El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-14


to his congregation on sunday morn
ing. He does not expect TO leave IN
til the first Of February. He goes to
Chicago TO become executive secretary
OF the Chicago Christian Missionary
society, and will have general over
sight Of all work Of the Disciples of
Christ in Chicago and its immediate
environs.
Accepts a Challenge.
7 regret very much to leave Ell
Paso," said M Rice Monday, but 1
believe there is a large field IN Chi
cago. Most important to me is the
fact that the can received came to
me in the nature Of q challenge I
have been told by those outside of
Chicago who know the field well that
Chicago presents the greatest mis-
sionary opportunity our country af-
fords the Disciples Of Christ I have
also been told that there are grave
difficulties 10 be overcome, but that
the way seems open to overcome them
more completely than ever in the past
These are days when men in vast
numbers are hazarding their lives
in the acceptance of mighty chal-
lenges- I could not be true to myself
nor to the cause TO which I have given
my life and refuse now TO accent
such a challenge has come 20 me. Il /
involves rather radical change in my
LIES program. I have been 4 pastor l
for more than q quarter of a century I
with scarcely the intermission OF a /
single week when I did not have a /
pulpit of my own in which to preach, !
and love the pastorate. as I love /
no other department OF the work of 1
the Kingdom
Has Big Work Ahead.
7 shall not have to turn aside en- 1
tirely from this program but il will !
be subordinate, from this on, to GER
tain executive duties which I shall 1
nave to assume I do not know that 1
I can succeed. Numerous friends
have been kind enough to assure me 4
that they feel that I can succeed. and |
in the confidence which arises out OF /
their judgment as well as in the faith
that / shall be led OF the Lord, I have
decided to make the venture.
while there is some satisfaction IN 4
returning TO the scenes of my earlier
ministry, and to the friends of former
years, the reasons that have influ-
enced ne most definitely are those of
duty rather than anything else. shall
go TO my new work with q profound
consciousness Of the heaviness- OF the
tasks that await me, and yet with the
earnest hope that ! may be able. by
the help and the prayers Of numerous
friends here and elsewhere. TO per
form those tasks in somewhat cred
table and worthy manner.
Il love FL Paso and the Southwest
and believe in their future. I regret
to leave here very much, not alone be-
cause Of the friends I am leaving be-
hind. but because I believe there is a
good field here for the work which
the church can do"
Has Been Useful Citizen.
Since coming to FL Paso almost nine
years agO-in October, 19Os-Dr. Rice
has endeared himself to his congrega-
ton and has made hundreds Of warm
friends in FL Paso. He has
worked hard and successfully TO build
up his church and has been identified
with all the civic movements for the
benefit Of FL Paso. Taking a church
with 400 members. he has seen ii grow
to a mem bershiD Of 622: besides. there
Is now the Austin Park church
formed from the membership of the
The First Christian Sunday school
had 40 members when DR.. Rice came.
Now il has 200 members and there are
80 in the Austin Park chSrch- The
First Christian church is known as !
1ne Of the most harmonious and best
west and the work Of the pastor and ,
his flock has been at all times as !
harmonious as IL has been progress
sive.
Hos Covered Mission Field.
For the past five years Dr. Rice.
I
Texas Christian Missionary society.
las had charge Of all the missionary :
work in the state of New Mexico and :
Texas west of the Pecos river for his !
denomination and his work has. there :
ore. been much lareer than Fl Paso. +,
work that has fitted him largely )
or the new task he is about to take !
ID
DR.. Rice is expresident Of the Min ;
steriai alliance of FL Paso and has
,een for a number Of years its dele
rate to the Central Labor union. He
vas active n promoting the Asso-
lated Charities meeting for this
purpose was one OF the first public
Meetings he attended in Fl PasO-snd [
S at present a director In the organi- $
alton. he has also been active In [
Z. II. C. A work. 7
Fights the cred Light"
He was instrumental in bringing T
he first meeting Of the Laymen's c
Missionary movement 70 FL Psso in $
80 and he promoted the Good Gov :
rnment league. which was formed I
GLOWING the abolition Of the red 3
ight" district on Utah street. The a
urpose of this league was TO prevent n
he growth Of another district" and a
"a prevent the scattering OF the in
bitants throughout the city Or
ice also led the fight 70 nreFeut the C