The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-23

committee knows that Il voices the hearts
of the hosts OF ministers and others who
have profted in the scope of his labors,
in saying that we have not adequate
language to express all he has been to u.s.
The Pastors union invited him to lead
us in the full assurance of his personal
conservation. We thank God now not
only for having put it into our hearts t.
invite him, but that he came and labored
among us. He has been faithful in the
delivery of his message, unsparjng in his
physical strength, tepder in his dealings
with the broken hearted and tactful, con-
siderate. honoring in his(contact with the
brethren OF the ministry.
DIR. Fosters Tribute
"At this moment l speak the truth out
of the heart, Gipsy, when l say that II
we had our way we would make you a
citizen of Birmingham (great applause).
Tt is difficult to frame ones though when
the spirit is heavy. We felt that we
could not permit this moment to pass
without unfolding our hearts to our be-
loved brother. TO you, fellow worker in
the ministry, l want to say-and to this
magnificent audience-that you are a
brother beloved You have won and will
carry with YOU the undivided affection
of the Christian citizenship of our city.
We are richer In spiritual power, in noble
|
sweeter home life because of the divinely
placed labors of our beloved brother. He
has promised to be with us again, and
1t will be our prayer to God that he
may be able to fulfill his promise.
I'VE are fully persuaded. my dear
brother. that no man could be what you
are. but by the grace of God and q good
wife. Gods best gift to man, next TO His
Beloved Son. This mans Christian char
acter Geferring to Mr.. SMITH, his genial
nature, his contagious happiness and glad
ness and song we know nave been as
sorely missed from his home as he has
We can but feel that his self-sacrificing
and devoted companion across the waters
has contributed in no small measure to
the abundance Of the blessings that have
come 10 us. And now in the closing hour
OF his mission. ministry whose fruitage
shall be eternal and the memory of which
shall be ever fragrant. 1 am hidden to
present to you and to Mrs. Smith through
| you as a small token of the love of
| birmingham this silver mesh bag and its
contents of gold"
| The inscription on the bag was 'sro Mrs
Gipsy Smith, Cambridge, England, from,
| Birmingham, Alabama, October 1919"
DIR. Foster continued. These gifts. let
| ne assure you, are redolent Of an ap-
probation and an affection which are un-
eying and as you present this silver
! is the pledge of Birmngham's invitation
to accompany her husband to this city
] on lis next visit to America And let
your hands take for themselves the con-
| tents OF the bag we plead that you per-
! NIT 1t to be symbolic of our estimate OF
you, pure gold, without alloy"
Present From Pastors
| Gipsy Smith stood to thank the pas
tors FOR their gift and before he had
| time to speak Il. NJ jackson arose and
presented a gold pencil from the Pas
tors union. He made a very short
speech Of presentation and sat down
! Gipsy Smith was also sitting. He watt
/ ed for perhaps a minute before rising
again and said: 81 was lust beginning
| to wonder how many more there were
coming. l don't know. DIR. Foster, what
can say to you, sir For your kind
words, words that / feel / don't de-
serve, by any means, I thank you; but
| by the grace of God / am what l am
That's all. And for these gifts, sir, no
words are fitting. I can only say to
you and my brethren God grant that
| may prove by my life to be worthy
OF your confidence. When Mrs. Smith
| comes she'll be quite capable of speak
ing for herself. For the rest-but /
want to get at my lecture
Mr.. Smith also expressed his appre-
| ciat1on OF all the many kindnesses that
had been shown him in Birmin CHAM
not forgetting even the bell hops, at
the hotel where he has been staying
| The Rev. J. NJ. Broadly made the an
nouncements and prefaced his remark
with a tribute TO DR.. Foster who, he
| said, had been untiring in his energy
| and had displayed great generalshtp in
carrying the revival to q successful
conclusion. He announced that on No
vember at p. m. the members of the
negro Baptist church would give
| sacred concert for white people. The
concert is to take place in the Six
teenth street church and all white peo-
pie are cordially invited to be present
Indorses Auditorium Movement
Before beginning his address proper
Gipsy Smith said that he understood