The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-13
TRIBUTE OF ST. PHILIPS CHURCH,
CHARLESTON,
To the Memory OF Bishop Davis.
ST. PHILIPS CHURCH,

ST. PHILIPS CHURCH,
CHARLESTON, december s, 1871.
The vestry and Wardens, in regular month
ly meeting conveced, having transacted Their
usual business, embrace the occasion TO com.
memora.e e the death Of the Bishop Of the Diocese,
the Right Reverend Thomas Fredt rick Davis. IL
Is certainly NEE. and proper SO to dc. For oil.
though he h d Lo peculiar connection with this
| church, he was the chief pastor and oVerseer OF
all the churches within his Jurisdiction. And he
admins cred his high and sacred office In such
manner as 10 identify himself with each and
every one Of them, and to compel heartfelt 1--we
for tile man, over and above the sentiments OF
respect and reverence which appertained 10 the
| off, er.
1t would not be In keeping with the relation IN
which this body stood 10 the deceased to enlarge
on his intellectual gifts and characteristics Sui.
fee 1t 10 say, they were striking and made him
maa Of marx: yet 80 controlled by native mo.
des,y. ss to be almost unObserved, until drawn
out by the functions of the high ONCE which was
thrust upon him. BUTT well becomes the occasion
| to mediate ON his assiduous and tender care OF
his entirecharge, and his deyotedness to the ser.
Woe OF the Shepherd and Bishop OF our souls, so
evidenced, and to bear testimony to the remarka-
BILE satisfaction and comfort which accompanied
and recompensed his minstratlons.
At the time OF his elevation to the Episcopate
party tp:rit, with It's natural fruit Of uncharta-
bleness was rife throughout the church. He had
| been only few years In the diocese, was little
known excep. In the comparatively small parish
| which epjoyed and appreciated his services aud
had never taken part 10 the discussions In the
diocesan conventions; and when the offlce was
conferred on him by large vote, after repeated
trials by the parties to elect their respective "a.
vorites, he msekly expressed his accep ance OF IT.,
saving he was unable 10 do more. as he felt
sstunned as by a olo,o.n But in short time he
exhibited qualities. OF which hitherto he had
probably been unconscious AMI fu ly justified the
earnest recommendation o! The few who had
known him, In that respect, be ter than he knew
| himself.
In the administration OF his htly offlce he i'm.
pressed himself on all as one who, therein, knew
s'ony christ and Him cruclded;" and party spirit
soou hid lis diminished head.
Self assertion was foreign to his nature, yet on
all occasions, when duty demanded 1t, he spoke
cut with dis,inct-ess, and with the authority
that beftted his position; and seldom has the ef.
feet OF moral influence been more charmingly Il.
lastrated than in The various bodies connected
with the church, whose deliberations he guided.
he was calm, wise, and free from personal par.
tialities, and confidence in him was enforced.
Ii his personal intercourse, he was paternal to
all his clergy accessible and afrect;onate to the
| laity.
His ardu Us visitations were performed with
singular ndelity and e9actness, and always
hailed with pleasure by the subjects OF them.
Until It was rendered Impracticable by public dis
| fractions. he was always accompanied In these
ysitations by some OF his clergy, and in this his
characteristic Impartlallty was manilest-every
one had his turn.
Thus, for eighteen years and upwards, in spite OF
constant and almost unparalleled Ill health, and
of total blindness during. more than half OF the
time, did he 20 In and ont among US in the dis.
charge OF his high and holy office. Three days
ago he passed away-quietly laid down the CROSS
| to take up the crown prepared for him In Heaven
| After repeatedly declining to do 80, while he
felt that 1t was not absolutely necessary, he al
last apparently with prophetic forecast, ex
pressed his desire to have an assistant; and only
last May the Doc san Convention supplied HIN
with one-now his saccessor-in the person o.
the rector Of this church. or him we eau speas
with know edge, and we heartily thank our Hea
yeny Father that the hoy office has passed init
hands In which it will not suffer detriment.
Extract from re Minutes.
/ G.. WILLIHAS Secretarr