The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-08
PASTOR CELEBRATES
HIS 43D ANNIVERSARY
Rev. j. r. HuLson, ID. d., Popular
Pinc-Strect Pastor, Rounds Out
Long Period of Service.
MEMBERSHIP HAS INCREASED
During Forty three Years There Have
Been Nearly Five Thousand Adj
ditions 10 Church--ffas Married
t,517 Couples.

with every seat In the barsson,e
eo'hee taxed to their capacity and
+ "i'h practically all Of the standing
ROOM IN me rear of the commodious
auditorium occupied. Rev. ]. n. lint
son. ID. D, one of Richmond's oIdcst
ana most popular ministers. yesterday
morning celebrated his forty-third an.
hlVersary as pastor of Pine-street
/ Baptist Church.
/ Having fer his theme Choosing tho
Right. the sermon was preached hv
Rev. A. w Ayres. former nasto. -
INC College Hill Church. Lypchb,,rp
ana recently elected field secretary
OF the Baptist Council of Virginia
mere was also special music for the
occasion. while DIR. Hutsor made a
orlet talk, talking or what had bean
mpished by the church dilrinr
the past forty three years.
{ When DIR. Hutson assumed the mas
toFate at Pine-Street Baptist Church
t4ere was membership of 1877. peo-
PIE, while now there are 500 on the
ron since DIR. Hutson has been in
taafse o. the church there have been
/ 4'obS additions, and the losses nv
deaths and removals from Rirbmond
j were 2,7o2 members During this
iong period he has paid 4q.759 pas
I toral visits, and $500 calls to those
VINO were found not to be at home
tie has married 1.51z couples and
preached funeral services over uhe
bodies of 2,t24 members.
Many Old Members Living.
Az the present time there are
lwenty-eight members living who
were members of the church at the
! time Dr. Hutson assumed the pastor
ate. Last year there were forty-nine,
! tWenty-one of them having passed
away during the past twelve months
Only about one-fourth Of the old
members are regular attendants. most
OF them being aged and informed
! iIhls paStorate Is the third one DR.
Hutson ever held. His first charge
was at Sappony. Sussex County where
! he remained almost two years. He
later was pastor of two churches in
Chesterfield County and Il was while
he was preaching in this county that
he received the call from Pine Street
Church.
At the time DR.. Hutson was called
here the building was a small frame
one, and located at Pine and Spring
Streets. After DR. Hutson had been
In charge OF the church for ten years
tho space in the building became In
adequate to accommodate the large
increase in membership. and, led by
the popular pastor, the congregation
began seeking larger quarters Ir
I So new building was erected al
Pine and Alhemarle Streets, one
square from the former church Since
that time two additions have beer
made to the church. and now it Il
one of the most handsome houses Of
worship in the city
Pastor Has Iabored Hard.
DR.. Hutson has labored hard over
his duties during this long period o.
service in the church, and he ha.
endeared himself to his congregation
On many occasions has he been call
ed to other fields, but he preferred te
remain right here and look over hi.
Richmond flock. The membership O
the church has been on a steady ris,
since he assumed charge, and nevel
has the membership fallen off Thi
church now has one Of the larges
memberships in the South.
One remarkable feature concernin!
DR.. Illusions long stay at the Rich
mond Church Ia the fact that tn,
first Sunday in every November. tn,
anniversary Sunday, so far as DR.
Hutson knows, has been a bright
sunny day.
At the present time a protractet
meeting Is being conducted in Pine
Street Church by Or. Ayres, and it will
continue for another week.