Evening journal., 1919-01-06
CORDIAL RECEPTION
FOR GrA(E PASTOR
Dr.. ]. W. R. Sumwalt De-
lights New Friends on
First Day Here
PITTSBURGH SORRY
TO SEE HIM GO

The Rev. DR.. John w. r. Sumwalt the
new pastor Of Grace NJ. E. Church, de-
lighted two congregations yesterday
that nlled the church to capacity both
morning and evening II was his first
sabbath here. AT the conclusion OF
both services. hundreds Of the members
greeted their new pastor and thanked
him for the words Of cheer that he had
brought 20 them. That he win sue
cessfully direct the destinles Of Grace
Church, was never thought In their
minds, so pleased were they with his
nrst messages
DR.. Sumwalts FIRST sermon revealed
10 those who had never met or heard
him, what sort OF a minister the former
Pittsburg clergyman Is. He Is map's
man. And that's telling the secret OF
his most satisfactory service. He loves
10 work among the men.
Perhaps Il was this tendency that led
70 him taking up evangelistic work.
whenever the opportunity presented IT.
self with his regular church work.
out in the shops and steel mills and
other manufactures In the Smoky City.
Dr. Sumwalt has been a welcome visitor
for several years. His visits were al
ways welcome, because he talked and
showed that he felt for the mechanics,
clergyman and the workmen.
bond OF sympathy grew up between the
as they themselves felt, and a common
When he left Pittsburg the workmen
Of the American Locomotive works
gave Or. Sumwalt a dinner. They had
band and speeches and a feast for the
inner man, and then they made him
gift. expressing at the time their regret
at his leaving Pittsburg.
It's his pr0gressiveness and enthusi-
asm and ability to make a man feel that
he really and truly wants TO help him,
that lead 70 his being selected 10 lead a
campaign for the Council OF the
Churches Of Christ OF Pittsburg, that
is now in operation there. And he
carries his message Of evangelism
wherever he goes and at all seasons.
HIS sermon yesterday morning was on
the topic, "The Church OF the Living |
God" From this thought he proceeded |
to preach a sermon in which he out |
lined what he considered the duty OF /
the church TO the community. During /
-
characteristic that Is bound 10 win him /
thousands OF friends in this city. II Is !
his democracy and big broad-mlnded /
feeling Of brotherliness.
In his defense Of what the church /
stands for and In reply 10 critics who +,
assert that the church today is very /
sparscly attended. that he displayed the
reasons why he has been sought as a /
L.,
as his own In the past twenty-six years /
he said the population Of this country /
has grown 6i per cent, and the church |
attendance In that time has Increased |
"a per cent. he said.
To the critics who condemn the |
church for It's UNCONVENTIONAL differ |
ences. Dr.. Sumwalt said that on the |
grounds OF the Methodist University at
Washington during the war, three diff |
ferent units Of the American army were |
trained and sent 10 France. But all be-
longed TO the one army. He likened this
10 the various denominations. lie
praised the Presbyterians for their
faith In sound doctrines; the Episcopal
ians for their reverence; the B9ptlsts
for their indvidualism and the Meth
odists for their enthusiasm. Each had
their own work TO do, but as he as
serted, they are all one Of the same
army and church.
DR.. Samwalt, with Mrs. Samwalt and
their DAUGHTER, arrived in this city on
the 5 10 train from Baltimore on SAT-
urday evening. They were driven TO the
parsonage, where the members Of the
Mite Society had prepared dinner for
them
Today the household goods brought
from Pittsburg were installed In the
parsonage, and as speedily as possible
Or. Sumwalt will meet the members OF
his congregation, which now number
upwards Of 1000
Since early last week. the Sumwalts
have been in Baltimore. where the par
cnts Of both reside. Or. Sumwalt was
educated at Johns Hopkins University,
afterwards taking a post graduate
course In ancient languages. He served
AZ years in the Baltimore Conference,
being made a presiding elder at 81
years, being the youngest pastor to hold
such an office. Later he went TO the
Pittsburg conference where he served
churches at Beaver Falls and at Smith
field street and Calvary Church. Pitts
burg His last pastorate Of two years
was at Calvary Church.