South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-07-05
BISHOP GEORGE W. PETERKIN


Rev. George w. Peterkin, the
FIRST Protestant Episcopal Bishop of
West Virginia. an excellent like
ness of whom is given above. was
born in Washington county, Md,
March 81, 1S41. His father, the
Rev. Joshua Peterkin, vas rector of
the Protestant Episcopal Church,
Frederick City, and descended
from an old and honored Maryland
family. About seven years after
the birth of the subject of our
sketch, his father removed to Rich
mond, Va, assumed the pastoral
relations with St. James Church.
and has been there eyer since, uni.
versally respected and beloved, not
only by the members of his own
church, but by the whole people,
without regard to creed.
Young Peterkin was educated at
the Episcopal High School, near
Alexandria, and at the University
of Virginia.
Early in 1861, when only twenty
years of age, he entered the Con.
federate service, going out as pri-
vate in the famous Company F, of
Richmond, attached to the twenty
6rst Virginia Infantry. Here his
gallantry, strong devotion to duty
and mental ability, soon attracted
attintion and he was rapidly promo
ted TO the rank of Adjutant of the
regiment.
In June, 1862, he was made aid
e-camp to Gen. VIM. n. Pendie.
ton, chief Of artillery, Army of
Northern Virginia, where he re-
NAMED until the war closed, when
he was discharged at Appomattox.
After the war he commenced to
study for the ministery at the V r
ginia Theological Seminary, and
was ordained deacon in June, 1868,
and priest In June, 1869. His first
charge was as assistant to his faith.
er, At st. James Protestant Episco
pal Church, Richmond, Va. From
there he went to Culpepper Court
House, Va, and in 1873 he accept
ed call to the Memorial Church in
Baltimore, where he has labored
earnestly and zealously, and his eff.
forts in promoting the spiritual aud
temporal Interests of the congrega-
ton have been eminently successful.
While filling the duties of rector of
Memorial parish he was chosen to the
bishopric of the new diocese of West
Virginia.
The first Bishop of the new do
cese of West Virginia, was conse.
Grated in this city on Thursday, the
Both day of last May, with great
ceremony. Preparations had been
in active progress for some time for
this important event, but it was i'm
possible to accommodate half of
those who desired 10 witness the
ceremony. st. Matthews Church,
the building in which the ceremony
took place, is beautiful structure,
built of rough faced blocks Of gray
sandstone, having seating capaci.
~ for about thousand. IL is ele-
gsntly finished IN the interior with
very old English oak aud black
walnut, and on this occasion was
deliberately decorated with white
flowers. Owing 70 the limited seat
ing room it was found necessary TO
issue tickets Of admission. The
edifice was thronged.
Among the distinguished persons
present were Bishops Bedell Of
Northern Ohio, Jaeger ofSOuthern
Ohio, White Of Virginia. Kerfoot
Of Pittsburgh, Dudley of Kentucky,
Rev. DR.. Nelson, Of AIexandria; ex
Senator j. w. Stevenson, of Ken.
lucky; Rev. J. Peterkin, Richmond;
ex-GoV. Jacobs aud Gov. Mathews,
Of Wet Virginia. Bishop Pink.
ney, Of Maryland, wss expected, but
for seine unkRown reason did not
ardve.-At 1890 the ceremony be.
gan, Bishop Bedell presiding. At
IL o'oisok, after The usual morning
service. DR.. George w. Petsrkis,
the BishsP-eleot, was ofEicially intro.
duced = the presding Bishop by
BishePs Jagger and Dudley. The
usual questiens ~ 10 whether he
WOULD subscribe 10 the doctrines and