The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-11
Death of Rev. Henry A. Wise.


at the residence of his father, denera'
pHxSRY A. WISE, az the bell toIled 'he
hour of 5 Yesterday afternoon. 1t IL dlf-
fcnl, as well as a sad task we have before
us in recording the distinguished sphere OF
action of the deceased, and the eminent
traits of his character. Though young,
| not having reached the meridian OF life ut
the time of his death, he had acquired such
a degree of fame and popularity that had
his weak frame been able to withstand the
exceeding power Of his mind he would
have lived to have achieved name among
the highest upon the roll Of ministerial
accomplishments.
HENRY A. WISE, Jr., was born at Oman
cock, Accomac county, Va, in August 1884,
and was consequently upwards of thirty
four years of age at the time of his death.
He remained at the home of his birth
until the year 1851, when he went to
the Virginia Military Institute, where ne
remained but a year. He next went to
William and Mary College, where he was
placed under the teachings of Bishop,
then Dr., JOHN JOINS. Here it was that
the thorough change of character consistent
with his subsequent career began to be de-
yeloped. In his earlier years he was i'm
petuous and somewhat hayward. His
strong will and fiery temperament made
him prone to submission and quick to re-
sentiment. The teachings of Bishop JOINS
exe7ted strong influence over him, and
under him his mind was strongly d.
rected towards matters of religion. He
became a member Of the Episcopal
Church, and determined upon the
ministry Of God as his vocation Of
life. He went to the Theological
Seminary at Alexandria to pursue his stu
dies, and we find him there an entirely
changed man. Before he had never seem
ed to possess the power of application J;
now We find him hard and earnest stu
dent. In 1858 he was ordained deacon,
and in the subsequent year he was orda'n-
ed as priest at St. James church in this
city during the sessions of the Episcopal
Convention. He first entered upon his new
sphere of action as assistant to the Rev.
J0sHrA PETERKIN, serving occasionally
at Hebron church, at Dover Mills, in
Goochland county. Shortly afterwards he
was called to the Church Of Our Saviour
in Philadelphia, where he remained until
the beginning Of the war. While refrain
ing strictly from political expressions, II
became known, casually, that in opinion he
was opposed to the carrying on of var
against the South, and in Difference to the
overwhelming sentiment to the contrary OF
those under his pastoral charge ne pre-
ferred to return to Richmond. In 1860
he was married in this city to q daugh-
ter of BARTON HAxALL, Esq. After re-
turning to his native State Mt the
commencement of the war he was
violently attacked with pneumonia, which
affected his lungs and laid the foundation
of the disease which brought him to hi:
death. Before his cure had been effected
he entered again upon his ministerial
duties, and answered call to Halifax
county. Here he served until 1866, when
he was called to Harrisonburg, where much
of his time and labor were expended in
attempting to build church. From thence
ne went to Baltimore, where he remained
until 60 enfeebled by disease and his ardu-
GUS duties that he returned to Richmond
and remained until his death.
Wherever HENRY A. WISE, Jr., YVES
called he was great favorite. His fidelity
and zeal as minister of God, his superior
character as man, and his striking pow
ers of oratory, all combined to make him
beloved and respected by those who came
under his charge. He was strict Low
Church Episcopalian; thoroughly Episco-
palian, yet Numerically opposed to Catho,
licism and Presbyterianism. He was q
constant student, and his powerful mind
was never at rest. The character Of
his sermons was that Of high-toned reli,
gious sentiment. His conceptions were OF
the loftiest description, and his fights Of
oratory were such that at times his hearers
were held in fear lest his words should fail
him. Yet he was not q man of mere words
and phrases. His preachings were poeticaI
without the aid of imagery. His descrip,
tions were of the thoughts and ideas them.
selves without the use Of comparisons. He
was also possessed of great power Of anti
thesis. In fine, he was preacher of the
highest order of cultivation and natural
force, and minister of untiring zeal.
In his social and domestic relations he
could not but be beloved. He was of a
gentle and amiable disposition, and stric,
in the performance of all the duties of the
man, the husband, and the father. His
loss is indeed great one to his church
his family, and his people. He leaves q
wife and two children. He lost three of his
children during his life. Due notice of hi:
funeral will be given in our next issue.
|
CoPPER.-The Protectionists ere felicita-