Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-01-24
MEMORIAL.
Death Of Rev. Dr., D. q. Bittle


was born June 9th, 1919, near Middle
town. Frederick county, Md, where he
2spent his earlier years. He graduated
Pat Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg IN
atbe class of ls43. After teaching awhile
ahe studied theology at Lane Seminary,
] Cincinna,i, and entered the Lutheran
ministry in the year 1s4e. lie first
T. preached at Canton, Ohio, then at
lSmithsburg, Md, and afterwards at
9Selnsgrove. Pa He pext became a
Professor in Roanoke College, at oa-
Va, of which his brother. Rev ID.
F Bittle, D. D., is President. He after
wards became President of North Car
3olina College, at Mount Pleasant, and
8then Principal Of Parsons Seminary
lat Austin, Texas. He next became
and soliciting agent Tor no
Hsnoke College, and the large contriou-
8tions of money, books and minerals ne
dsecured for that institution prove his effi-
8cient services in that capacity. Lie
4took charge as Pastor of the Lutheran
5 Congregation at this place, January lst'
3 e6s. and remained until October 1st
H1s-1. when he removed to Savannah,
SGa.. where he died of sestion OF the
alungs, at .2:2o A. NJ. January l4th'
slS74, aged nearly So years.
q DIR. Bi,tle was a useful man. and
Successful minister. His death Is an IT.
areparable loss to the Lutheran Church
8South, and especially to its General
8Svnod He was always one of its best
friends. and most earnest and able adj
Z yocates. Ready as writer, he was one
aof the most frequent and interesting
acontributors to the church papers
3There is no one to take his place. Ma
in mind and fluent as speaker,
She was always prepared when duty CALI
Fed. Atfable in manner, and LlAd IN
Sheart, he was always popular. aeuve
land Jealous he was known as a worker,
Sneyer lacking in energy and industry
sfor the advancement and prosperity OF
the Church. And that General Synod,
which was so near and dear to him, was
Ito meet in his own Church in Savannah
lin April next How often he wrote
and spoke of it, end what pleasure he
anticipated in that meeting! While SO
near at hand, yet he was not spared to
2enjoy it. SO brittle is the thread OF
slife-so suddenly severed! lie was a
faithful laborer in the great harvest iield
of his Master. He was remarkably pro
gressiye and enterprising. He had al
sready passed the threshold of the good
work of extending the borders of his
sChurch among his own people. In the
midst of such career he'was cut down !!
aThe messenger of death, with the sum
mons "come quickly" marked his vic
stin,, and in few hours, the large and
ROBUST, hale and hearty man was fallen
the spark of life gone!
J The sad tidings came as a shock to
aall of his many friends. The message
a'Dr. Bittle is dead" soon spread in our
community, and many an eye was mois-
stened with tears, and many a regret in
ssvoluntarily uttered. The pulpit, fash
sioned after his own ideal, from which
! he so often proclaimed the ''Gospe! of
\ peace" wears now the drapery Of mourn
7ine. But the fruits of his ministry
gamong us,-building a parsonage, re-
Sbuilding the church, adding over one
ghundred to its membership, and the
new impulse he gave to its interests,
temporal and spiritual, will long stand
Mas one of the proudest monuments to
& his memory.
The deceased was jealous member
8of the Masonic Fraternity-a Knight
ATemplar. He always manifested inter-
Rest in the cause, and never hestated to
Sendorse its mission, or express his re-
aspect for the Craft.
B He was married about twenty-four
Years ago, to Miss Susan Eustis Bigelow,
Ma niece of Rev. DR.. Bigelow, of Boston,
AMass. While she was sharer in his
Eioys and successes in life, she was truly
la helpmeet in his trials and labors.
4Frail in body, and feeble in health, she
y still survives his untimely death. May
1.-THE hopes of Christian tighten her
ssorrow, and a strong faith in the sure
spromises 10 the righteous bring peace
Ato her troubled Soul
q We can all profit by the devotion of
Sour departed friend to the canse of edu.
xcation and Christianity. Let US then
sstrive to follow his example and initiate
Ibis virtues, and thus show by our lives
ia more lasting tribute of that love and
Prospect, which will long be cherished in
Srhe hearts of many of our people, for the
Apame Of Dr. Bittle.