Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-03-15
DEATH OF BISHOP sevLs.


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''o' 'hs Ns'h'iiIe Oh'on 500 Dispatch, Itb.
Joshua Souje, Senior Bishop Of the Meth
sfist Church in America, died at his resi-
deses 10 this city, on the morning Of yester-
day, after brief illness. lie had more han
half eoDpeted his eighty-sixth year, having
been born August ], 1851 in Bristol, HaS
eoch cosniy, Maize. lie became a convert
70 the system Of religion in which he lived
and died, in bis sixteenth year and at the
Conference OF the Methodist Church, held in
New York IN 1879, be was admitted as a
preacher In the itinsrsncy Of that denomina-
ton. He laborcd in this capacity with grea.
success and growing influence, IN the States
~ Maine and Massachusetts,, until the meet
Ing Of the General Assembly in 1915, when
be was elected TO the responsible position Of
Senior Agent Of the Book Concern. This
was most important Office, and the. selection
n Nr. Soule was high tribute 10 bis intel
lectuai worth and standing In the Church.
The sterling traits Of bis character bad al
ready made him one OF the most prominent
members Of the ministry. Eight years pre-.
yiously, he had been at the head Of the
General Committee which framed the con-
siiintion, 90 to speak, Of American Metbo-
diam. The framing Of the delegated Gene
raj Conference was the work OF his hand,
and that section in the code Of Discipline OF
the Church remains monument TO bic fame.
~ the time OF bis assuming charge of the
BOOK Establishment, the Methodist Maya
zine vas ordered by the Conference, and this
publication was under the editorial supervi-
zion Of Mr.Soule. The first year Of its Is
suhnce was crowned with a patronage Of ten
thousand subscribers--a result due to the en-
ergy aud ability Of the publisher and man
aging editor Mr.. Soule continued In this
department Of labor until 1920, when he
was elected to- the Office of Bishop. The
General Conference, however, at the same
session, determined by vote question which
had long agitated its councils, regarding the
mode Of selecting Presiding Elders; and. ac-
cording 10 Mr.. Soule's view, the decision
was contrary TO the organic law of the
Church, and derogatory to the Episcopal
functions. He, therefore, declined to be
copsecrsted. In this position, he was SUD-
ported by Bishop McKendree, then at the
head OF the church, who protested against II.
By the combined influence of Soule and
McKcndree, the decision was susncnded until
the next quadrennial Conference, and finally
reversed. In 1924, lie was again elected
Bishop and consecrated on the 9th of May
Of that year. This exalted trust be fulfilled
10 the period Of his death, In the fear of God.
and acceptably to the great body of christ
ians whose doctrines he expounded. and 4.
Illustrated by an irreproachable walk and con-
versation. In 1910, Bishop Soule was So
leeted from among his Episcopal colleagues
10 represent the church In this country at
the Wesleyan Methodist Conference In En-
gland, mission which he discharged in n
manner as satisfactory to the British counec-
ton, as II was creditable to himself. At the
General Conference in New York in 1874
which resulted in the division of the church
on sectional line, Bishop Soule exerted his
great powers and influence to prevent the
schism, and labored to induce the dominant
majority to adjust the question in dispute
upon the principles of constitutional Metbo.
dism. His efforts failed, and W hen the d.
vision came, he uni,ed with the Southern
branch, and removed his residence TO this vi.
cinity, and has ever since been a citizen of
Tennessee. 1t was in lS43, that BislIop
Soule became the Senior Bishop of the con.
nection.
In massive force Of understanding, dignity
and weight Of character, and in all the quail
tiles which compose the character of Bish-
op, Soule was like Saul "a head and Shout
ders above his brethren, and this was an
sminence generally conceded. As an Itine.
rant General Superintendent he has visited
and preached in almost every section of the
country, from the Canadas to the Gulf of
Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the from
tiers Of civilization in the West; aud even
in the regions beyond among the semi-ciyi-
lized Indians and the rude sauatters of the
wilderness. And in every place his influence
was f,lt, as man mighty in the Scrip.
lures, aud wise in counsel and excellent in
knowledge. Everywhere, under iii circum-
stances, and at all hazards, he has filled up
the measure Of his duties, and maintained A
character-personaily, above suspicion and
impurity; materially, repleie with the power
which is Of God, and officially, mild without
weakness, firm without severity, and digni.
ncu without auSterlty of manners or ure-
sumption OF authority.
In person he was tall and erect with a
well knit frame his face and head were in.
dicative of the ability and force of cbarac.
ter with which he itnnres.ed tho snh.ro IF