The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-19
GLOWING TRIBUTE TO
RETIRING OFFICER
Years rs Superintendent Third
Presbyterian Church.

| Presbyterian Church.
Services of special interest were held
Sunday morning in~the Third Presby-
terrain church. the occasion being the
time for the installation of the Of
ticers and teachers in the Sunday
school for the ensuing year. OF peculiar
interest was the fact that this service
marked the time OF the retirement OF
/ Edwin Peasants as superintendent al
! ter an incuInbency of more than forty
abundantly blessed in the growth and
influence of the school.
| The services were conducted by the
pastor who LED in the responsive ex-
ercises incident "eu-the occasion of
the installation and then made an
appropriate address on the work of
Sunday school. W. f. Grigg, who was
reared in the school was elected
superintendent and T. W. Hoenniger.
assistant superintendent. and the in
cumbent officers. teachers and depart
mental superintendent were re-
elected.
The retiring superintendent in feel
ing and appropriate words presented
the newly elected superintendent with
a copy OF the Book" with the iniunc-
ton to seek therein the equipment for
his work.
The clerk Of the session read the
following paper as adopted by the
session of the church:
To-day. much time, oratory and
money are spent in appreciation of
the acts OF heroic service rendered
in the recent struggle. Highly proper
1t Is. and we would not for one mo-
ment dctract from any proper method
which can give the most appreciative
expression of the gratitude OF a CRATE
full people TO those who have rendered
an everlasting service to mankind.
But now, we. as a, session. gather
Ito gratefully acknowledge the splendid
service of one of Gods honored SER
wants. Edwin Peasants. in an entirely
different conflict conflict of right
eousness. After more than forty-sx
years of continuous service as supern-
tcndent of the Sunday school of the
Third Presbyterian church. he feels
constrained 10 retire 10 the sincere
regret of the session, school and
church. Without reservation we test
fly 10 tho rendition Of a service which
for faithfulness. fruitfulness and per-
other sphere.
AS We look back over this long
period. il seems almost incredible that
he could have kept the affairs of the
%esool 50 free from those things which
initiate against its progress. for they
do sometimes encroach. but by a re-
markable tact and good Judgment
dominated by a fine Christian spirit.
he has directed IT'S affairs in such a
manner as to ostar@i lis continued
growth and usefulness. 1t is very diff
hcult for us who have been associated
with him for so long 10 think of him
in any other capacity than as our
leader. example and director. and 10
/ justify this claim on our past the
session of this church has unanimously
elected him Superintendent Emeritus
Il for life
His has been lie Of usefulness
and sacrifice. devoted to the direction
of the teaching of the minds of sew
eral generations for the highest duties
of this Lie and a preparation for the
future life This has been his amhi-
tior, and surely no higher could be
desired, and the lips of several genera
tions speak his praise; truly there is
a large compensation in this as he
, sees the results Of his labors under
God in the development of the higher
life of those to whom he has minis
tered. The officers, teachers and scho-
lars desire TO record their most CRATE
fun appreciation of the privilege OF
, their association with him. and of the
many acts of kindness and assistance
bestowed upon them in the discharge
of their dwes
, May the golden links OF love and
friendship thus formed he strength
1 enea and increased as he days sc -hy,
May the memory of this splendid rec
ord be an example and an incentive
TO those who succeed him in his la
, bors of love. And may it be his happy
privilege to see the results OF his labor
abundantly multiplied by them in the
honor and glory of the Master.
I'VE pray that your future years
and may they be many. be very happy
freishteta with the choicest blessing
from the storehouse of our Heayenly
Father for you and yours. and finally
may we all be gathered together, ses-
sion, Sunday school and church, an un-
broken unit, in that upper sanctuary
where we shall renew the happy as.
sociations of hero and now In
the house not made with hands and
> be together evermore with the Lord
. T. w. HoenniSer. on behalf of the
school, presented Mr.. Peasants with
bound copy OF the resolutions ~
. adopted by the session to which was
| attached tho signatures OF the pastor
+. officers and teachers and practicall,
| the entire scholarship of the school
Mr.. Peasants responded with much
feeling and then came to a close !
4 memorable meeting of this church.