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

lese. This unexpected event occurred yes
terday morning, September oath, at 4
O'Clock, at his residence, in Ashland, Va.
It was but two weeks ago he was in Balti-
more, and preached on Sunday the 9th in
slant. He came home complaining from
an abscess on his face, occasioned, rs he
supposed, from the drawing OF tooth.
He grew worse; suffered great pain, called
in medical attendance; the abscess was
opened; carries OF the jaw-bone was re-
yealed; a small portion Of the diseased bone
was removed; erysipelas set up. On Sun
day last he showed slight delirium; as the
night advanced he sunk into unconscious
ness, and expired at o'clock on yesterday
morning. These are the facts as beet VIC
have been able to gather them.
REV. DIR. DUNCAN
was born in the city OF Norfolk, Va, in 1880.
He was therefore forty-seven years OF age
at the time OF his death-iust in the prime
and maturity OF his life! While he was yet
small boy his father, the venerable PROBES
sor Duncan, who still lives, was elected to a
proicssorsbip in Randolph-Macon College,
located at Boydton, Va, to which place he
removed The subject OF this biographical
sketch was reared up in this seat OF learn
ing. He graduated in June, 1S49. The
following October be Joined the Virginia
Annual Conference OF the Methodist Epls-
copal Church South, and was assigned to
the pastoral oversight OF the Fairfax circuit
for 1850. In 1851 he was on the Hampshire
circuit. The two following years, 1852 and
1853, he was stationed in Leesburg, va. In
1854 and 1866 he was pastor OF the Southern
Methodist church in Alexandria. He was
next appointed to the pastoral care OF the
Southern Methodist church in Washington
City, D. c., for the two years 1856-'57. All
these early years OF his ministry were spent
in what was called the border work OF the
Virginia Conference. The territory has
since been gwen to the Southern Baltimore
Conference.
at the Conference held in the fall OF
1857 he was assigned to old
TRINITY CHURCH., IN RICHMOND,
where he remained during 1858 and 1859,
during which time the enterprise OF build
ing Broad-Street church was put on foot.
He was appointed to the Broad-Street
OF worship was barely commenced he
preached for the space OF more than year
in public hall till the church was COM
pIeted. 1t was not until March, 1861, the
house was ready for use. He was pastor Of
the Broad-Street charge for the two years
nS60-'61) while the church was in its forma-
tive state. In the mean time he became
editor OF the Richmond Christian Aduo-
cate, and still continued his pastorate OF
Broad-Street church. His ministry there
during the war will long be remembered
by thousands Of people scattered all over
this country. After the war he revived the
Richmond Christian Advocate and con-
tinued TO edit it until the fall Of 1866, when
he was appointed to the pastoral oversight
of Washington-Street church, in Peters
burg, Va. Here he remained until Sep
tember. 1868, when he accepted the presi-
dency OF
RANDoLPH-MAC0N COLLEGE,
located at Ashland, Va, after its removal
from Boydton. He took charge Of the col
lcse when it was depressed and broken
down, and by his untiring energy and great
ability he rescued it from its fallen fortunes,
and lived to see it in the front rank Of the
very best literary institutions i'll this coun-
try. He fell at his post just as the present
session was opening with cheering prospects
of high success.
DR.. Duncan was a wonderful prodigy in
intellect. His early efforts in the ministry
were marked by range OF thought far in
advance OF his years; for he began to preach
when he was but nineteen years OF age. He
was endowed with a great creative imagina-
ton; he had voice OF remarkable compass,
modulated in its tones and with
his glowing imagery and gorgeous descrlp-
tions, while he was yet but boy, compara-
tivelv, he held his audiences spell-bound
with the cnchantment OF his oratory. He
rose rapidly in his Church, and soon be-
came
A MAN OF MARK.
lie was elected a delegate to the General
Conference OF 1866, held in the city of New
Orleans, and even then, though but thirty
SIX years OF age, was spoken OF for the
Episcopacy in his Church. He was 4 men,
Der, also, OF the General Conference held in
Memphis, Tenn, in 1870; and came within
few votes OF being elected bishop at that
Conference, and doubtless would have been
elected but for the fact that number OF
the delegates from the Virginia Conference
did what they could to prevent his election
in order to retain him as president Of Ran
dolphin College. At that time they
really felt that the success OF the College
depended upon HIM; that no one could ill
his place. He was again delegate to the
General Conference Of 1874, held in Louis
vile. Nv. That Conference elected no new
bishop; but had he been spared till May,
1875, there was no man in the Church that
stood better chance for an election to the
Episcopacy than Dr.. Duncan. ..
At the General Conference held in Louis
vile DR.. Duncan was appointed
ONE OF TIE FRATERNAL MESSENGERS
IN the General Conference OF the Methodist
Eniscopal Church (North), to be held in the
civ of Baltimore in May, 1876. The asso-
riate messengers were Rev. Loyick Pierce.
y. D.. of Georgia, and Landau G. Garland.
n D.. chancellor OF Vanderbilt uni
yersitv. Nashville, Tenn. DR.. Pierce, by
reason of his age, could not attend. DIR.
Garland and DR.. Duncan were present AT
that Conference. DR.. Duncan made the
great frsternal speech on the occasion, ana
won for himself lasting renown, ana ganea
a conspicuous position in the eye ana estl-
nation OF the Northern Methodist Eplsc0-
nal Church. His speech was marked oy
GREAT candor and frankness, and by 4
breadth OF view and maturity OF tnouSnC
that elected the commentator and exclteu
the admiration Of the greatest intellects that
heard him. Withal it was speech OF almost
unriyalled eloquence. There are passages
in il that are scarcely surpassed by anythins
in the annals OF oratory. Following that
General Conference he had invitations TO
many Of the leading
NORTHERN METHODIST CHURCHES
to preach on special occasions, and was
even earnestly urged to take charge OF
wealthy churches in northern cities on large
and tempting salaries. But nothing OF tnis
sort could draw him away from virginia.
The cause of Christian education lay near
his heart. His vacations were spent III de-
liyering public addresses in various places
within the bounds OF the Virginia and the
Baltimore Conferences; and no man made O