The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-04
RI. Rev. Thomas Frederick Davis, d. d.


RI. Rev. Thomas Frederick Davis, d. ID.
The sudden death OF this godly and emil
nent man, senior bishop OF the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the Diocese OF South
Carolina, took place last Saturday morning,
the I'd instant, at his residence in Camden.
We are, 80 for, without any particulars, but
suppose it may have been only in the course
of that nervous debility which, for upwards
Of thirty years, has impaired bis health and
deprived him OF his sight, yet has never, up
to the last days Of his active life, entirely
prevented him from exercising, often rigo-
Irously, the duties Of bis sacred Office Eepe-
cially since his return from the late General
Convention, in Baltimore, were his many
friends pleased to see the improvement in
his strength, the buoyancy Of his spirits,
and the power OF his preaching. All had
began again to look forward to his
long continuing with us, the more 30
because his duties were to be henceiorth
shared, and his responsibilities hghtened,
by the .consecrated assistant bishop.
But, though man proposes, God disposes;
and never before has our community ap-
peared to be more shocked than when the
dispatch from Camden caused the sad news
to be spread, far and wide, through the city.
Gradually, the clergy and congregations Of
his episcopate, through the State, will learn
their loss, and, from the seaboard to the
mountains, will weep for their beloved and
venerable diocesan.
Bishop Davis, at the time OF bis death,
was sixty-seven years Of age. Born in North
Carolfna-a State remarkable for the bish-
ops she has given to the Episcopal Church
he had many relatives living there, among
them the Hon. George Davis, formerly at
torney-general in the later years OF the Con-
iederate Cabinet, and now "a leading lawyer
in Wilmington. At the University Of North
Carolina, at Chapel Hill, Bishop Davis, when
young man, graduated with the highest
houors, and contemporaneously With others
who have risen to great distinction. On
leaving the University, be studied r the bar
and practced law for some years In the
courts OF his native State. The mental
training and practical sense of the lawyer
we're advantages which he never wholly lost.
9ut the ministry OF the Gospel had for him
higher and holier claim, and God "sent"
hin in due time to the work. For number
OF years, which we cannot certainly name,
he labored among the churches OF Salisbury
and its vicinity; and, finally, receiving from
Grace Church, Camden, call TO be rector,
he removed to the diocese OF South Carolina.
This was in 1916. he continued to be rec
tor OF Grace Church until, at the Diocesan
Convention of 1853, he was elected Bishop,
to succeed the Right Rev. G. E. Gadsden,
D. D., deceased. He was consecrated In
New York in October Of the same year, to-
gether with Bishop Atkinson, OF North Car
olina, the English Colonial Bishops OF Mad.
ras and Fredericton uniting with the Amer
ican Bishops in the sacred office. Thus, for
twenty-five years he had been resident Of
our State, and for the last eighteen years
Bishop OF the Diocese. His administration
has been remarkable for its harmonizlng
and acceptable character; his example has
been that OF holy and humble man; his in
fuence has been widespread, genial and
tranquillizing; his ministry and his preach
ing have been faithful untiring and most
effective. For he was theologian well
armed and expert in argument and analysis,
and most of all devout servant Of his Mas
ter, whose Divine Word it was his joy and
privilege to expouud. His blindness grad
ually gained upon him until, about ten years
ago, his eyesight was entirely lost From
that time be seemed to grow more in ripe
ness and readiness for the great change, his
conversation being IL anything more than
ever before in Heaven; and his inward eye
ever looking upon the mysteries OF religion,
of the soul, and Of eternity. He has been
making ready, and has now entered upon his
rest May his example and his record be as
precious as his memory is dear and his
name deyoutly cherished.
His funeral services take place to-day, in
Camden, at two p. NJ, Bishop Howe, his
successor, with number Of the clergy be-
ing expected to attend and oficiate.