The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-19


O'CLOCK YESTERDAY MORNING-BI0GsSPH-
IcAL SKETCH; BIRTH, YOUTH, AND EDsCA-
TIoS-ENTRANCE UPON THE GOSPEL
MINISTRY-HIS SUCCESS AS A PREACHER--
VARIOUS PAsTORATEs N RICHMOND ANs
ELsgwHERE-LIFE AS AN EDITOR- R--HTS
CHARACTERISTICS AND EMINENT ABILITIES
As A MINISTER AND wRFTER-HIs ILLNESS
kND DgATH-THE BODY To BE REMOVED TO
GRACE.sTREET CHURCH TO-pAY-FUNERAL
TOMORROW w-ARRANG EMESTs THEREFOR.
DR.. Jeter Is dead. No announcement
could thrill a greater number Of hearts in
our community and country than this.
Many men were more extensively known,
but no man in America was more favorbly
and more widely known as good and great
man than the Rev. J. B. Jeter, ID. ID. The
exclamation will rise 10 many lips: "How
Is the strong staff and the beautiful rod
broken!" This figure seems as apprOpri-
ate to this fallen nobleman Of nature and
hero of the Christian life as ii il had been
penned originally with regard to him.
There was a combination OF charming SIM
plicity and manly yigor and infleXible in
tegrity which is rarely found in single
character. Though in age nearly fourscOre
years, his spirits seem 10 have had still lin
gerlng upon them the dew OF youth while
in intellectual power he was the peer OF any
inan OF his denomination, and in the force
OF moral and religious example he was
tower OF strength 10 our city and 10 the
Christian world. His erect and lofty form
was 4 fit symbol OF the true and majestic
soul within. This was the greatness OF the
man--bis great goodness. See that ObeliSk
yonder," said the philosopher and states
man COnfuclus, its uprightneSS Is It's
strength" DR.. Jeter was proficient in the
philosophy Of not looking back, but Of look
Ing forward in life. He kept up with tie
times, and was projecting and executing 10
the last Thus he kept young in his feel
ingS. OutStripped many OF his cOntempOra-
ries in labors, and was developing his forces
to the very end. The day lie entered the
room Of his fatal illness he was more pow
eriul in all the elements OF moral and
intellectual manhood than he was twenty
years ago. His eye was not dim, nor his
natural force abated. The transparency OF
his nature was chlld-like; his candor was
proyerblal; his sympathies seemed as broad
as the sufcrings OF bis fellows; and. in
glancing over rs much OF his long career as
our memory can cOmpess, we do not see
speck OF evil lmputation that has ever ad-
hered to his reputation. He was the all-
thor OF several volumes, which are marked
by the perspicuity and perspicacity, and by
the prudence and the pety, which have ele-
waited him among the classic and Christian
writers Of our times. He was the Ncstor OF
the Baptist press; one OF the wSest counsel
iors and ablest debaicrs OF the Southern Blp-
tist Convention; and Is Il preacher, he was y
confeS sed model Of the Baptist pulpit. 1t
was no mean compliment that an uncom-
monty bright child OF seven years, who re-
Gently bad heard in succession number OF
able ministers, said, 81 like Dr.. Jeter the
best OF them ALL! His lie, like his Mas
ter's, was simple and sublime; and his
death was mild and grand as the setting
sun. His last words were: "This VIII
take me off, but the Lord reigneth." The
whispelings OF n thousand tongues may
we'll be "Know ye not that there Is a
prince and a great man fallen this day in
Israeli"
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Jeremiah Bell Jeter was born in Bedford
county, Va, July u, 1902. He was con-
verted in his twentieth year, and baptized
the first Sunday in December, 1921, in the
North Fork OF Otter river, by Rev. William
Harris. His first public address was made
on the bank OF this stream in coming out OF
il on the occasion Of bis baptism. On the
night OF the 18th OF January, 1922, be
preached his first sermon to small
congregation OF mOuntaineers IN the
gorge between the Fiat Top and
Luck mountains, in Bedford county
| He was present at the organization Of the
Baptist General Association Of Virginia in
Richmond in 1928; was the first mission
ary appointed by the Association, and The
| last survivor OF the men who formed that
| body. On the 4th OF May, 1924. he was
ordained to the work OF the Christian min.
iStry at High Hills church. Sussex county.
| by Rev. Nathaniel Chambliss aud Rev. John
ID. Williams, for the former OF whom hC
acted as assistant. Leaving Sussex in the
spring Of 1926, his first p2stOraie was with
liilPs Creek and Union Hill churches, Camp
bell county. In the autumn OF 1927 be re-
moved to the Northern Neck Of Virginia
where he was installed pastor q Moratticc
church. in Lancaster county, and subse-
ouently Of WicOmicO church, in NOrthum-
| berland county.
! His ministry was eminently successful in
this field, having baptized over 1000 per-
sons in ABOUT nine years.
CALLED TO RICHMOND.
In the latter part Of 1885 he was invited
To the paStorate Of the First Baptist church
| OF Richmond, and was installed us pastor
on the first sunday in January, 1896, Rev
James T. Taylor, Rev. Addison Hall, Rev.
Samuel Cornelius, Rev. William f. Nelson,
and Rev. Henry Keeling participating in
the exercises. He served his church thir'
teen and half years. baptizing into its
fellowship nearly 1000 converts, among
whom were Rev. DR.. Garlick, OF this city,
and Rev. DR.. Henson, OF Philadelphia.
During his pastorate the First church
| built the house OF worship il now occupies
and organized its cOlOred membership OF
| >. 900 into the First African church. The
! latter church was put into possession OF thf
old house Of worship at the corner OF Broad
and College streets.
REMOVAL 10 ST. LOUIS AND RETURN TO RICH
MOND.
In October, 1S49 DR.. Jeter went 10 81
| Louis and took charge OF the Second Bap
tit church Of that city. He remained there
| three years, baptized one hundred ana hity
persons, and was Instrumental in 0rganl
| Zing two other churches in the city.
He returned 10 Richmond in September
1852, TO assume the pastoral care OF The
| Grace street. Dapll.t SntiCb. ~ iIO'hOSA
ship OF this church was nearly doubled IN
der his ministry. II increased from 322 u
600-the number or the register at the tlmt
OF his resignation in 1870.
| HIS FIxLD OF LABOR.
At the time Of bis death DR.. Jeter was tht
senior editor Of the Religious Hercn, tC
which he had devoted the last foarteer
vears. He was also President OF the BoarC
Of Trustees Of the Southern Baptist Theo
logical Seminary. at Louisville, Nv. Presi
dent az the Board OF Trustees Of Richmond