Bro. William Manilas Nevins, 94, of 51 Mentelle Park, Lexington, Ky., a retired Baptist minister, died at his home Tuesday, April 25, 1967, from a heart attack.

     Dr. Nevins was pastor of Felix Memorial Baptist Church from 1923 until his retirement from active pastoral work in 1931.

     He was a native of Anderson County, and a son of the late John and Mary Moseley Nevins. He received an A. B. degree from Georgetown College in 1897, and the first master's degree awarded by the college. He also did graduate work at the Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville.

     He was married to the late Miriam Hailey Moore Nevins of Scott County.

     Dr. Nevins was ordained at the Silas Baptist Church, Bourbon County, and held pastorates in Washington, D. C., Marlin and Waxahachie, Texas, and in Louisville, Newport, Winchester, and Lexington in Kentucky.

     Following his retirement as a minister, he remained active in religious work, writing several books in the field of religion.

     For the past 40 years he had been a resident of Lexington and was a member of the Ashland Avenue Baptist Chnrch.

     Survivors include: two daughters, Mrs. Alfred M. Reece., Jr., Lexington, and Mrs. Edward N. Luddy, Haddon Field, N. J.; a sister, Mrs. Claude Hawkins, Walnut, Calif.; three grandchildren, Edward N. Luddy II, Trenton, N. J., and William N. Luddy and Miriam H. Luddy, both of Haddon Field, N. J.

     A number of nieces and nephews also survive, including Mrs. C. F. Marlowe, Mrs. Harlan Gaines, Mrs. J. W. Dawson, Lawrenceburg, Mrs. John Cinnamon of Mercer County, Clyde Hanks, J. William Nevins of Lawrenceburg, and Franklin Hanks of Louisville.

LEAVES $1,000 TO COLLEGE

     Bro. Nevins was a loyal friend and supporter of Lexington Baptist College from the very start, and besides contributions while he lived left a $1,000 bequest to the school in his will. His gifts to the school will bear rich spiritual dividends in the lives of our students through years to come.

NOTED BAPTIST AUTHOR

     Bro. Nevins was the author of numerous published articles and books setting forth the historic Baptist faith. He did not hesitate to take and maintain a controversial position when convinced that he was upholding the faith once delivered to the saints.

Outstanding among his published works was the book "Alien Baptism and the Baptists," which effectively defends the scriptural and historical Baptist position on the ordinance of baptism.

     Among the books destroyed in the fire in the stockroom of the Ashland Avenue Baptist last May 2 were Bro. Nevins' books. Such books, especially Alien Baptism and the Baptists, are greatly needed in these days when multitudes of nominal Baptists are departing from the historic faith.

     Bro. Nevins' courageous testimony to his convictions will be long remembered, and his printed work will continue to preserve that testimony for future generations while the world stands.

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[From Ashland Avenue Baptist paper, September, 8, 1967, pp. 1, 4.]

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