The Washington herald., 1915-10-24
HOME MISSION TOUR
OF CAPITAL PASTOR
Assistant Moderator Garner Speaks to
Colored Consregationalists in
Thirty Southern Cities.


lants, Ga. tells in the current num-
Der of the Congregstionalist Of the
recent trip made through the South
by Rev. DR.. A. C. Garner. of this city.
pastor of Plymouth Congregational
Church and colored moderator of the
Congregational National Council OF
the selection OF DIR. Garner as as
sistant moderator and his tour. DR..
Proctor says:
In the choice of Rev. A. c. Garner.
pastor of Plymouth Church, Washing
ton. D. c.. to the position of assistant
moderator, the wisdom OF men like DR..
Ozora Davis and DIR. Washington Glad
den has been vipdicsted by the serv-
ice he has recently rendered to the
denomination.
The first of the FIVE men who have
held this place to make an Official
itinerary among the group of churches
of their own racial affiliation was
DR.. Garner, who has just completed
a remarkable tour among the churches
of his brethren In the South. One of
the reasons why such an itinerary
could be made at this stage Of the
development of our colored churches
Is due to the fact that these churches
have been recently grouped into dis
tricts over which superintendents pre-
side. Rev. G W. Moore has charge
Of the district comprising Tennessee.
Kentucky, Alabama, and Arkansas:
Rev. d. !. Flynn, the Csrolinas and
Georgia: Rev. II. N. Kingsley. Texas
and Oklahoma, and Rev. Alfred Law
less, Louisiana and Mississippi
II was on the invitation and through
the cooperation of these superin-
tendents that DR.. Garner made his
itinerary The initiative in the
scheme is due to Supt. A. W. Lawless.
who conceived II and worked II out
to its successful conclusion. Through
the generosity of his people at Ply
mouth. DR.. Garner was released from
pastoral duties for five weeks for this
larger service.
The itinerary began at Raleigh. y.
c. August 81 and concluded at Knox
Vile. Tenn. September 81. This jour
ney Of five weeks covered thirty cities
in North Carolina. South Carolina.
Georgia. Alabama, Mississippi. Louis
lana, Texas. Oklahoma, and Tennes-
see. The entire expense was borne
by the churches visited. each bearing
its pro rata share. At the conclusion
of the trip IL was found that there
was no deficit
DIR. Garner was received everywhere
with enthusiasm. The subject Of his
message was The Puritan Spirit In the
Old World and the New" The writer
had the privilege OF hearing this address
in the first part of the mission. and was
delighted over the manner in which the
speaker had adapted II when he heard IL
at the end of the compaign- In II he,
traced the rise and spread Of the Puritan
spirit which, like leaven. had permeated
II he Ia
then showed the adaptability of the New
Congregationalism to the New South.
Many of his hearers OF other denomina-
tons were surprised to find that they
had been CongregationaIsts all the time.
The speaker was particularly felicitous In
his appeal. in that he was able to appeal
to the denominational pride OF Congrega-
tionalists in a way not only not to give
offense TO those of other faiths. but also
to win their commendation by showing
them that they. too. had much of the
Puritan spirit of which our church was
the traditional channel Altogether the
message proved informing. helpful. and
inspiring. Enthusiastic reports are COM
ing in from the centers where II was de-
livered. and the October issue Of the
Congregational Worker. the official organ
of these churches. will carry a detailed
report of this tour.
At the close Of the tour DR.. Garner ex-
pressed himself as greatly gratifed. over
its results The audiences he addressed
ranged from 30 I'm the smaller churches
to loo in the First Church Of Atlanta,
where an audience representing various
phases of city life greeted the visitor.
who in turn gave a ringing address, ris-
ing to the very climax of his oratorical
powers In his messages DR.. Garner
urged upon the churches the importance
OF coming to self-support as speedily as
possible. Himself a/native Southerner. he
was pleased to note the manifest progress
OF the colored people everywhere. mate
rally. educationally. and religiously.