well-wishers. From the
train these all went to Main Street
church, where others had assembled.
and there a few minutes were spent In
social conversation, while Mrs. Jno-
A. Mcleod and Mrs. R. Young at one
bowl and Mrs. w. s. F. Tatum and
Mrs C. M. Hays at another, served de-
licious fruit punch; after which Judge
Stevens called the meeting to order
and all Joined in singing, Praise God
From Whom All Blessings Flow" The
chairman called on Rev. M. L. White
to lead in prayer. Judge Stevens then
stated the object of this demonstration
and called on R. L. Bennett and H. 8.
Stevens to speak. Mr.. Bennett, tn
attempting to properly phrase the sem
timents of the occasion, seemed to for
get that the meeting was called as .
jollification, and permitted his thought
and expression of it to get quite near
the borderland of tears, because Of the
fact that DR.. Watkins new and worth
lily bestowed honors meant his separa-
ton from this people whom he had
served so faithfully and who had
learned to love and esteem him and
, his family 80 tenderly.
, Mr.. Stevens, realizing that this was
meant to be a testimonial Of rejoicing,
soon dispelled the sadness by throw
ing his hat in the air." as it were, and
telling of how he and others had
. worked to secure this new honor fo1
: DIR. Watkins. and how, now that th<
church having called him to the posi-
tion, Main Street church, as well a.
the church throughout the state, Il
l. to be congratulated. Mr.. Steveni
mentioned that his relations of friend
ship with DR.. Watkins began twent,
n years ago, when he was student Il
n the first session of the college. Will
IS DR.. Watkins was pastor of FRS
d Church, Jackson, where the student
attended services. He referred to tn
intimate relations DR.. Watkins ha
sustained to the college from its yer,
beginning. Mr.. Stevens paid tributi
to Mrs. watkins and Miss Olive tsii
y, ter of Dr.. Watkins), and said the in
IN fuence of these two co-workers woul
al be a great blessing to the boys O
b. the campus"
d. DR.. Watkins responded in words G
ag tenderness, saying among other thing
as that in all his ministry he had neve
" served a more delightful pastorate, an
'c- in leaving he would carry nothing bJ
m pleasant memories. Being desirou
to- of fitly expressing his love for th
at dear people of Main street. he wante
mt Mrs. Watkins to tell it. since he ha
learned more than twenty years "a
how feelingly she could make such
speech.
on Mrs. Watkins arose to the demand
of the occasion and gave in fe
3-S well-chosen sentences an expressi<
ON of the love which she and DR.. Watkil
have for the Hattiesburg people
Rev M. B. sharbrough brought Y
= meeting to close with an earne
= prayer for Gods blessing on DR.. W.
. kins in his new work, on his family
: = their new environment. and on Me
= Street church under It's new past
= when he comes