The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-10-28
DEATH OF THE SENIOR BISHOP OF
THE NJ. E. CHURCH SOUTH.
He Passes Quietly Away at His Home
in Aberdeen, Miss.-Bricf Re-
cord OF Il Noble Life.

cord of u Noble Life.
Especial to Tho Times-D Dem ocratl
ABERDEEN, Oct. 2O.-Our town is in
mourning for the death of Rev. Robert
Paine, senior Bishop of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South, who died in
the full possession Of his faculties at
4:3O O'Clock yesterday morning. He
died in peaceful serenity, surrounded
by his family and friends. He will be
buried in our beautiful cemetery, Odd
Fellows Rest, tomorrow morning at
10 o'clocl-, Bishop McTyeire officiating
Bishop Paine was born in Person
county, n. c., November 10, 1899, and
was therefore SO years of age. His
father, JamesPaiue, Esq, was high
ly respectable farmer. He removed to
Giles county, Tenn, when Robert was
a youth. There he gave his son the
best educational advantages the neigh
borhood could afford, and Robert, be-
ing sprightly and studious, made rapid
improvements. Before he passed his
ssteens," he was converted under the
ministry of the Rev. Thos. l.. Douglas,
at Mount Pisgah camp ground. His
conversion was bright, and his call to
the ministry clear and satisfactory.
In 1918 he was admitted to the Ten
nessee Conference. Before he was 20
years of age he was on circuit, but he
was very timid and felt the cross to be
so heavy that he was sorely tempted
to abandon the thought of making a
preacher. However, perseverance, land
a full conservation to the cause and a
firm persuasion that he was divinely
called upon to preach, bore him up and
soon he began to develop into an able
minister of the gospel. For many
years he was an active itiueraut, ,trave-
ling circuits, filling stations and having
charge of districts. He was sent as a
missionary to the country about Tusca-
loosa, Ala, when it was almost will
derness, and he was q presiding elder
in West Tennessee when that section
was new and thinly settled. He filled
most of the important appointments in
ular and useful. His last pastoral
work was four years on the Nashville
district.
In the fall of 1927 he was elected
president of La Grange College, in
Franklin county, Ala. The college
was in its infancy, without endoW-
ment, and dependent on the voluntary
contributions Of its friends ana the
friends of the Church. Under the skill
full management Of Mr.. Paine it grew
and became popular and useful in
stitution. He remained in this posi-
ton 10 years. He was a member Of
the General Conference Of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church five times from
1924 to 1914. At the memorable Gene
raj Conference of 1871, when the
Church divided, he was chairman of
the committee who reported the plan
1fc linn IN
member Of the Louisville convention
in 1916; was elected Bishop, in 1916, of
the First General Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South, at
Petersburg, Va, and was ordained with
Rev. VIM. Capers, D. d., by Bishops
Soule and Andrews. He had, several
years prior to his election to the epis-
copal office, the degree of d. d. conferr-
ed upon him. He outlived Bishops
Capers, Bascom, Soule, Andrews, Ear
ly, Marvin, Doggett and Wightman.
Bishop Paine was an able minister
and refined, Christian gentleman.
He presided with much dignity, and
was prompt, firm and genial. He has
furp pished the Church with an able and
elaborate work entitled "Life and
Times of Bishop McEendree,'' which
has proved valuable contribution to
NlSlAlOulSO AiSNoAS. NSCCLtIJ liz COL-
tributed a series Of papers to the Nash
vile Christian Advocate, which are re-
plete with wisdom drawn from an ex-
perience of four-score years.
The Bishop was in attendance at the
last general conference Of the M. T..
Church South, which met in Nashville
last May. After the reading of the adj
! dress Of the bishops, he arose and an
nounced his retirement from the minis
try in which he had so long labored, in
the following eloquent and appropriate
address
To the General Conference of the NJ. r.
Church Sonth
Dear Brethren: - While Joining
heartily with my colleagues in the adj
dress you have heard, I beg your indul-
gence to make few remarks of per-
sonal character.
During nearly G5 years have had
! the honor Of being an itinerart Ntetho
dist preacher, and for SO years u Bis
hop. In the General Conference Of
1924 was delegate, and, as Bishop
or delegate, have attended every session
since then. For the confidence in my
reliability, indicated by these facts, ]
| wish to now return nv most earnest