The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-03-16
DEATH OF REV. WILLIAM M. CUM
NINGHAM, D. D.

DEATH OF REV. WILLIAM n. CUM
NINGHAM, D. D.
The Southern Presbyterian of last week con-
tains the painful intelligence that our beloved
brother departed this life at his home in La
Grange, Alabama, on Thursday, the 3rd Instant.
His death occurred under brief attack of pneu-
monia. His age we suppose to have been about
sixty two years. He was, we believe native of
JonesbOro, Tennessee.
The announcement of his death will fill the
hearts of many with deep sorrow. DR.. Cunning
ham was for two years our fellow student in the
Theological Seminary at Princeton In the fall Of
1884, upon completing his full course at Princeton
and receiving liceDsure from the Presbytery of New
Brunswick, he set out for return TO his native
State Stopping at Lexington, Virginia, to spend
Sabbath, he was invited to supply the pulpit of
the Presbyterian church in that place, recently
made vacant by the resignation of the Rev. Jas.
W. Douglass. This led to his settlement there as
pastor, where he remained in faithful useful SER
vice till about the close of 1889, when he removed
to La Grange, Alabama. Here he spent thirty
years of earnest and most profitable labor for the
cause of that Saviour to whom he had devoted
himself.
DR.. Cunningham possessed mind of uncommon
vigor, and activity. He was fond of investigation,
especially on subjects connected with religion and
his mind was well stored with valuable acquisitions.
His temperament was ardent, his disposition ami
able, open and affectonate, his spirit earnest and
devout. His piety was deep and devoted his
ministry was one Of constant labor The great OBJ
ject of his life was to glorify God in the salvation
of men. From such life precious fruits were
gathered. The Southern Presbyterian we'll re-
marks:
Ellis death is a severe loss to the Church He
was for many years one Of the most useful of our
ministers in Georgia. As pastor of the LaGrange
church. as an evangelist whose labOrS were greatly
blessed, as the devoted friend of Ogethorpe Uni
versity through whose efforts in 1855 and 1856
large additions were made to the endowment Of
that institution, as an active participant in the
deliberations of our church courts, he had large
share for more than thirty years in moulding the
history of Presbyterianism in Georgia.
Mr.. Whitner, of Atlanta, Ca, valued elder
who knew him well, in announcing his death, says:
"For about fourteen years | have known him
intimatel y-around the family fresde, in public
and private in prosperity and adversely, in joy and
afHiction, in the pulpit, at the prayer meeting, in
our church courts, during periods of spiritual apa
thy and amid seasons of wonderful refreshings
and | can truly say he was in my eyes always
almost a perfect type of the true Christian and
faithful servant Of Christ. Said Methodist to
me once of him, There is man who carries
Christ in his heart in his hand, in his life. And
another man remarked, Go to him in his mid
night slumbers and whisper Jesus in his ear, and
l. 10 10 &
My own heart is too full to say more now, even il
| had time The loss cannot be claimed by any
one person, or one church, or one cOmmunity-it
is shared by our whole Church and by our State.
Dr. Cunningham was twice married his first
wife being daughter of James Withrow, of Lew
iSburg, West Virginia, his second a daughter Of
Robert White, Of Lexington, Virginia-bOth ven
cradle gentlemen of high standing and worth, and
both long since deceased. The surviving widow
and the children of our lamented brother will re-
ceive the sympathy, and will be remembered in
the prayers of many Christian friends. May that
Gospel which this devoted minister so long
preached for the comfort Of thousands of the people
of God, be the consolation of his family on earth,
and their guide to that blessed world where all the
redeemed shall be gathered and united forever!
A Revived Church-The church in Baltimore
to which the Rev. John Leyburn D. D., has
minisered for some years past with increasing use
fitness, has recently been blessed with special
time of refreshing. The Baltimore Su1, of the
Sth inst, says:
SUNDAY was a day of unusual interest in this
congregation. As the result Of the late revival
6fty.two communicates were received into the
church At the close of the sermon the pastor
read out the long list Of names, and during the
singing of the hymn:
"People of the living God
| have sought the world around
the new communicates came forward making quite
a crowd around the pulpit. Most of the group
were young persons, and large number Of them
young men, The pastor read to them the vows Of
a religious profession, which being accepted they
we're received to membership. They were then
solemnv addressed as to the responsibilities they
had taken upon themselves and commended to
the guidance and help of God to make them faith
full. The Lords Supper was afterwards admins
tered 10 a large number of communicates. This
congregation, which less than four years ago had
dwindled to almost nothing, and had thought OF
disbanding and selling their property, has become
one of the most hourishing in the city, About
one hundred COMMITMENTS have been received
within the last ten months The demand for in
creased accommodations for the Sunday Schools
and weekly meetings has led to the purchase OF
the property west of the church, which with the
improvements will cost from $4,000 to $4,000.
John w Garrett Esq, gives So 600 of the amount,
and his mother, Mrs Robert Garrett, $4,000.
s-za-