Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-02-12
n G FOR THE HILLS.

LONGING FOR THE HILLS.
Editor Democrat:
7 have often thought of writing you
and the many friends of long ago
about my raRfbles and experiences
since / attended the old Judson col
lege in Hendersonville. May I Just
outline briefly how the years have
been spent.
/ went to Furman university for
two years, teaching during my vaca
tons from school. Then l went to
the Southern Baptist Theological
seminary, where l graduated with the
class OF SO. After this I went to
Simpsonville, S. c., and taught and
preached for a year. then to Central,
S. c., as principal of the school there
and pastor at Norris. From this place
went to Mayodan as principal of the
school and pastor of churches at Mad
ison. Deep Springs and Walnut Cove.
After two years here, / went to Moody
Institute for six months and then t.
the University of Chicago for nearly
four years. During my attendance at
the University / was absent for nine
months, teaching in the state college
of Mississippi. After leaving Chicago
and my p~astorate at st. Anne, ILL.,.
where / was pastor during the time 1
studied at the University, I went to
Baltimore as supply for a while and
finally became pastor of Maryland
Avenue Baptist church in Washing
ton City. After a year I resign91 AID
became superintendent of the Religi-
Gus and Sociological work at the
jamestown Exposition. At the close
of the exposition I went to Florida
and became superintendent of the
Baptist mission work among the $4,000
Latin Americans in Tampa. 1 resign
ed this work after two years and b.
came general secretary of the Florida
State Sunday School association, Civ
ing all of my time to the work for
three years with the exception of nine
months that was given jointly to the
county high school at Mariana and
to the Sunday school work When 1
resigned the Sunday school work 1
spent a time teaching and preaching
al Cedar Key and then at Green Cove
Springs, Florida. When I gave up my
work at the latter place I came here
of this church.
I was married while in Tampa to
Miss Elizabeth Petite, of Kentucky;
he father being at that time pastor of
Palm Avenue church in Tampa, Fla.
During all he years of wandering.
and I have been over a part of every
state except six and in a number oe
the adjoining countries, 1 have never
forgotten Pennsylvania and Hender-
son counties the place of my early
life. Indeed, 1 have always yearned
go back there among my own peo-
ple and live and do what little good /
might. ] love the mountains and es
pecially my native hills.
I have gone from the Pacific to the
Atlantic, from the flower land of Flor
ida to the snowy regions here near
the lakes but to me the fairest land
on earth is North Carolina.
Here we have a great church, with
the best pipe organ l ever heard, with
good music and a large congregation.
/ have baptized and taken into the
church over forty in the past three
months. I have more than forty 9TH
ers who have professed faith in the
Savior and members elsewhere to re-
-ceive in the next few days. We have
a good pastors home and as loyal d
people as may be found anywhere. I
1cve the people, the skating, the
sleigh riding and the beautiful snow
that covers the earth three feet deep,
but I love more the people, the fields,
the humble homes and the grea- hills
and mountains in Western Carolina.
With every good wish foe the new
year and hoping to sek you and the
frsends there ere long. I am,
Very truly,
R. R. RAY.
Cambridge Springs, Pa.
The friends nf % p,ItIoaoa