Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-04-18
From the Richmond EnquIrer.l
sketch " Isishon .Johns.

Although those acquainted with TIE
particulars of Bishop Johns condition
were led to apprehend the worst re-
suits, the announcement of his death
will carry with ii q sOrrOwful shock
throughout the length and breadth of
the Union. Bishop Johns was born
in Delaware, in July, 1896, and was
educated at Princeton, his original in
tention being; to embrace the law as a
profession. His attention was first Sc
riously turned to Christianity in col
lege revival, and under the influence
Of DIR. Alexander he connected him
self with the church, and early in life
became rector of ALI Saiuts church,
Frederick, Maryland. From this liv-
ing he was soon called to take charge
of the Christ Church, Baltimore,
where he labored faithfully for years,
his eminent ability bringing him rap
idly into prominence with both the
Episcopal clergy and laity.
In 1912, when the death of Bishop
Moore advanced Bishop Mead to the
highest dignities of the Church, the
deceased had attained a recognition
throughout the country as one of the
most eloquent divines of his faith, and
in the convention of that year (held
in Staunton) he was elected Assistant
Bishop of Virginia by decided ma
jority. His opponent was Rev. DR..
Cobbs, who was subsequently made
Bishop of Alabama. In addition to
the duties OF his office he was for a
long time President of William and
Mary College, which position he re-
signed in 1854 to take up his residence
at Malvern, near the Theological Sem
inn iVal inf, s.F,
county, in 1862 upon the demise of
Bishop Meade, he was made Bishop OF
the Diocese, and from the time of his
accession to the ordination of Bishop
Whittle, in 1868, he performed all the
duties pertaining to his office alone.
In the death of Bishop Johns an in
tellectual giant has fallen, and not on
ly Episcopacy but all christianity is
bereft. He was man of indomitable
energy, immaculate purity and grand
intellect, In the subdivision of the
Episcopal Church, embraced under the
heads of Evangelical, Conservative
and High Church, he was, perhaps,
the greatest of all the eXpOnents Of
the first; and while his opinions were
deep seated. his aiIability and broad
catholic spirit, which applied as well
to other denominations as to his own,
made him an almost irresistible pow
er in the House Of Bishops. Once con-
WINGED that his position was right,
Bishop Johrs was utterly fearless,
swerving neither to the right nor to
the left until he had vindicated ii. At
the called convention of September,
1868, when the diocese was disOrgan-
lied and the bitterest animosities
found place in the breasts even of our
clergy-nt an hour when scarcely a
household In the Commonwealth did
not wear the cypress as reminder of
the terrible conflict we had just passed
thrOugh-this grand old man rose
superior to every personal wound and
boldly advocated a reunion of the
Church, i'm the two sections. He met
with almost violent opposition, but he
stood RteaGtast To the end and tri-
umphed. Again in 1871, when the
Church was in n state of discOrd, and
differences arose so broad as to seem
almost irreconcil9hle, Bishops Johns
preached the General Convention SER
mon mt Baltimore. His theme was
the Power of the Love of God, and,
perhaps, "A grander ecclesiastical effort
in oratory or eloquence was never
made, while certainly none was ever
more effective. 1t was truly like oil
upon the troubled waters, and made
impressions.not only upon EpiscOpacy
in this country, but abroad. Bishop
Johns was also largely instrumental
both in the pulpit and by his pen. in
bringing about the 10Th canon in Wiz
ginia, which prescribes discipline for