The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-04-23
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN
REV. LEWIS F. WILSON.

L
the death of another standard bearer of the
sacramental host. The Rev. Lewis FeuiNe
teau wilson, of the Preabytery of WincheS-
ter, fell asleep in Jesus, on the evening Of
the Oath of March, 1873, in the 69sh year
of his age.
This venerable and beloved father in the
ministry was born August 10th, 1904, in
Iredell county, N. G. He was the son Of
Rev. Lewis Feuileteau, and Margaret Hall
Wilson. He was Of an hOnored ancestry,
and himself witness that " the generation
of the upright shall be Blessed" His father,
who was born Of wealthy parents, in St.
Christopher, British, West India island,
was man of noble natural qualities, of fine
accomplishments, andcf elevated social posi-
ton; who declined preterment in the E,tab-
lished Church of Erg's.d aud sacrificed in
heritanoe and family tbat he might become
a Presbyterian minister in America. On
his mothers side, also, he was descended
from long line of distinguished and pious
ancestors. A quarter of a century ago
nearly twenty ministers of the gospel could
be counted in her family.
Mr. Wilson was the youngest of seven
children, and but four months old when his
father died. When he was about six years
of age, his widowed mother removed with
her little family to the neighbOrhood of
Nashville, in Wilson county, Tenn. A child
of the covenant, he, at an early age, con-
secrated himself to the Service of God; and
having determined to devote himself to the
gospel ministry, he returned to North Caro-
lima, and pursued his Academical studies at
Statesville. After leaving the Academy, he
spent year in Alabama, laboring with his
elder brother, Rev. Hugh Wilson, afterwards
the pioneer missionary of Texas, but who
was at that time missionary among the
Choctaw Indians About the year 1926, he
entered the University of Nashville, then
recently founded, and under the Presidency
of the distinguished Rev. Philip Lindsey,
D. D., for whom he ever after cherished
flial reverence and love. Having graduate d
with distinction, he entered, in 1880, the
Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. j.,
making the entire journey from Tennessee
on horseback, passing through the Shenan
doah Valley on his way, and through the
scenes of his future and lifelong labors.
He was licensed by the Presbytery of New
Brunswick at the close of his second year in
the Seminary, but continued his studies to
the end of the Seminary course. Leaving
Princeton in 1888, he came to Virginia and
began his ministerial labors in Berkele Co.,
as the assistant of Rev, James M. Brown
who then was pastor Of the churches of
Gerrardstown, Tuscarora and Falling Water.
In 1884, he was called to the pastoral charge
of the churches of Strasburg and Woodstock
over which churches he was installed Decem-
Der 18th, 1834-having been ordained the
21st of October preceding. He remained
in this field till October 29th, 1886, when
his pastoral relation was dissolved.
On the 9th of August, 1884, the Rev.
Dr. Brown, having been called, to serve the
Church in another Office, was released by the
Presbytery from the pastoral charge he had
so long and pleasantly sustained to the
churches in Berkeley; and the pulpitS there
by vacated we're supplied for nearly two
years by Rev. ]. E. Woodbridge but when
the way was prepared to call successor to
their late beloved pastor, these congregations
turned affectionately to the young minister
whose services had proved so acceptable dur
ing the few months he had preached among
them; and in November, 1886, Mr.. Wilson
returned to his first field of labor, and as
sumed the charge of the united churches of
Gerrardstown, Tuscarora, and Falling Water.
His installation took place the following May.
From the beginning it was seen that the
labors of that extensive charge were too
great for one man to perform; and after
various plans for its successful cultivation
had been tried, at his own request the field
was divided in April, 1853, and Mr.. Will
sons labors were confined to the Failing
Water congregation. Some years after he
resumed his ministry at Tuscarora; and in
these two churches he continued his work,
until feeble health and increasing infrmities
constrained him to ask the Presbytery to re-
lieve him from all pastoral care; which re
quest was granted September 18th, 1872
and then, life's labOrs ended, he withdrew
from the beloved people to whom, for six
and thirty years, he had preached the truth
in faith and hope and love;-only to return
: to find burial place among them, when 8
few months thereafter, his pure spirit wa,
lifted up to the vision of his God.
Brother Wilson died at his farm in tht
adjoining county of Jefferson, to which he
removed in November last. When about tt
die he said, "Let me be taken back to thu
old Tuscarora church, and be carried to th'
grave and buried by my former elders. :
Accordingly on Wednesday, the 26th o
March, his remains were carried back to tht
people whom he had served so faithfully, anc
by whom he was loved so truly; and then
amid the tears of the aged and the young
he was laid, by tender hands, in his last lone
ly resting place till the morning of tn