Evening journal., 1915-09-23
TOOT! TOOI! PASTOR
Smiley IS DRIVING
West Church Members For
mally Present Auto to
Their Friend
AND IT'S A "BEAUT,"
EVERYBODY AGREES

Ef EN- / DODl HONEEO
A happy company Of men and wo-
men which taxed the capacity of the
Sunday school room of West Presby-
terian Church gathered there last
night to witness the formal presen-
iation of an automobile to the pastor,
the Rev. DR.. L. Franklin Smiley. The
pleasing event occurred at the con-
clusion OF the mid-week service.
Professor J. Z. Fuller, a member
OF the committee which had charge
of the movement for the securing of
the auto, stepped forward and said 1t
was no secret as 10 what was to take
place He stated that they were
about 10 give DR.. Smiley something
that would be harder TO manage than
the church sessions and more stub
born than the Board Of Trustees. He
said that while an automobile was
not intended to give trouble it could
cause a great deal at times. il could
be very cranky although II had
self-starter. He stated that the
friends OF DR.. Smiley in and outside
of the church realizing that the
church has about 1,400 members liv-
ing in all sections of Wilmington as
we'll as outside and as he is a pastor
as we'll as a preacher. felt that he
was greatly in need OF an automobile
60 rightly perform his pastoral du
ties. An automobile. they believed.
would insure them seeing more Of
him in their homes. They did not de-
sire. he said, to have DR.. Smiley wear
himself out I'm attempting to carry
ont his pastoral work as he has been
doing.
Professor Fuller said that +. A.
Weatherby had been the prime mover
I'm the matter of securing the auto.
The committee was composed Of
Thomas O'Connell. E. W. Crossan. +.
A. Weatherby. A. Victor Hughes, j. +.
Fuller. J. r. Hudson and Ralph n.
Holley. He said that while an auto
mobile was not generally considered
particularly religious machine. still
he did not sec why II should not be
if properly handled lie believed that
this machine would 20 to church
every Sunday and to practically every
mid-week service. He warned Dr
Smiley to restrain from climbing
telegraph poles because they belonged
10 the telegraph company or trees
because they are under the care of
the Street and Sewer Department.
Professor Fuller said the friends
of Dr. Smiley in the church and out
side had hoped in the purchase Of the
car to tighten the pastors labors and
at the same time be an expression of
their love and esteem. AS he handed
a receipt for the payment of the car
10 DR.. Smiley. Professor Fuller said
Il was a four-cylinder car for six
cylinder preacher.
Or. Smiley said he was almost as
mentally perturbed as he was week
ago when he was first informed OF
the gift He stated that three months
ago he heard rumors that he was to
get an auto but thought that maybe
IL would be a motorcycle. which he
feared he would never be able TO
operate He felt. however. that IL
was the wish of his friends that he
should have an auto and even though
he should not have received IL he
would have felt just as thankful TO
those friends for this evidence Of
their friendship.
Or. Smiley added that when the
Eft did come. however. he was as
founded. lie stated that he was sur
prised at its grandeur as he felt he
was only a common place preacher
A touching thing Of his ministry here.
he said, was the many friends he had
outside the church. The securing OF
the machine, he said. showed what
could be done by West Church
Dr. Smiley said he would put the
machine to the best possible use and
declared that he had dedicated il
10 Gods service yesterday when he
took woman, who is practically an
invalid. 10 the graveside of n dear
one.
He said that a missionary from Ja.
pan who had visited Wilmington sew
eral months ago. had been met by
him with an auto Of one of his mem
hers and had asked if IL was his ma
chine. Or. Smiley replied that It was
not DR.. Smiley asked the missionary
II there we're many ministers who
owned their own autos and the mis-
sionary replied that he knew of eight
pr nine throughout the entire coun-
iry.
He added that he only knew one
who had been presented with a car
which did not look as If il had seen
service as a jitney. DR.. Smiley said
the missionary should be here now
% take look at his magnificent car.
Or. Smiley said that in spite of
what gifts or honors were showered
on him he tried to be humble with
ais face toward the cross. The pre-
sentation came to close with the
singing Of "Blest Be the Tie That
Binds"
The car was at the curb outside the
church where it was examined by
hose In the gathering It is a Chew
rolet Baby Grand, four-cylinder.
valve-inhead motor and seats five
passengers.
Today, maybe. the chance of your
lifetime is waiting to meet you In the