Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-08-14
From the Philadelphia Press.
DEATH OF BISHOP BOWMAN.


The intelligence of the sudden and un.
expected death Of the Right Rev. SAMUEL
BOWMAN, ID. d., Assistant Bishop of the
Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Penn
syivania, has awakened n feeling of pro
found sorrow throughout our whole State,
not only among the members OF tho de-
nomination of which he was q shining og>
nament, and to whose service he was de-
votedly attached, but among all classes of
citizens, to whom he had endeared him e.
self by his exemplary department, his ma
ny Christian virtues, his samiable and COM
manding character, and his supC rior tall
cnts
He was son OF Maj. BowmOn, of Wilkes.
Larre, Pennsylvania, distinguished Off
Ger OF the Revolutionary army and born
in the year 1900. 1t was originally his
| Intention to embrace the legal profession.
! but, after dcvoting considerable time to
| tEc study OF tho law, his nG turally strong
/ devotional feelings were intensely aroused
4 10y the sudden death of his father, and he
was thus led TO assume the sacred calling
( for which he was pre-eminently fitted
( After proper preparation, he was ordained
q Deacon in this city by Bishop White, in
the year 1898, and Mt once took charge Of
ST. Johns Church at PIqua, Lancaster
county. In 1924, he was ordained priest.
In October, J S25, he became rector OF Trim.
ity Church, Easton, as well rs Of n newly,
estaGlirhed congregation Mt Allentown, Pa.
In 1923 he became tho rector of St. James
Church, in Lancaster, which position he
continued to hold up to the period Of his
election as Assistant Bishop, in 1858, and
so deeply was that congregation attached
to him, that they would not permit his
pastoral connection with them to be dis
Sc lived, even after that event. They in
sisted upon his continued residence at
their parsonage, and that he shoud devote
as much special attention to them as his
other arduous duties would permit.
The fidelity which he displayed during
his long connection with st, James
Church, as we'll as the peculiar charm Of
his clerical and personal manner, warmly
endcarcd him to very large circle of
friends, and for a long period he has been
regarded rs one of the most prominent
and universally y.respected divines Of this
State, lie possessed the peculiar faculty
of attaining great excellence rs q reader,
n preacher, and pastor. Those who have
heard him real the beautiful service Of his
Church, can never forget his extremely
impressive style. His sermons and adj
dresses, whether written or eXtemporaue-
Gus, were characterized by q chasteness
and elegance Of language, depth Of feel
ing, and true eloquence, which reached
hearts, while they entertained and enligbt-
ened tie minds. of his hearers. A severe
student during the earlier part Of his cler,
iCal career, rs he advanced in years the
importance Of n close attention to pastor,
al duties vas deeply impressed upon him,
ard for long period he labored in this
great sphere Of his duties with exemplary
care zeal, and effectiveness.
Tho election of the Right Rev AlonzoS
Potter, rs Bishop Of this Diocese, was pre-
ceded by AN animated contest in the Con-
vention of the Church between the friends
of Bishop Bowman and Rev. stephen II.
Tying D.. H.. (who now resides in New
York; which was finally terminated by
the Fortunate choice Of the present in
cumbcnt. In lS4S DR.. Bowman was cleo
ted Bishop Of the Diocese Of Indiana, but,
being warmly attached 10 his congregation,
he declined to accept that position. The
failing health Of Bishop Potter, and the
arduous labo?s connected with this Do
cese, induced the Episcopal Convention,
which assembled in thi city in May, 1853,
to elect an Assistant Bishop. The contest
was very animated ono, the division Of
sentiment which existed in relation to.
what's popularlv termed the High Church
and Low Church feeling giving it peculiar
interest. Those whose proclivties were
of the former character generally prefer,
rcd DR.. Bowman, and most Of the others
favored Dr. Ninton or DR.. Stevens. After
fifteen close ballots, DR.. Bowman withdrew
his name, and moved that a committee OF
s:x clcrgymen be appointed to select a.
suitable candidate. recess was taken,
and on the reassembing OF the Coyentiou,
the committee said they would withhold
their report until another ballot (the six
tcenth) was taken. 1t resulted in the Sc
lection Of DR.. Bowman, the vote being as
follows: Dr. Rowman 75 DR.. Vinton G3
DR.. Hare | blank |. lie was consecratcd
at Christ Church, in this city, on the 25th
Of August 1858. Although some feeling
WIS aroused 10y the peculiar contest which
resulted in his election, it was soon allaycd
by the charm Of Dr. Bowman's manner
and 10y his iudicious and conciliaiory
course, devotion to his duties, an peculiar
fitness, he soon became much esteemed
and beloved by all the congregations Of
the Diocese. His close attention to the
a5orious duties Of his position became a.
theme of universal plaise, and it is to his
ovcr.anxiety to bo thoroughly faithful,
even at the risk of finuriug his health, that
his sudden death may bcattributed. But.
n short time ago some of his friends in this
CITY urgently solicited him to spend por-
ton of this summer at Atlantic City, and
had he taken their advice his lie might
have been SPACED. But duty summoned
him to another quarter. and he would not
neglect its demands. The excitement in
the western portion Of this State, caused
by the discovery Of subterraneon oil in
that region, had attracted thither n largo
emigration, and several new Episcopal
churches had been built, which he vas
called upon to ooneecrate. 1t was during
a Journey to Butler, Pennsylvania, for this