Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-03
REV. AQU|LLA WEBB
BEGINS PASTORATE
At F|RST-CENTRAL
His First Sermon, Yesterday
Morning a Plain Heart-to-
Heart Talk.
ASKS FOR COOPERATION

Rev. Aquilla Webb, ID. d., LII. D.,
the new minister OF First and Gem
tral Presbyterian Church, began his
pastoratc with a heart-to-heart SER
mon-talk To the congregation yester-
day morning. The attendance was
large and all showed their interest.
Mr. Webb at the outset took the peo-
plc--not cnly the members of his new
church. but the public generally--intoI
his confidence. He pointed out lis
duties and those Of the layman and
asked for cooperation. His remarks
created a favorable impression. show
ing that he has made a comprehen-
siNe survey OF the field, in the church
and outside OF IL. that he already feels
an interests In the city's welfare. The
subject OF his sermon was "Founda-
tlon stones" lie took for his text Acts
lo:2s. viz: Il came without gainsay-
ing, when was sent for. i ask there
fore with what intent ye sent for meg'
I'VE who meet here for the first
time i'm the relation of pastor and
people are agreed on one of the fun
damental doctrines of our fathers; we
believe In a God-called ministry" he
said. This tenet on the part of the
people Is no survival OF medieval, SUI
pcrstition. nor on the part of the
preacher cgotism. vain assumption
of power or Phariseeism. The truth
h taught in both testaments. While
we are accustomed to say that this
h the laymans age, it is well for us
a. remember that that was a fact in
the first century of our religion. We
may go further and affirm that the
salvation OF earths lost millions will
never come 20 ...ss through the or
dained ministry alone. but through
an those spirit filled men and women
who in schools and hospitals and in
the homes Of the people tell in a SIM
pie way the old. old story OF Jesus
and His love.
"1'he words Ia which l call your
attention today were spoken by the
foremost of the apostles in Roman
soldiers home at CaeSarea. Provi-
dental events led TO Peters going
from Joppa to the military capital OF
Iuden. Though at first reluctant
under the urging Of the Spirit, he
yielded. standing up before the CEN
turian and the assembled congrega-
tion he put the question which de-
sire To nNt 20 Aous Ntio MetSoiie Ait
20 this house Of God today. 1 came
without gainsaying. when l was sent
for. / ask therefore with what intent
Sc sent for me-
" The Question.
1T would be easy 10 draw an analo'
ry, II I We're 50 disposed, between
Peters case and my own. came wher
I was sent for and l came withou'
Eainsaying. But as in the case o
Peter so in my own it was necessar,
Cor me for awhile 10 be alone in pri
Nafe prayer before 1 could hear ii
the inmost sanctuary OF my soul ;
clear and unmistakable call of dut,
a. this church. Duty and desire Otter
conflict. Desire. with golden link
strengthened through a term OF years
held me 90 a devoted people whom
have left behind. Possibly there ma,
be somewhere more loyal or NOR
devoted church, but / dare affirm
after a ministry of twenty years. tina
I have never found IT, You may
sure that II ] consulted my feeling
rather than my duty / should be i
my old pulpit and delivering my mes