New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-19
OBITUARY..

In the death of Bishop James, the Methodist
Episcopal Church. North loses the senior head OF the
Episcopacy He was called the Working Bishop" and
was esteemed the peer Of any Of that devoted line OF
leaders, from Asbury up, under whose guidance the
Methodist Episcopal Church, North and South has
grown in little more than hundred years, to be numei-
eally the strongest in the United States, WIN
membership OF two millions Whhc TIE
Methodist ministers Of the city were holding
their usual Monday morning meeting Yesterday NJ No
800 Broadway dispatch received from the fainiy
OF Bishop James stating that nc believed to be on
bis death bed Prayers offered for the dying
bishop and several hymns were sung About p. m lie
breathed his last at his residence in Twe1tyfourthst
near Fourth-ave Physically, he had been sufferer all
his life and was only sustained in his great work by MS
indomltabe will. complication Of diseases, aggra-
waited by he depression which succeeded the death OF
his wife, five weeks ago, caused rapid decline ana tEo
termination OF a long and laborious career
Edmund stOrer James born in Sheffield, BERKSHIRE
County Mass on April 27, 1907 and consequently had
entered on his 10th year. The late Edwin L. James OF
Flushing L. J., his twin brother When he was four
years OF age his parents removed TO Salisbury Conn In
his youth diligent student, and aimed especially
to perfect himself English He loved the pure saxon
From 1924 TO 1880 lie engaged In teaching ana dur
ing three years OF the period gave much attention to the
study OF the law When about TO seek admission to the Bar
his prospective associate In business died suddenly ana
this event with his own religious conversion led him TO
look to the Methodist ministry for his life WORK. In
1890 he Joined the Philadelphia Conference ard was
appointed 10 preach two years at Elizabeth, New
Jersey Then he filled pastorate at Orange was agentof
Dickinson College three years pastor Of churches in
PHILADELPHIA for three years and In Hew-York for two
years, and then Financial Secretary OF the American
Bible Society for four years. During this time ne had
devoted years to the study of theology and purely
from of the science also pursued medical stuaes
and in ls42 received the degree Of Dr. d. from the Yer
itu Dickinson EOe0o conferred on MIN
the degree Of A. NJ in the year. and the degree OF
d. d. in 1874.
In 1874 entirely unexpected to himself he was chosen
one OF the nine bishops Of the Methodist Eplacopaf
Church. 1t the year Of the rupture between the
North and South Conferences Bishop James was strong
AbOtiOnist and dh not look upon the separation Win
regret The church the South had become pledged to
tie support OF slavery, and Bishop Andrews who hal
inherited slaves had been elevated 10 the Epseopaey IN
defiance OF the Of the church. Bishop James was
ordained deacon in 1852 aud elder In 1894 lEe par
tcular district which each bishop employed being
subject OF arrangement among themselves once a
year Bishop James 10 know almost every part OF
the country He Travelled in all the states except FLOR
ida and In most Of tho Territories lie twice visited
California. lie labOred Bishop p1ncipaly ~ new
York New-Jersey, and Pennsylvania. In 1919 DE at.
tempted hold conference IN Texas NJ the interest," OF
fhe Church, North and the event anOrded nun use lOT
the unninching courage strength OF spirit wnch De
possessed in large degree prosdyGry MOB poke INTO
the church and pistols drawn. Bishop James IL Is
said frowncd down the mob and continued his sermon
Tue story gained credcnce RiHrward that ne
was FreeunasCn. ana had saved nmssH on
this occasion by making that supposed TACT known.
Bishop James was not Precursor, however. BISHOP
James was a delegate the British Wesleyan COURIER
enre in 1864 and helped IN the super vision ana h>pec
ton scandinavian. SWISS, AMI German NllsSiDus
gland as delegate OF the American Bible Society 70 me
British and Foreign Bible society. lie attended me
Frencb WESLEYAN at Paris ana the lrSu Con-
ference at Cork At Bremen he Delivered an ADDRESS on
the death OF President Lincoln, which was widely ds,
smiuated and had marked effect on the sentiment VI
Northern Europe favorable 10 the Union cause.
Bishop James not noted Tor MS oratofy as iOr
his energy and conscientious adherence 10
roundness OF character. lie ready mar and TOOK
nm a subject n moments notice with great drcctness
and force OF ideas He had sOne magnetic influence
and was "a close, analytical reasoner' anu MS
WentatIye HIS fayorte themes were the divinity
and the at0uemont OF Christ. re was one OF
The best parliamcntaTianB and presiding OhceTS tue
Church ever had and IL Is said That 70 ono Ot his dcs
fore The General Conference. He was hte under the
medum hight, and OF round, wen ErOpOrtoned person.
Hig voice feeble, but was wei uanGEcu. he NhS
sedae and dgnttcd in his intercourse Win Tue puphc
or counsel. Alter the sudden deaths OF B!suops
Kingsley Thomson Clark, and Baker, IN conjunction
with hIs three remaining colleagues, he dd the MOik OF
eight men until the General Conference OF 1917 Dlhg
this period he was called also TO preside ut the trial OF
DR. Lauahan in the prOtractad Book Concern contrO'
yersy when he cast his vote for the suspension OIL inc
defendant officer He also President OF lGe Board
of Education OF the Methodist Episcopal Church. HIS
publications were pamphlets, sermoEs, ana an address u
The funeral will take place at p. on Thursday next
I'm ST Paus Methodist Episcopal church at FouFthaNc
and Twenty secondst The Rev. DIR. Chapman viii con.
duet the serylceO, and Bishops simpson anu Aes anu
others will make addresses