Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-09-03
SERVICES OF
''''''''' farewell a
Draws Large Throng to First
Methodist Church
MANY WERE UNABLE
TO SECURE SEATS
At Sunday Evenings Union Service
in Honor of DR.. Warner, the
Retiring Pastor

One of the largest gatherings
that has ever been assembled in a
house of worship in Rocky Ford
was brot together in the First
Methodist church on Sunday
evening last at the services com
memorating the retirement from
active ministerial duties of DR..
S. B. Warner.
Not only were the services un-
usual in character, as every Prot
estant church in the city had
given up its evening service SO
that the members might take part
in those of the Methodist church,
but it was most worthy tribute
to our popular pastor, who has
during his three years residence
SO endeared himself to the people
of Rocky Ford irrespective of
church ties or religious aifiliation.
Every seat that could be secur-
ed in the body of the church was
filled a good half-hour before the
service began and class rooms and
balcony in the Sunday school an
mex were speedily filled-even the
chairs of the primary department
being pressed into service-and
many late comers were unable to
secure seats and 80 were disap-
/, pointed that they could not take
part in the service.
Philip J. Reifel presided at the
meeting and, after fine program
of hymns appropriate to the occa-
sion had been sung by the Metho-
dist choir and congregation, in
troduced the speakers, as follows:
DIR. William Crawford of the
First Baptist church gave an elo-
quent address upon "The Ministry
Recognized" in which personal
illusions laudatory of DR.. Warner
were intermingled. Rev. Charles
L. Dugan of First Christian
church spoke upon ''The Respon-
sibility of the Pastor, closing his
address with splendid eulogy of
the retiring pastor. On behalf OF
the members of the Methodist
church Judge II. M. Minor spoke
most feelingly of "Our Retiring
Pastor" who was so beloved by
his church members that they
would never have allowed him to
leave to fill another pastorate.
He also voiced the feeling of the
members when he testified to the
esteem in which Mrs. Warner is
held and expressed the hope that
they might for many years be
spared to us as citizens. DIR. J.L.
Weaver of First Presbyterian
church had for his theme "The
Preacher as Man." and from his
association of many years with
DIR. Warner he was enabled to
give testimony not only TO the
fearless ambassadorship of the re-
tiring pastor but to bis powerful
influence in every movement for
the uplift of mankind. lie ex-
pressed the pleasure it gave all
Christian people of Rocky Ford
to know that DIR. Warner was
making his home with US and
could be found doing mans part
in the betterment of his commun-
ity.
In response DR.. Warner testi-
fed to the cordial relations that
had always been his in Rocky
Ford, and of his appreciation OF
the friendship of our people as
shown by the splendid audience
and fattering tributes of the
speakers, and it gave him exceed
ing great pleasure to know that he
had cast in his lot with such
pleasant people after he with this
service retired from the pulpit
and active ministry.
AS a most appropriate close to
the service the choir and audience
sang "God be with you till we
meet again" and the benediction
was pronounced by DIR. Warner.