The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-02-10
PRESENTING LOVING
CUP GREAT EVENT
BIRMINGHAM PAYS RESPECTS
FORMER WILLIAMSBURG
COUNTY MAN.

COUNTY MAN.
Nothing quite so characteristic Of
the great loving heart of Birmingham
has ever been witnessed in this COM
munity, within the memory of The
Birmingham News, as the services on
Sunday afternoon incident to the pre-
sentation of the News loving cup to
DR.. ]. R. Bryan. The capacity aud
fence that filed Loewis Bijou theatre
was like one great beating heart,
scarcely audible, but whose very si-
lence through most Of the program
testified to the reverence of the pro-
ceedings. Approximately three thou
sand men, women and children-all
that could be crowded in after thou
sands were turned away-came with
love and devotion to see Birmingham
honor herself by honoring this man
of God.
Nothing quite so nearly unique, so
impressive, so inspiring, so altogether
marked by single-minded devotion to
DR.. Bryan had been anticipated. The
News expected a great uotpouring,
true, but here was the whole city, high
and low, rich and poor, distinguish
ed and obscure, come to watch in tears
and smiles our first citizen receive,
in undisguised joy ard affection, the
reward for loving service.
But whatever distinctive service
Brother Bryan may have rendered
during the year just closed-however
nightly his unselfish service may
have lowered above other men's-this
first loving cup seems to have been
awarded for his cumulative work
through a period of more than thirty
years. For it is difficult to conceive
that this man began work of loving
kindness just twelve months ago. The
eloquent tributes paid by local minis
tiers recounted incidents of do--"tio-,
and unselfishness from the very be-
ginning of his pastorate. Through
all these years he has been drunk
with the Holy Ghost" He has under
stood the passion for se'---:-- = His
name. He has leaned down and lifted
up his erring brothers and sisters.
He has known that mightier compass.
sion of the Master, Jesus.
One of the highest peaks of the inn
pressive ceremonies was reached when
DR.. Middleton S. Barnwell, of the
Church of the Advent, recalled the
first announcement Of The News that
a loving cup would be given for the'
most distinguished service to the city
rendered by any citizen during the
year 1920. He confessed that his
mind rioted in vision Of the great con-
spicous individual achievements OF
large deeds, such as gifts for the audi
torium, of large bequests for physical
development, such as magnificent
chamber of commerce building, or
some rare physical accomplishment
that would make Birmingham more
beautiful city or more prosperous
city. He confessed that great spir
itual and moral service such as Broth
er Bryan had rendered did not occur
to him at the time. But he was glad
that the loving cup committee had
realized that for the first year the
most towering service after all was
that which liberated the human soul
and the human heart, and that fash
ioned city's thinking more nearly
after the example set by the Master.
To the Birmingham News, for one,
the monstrous gathering of citizens
was most gratifying. If this paper
has contributed in the slightest degree
to the challenging this rich and opu-
lent and great-hearted community to
loftier service, if it has pointed the
way to larger living, to move unself-
ish neighborliness, it is abundantly
rewarded.
Nor can it refrain from thanking
the owner and management of the
Bijou theatre for the tender Of the
spacious hall and for the various
courtesies rendered through the after
noon. And to the judges, the minis
ters and to all others who took part
in the program, cooperating so loving
ly and generously in making Brother
Bryan's loving cup presentation one
of the outstanding events in Birmig-
hams history, The News is most
grateful.
DR.. Bryan, the subject of the above
editorial from the Birmingham (Ala.)