Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-31
GRACE CHURCH
WELCOMES PASTOR
Remarkable Reception Extended
Rev. DR.. John w. r. Sunwalt
and Family.

Kew. Dr. john W. IL. Sumwait, WI"
came TO Grace Nj t. church rs its pastor,
the first Sunday in this month, with his
family were formally welcomed to that
congregation i'm a reception in the Sunday
school hall of the church last evening.
Those who have long been connected with
this place of worship, said today, that no
pastor ever began his du'Is y at Gracc
under more happy augury and promising
s,rpport. as pledged to DIR. Sunwalt at
the reception than did he.
The hall was well filled, about l,uoo
persons attending. There was n program
of much excellence rendered. the best oi
good fellowship and the heartiesf oi
welcomes to the new pastor and hls family
abo,nded and there WAS not the custo-
mary. mortal curiosity. but genuine ln-
tercst on the part of those who attended
10 greet the new preacher
The greeting for the church and congrc-
cation extended DR.. Sumwalt and the
response by him. while appearing as a
formal function, were more than that
Because of the friends the pastor has
made since his coming here a month ago,
there was an unusual warmth and re-
srect for the preacher in the church well
come, and "A corresponding desire express
cd ON the part of the minister, to dedicate
himself TO the work Of the church, serrif
il to the best Of his ability
The guests at the reception were not
confined 10 the members of the church
and congregation. There were many
ministers OF other Methodist churches
present To extend the hand of fellowship
to DR.. Sumwali. and prominent citizens
who took the occasion rs an opportunity
to meet the preacher.
The program was opened with Sc
lection hv The Sunday school orchestra.
II & 10, eth al
of the church cont ining Representatives,
of every activity of the church with Dr.
Surnwajt Mrs Sumwalt and their daughter
assembled in the front Of the hall and the
congregation and friends marched around
the hall. greeting the ncW pastor and hl9
family after the manner OF q Presidential
lcvee
The ladies in their gowns. and the
gentlemen os the congregation IN evening
dress surrounding the pastors family.
made pretty picture After all had
greeted the pastor and family. John ;.
Mullin who acted as master Of ccrem onies,
asked All TO arise and America was sung
Then Rev DR. Robert Watt, made the
invocation.
An unusually pleasing Contralto solo
hv Mrs Elinor G. kcmery. brought
a deserved concorc. 4 double male
Quartet from the OrpheuS Club COM
posed of j. d. Smith. first tcnnor. r. ID
Montgomery, first tenor; Dir. G t.
Pierce. second tenor: William T. White
second tenor; Frank Ford Palmer. first
bass: j NJ Engleman, first bass Ramoth
Mitchell second bass. Henry :. Lawton,
second bass, from the Orpheus Club
sang Viking Song, and did il So well
that they. too. werp called again. A. a.
Atchison. in bass solo made new
friends with his effort and responded
again. A. A. WIlmot c0nv1ilsCd the
guests with humorous reading and this
was foi " d by smother double number
BY the male quartet.
FORMAL WELCOME INTENDED.
Then John s Mullln, for the church
and congregation made the formal wei
come address for those intrcsts MIR
Nullin was in a happy mood. and elab-
Grated upon the wonderful history OF
Grace Church and the reasons why its
future looked Just a. bright A. some OF
thc recent wears He contended that
the city Of Wilmington was & garden spot
Of opportunity and that the church pros
pects were Just as glowing
He pledged the unanimous support Of
the congregation 10 the new pastor. and
urged hun not 70 let up on the pace.
That the workers were willing and any
ious 10 help and support him IN every
wsv possible, and that in the short time
he had been here he had made a begin
ming that was g happy augury OF what
might be expected to follow.
Doctor Sumwalt IN responding said
that In public he generally spoke for his
family. He referred to the fact that at
the beginning Of his ministry some
twentv-odd wears ago. he had learned
of Grace Church through hearing one
of its former pastors preach and that he
had followed its fortunes to some de-
gree ever since.
NO PLATFORM TO ANNOUNCE.
He told the guests that he had no plat
form TO announce at this time becsuse
platforms, he illustrated with a story
were usually things to get IN on, but
were seldom travelled upon.
What he desired most of ALL he said,
was that ne and his might live in the
hearts of the people rather than IN their
minds. He said he had been asked many
times how he liked the city, and church,
and community. He answered tins by
saving that for SIX years hls duties had
been In western Pennsylvania, where
the people spoke and lived rather differ
entity TO what he had been accustomed.
But that IN the month he had been IN
Wilmington nc had felt more at home.
because people spoke and acted dliier-
emily.
DR.. Sumwalt said that he did not
propose TO initiate any OF the noteworthy
predecessors al Grace Church, because
limitations vere dangerous. Rather, he
said, he would dedicate himself to the
work and the charge aud endeavor TO
please somc oi The people all the time
and Is many most Of the time as he was
able TO do
He illustrated points throughout his
address with timely stories, and added
to the circle Of friends he has already
established.
Following the program there was a
social hour, during which light refresh
ments were served, and the members Of
the congregation renewed acquaintance
ship.
TIGHT SKIRTS EOLD UP
PHILA RAILROAD TRAINS