Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-03-07
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WEDNESDAY. MARCH I, 1877.
The late Rev. Jas. T. Johnston.


house for year, and for several months he
has been in bis bed; gradually growing weaker,
he was removed from those he loved on the
night of February 2SSh, 10 the S0th year of
his age.
Though Mr.. Johnston had been connected
with the diocese of Virginia for nearly fifty
years, he was so retiring in his habits that he
was only known to the older clergy. 1t had
not been his custom to attend the Diocesan
Councils; indeed VIC remember Of meeting him
at only two, and both those in the town Of
Fredericksburg, where he had friends whom
be loved to visit. Thus he was but little
known in the diocese outside the circle of his
family and friends in Alexandria. But in
Alexandria be had many friends who esteemed
it pleasure to be visited by him or to visit
him. His courtiy manners, his pleasant con-
vcrsation, his many agreeable ways, his kind
words, endeared him to many, who now deeply
regret his loss. Though he had been an
invalid for several years, and on ly occasionally
left his house, they will miss him, as they fail
| to see him on the street, or as they pass bis
residence and no longer sec him at the win.
dow where he so often sat.
Mr.. Johnston was born in Savannah, Ca,
July i, 1897 lie was the son of Mathew
Johnston and Eliza White6eld, and grand
nephew of the distinguished Rev. George
Whitefcld. He lived in Savannah for some
years; was educated in Connecticut; he after
wards studied law, and for short time prac.
tised that profession in the city Of New York.
Soon his mind was turned to other and to
higher themes, and he studied theology in
that city. He was ordained deacon in the
Church of tho Ascension, New York, by
Bishop 3. T. Ondcrdonk, November g.
1892, and priest by the same in St. Pauls
church, July %, 1888. Soon after his
ordination he visited Washington, and preached
with SO much acceptance he was invited to
to take charge Of St. Paul's church, Alexan-
dria, and did so October 20, 1888 succeeding
the lamented Wm. Jackson). In his report
to the Convention Of 1884 he writes: SAL
though but few communicants have been
added, yet the rector his assurance that the
work Of grace is going Oh. Many who have
not yet made an open profession havo been led
by the Spirit to o serious communing with
their own hearts, which he trusts and prays
will ultimately result in the conviction that
Christ is the power of God unto salvation ="
He remained in charge Of St. Pauls church
until weak health compelled him to resign in
l959-60; but in Alexandria he has lived (save
the years of the war) ever since.
Mr.. Johnston was distinguished as
preacher In the days Of his prime, few
cergymen ever preached moro acceptably;
Indeed at times he vas truly eloquent. His
reading OF the service made deep Impression.
Only few weeks ago We net Methodist
brother who told us of a young man who had
been converted by hearing Mr.. Johnston read
| the burial service Of the Church; and not only
had he been converted, but our friend told US
be had stayed converted, and was still mcm-
Der OF the Methodist church in Alexandra.
While Mr.. Johnston was not the man to
put himself forward, his many cxcellenclcs
could not be hid, and So again aud again was
Lc invited to leave Alexandria to take charge
Of large churches elsewhere. St. Lukes
church, ST. Johns church, ST. Bartholomcw's
church. all in New York, invited him, otterlnS
him many Inducements. 50 did st. Pauls
church, Cincinnati, Christ church, st. Louis,
Christ church, Savannah, and St. Annc's An.
own people. At other times, without othclal
calls, he was solicited to take churches IN
Philadelphia, in Hartford, iu New Orleans,
and in New jersey; but his answer to all was
the same. Iu 1918 he was elected bishop OF
the diocese of Alabama but he declined. In
1914 Bishop Cobbs was chosen, and he was
therefore its first bishop. But MIR. Johnston
preferred the duties Of parish minister to
ali others. He went in and out among his
oTu people, welcomed wherever ne went. In
the pulpit he preached the gospel OF Christ
not something about it, but the very gospel.
No one ever heard hm preach erroneous or
Strange doctrines contrary to Gods word, and
he preached it with great earncstness.
In Alexandria he has lived all these years.
Those he n,ct with when he first came arc all
dsad-onc of the las, bciug the venerable DR.
James Entwisc. Those he baptized in infancy
are no longer young; those he married arc
GRAND parents; the town to him was not What
it encc was. a new generation had come; he
looked around and saw scarcely any but new
faces. So after serving God in his generation,
after preaching the blessed gospel of Christ for
mauy years, he was, on the night OF February
2S, gathered to his fathers, lin the communion
Of the Catholic Church, in peace with God
and in charity with his fellow men, all through
Christ, in whom alone he put his trust. 1t
was touching 10 know the kind aud tender
messages he sent to his successor at st. Pau!'s
and to the writer Of this, both Of whom had
been privileged to be at his bedside many
times during bis sickness; touching his IN
structions, 'Send no poor person from the
door without help" His mind was wandering
: during the last few weeks OF his illness nc
was unconscious for days; he knew not there
fore when he died; but he vii! awake we doubt
not to be with Christ forever and forever.
He leaves the memory behind him OF con-
| -. rh- h-;,t;,,. of an earnest pastor: of an