The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-25

~ EaFu JO uuplCatc suCu " Y
will not say that he had no equals; but we
will say. would to God we had more like
him. He has been cut down by the insa-
tiate archer just at the time he was reach
ing
THE HILLTOP OF LIFE.
A magnificent outlook was before him.
Cherished hopes were clustering round him.
But few living men occupied larger space
in the public eye than Rev. DR.. James A.
Duncan. A great and good man has fallen.
While in his own Church he was loved by
all, such was his catholic spirit he enjoyed
the friendship and esteem OF all the Churches.
He has left his impress on hundreds OF
young men that have gone out from Ran
dolph- Macon College. Being dead, he will
continue to speak, and the influence OF his
noble life will 60 sounding down the ages ::
"A1i other sounds die in yon rich sky;
They faint on hill, and field, and river:
Our echoes roll from soul TO soul,
And live forever and forever"
DURING HIS SHORT SICKNESS
the tenderest solicitude was expressed on
every hand, though no one anticipated the
sad catastrophe. His death touches every
heart.
On the 1st OF September DR.. Duncan was
taken with O chill and was not able to occu-
py the pulpit OF the College chapel on the
Sunday following. On Friday the 7th in
slant two teeth were extracted from the
lower Jaw, and on the next day he went to
Baltimore to preach and to marry an old
student OF the college, and while there was
under medical treatment. On the follow
ing Thursday he returned to Ashland with
his face much swollen, an abscess having
formed in the right lower jaw, which was
| m ha ho racY1lf pf dis
eaSed bone. This abscess progressed, caus-
ing irritant fever, and for two weeks before
his death his pulse meyer fell below 120 per
minute.
| During the progress OF the disease he had
three severe rigors. The last, occurring q
| few hours before his death, was due to con-
gestion OF the lungs. In addition to the ei-
| iects OF the irritatiye fever he was greatly
exhausted by profuse serous diarrh9a.
After the last chill he fell into semi-coma-
tose condition, in which state he remained
until his death.
During the consultation OF his physicians
Drs, Bagwell OF Ashland and II. G. Leigh
OF Petersburg) on Friday last twas thought
that the disease would probably prove fatal.
DR.. Duncan. however, never seemed con-
scious OF his critical condition until. per-
haps, short while before his death.
| Yesterday morning at o'clock
THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY
met in the College chapel at Ashland. After
PRAYER by the chaplain (Rev. j. T. Moore),
professor Estill made formal announcement
OF the death Of the President Of the College
in an address that touched all hearts. Feel.
| ing tributes were likewise made by Profes'
sors Shepard, Morris, and others.
| Subsequently the literary societies assem-
bled, when eulogies upon the much-loYed
President were pronounced and resolutions
OF respect were passed.
The literary halls and the public build
| ings are draped in mourning. Telegrams
OF inquiry and expressions of tendcrest re-
gret were received during the day from all
parts Of the country.
. Four citizens, five members. and like
number each OF the faculty and students,
will act as pall-bearers.
The exercises OF the College will resumed
on Wednesday. No successor to DR.. Dun
can has been suggested. 1t will be difficult
if not impossible to name one who in every
particular can ill the place Of Rev. DR.. James
A. Duncan.
HIS DEATH ANNOUNCED IN PETERSBURG.
Our Petersburg correspondent, in his
says:
"The announcement OF the death OF Rev.
DR.. James A. Duncan was received here
this morning with the sincerest expressions
of regret by all classes OF our community,
He lived among us for several years as pas
tor of the Washington-Street Methodist
Episcopal church, and has visited us often
while elsewhere engaged. It can truly be
said that no minister of the gospel was ever
more tenderly loved and more universally
esteemed in Petersburg than was he. AS a
mark of respect to his memory most OF the
Methodist ministers OF this city and large
number Of the members OF the denomina-
ton to which the deceased belonged will go
over to Richmond to attend the funeral"
AT ASSOCIATION HALL LAST NIGHT.
A meeting of the Board OF Directors OF
the Young Mems Christian Association was
held last evening, and prominent among
the addresses on the occasion was that OF
Rev. DR.. Peterkin, who referred in feeling
terms to the death OF the good man, whose
loss will be mourned all over Virginia, and
of the example he has left for the young
men of the State.
At the Methodist
PREACHERS MEETING
held on yesterday morning at Broad-Street
church, Rev. Bishop Doggett was called to
the chair, and the following resolutions, Of
fered by the Rev. John E. Edwards, D. D.,
were unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That we have heard with unut.
terable sorrow OF the death OF our beloved
brother and co-laborer in the ministry the
Rev. James A. Duncan, ID. D., president OF
Randolph Macon College, which occurred
this morning at 4 O'Clock at his residence, al
Ashland, Va.
Resolued, That we will attend his funeral
services in body, to be held on tomorrow,
September 25tb, in the chapel OF the college,
at Ashland, and accompany his remains to
Richmond, where further funeral services
will be held at Broad-Street church at +.
NJ, and thence to Hollywood Cemetery,
where his body will be inferred.
ReSolped, That we hereby tender to his
aged father, who was with his son at the time
OF his death, and to his family in all the re-
lationships OF life our sincere sympathy and
coincidence in this sad and bitter hour OF
| their sore bereavement.
Resotued. That copy OF these resolutions
be forwarded to the family Of the deceased,
and published in our city papers.
The preachers meeting furthermore
passed a resolution requesting the privilege
Of acting as balI-bearers on the occasion OF
the funeral OF DR.. Duncan.
A SPECIAL TRAIN
will 90 up to Ashland from Broad street to-
dav at 1880. a short service will be held
in the College chapel, conducted by Rev.
I. NJ. Lee. D. D. Then the train will re-
turn, bringing the remains, which will be
carried to Broad-Street church, where fur
ther funeral solemnties will be conducted
by Bishop Doggett at O'Clock P. N. He