The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-03-20
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Mrs. Anne s. Rice.
UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,
March 9Th. 1867.

March 9Th, 1867.
Brother Brown,-Our little community feels
sadly bereaved. Our good mother in Israel,
Mrs. Anne S. Rice, was yesterday March 5th,
2 clock P. M. } called to her home. She had
been suffering for few days, under violent
attack Of bilious collie, but as she had frequent
ly been afflicted in that way and speedily re-
covered there was not felt any special alarm,
till the evening preceding her death, except
that all who saw her, could but feel apprehen-
sive as to the ultimate consequences Of such
sore suffering as she endured, on one of such
great age. Still we relied greatly on the recu-
perative power of constitution, hereditarily
strong and singularly retentive of vital energy.
She rested better night before last, and but
few minutes previous to becoming speeches.
and insensible, had partaken, with evident
appetite and satisfaction, of the first food she
had relished for nearly week. We hoped
the spells Of sinking and other apparent pre-
monitions of failing the evening previous, had
ceased; and were congratulating ourselves,
that even should she not ultimately recover,
she might still be spared for some time. But
the Master ordered otherwise. In few min
ytes after giving us such hopeful evidence of
g better, she was speeches. and uncon-
BUS, (perhaps paralyzed) and in ten minutes
qbre, corpse
You will excuse this particularly, as Mrs.
Rice had widely extended acquaintance, and
but few of her friends will have any other OPP
portunity of learning these details, which how
ever unimportant to general readers, will have
a special interest for them.
Mrs. Rice was the oldest child of Major
James Morton, an officer of the Revolution,
long known among his fellow citizens as man
Of distinguished probity and uprightness, and
an elder of the Presbyterian church. He re-
ceived from his compatriots, in the army, the
souJriQuet of "Solid column" from his firm
and undaunted courage. Long prisoner in
the hands of the enemy, he was endeared to
his fellow citizens, in after life, as well for his
sufferings in their cause, as for his valor. Her
mother was Mary Smith, second daughter Of
William Smith, of Montrose, in Cumberland
county, 1.-THE part now Powhatan.) She was
born January Goth, l7S5, and named Anne
Smith, the name of her maternal aunt, Mrs
Drury Lacy. No incidents of her chi dhood Of
general interest have come to my knowledge
Her advantages for elementary education,
like those of other children of that day were,
of course, very limited. When, however,
about twelve years of age, Mr.. afterwards Dr.
J. H. Rice became an occasional visitor at her
fathers, and acknowledged obligations under
which Major Morton had placed him in his
efforts to carry on his own education, by CIV
ing the daughter the benefit of his counsel and
instruction. Ultimately he was engaged in
teaching family and neighborhood school, at
Wilmington, the Major residence. With these
advantages and the society of ministers, teach
ers and students of College, often visitors at
her fathers, the DEFICIENCIES of early education
were very much supplied, and in general in
formation and capacity for entertaining and
useful conversation, she was surpassed by few
Of her age.
On the 9th July, 1902, she became the wife
of her former preceptor, then engaged as tutor
in Hampden Sidney College After three
years residence there, he, meanwhile having
been licensed and ordained removed to Char
lotte county, and took charge of the Cub Creek
church, residing about six miles Southwest
from the Court House, at which place he
preached once month. After a residence Of
seven or eight years, he removed to Richmond,
which became the scene of his longest labors
in the ministry.
During his pastoral life, he found in Mrs.
Rice a help most eminently meet for his pur-
poses. Relieving him of household cares, she
also greatly contributed to his success as a
student, by performing most admirably the
duties of hostess in entertaining the many visi-
tors who sought his acquaintance. This was
specially true during his residence in Rich
mond, and after he became Professor in this
Seminary. Her conversational powers were
naturally of high order, and were greatly
improved by her habits of seeing his company.
Having no children, her attention was mainly
given to aid him in extending the sphere of his
influence. He was naturally taciturn and
rather reserved to strangers. She supplied
his place, and many we're those who were
brought to know him, frequent his ministry
and profit by the advantage who in this way
owed their introduction to Christian influences
Among the older families of the Presbyterian
churches in Richmond at this day, there are
not few who will testify to the correctness of
these statements.
During the seven years of her husband S
service in this Seminary, her peculiar talents,
united with generous enthusiasm in favor of
his enterprises, contributed greatly to the sue
cess which was secured She was ever on the
alert to win friends to the institution, and BY
conversation with visitors and correspondence
withariends at distance constantly increased
tn mber and zeal of its supporters Her
parl was the rendezvous of the students,
and there are those now living, who can cheerful
ly testify to the valuable and kind attentions by
which they were soothed in trouble, and nursed
in i'll health. She surrendered cheerfully any
comfort of her domestic establishment, to
make room for accommodating the increasing
number of students, and during DR.. Rice's fire.
quent and protracted absences on behalf of the
Seminary, she greatly aided in promoting his
views, by her counsels, her selfdenyipg services
and her correspondence. Though, of course
she could not be his substitute in his Chair,
she was not, even in the matter of instruction,
inefficient. L have known her wisely and dis
creetly to give most valuable lessons to young
men, deficient in elocution, by inducing them,
in ignorance of her real motives, to read to her