Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1921-11-25
SKY PILOTS OF
EARLY DAYS
Many Leading Ministers of the
County Gave Faithful Ser
vice to Pocahontas and
Vicinity.

Slipht reference has been previous
ly mado to some of the munster
who cast their lots with the town Tor
a longer or shorter period. Although
the salaries to ministers were me-.
essarily small the town was blessed
with some as faithful and about aj
eloquent as the country affords. While
some did not tarry long their worit
abides, and has already borno fruit
in this world and in the life 5eyonu.
Rev. Edward A. Tilly was one OF tho
ablest of young preachers, OF briii-
liant intellect and charming speak
er, but the Methodist church here
did not afford large enough field
Tor one of such powers. 10 Brazil
he went as q missionary Of the cross.
Rev. M. A. Wilson, a pioneer churcn
builder OF the Baptist denominatioh
did u notable work in this section,
establishing nearly all the Baptist
churches, one at Pocahontas includ-
ed. He has long since gone to his re-
ward. We have previously referred
to the work of Rev. j. Tyler trazioi, (,
the famous preacher who labored
here for awhile ut different periods.
Ills kOH SNAliC a. ~
firm of Elicit and Frazier, lives a.
,Pocahontas with his family. Rev.
Ben Dennis was one of the early
ministers Of the Episcopal church
who did successful work, an.
among the most lovable of the men
who have served that church Was
Rev. Mr.. Savage, whom old timers
remember as man of very attrac-
tive personality.
Revivals were held in the town W
different cvangelists, and mention
might be made of Rev. w. w. Smith,
an eccentric character who hold two
or three meetings, his great theme
being the atonement. Tent meetinsA
were held here by Evangelist NJ. ID.
Williams, who had converted Jew
with him as assistant and singer;
and later Revs. George Stuart ana
j. d. Culpepper held meeting on
the Baptist church lot. During the
tent meeting conducted by Rev. NJ.
b. Williams there was present at the
meeting one night young man whoI
was employed as bridge builder on
the N. IL w r.. r. He was convert
ed and entered the Baptist minis
thy, becoming very successful pas
tor and evangelist. His name is Rev.
J. H. Powers, whose homo was in N.
C. He has preached at different places
in this section, and has been succesS-I
full. Other men who have labored IN
evangelistic meetings in the town
were Rev. w. B. Wingate, Thomal
Needham, Arthur Crane, j.. w. West
NJ. p. Carrico, c. G. Jones, l.. w.
Pierce, r. r. Acree, Thomas Taylor,
j. s. French, w. E. Hatcher, BlacA-
smith Sexton and others DR.. French
was one of the pastors of the M. L.
Church who afterwards rose to con-
siderable prominence as pulpit
orator and educator. One of the early
and beloved pastors of the Baptist
church was John ". DjckenSon, now
pastor of the First Baptist church
ing pastor was Rev. Chas. j. Jones,
of San Antonio, Texas. Also lead
now pastor of one of the leading
,churches Of Boston. Rev. V. /. Mas
tiers, who was pastor here, has reacn-
ed considerable prominence in the
Baptist denomination as an autho.
and writer, being the editor of tho
Western Recorder at this time. Rev.
Rufus E. Holder Of Bluefield was Il
pastor hero and Rev. Samuel W.
Moore, now Of Bluefeld, was an ac-
tive young pastor of the Presbytc-
'rian church n few years ago, con-
temporary with Rev. A. B. Kennedy
of the Baptist church, this being tho
first pastorate of each of these men,
They formed strong friendship for
each other which il asted through
the years since. Rev. Mr.. Kennedy
is pastor of leading church at Co.
lumbia S. c. Mr.. Kennedy built the
Baptist church at Boisscvane while
he was pastor at Pocahontas. One OF
the ablest ministers ever brought to
Pocahontas was during the ministry
of Rev. S. w. Moore, and was in the
person of Rev. DR.. w. w. Moor.,
President Of Union Theological Sem.
ipary. The several denominations fat,
"a some financial. difficulties in erect
ing their church buildings, but they
were possessed with the kind of
spirit that knows no such thing US
failure so they put their shoulders
TO the wheel and built. One Of the
&early pillars in the Baptist church
was John l.. 'Baber, who labored Ill
season and out Of season, assisted bJ'
such men as Walter Turpin, Henry
Smith. and later by Fred Baker abi
VIM. W. French. For the Presbytcr-
ian Edward j ware was one OF Cno
1noat faithful and efficient Of lay
men, and as the work progressed y
number Of other prominent layme,i
were identified with the church
among them being A. l.. Hill, VIM.
Leckie, r. ]. Cox, DR.. l.. e. Ward
and others. Men like Bert Russell
the family of Greed Frazier, the Dea-
tons, Smith, Maxey and others help
ed to compose the backbone Of the
Methodist church. j. M. N
Pocahontas, Va, Nov. 23, 1921