Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-18
The Bishops Elect.
NashviIla Wo-II

cemDer, 1879. his father was an hon
ored member Of the Cumberland street
church, and brought up his son und er
all OF the influences incident to
Christian home.
In 1874 he was sent to Randolph
Macon College, then under the Presi-
dency Of DR.. W. A. Smith, where he
spent three years, taking his diploma
at the head of his class in June, 1847.
BE joined the Virginia Conference in
the following November, and was
sent to the Prince Edward circuit.
He subsequently became chaplain OF
Randolph. Macon College, pastor of
the NJ. i. Church, South, at Washing
ton, d, O., and chaplain of the Uni
yersity of Virginia. While at the
latter institution the war broke out,
and he became chaplain in the Con-
federate army. He was early called to
minister to the wounded and dying on
the battle fields, and he became very
influential with the army. In one Of
the seven days battles around Rich
mond he was wounded in the
forehead, and lost an eye while
ministering to the wounded on
the field Of carnage. He was
also taken prisoner and carried to
Fort Warren, from which place he
was released as soon as he proved that
he was chaplain. Immediately upon
his release he re-entered the service.
The officers respected him and the
"boys in gray" loved him, and all
were influenced by his noble example.
After four years of hard service in
the army, he returned to the pastorate
beginning at Lynchburg, Va, then
Petersburg, four years, and then
Broad Street Church, Richmond,
where he was pastor, when called to
take the position he now holds at the
Vanderbilt University.
Rev. Alpheus Waters Wilson, d.
d., who was elected Bishop yesterday
on the first ballot, is the son of the
late Norval Wilson, of the Baltimore
Conference. He was bor0 in 1884,
and has enjoyed thorough Methodistic
training. Possessing massive intel
lect, and applying himself very closely
to the study of Gods word, he is a
biblical critic with few equals. Added
to this, he is an accomplished Greek
and Hebrew scholar, a finished orator,
successful pastor, and the M. Il.
Church is to be congratulated upon
his election to the Episcopate. Early
in life DR.. Wilson became member
Of the Methodist church; graduated
in Columbia College, Washington, D.
g., and read medicine, with the pur-
pose Of practicing the same.
Called to preach the Gospel, he
abandoned medicine and joined the
Conference of which he is now an
honored member. His carly circuits
were hard fields, and helped to devel-
ep in him those characteristics which
have since made him a useful worker
in the church. At one period in his
career circumstances obliced tenn
porary withdrawal from his chosen
work, he read law, and practiced
successfully in Baltimore City, mean
while preaching frequently. Through
the persuasion of friends who desired
his valuable services in the ministry,
he re entered the active work, in
which he has continued until the
present. DR.. Wilson has filled all
positions in the regular work, in cir
cults stations, and as Presiding
Elder. He was elected delegate to the
General Conference of 1870, and has
been member of each succeeding
session. AS a wise counselor he stands
pre- eminent, and as parliamentarian
has lew, il any, superiors. Though
somewhat retiring In manner, he pos
sesses warm heart and is in full sym
pathy with his brethren. He was a
member of the Ecumenical Confer.
ence, held in London last year, and
took high position there as an able
representative Of our Church. He
has just finished his fourth year as
Missionary Secretary, and by his en-
ergy and thorough work done much
to advance the missionary cause. He
is too we'll known as an able preacher
for us to speak of him here. He has
fine personal appearance, and at
once impresses you as a man Of eminent
ability.
Rev. DR.. Linus Parker was born in
Oneida county, New York, April %,
1929. He received a common school
education in his native country, aud
went to New Orleans in 1915, where
be continued his educational course
He subsequently studied law, but felt
the call to preach the Gospel, studied
and was licensed in 1949. In Decem.
Der of the same year he was received
on trial in the Louisiana Conference,
and was appointed to the Lake Prov
idence Church. His secondhand third
years were passed at the Shreveport
station. In 1853 he became pastor of
the Felicity. street church, New Or
leans, and preached afterwards at the
at the Csrondelet Church from
1856 to 1858. Subsequently he
was Presiding Elder nine years
with an interregnum of two years
He is the editor of the New Orleans
Christian Advocate, and has received |
the A. M. and D. d. degrees. DR..
Parker married Miss Ellen X. Bur-
russ, daughter of the Rev. John Bur
russ, and has three children, aged |
respectively q, 19 and 10 years, all
young men.
The subject of this sketch is a man
Of great vigor Of mind and body. As
preacher he is clear, logical and per-
suasive, and is very popular both as a
city pastor and as Presiding Elder Of a
district. He has great administra.
tive ability and tact.
AS an editor the doctor is distin-
g1ished for his able leaders and his
good taste exhibited in all depart
ments of his popular journals.
ROBERT KENNoN HARGRovE.
Born in piokens county. Ala. SEN