The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-06
DEATH OF Rev. ri. 8. KEPLER.--Rev. III.
8. Kepler, welLkuowu clergyman OF the

s. Kepler, q welI-known clergyman OF ih
| Episcopal Church OF this diocese. died q
! bis residence, on Seventh street north o
, Leigh street, yesterday at noon. Mr.. Kep
! Ter was born in Maryland on the Sih o.
January, 1907, and In 1S4S accepted cal
10 81. Johns church in this city, in which
field be Iabored until 1860.
Mr.. Kepler's family emigrated 10
America from Germany in 1884, his grand
father being an officer OF prominence in
the German army. The father OF Mrs. Kep-
Ter, DR.. Grafton DuIany Harrison, was a
descendant OF an old English family OF dis.
tinciiou, and related TO the weIl-known
family OF Addisons, Of this city.
Mr.. Kepler's pastorate at ST. Johns was
attended with marked results for good He
labored in that venerable parish until 1858,
wDen he resigned to become an evangelist
FOR The diocese, owing 10 the intrm health
OF Bishops Meade and Johns. He contin-
ued in this important work until 1S60-the
breaking out OF the war. During the war,
opportunity offered, be ofiiciated 10 the
parish OF st. Peters, in the county Of New
Kent, where General Lee frequently at
tended divine service. Subsequently he
spent much Of bis time In building up the
Episcopal church in Manchester and at
Hicksford, on the Weldon and Petersburg
railroad. When minister was regularly
established at Hicksford he untertook the
building uD OF the church at Ashland, in
which work he was very successful. Not
satisfied with this good work, he went back
TO st. Peters, in New Kent, where he again
eDdeared himself 10 the people, and soon
built up flourishing congregation. Re-
signing the charge in New Kent, be went
10 st. Mays church, near Tuckahoe, IN
Henrico county, and it was owing to bis
faithful and laborious work in that church
at Christmas Of last year that the Illness
which terminated bis long and useful life
was brought on. There Is not q church in
Richmond where he was not well known
and dearly loved, and throughout the dio-
cese be was honored and respected.
In the death OF Rev. Mr.. Kepler the Epis-
copal Church loses one OF its most pious,
able, aud most jealous clergymen, and
Christianity one OF its brightest eyemplars.
Serupuously modest and nnobtruslve in
bis manner, gentle as woman and yet as
firm as adamant in defence OF the right, he
made during his long, useful, and honor
able life host not only OF warm admirers
but loving friends. The life OF such man
is not only valuable as a guide and
example to those whom. sorrowing, he
leaves behind but his triumphant death,
with all his burdens cast upon the
Lord, the most convincing argument
that could be made in Behalf OF that cause
in which the vigor Of his youth, the strength
OF his manhood, and even the feebleness and
decreptude OF his old age bad been spent.
Whenever his services have been called into
requstion, no matter in what field he was
called upon to labor, he carried to that la
Dor earnestDess, zeal, Christian walk. and
on abundance OF Christian love. With
him the work OF the Church was a
labor OF love, and not until bodily
intrmhies prevented did he cease from la
boring. He had passed the allotted three
scOre.and-tcn. and in the winter OF life he
could look back over the great ocean OF the
past without regret. Faithfully had he per-
formed bis share in every sphere OF duty in
which be had been called to ofiiciate.
The funeral will take place at o'clock
this afternoon from st. James church.