The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-12-22
For the Central Presbyterian.
Harmony Presbytery and Rev.
DIR. Plumer.

DIR. Plumer.
AT an adjourned meeting of Presby-
terry, held in Sumter, S. c., November
18th, 1880, the following memorial was
adopted by rising vote
The Rev. William Swan Plumer.
D. D., LII. d. was born at Greersburg,
now Darlington, Beaver county. Pa.
July the 25th, 1902. He graduated at
Washington College, Lexington, Va, in
1923, and at Princeton Theological Semi
nary In 1926, and was licensed to preach
the gospel at Monmouth, N. J.
be began his labors as an EVANGELIST
at Warrenton, N. O., and in the adioin-
ing part of that State; during which time
he organised and was pastor of the
Presbyterian church in Danville, Va.
He was subsequently, pastor of Briery
church, Charlotte, Va. In 1881 he be-
came pastor in Petersburg Va, and in
1884 he accepted a call to the First
Presbyterian church, Richmond, Va,
which he served thirteen years. 1t was
during this period that the great ques-
lions arose in the Church, which in 1887
resulted in the division, in which discus
sion DIR. Plumer took an active part. be-
ing one of the leaders Of what was after
wards known as the Old School branch
of the Church. He established the
Wotchn7on Of the South in 1887, and
was its editor eight years In 1883 he
was elected Moderator of the Old School
General Assembly. In 1847, he ac-
copied a call to the Franklin Street
church, Baltimore In 1854, he was
elected by the General Assembly to fill
the chair of Systematic and Pastoral
Theology, in the Western Theological
Seminary at Allegheny, Pa. In addition
to his arduous duties in that Seminary,
he became also pastor of the Central
Presbyterian church, Allegheny. n1862,
his connection with both the seminary
and the Church, was severed by causes
arising out of the war then raging be-
tween the North and the South. He sup
piled the pulpit of the Arch Street Pres
byterian church, Philadelph until 1865.
when he accepted call to the Second
Presbyterian church, Pottsville, Pa. In
1867 he was elected by the General As
sembly of the Presbyterian Church
South, to fill the chair of Didactic Theo-
logy in Columbia Seminary, made vacant
by the death of Dr. Thornwell. Tt was
at this period that his connection with
Harmony Presbytery commenced, and
continued uninterrupted until the time
of his death. In 1870, at his own sug-
gestlon, he was transferred to the chair
of Casuistric and Historic Theology. In
1871 he was elected Moderator of the
General Assembly-thus having had the
unusual honor of serving in that capacity
twice. In May, $780, he was made Pro
lessor Emeritus against his own desire
by the Board of Directors. On the
morning of October %, $780, he was
called to join the general assembly and
Church of the first born in heaven.
In the death of our beloved father and
co-presbyter, the Rev. DR.. Plumer, Har
mony Presbytery has sustained griev-
GUS loss which cannot easily be repaired
A vacancy has been created in our ranks
which can never be filed Our brave
leader has fallen at his post, and there is
no one with courage like his to be always
in the advance. Our experienced teacher
has been removed, and there is no one to
instruct us as he did in our duties and
our responsibilities. Our unwearied CO.
worker in the vineyard of the Lord has
ceased from his earthly labors, and we
are left to carry on the work he loved
so dearly without his cheering presence.
Our beloved father has been taken from
us, and there is no one to give us coun-
sci, advice, and gentle correction, and
admonition as he was want to do. As
leader we followed him, as a teacher we
learned from him, as a co-worker we hon
ored him, and as father, we loved
him. For the past thirteen years DR..
Plumer has been a most active and eff
fcient member Of this Presbytery. His
place was never unavoidably vacant.
even when long journeys and much per-
sonal inconvenience was required on
his part. In all matters brought before
Presbytery for its consideration he took
a lively interest His wise counsels.
and long experience as a Presbyter, often
served to clear away difficulties, remove
doubts, and elucidate points, which at
the time seemed inexplicable. His ia
miliarity with the laws and rules gov
erning deliberative bodies in general,
and church courts in particular, made
him especially valuable as member of
this court. In debate he was forcible
and clear in the expression of his views,