Newspapers / The Elkin Tribune (Elkin, … / March 30, 1939, edition 1 / Page 8
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DEVOTES LIFE TO FELLOWMAN Rev. R. P. Coram Rode Roads and Byways for Years as Country Preacher GAVE UP WORK IN 1935 (By R. A. Jessup) Boonville. March! 28.—'The life of a country is far from a bed of rose*, if We'%4ke the word of a man wh,o. ftwr / nearly forty years, rode the harrow roads tlhd byways of the counties of T Yad-j i kin, Surry, Btoke&. Wilkes ! ai»d Davlei. preachtoJst a plain, coA-J monsense doctrine of old time re- 1 llgion, that will never be forgot ten by those who were fortunate enough to be a member of one of his many congregations. This man, who gave the very best that he had, including many of the best years of his life, is Rev. Ft P. Coram, a Missionary Baptist preacher, who gave up all of his active church work to 1935 at the age of 74. A few men have been actively engaged to va rious kinds of church work to an older age than this kindly old man of the rolling hills of Yad kin county, but none of them ever gave any more freely of their time than did this man. As a youth Mr. Coram walked four and five miles to the various churches of his community regu larly to attend church services, but perhaps he never gave much thought to becoming a servant to the capacity of Baptist minister. He war happy living the carefree life that inost boys of teen age and the twenties enjoy. That he enjoyed life to the fullest can be obtained by the yarns tliat he spins of his young days, and even of his later years when he, on many occasions entered into the games and contests of the neigh borhood boys. One funny incident of his early manhood he tells with a great deal of fun and laughter. The incident to particular deals with a big black snake, of which Mr. Coram had a great aversion. On this particular occasion he was plowing in the bottom lands of the Yadkin, where he did much of his farming. He had several nephews working on the opposite side of the river from where he was, and on hearing "Uncle Bob" as they called him, keep yelling, 'Jiey here, go back there, hey here, go back there. If you don't go back I am going to get on my mule and leave here." they won dered to what or whom he was referring, so they put in an to- j quiry as to the trouble. His an- | swer was. "It's a pleg taked old i black snake." Although the inci dent occurred close to fifty years ago, the scene of barefoot boys rolling with laughter in the sand as he rode away on his mule with a hoe in his hand to escape the black snake, has lingered on as one or his fondest and funniest ' experiences from a life that has been crammed full of things that makes a man's memory a treas ured asset. Coram'B father was a drummer boy in the civil war, and he came to Yadkin county from Rocking ham after the war to make a home anew with his young wife. His name was Paton Coram and the mother of the boy who was destined to be Yadkin's greeatestj preacher was Polly Coram. Along with various other possessions brought with him to Yadkin, the elder Coram brought the oig war drum upon which he had beaten many a battle march for Lee, Jackson and others, and "Uncle Bob," as he is affectionately called by all who have ever known him, says that Was the greatest magnet for drawing peo ple together that he ever saw. "Why. people would come from miles around to hear my father beat that drum and play as if he were marching to battle, with Lee's men." I , Uncle Bob was converted one day as he walked from his home to a preaching service at Rock ford, across the Yadkin river from his home. He says that he could go to the very milestone to day that marks the place vhere he gave ; his life fully and unre servedly to God. From that day until the hot summer day In July, 1936, when he gave up all of his active church work, he gave the very best of everything that he had for the Master. In 1896 Mr. Coram was ordain ed to preSch. and soon thereaf ter he moved his membership from Boonville Baptist church, and along with a few other de vout men of lite community founded the present Charity church, two miles from Boonville. This church was finished in 1901 and Rev. Coram became the first pastor. Tt*e greatness of this man's life Is reflected in the great number of years tbat he served this and other churches Is the capacity of pastor. Charltj church never knew what it wa* to have another pastor until "Un cle Bob" retired back in 1936. H« served a total of 34 years here He served equally as long terms, j if not longer at Shoals in Surry, I and Union Grove In Yadkin. Over | that great span of years he carved for himself a place in every patron's heart, and it was with genuine sorrow that the dif ferent congregations listened to his final sermons four years ago. In talking about the events that forced him to make his de cision to give up all of his pas torates, he said, "I let my feel ings be my guide. When I found that I could no laager stand up under the tremendous strain that was placed on my physical pow ers, I decided to retire." The strain of many years in the sad dle had left its mark on him and he was no longer able to throw it [off. a In his ministry, he kept well fabreas( of the times. For many years; from the beginning or* his life's chosen'worityheTSde hose*- • back to his different churches, but after several years of this Hnri of travel he graduated to the horse and buggy. He clung to this until the advent of good roads when his congregation de cided that the years were weigh ing too heavily on their beloved preached, and thus they joined together and purchased him a new up-to-date model "T" Ford. He drove this on his circuit until his retirement to 1935. One of the high lights of his life was the time that he won a trip to New York City and other cities along the eastern seaboard. This trip was the result of a newspaper subscription campaign sponsored by a Mr. Varner of the Lexington Dispatch. Only min isters, one from each county of the northwest district, were eli gible to win the trip. Mr. Coram says of the trip. "It was a fine trip, and J greatly enjoyed it, but one is enough. I never knew that the world was so large until I made that trip." This wonderful old man, who has seen his part of the hard ships and toil, and is aware of a life well spent, loves to talk of his ministry and it is easy to under stand the answer to the question of why he is so much loved and revered by all who have ever known him. He didn't value the pay received for his services to so many dollars and cents, but to the mutual love of his fellow man. Being the wife of a country preacher is no easy task either, if we listen to what the wife of this sage of the hills has to say. When asked if she went with her husband on his trip to New York she smiled, and said, "Good ness, no. Somebody had to stay % OEWUiHE TWBWeSK mouin' o»rtc« IN GLISTENING FINBST QUALITY SILK AND BEMBERG* RAYON SATIN The »lip that makes you look more charming, feel more at ease iu sheer Mouttes and dresses. Lace trimmed, straight top and wide lace shoulder straps to keep other undcr things out of sight, trimly tailored to make your suit fit perfectly. In silk and hem berg rayon satin. Colors, White and Tearose.. •Hofl. U. S. Sydnor-Spainhour THE ELKIN TRIBUNE. ELKIN. NORTH CAROLINA Half Century of Service nnngi •>» § w IlKr > T MKafIEA kr v§k MM !Bfc * Rev. and Mrs. R. P. Coram, above, aged and respected citizens of Boonville where they have lived for half a century. "Uncle Bob", as Mr. Coram Is affectionately called, has filled pastorates in many of the leading churches of Yadkin county and has conducted re vivals all over this section for 43 years. Two of his comrades in religious work, Rev. T. C. Myers and Rev. S. S. May. have passed on. At the age of 79 he carries on. and look after the farm work while Bob was gone." And of course that "somebody" had to be Mrs. Coram. Not only did she look after the fortunes of the farm on this occasion, but she did it year to and year out, through the long years when her preacher husband was away, riding the circuit, sometimes for as much as ■ j ((Spainhou yml COATS & SUITS mm will be the envy of ev- rIK. |-i Hi JS|£j eryone in the Easter Iffl I ytrf Tweeds, fleeces, twills, novelty woolens in colors and styles that will flatter you v IKlC#' —Swing, fitted or boxy effects—You n 1 "~' " simply must see these and select yours now for the Easter Parade—Sizes for Wm S to $29.50 i| Swing into the head Accessories of the Parade in one *. v* put color m your life n D rcc rc C/Smß. NEW PIGSKIN AND U KLbobjO MJKKtmmmk DOESKIN GLOVES Colorful pastels and prints. IS /QH {111(1 S7 /H pleated swing skirts and plain jwL * '* •s\J Hi ILL effects. Jackets Boleros *nH Basque effects—All the latest „„ T „™ T/XXT fashion news is here—Distinc- BIG SELECTION you'lfffi LWE D QUAUTIEB THHT BK SWING PURSES $7.95 to $19.95 ■ Hjm SIOO-SL9B-$2.98 NEW NECKWEAR Archer Silk Hosiery FHF JEWELRY New sheer flattering Archer " >1 hi VfP fn nI tA hosiery in all the newest || |i Y" •' u shades to compliment your f t ' j new ensemble. | L w _ LJS L FLOWERS iiandtlX *% Sydnor-Spainhour Elkin's Quality Department Store nine weeks at the time. This was usually in the summer time, too, the most busy time of the year on the farms. Sometimes he would come in from holding a "big meeting" only to find a mes sage that he was wanted in some other section of the state, and he would depart for that destination after spending only one night at home. The responsibility of keep ing the work at home moving fell to the somewhat ' slender, but capable shoulders of the wife- Both realized that their liveli hood depended upon what was made from the farm. Like her husband, Mrs.. Cor am's father also served in the Civil War. but he went away never to come back. He was kill ed in battle. Both Mr. and Mrs. Coram have lived their entire lives hete in Yadkin county, and today they may be found at their country home whiling away the hours with various kinds of little farm jobs, or listening to the radio. Although they have three mar ried daugthers and several grand children they live alone. Mr. Coram is now 78 years old and Mrs. Coram is three years young er. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1935. EAGLE FURNITURE CO. STAGING 9-CENT SALE The Eagle Furniture Company is in this issue of The Tribune announcing their first 9c Sale, an event designed to bring out standing savings on furniture to everyone who takes advantage of it. Although a bedroom, living room or other large articles ol furniture will not be sold foi nine cents, the store will sell many attractive articles for thai figure if the customer buys s specified amount at their money saving .sale prices. For instance with any sale amounting to $25 the purchaser is entitled t( choice of a 32-piece dinner set tabel lamp, linoleum rug, or othei articles listed, for only 9 cents Of course, with a larger pur chase, more attractive article! will be sold at that price. Complete details are containe in the advertisement. Patronize Tribune advertisers THURMOND (Deferred from Last Week) Mr. and Mrs. Arlie Simmons announce the birth of a baby girl on March 16. Miss Lessie Lee Watson, of Sparta, is spending some time here with her sister. A large crowd from here motor ed to Stone Mountain last Sim day. The outing was enjoyed by all who went. We are sorry to note so much sickness in this community but we wish all those oh the sick list a very speedy recovery. The farmers of this section cel ebrated the opening of the spring season which was last Tuesday in the fields plowing. They are also taking advantage of this Our buyers made a special trip to New York to hand pick your Easter Hat. Largest selection in our history of colorful new— Millinery Wi (tW //r, that will make you 'OA look as pretty as the man - in - your - life wants you to be. Straws! Felts! if Fabrics! V jf ° Doeskins! Neat little hats that will melt a roomful of gloom Sailors. sY/J&MA peach baskets, flower pots^ make you a picture of pretti- /- ness . . . flowers, veils, ribbons f//" * ,p. give them that extra dash * / Select yours now from our $1.98 $2.98 «W $3.95 Sydnor-Spainhour Elkin, N. C. IVeu) Arrival BUDGET PRICE For the Easter Parade f Beautiful Prints or Easter Egg- Solid Colors DRESSES Darling styled dresses that look like they would cost much more—Pleat ed and flared skirts, cute little frilly styles or plain tailored dresses you'll like at these budget prices. You simply must have Coat for the Easter All the Easter egg colors in topper coats that are real values at these prices— Dozen of new styles. Select yours to parade forth in now. $ Straws! Felts! Fabrics! Q7n New Easter Hats __..J— $ C . Sydnor-Spainhour BASEMENT STORE .Elkin, N. C. ThuraJav March lift 1939 beautiful weather by preparing and planting their gardens. Why not come out for Sunday school next Sunday and bring your children, neighbors, friends and loved ones? Now as the spring season opens and the warm sunny weather comes out. why not come out with it to Sun day school? Why not plan this week to attend Sunday school Sunday at Thurmond? Next Sun day will also be the regular preaching time, so come to church Sunday. Miss Sallie Norman, of Elkin. spent the week-end here with her mother. Mr. and Mrs. James Lowe and children, of Mountain Park, vis ited the former's sister here re cently. Read Tribune Advertisements!
The Elkin Tribune (Elkin, N.C.)
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March 30, 1939, edition 1
8
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