The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-26
LIFE AND WORK OF
DIR. t. S. DUNAWAY
eloquent Memorial Address Delivered by ercksbur4
Minister Career of Veteran Divine, Who
Recently Passed Away

fUiDS NtN. ~ ~ a. w 'iAisiii's' 80
pastor, delivered the following beau-
tiful memorial address to Rev. Dr.
Thos s. Dunaway, who for thirty-two
years was pastor of the church:
"Other men have labored. and ye
ars entered into their labors john
4:3S.
l wish to say at the very beginning
that I have no idea of trying to es-
timate at his full value the subject OF
this address. IT is said that iii ofder
to properly appreciate man you
must have the proper perspective,
that Is. you must not lie too near, nor
must You he too far away 1 am nor
sure whether | am in the one or the
OF. or class, but as my intention -
simply to pay my own personal dtiec-
tionate tribute to my dead friend aud
express in some degree what ne was
to his church. 1t is not incumbent
upon me to attempt a full charactert-
sation of this widely known and dis
tineuished preacher. That task I
shall leave, to other and abler hands.
Ix birth contributes TO the great
ness of a man, then DR., Duuaway
was fitted by the Providence of God
to fiji the place assigned for him. for
he was we'll born. Fine old Virginia
blood flowed in his veins. He came Of
noble and distinguished ancestry. ana
young man TO have the heritage of
good past as a steady and uplifting in
xpiration These things were not
handicap to him. They were a con-
slant stimulus,
! shall not recite the different steps
in his life in old Lancaster which led
up to his acceptance Of the call OF the
Fredericksburg Baptist Church in
1855 but Ii Is enough to say that to
~ . mn. ha 10 Of
that conviction he came to this town
And commenced that remarkable ca
reer which eliminated in al earthly
sense on the 22rd OF November isl D.
rs is well known to us. he was pas
to- OF this church for thirty-tWo
years-the longest pastorate except
one OF any Baptist minister in VIZ
ginia, AS far as | know,
This Sunday, ferty-ntne years asv.
he preached his first sermon ia inls
church. and upon this anniversary of
his coming / attempt. I'm hating
faehion TO lay my wreath upon his
pallid brow He does not need it, for
IT could be said of him ~ was writ
ten Of Sir Christopher Wren II you
seek for his monument. look around
you" This church is his monument
| said II white he lived aud now say
IL after he is dead--this church IS his
monument. My task has been 10 Try
ans build on the foundation which he
laid to help raise the structure to
greater and Grander proportions, and
TO lead her people on to bigger and
vaster tasks.
But It was to this church that lie
gave the very cream OF his manhood.
Here he poured out without stin. and
without cons1raint all that he possess
ed Of physical. mental and spiritual
~nergy God alone knows what It
cost him, hat without wavering this
mans life was offered up as st living
sacrifice for your good and the glory
Of his adorable Master, and Il was M
mean Offering.
Held High Place
As a preacher of the gospel of the
Son OF God. DR.. Dunawsy held Il high
s,iace. He was strictly Bible
preacher, depending on the Scriptures
for his themes ana in large measure.
for his Illustrations, No man would
ever be led astray by anything which
he ever spoke from this pulpit bur /
am positive would tind his way to the
Cross Of Christ, The Cross OF Christ
was his theme and the Cross OF Christ
was his passion. other men might
speak of civic problems and political
nostrums. but in this place he knew
nothing but Christ and Him crucified.
| believe tina. ! am safe In saying
tha. every sermon he preached was a
finished product. When he laid down
hts pen-And II was we'll known tina,
he wrote In full every sermon he
preached-he had done his very best,
~ Ear as he could make 1t. that SER
mon was ready for publication. He
never entered this pulpit unprepared.
His sermons abound in classic and lit
erary references and anyone can sec
that while he was a Bible preacher,
vet he drew on all realms for facts to
illustrate the truth and phrased II in
language SO simple that child would
NOS misunderstood it. and yet so Wig
orous and virile that it was q Joy and
Inspiration TO hear it
He was a commanding figure in the
pulpit. standing more than SIX feet,
erect digniaed and with handsome
flowing beard. In this place he spoke
~ a modern prophet at time as ten
der as jeremiah, then flaming like an
aroused Elijah, and occasionally ris-
ing to the sublime heights of Isaiah
He was indeed a workman that need
eth not 20 be ashamed, rightly divid-
inx tho word OF truth"
I presume. however. that all Of us
will agree that DIR. Dunaway attained
to the very highest as a pastor. He
was distinguished A. a preacher. but
be suffered no superior a. pastor. As
The shepherd Of tho fiock. he is my
ideal II could ever persuade my
self that could ever be able to come
anywhere within roach Of his mag.
nificant record ~ pastor Of this
people. should b content None
6nt n pastor can ever know the steady
patience. the indefatigable industry
the careful attention, the affectionate
interest. the unhesitating self-sacri-
Hcs. which Is demanded Of the mar
who would be true shepherd
He must NOT only try and visit his
people, keep in loving touch with
all Of their interests. share in their
sosrovs and enter into their joys. but
< he carries every burden that they
carry tries TO solve every problem
that they are solving, weeps witr
those who weep and rejoices With
those who rejoice. There isn't a fail
w. IN business that doesn't hurt him
there isn't difficulty among his peo-
pic that doesn't wound his heart,
there isn't an instance of luke warm
ness ana iudiference~ on the part oi
amy memher that doesn't burden him
II. il part OF them and every sheer
& precious to his soul
y hen pr Dunaway took charge oi
this church and the membership wa: