The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-09-12
the Sunday school and lay reader in

his nome cnurcn. w Hlle q SOluleI
of the Confederacy, he never relin-
auished the desire of his heart, and
! after two years of assiduous study at
! Newberry, he was ordained to the
holy ministry. He has been almost
continuously a missionary pastor for
80 years. His service to the church
has been both varied and faithful.
President of synod for three terms,
secretary for eight years, secretary
of the United synod for 20 years,
editor of three periodical publica-
tions, member of the board of
trustees of Newberry college for 40
years, it has been given to him to
give to the church multiform serv-
ice such as has fallen to the lot of
few. DIR. Hallman has been and is a
devoted Christian minister, and many
are the fruits of his long and labori-
Gus ministerial life.
A representative of the synod, be-
longing to younger generation is
M. o. J. Kreps, D. D. A son of the
Rev. B. Kreps (who was lifelong
member of the South Carolina syn
od), he was born in the Lutheran
parsonage at Lexington. Received
his A. B. degree in 1880 from New
berry college (and the honorary de-
gree of D. D. in 1922, he completed
his theological course at the South
ern Seminary, then located at Salem,
Va, and was ordained in 1888. DIR.
Kreps, both as pastor, as counselor
and as financial secretary, has given
valuable and lasting service to the
church. AS an officer of the South
Carolina synod and of the United
synod, as member of the board of
trustees of Newberry college and of
the Theological Seminary (of which
latter board he is the efficient presi-
dent}, he has displayed sound judg-
ment and fine executive ability. DR..
Kreps has done much constructive
work both in the pastorate and in
the great cause of Christian educa-
ton. AS pastor of the mission con-
gregations of St. Luke's and Holy
Trinity. Columbia, he is doing a diff
ficult work, and one of much self
denial.
Has Intelligent Laity.
The. synod throughout its history
has been blessed with an. intelligent
laity. A representative layman, one
of a number of loyal laymen who are
deyoting their talents to the service
of the church,, is DR.. George B. Gro
mer, LID, of Newberry. DR.. Gro
mer is an alumnus of Newberry col
lege, graduating with first honor in
1877. A thumb-nail sketch of his
active and useful life wauld be: Prin-
cipal of the preparatory department
in the year of his graduation, a men,
Der of the faculty at the next session,
subsequently a successful lawyer and
trusted counsellor, president of New
berry college from 1896 to. 1904, an
office in which he displayed signal
ability as teacher and guardian of
youth; resuming the practice of law
in 1904 and widely known as one Of
the most able and eminent members
of the legal profession in the STATE;
occupant Of many positions Of honor
and trust, at the same time declining
to be candidate for the highest po-
litical offices in the gift Of the peo-
pie. In 1901, while president Of the
college, Wittenberg college and
Muhlenberg college conferred on
Professor Cromer the degree Of doc
tor of laws. DR.. Cromer is a men,
ber of the foremost legal civic and
patriotic organizations IN the state
and country. He has given invalu-
able service as a member of the
United Synod's seminary board,
board of publication and board of ed
ucation. For many successive terms
he has succeeded himself as president
of the board of trustees of Newberry
college, and his clear eye and wise
hand have steered that heavy laden
craft clear of rocks and shoals. DR..
Cromer was one of the organizers of
the laymen's missionary movement
and served as it's chairman through
out it's career of II years. No work
of the church ever received more
loyal attention and able leadership
at the hands of any layman. Its sue
cess and the lasting work it accom-
plished are large due to his guiding
hand mad self-sacrifcing spirit. AS