The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-03-17
RE T. SIDNEY SMITH MURK-
A

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LAND.
A notice of the death of this beloved
and esteemed brother appeared in our
obituary columns last week. The tidings
of his death have, doubtless, carried sor-
row Throughout the limits of our Synod
and to distant communities, for he was
widely known, and had preached the Cos
pei which he so much loved in MANY
parts OF thiscountry, as well as in foreign
lands. Our venerable brother mad So
journed upon earth beyond the allotted
period of three score years and ten, and,
although he was simply peaceful min
lister of the Presbyterian Church, his life
was marked by vicissitude and adventure,
by courage and devotion, at once
apostolic and heroic, and which, if skill
fully and vividly painted and reproduced
by some master hand, would read like a
romance. He was man of extraordinary
vigor of mind and body, and this he
offered up without reservation to the ser
vice of the Master, whether amid the busy
activities of our Western life, or as min
istering to the crippled and impoverished
churches of our Southern States; alike
upon the icy coasts of British America
and beneath the burning suns of the tor
rid zone. Mr. Murkland was the father
of the able and devoted pastor of the
Franklin Street Presbyterian church of
Baltimore. He was born in the early
part of this century in Scotland, where
he married in 1886, Mary Macgregor, the
daughter of historic house in the High
lands of Scotland His earliest labors
were in South America, where he passed
more than ten years as a missionary among
the natives of British Guiana. His faithful
companion shared with him the privations
and the toll of this difficult feld-labors.
however, which were abundantly bless
ed. Compelled by his shattered health
to seek different climate, Mr.. Murkland
left South America, and labored for four
years In Nova Scotia, whence he came to
the United States some years before the
sYar He was in North Carolina during
the four years of the war, preaching at
the Old Bethany church, where he re-
NAMED until at the close Of the war he
determined to devote his remaining years
to evangelistic work among the colored
people of the South With his charac-
teristic energy he entered upon this new
work, and built up sight churches, now
embraced in the Synod of the Atlantic.
He also established number of schools
and aided in the organization of Riddle
University at Charlotte, N c., of whose
board of trustees he was President
Finally disabled by stroke of paralysis.
the veteran soldier was compelled in
1877 to relinquish his cherished schemes
for the elevation and conversion of the
colored race, and he passed the sunset of
his noble and useful life at the home of
his son, S. R. Murkland, Esq, in Farm
vile, Va. Mr. Murkland preached for
some years in one of the Western States.
and for some years also in Petersburg.
Richmond, and other parts of Virginia,
before he went to North Carolina in 1861.
Gathered from the scenes of his varied
and eventful career to the General AS
sembly and Church of the first born, this
waRworn herald of the Cross now rests
from his labors, and it was no doubt
browning satisfaction, as his departing
spirit winged its way on the path which
had been marked by the flaming chariot
wheels Of the ancient prophet, to feel that
his mantle had fallen upon the shoulders
Of one whom his own tender andfpaternal
solicitude had trained to toll in the same
great cause to which his own energies
mad been SO long consecrated, and upon
one who he must have felt was worthy
to succeed him in the service of his Master.