Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-11-14
TRIBUTE TO
REV. CREGSTON
Pastor Of West Union Baptist
Church, at Gracey, Who Died
Aug Is, 1914.

corder:
Collin Hodge Gregston, son of Rev.
William and Mrs. Elizabeth Gregs'
ton, was born February 22nd, 1884
at Princeton, Caldwell County, KY
He professed religion in early life
and united with the White Sulphur
Springs Baptist church OF his native
County. This church at her busi-
ness meeting in June 1875, licensed
him to preach, and by this church
he was ordained to tie full work Of
the Gospel ministry December 10,
1879: r, w Morehead, j. II. Spurlin,
and VIM. Greg ton constituting the
ordaining council The record shows
that he had been an honored and
successful student in Bethel College,
Russellville, Ky, two years, Septem-
Der, 1877, to June, 1879, just preced-
ing his ordination.
He was the pastor OF several
churches in CaId well and adjacent
counties from the date of his ordina-
ton until the fall f 1882 when he
entered our Seminary at Louisville,
where he was a student during the
tenn of 1882 and 1888. A frien1
from Louisville writes; "A more
quiet and gentle spirit never entered
or left our Seminary" On leaving
the Seminary he located in Union
County, serving churches IN Union
and Henderson counties. lie was
married o Miss Goochi Graves
April IA, 1886, and settled in Nor
garfield, where he became pastor OF
the Morganfeld chu Oh and carried
forward their unfinished building to
completion.
No period of the writer's lie tur-
nishes sweeter memories than the
years spent in their happy home at
Morganfeld, October loorlooo.
Their only child, Flora Freeman,
BORN August 5, 1887, was taken from
them August q, 1890. The death of
this darling little girl saddened but
did not embitter the lives Of these
fond parents; sermons already
in tenderness became
more tender and pathetic now that
little Flora had gone away.
After a twenty-one years stay IN
he goes, on account OF
failing health, to become pastor OF
the Watonga church, Watonga, Okla |
noma, but returned after fourteen
to locate in Clay, KY, divid-
ing his time between the Clay
church and Rock Springs. Two
years later he located at Gracey,
Christian County, KY, dividing his
time equally between the churches
at Gracey and Cerulean Springs. 1t
was here he waged fierce war against
the liquor forces. In the first cleo
ton prohibition lost by a small ma
iority. When another election was
appointed for September Il, Brother
Iregston sent word to the temper
ance people "There is in Gracey a
prohibition cottage, on its porch a
cot and on this cot a pro- J
libition preacher, this prea her is
Notable to leave his bed please send
people to him." They did come in
great numbers, and it is believed
hat Brother Gregston's words from
he pulpit of a sick bed won the
light. Not few believed his. suf-
,erings and death modified the spirit
If greed and hate in the hearts of
many liquor advocates. Hang
,repe on my door," he said. eff only
the white flag of prob bition may
ioat over Gracey." Prohibition
won in Gracey by forty-eight votes
81. 1914, though it lost in
Christian County as unit. ltwould
seem that the days of vi arious suf-
ferings have not passed.
Bro. Gregston died at his home in
Gracey of malignant kidney trouble, D
accompanied by complications. Au-
gust rs, 1914; was buried by the side
of his little Flora in Morganheld,
KY. August 20, the funeral being in
charge Of Pastor Kennard and the
writer. A short but sweet and COM
forting service having been held at
the home in Gracey by Brethren Hill
and Gordon.