The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1918-10-04
METH0D|STS PRAISE
WORKS OF DEPARTING
PASTOR W. B. R|CKS
LEADERS OF CONGREGATION
SPEAK OF HIS REMARKABLE
SUCCESS AND EFFORTS.
ENDS FOUR YEARS LABOR
Resolutions Express Appreciation of
Congregation for What Has Been
Accomplished and Wish Him Con-
tinued Happiness.
ENDS FOUR YEARS LABOR

Seldom is it given a man the op-
portunity to personally hear such ex-
pressions of appreciation for his ser.
vices as were bestowed upon Dr w.
B. Kicks, retiring pastor of the First
Methodist church, last night at fare
well meeting of his congregations
DR.. Kicks is completing his fourth
year as pastor of this church and will
go to the annual conference al Teban-
on next week to receive new ap-
point. He could have remained here,
under the new rules of the church,
because the congregation had unani-
mously expressed desire for him to
be returned. But he had taken the
position that a pastor should not be
returned to church after the fourth
year and would not consider the ap-
pointment, for that reason.
At the service last night many of
the leading members Of the congre-
cation spoke in the most earnest way
of their appreciation of his work here
and praised him unstintedly. The
meeting was concluded by the unani-
nous adoption of the following reso-
lutions:
"This is the last Wednesday night
Prayer Meeting that we shall have
with us DR.. Kicks as Pastor. During
his four years as our Pastor, our
church has maintained solid front
in every line of spiritual and civic
righteousness, and while we have not
done as much individually as we know
we should have done, yet we feel that
the work of the church in material
progress, spiritual development, and
an ever increasing sense of respon-
sibility, has made very great strides;
and that largo part of this is due
to the wise leadership of our beloved
Pastor.
"IIis sympathy for each Of us in the
hour of trouble has never ceased; his
rejoicing with us in our days of happi-
ness, his faith and hope in the church
itself meeting every reasonable re-
quest, has given us the same faith
and hope to make it possible for us to
succeed; his ever present prayer for
the salvation of our young, has kept
the ranks of the church full; and
finally but not least. there has never
been a great issued raised, where
it was necessary for the church and
her leaders to take stand, that he
has not courageously led us as de-
tenders of the cause of local, state and
national righteousness.
"Beside all this, we feel it only
right and proper to say that his in.
tense patriotism and devotion to the
allied cause has had much to do with
strengthening the forces of the Gov
ernment and of righteousness in this
central section of Tennessee.
so we come to the close of this
fourth year with the church clear OF
debt, our property wonderfully in
creased in value, and our congregation
united, trusting and courageous for
the future.
Therefore he it resolved, that in
the leaving OF Brother Ricks and his
-charming family our church suffers a
serious loss; that we here tender to
him our thanks for his long. faithful
and efficient service; that we assure
him that where ever he goes, our pray
ers shall follow him and his family;
and we wish for him a continued life
ef happiness. usefulness, and honor. "