The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-10-18

lover of the Church go to aOork !
The Late Rev. A. A. Duncan, D. D.
Action of Florida Presbytery touching
the Death of Rev. A. A. Duncan, D. D.
The subject of this notice was born in
Scotland in 1912, and was brought to
America, when but fourteen years old,
by his parents. The family settled >.
New York, near Troy. By the grace
God he was in his fifteenth year, 1927,
led to Christ, and at once united with
the First Presbyterian church, Troy, then
under the pastorate of the Rev. DR.. Be-
man. Soon he turned his attention to
the ministry, and, as preparatory step,
he entered the Oneida Collegiate Insti-
tute, where he completed his literary
course in 1882.
Two years after, he entered the Lane
Theological Seminary, near Cincinnati,
Ohio, where e graduated in 1887. There
he m arried Miss Frances st. Clair, and
after his hcensure by the Presbytery OF
Cincinnati, he and his bride went over
to the city of Newark. The Second
Presbyterian church there had called
him to be its first pastor. There he was
ordained and installed by the same Pres
bytery.
In that city he resided over a quarter
OF a century-seventeen years of that
period acting as faithful pastor, when,
MS health failing from bronchial affec-
ton, he resigned his charge and accepted
the Office of Superintendent of Public
Schools there. For ten years, more, he
filed with o:edit that : aim almost 't' cone
when he consoientiously felt that he must
resume the ministry.
Amongst the various calls he had be-
fore him at that time, he concluded to ac-
cept the pastorate of the Mt. Sterling
church, Illinois. There be united with
the Schuyler Presbyt terry, and by it he
was installed pastor over that important
charge. Whist there he received the
honorary degree of D. D. from the ST.
Louis University, Missouri.
He remained in that pastorate for thir-
teen years, when his health failing and his
wife dying, he resigned it. His old
trouble soon Frustrated him completely.
By the advice of physicians he was in
duced to try the miloer climate of Flor
ida.
Accompanied by his unmarried daugh-
ter, his faithful nurse, he travelled through
this State to and fro, finally settling in
Fairbanks. His health having rapidly
improved, he soon put himself in position
to resume the active duties of the holy
ministry. At Monticello, October 10th,
1879, he was received on certificate of dis
mission from the Presbytery OF Schuyler,
and on examination, as member of this
Presbytery. Under our sanction, he en-
tered heartily, laboriously, and trusting
lY into that large home mission field on
the Transit Railroad, comprising Cedar
Keys, Archer, Battonville, Fairbanks,
and Waldo
1t is known to us all how soon that con-
secrated servant of Christ endeared him
self to this court. By his conscientious
punctuality at our sessions, his noted suav-
lty of manners, his characteristic modesty,
and above all, his unAinehing devotion
to the Master he won our sincere regard,
and made us all feel that God was graci-
Gus to us in loaning his servant to our
Presbytery for the space of three years.
His field Of labor was widely scattered,
WIN q hoA - AhOl ol oOll JGJJ Ill lis Olu
age-for he was nearing seventy-he
toiled with almost all the vigor of his
more youthful days. His style of preach
ing was conversational, very persuasive,
and strictly scriptural He particularly
ezcelled in discoursing to children hence
he was general favoritein our Sabbath
Schools and conventions There was q
magnetism about his fluent talks to the
young, that attracted their attention and
made them always glad to hear him. In
deed, wherever he went, he impressed
all, old and young, with the fact that he
had been with Jesus, and desired, above
all things, the salvation Of their souls.
He died Of dengue fever, at his home.
September q, 1882, at IN, attended
by his two daughters. His lips were
sealed in death, but his consecrated life
tells all. He rests in Jesus. Now he
can say, we believe, as with the poet
"Oh, as we stand immortal
Upon those plains Of light,