The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-07-12


RIGHT REV. JAS. A. LATANE.-The
last number Of the Bdltimorean publishes
an excellent portrait of Rt. Rev. J. A.
| I4atane, formerly the beloved Rector of the
Episcopal Church of this city, and accom-
panies it with the following sketch of his
| life.
| The Rt. Rev. James Allen Latane, the
presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episco-
pal Church in the United States, is II de-
scendent of one Of the oldest families in
Virginia. He is a great great grandson OF
| the Rev. Lewis Latane, who fled from
Franceto England after the edict of Nantes
| in October, 1885, and remained there until
the year 1900. He WAS ordained deacon
and priest the same year, (170O,) and ar
rived in Virginia March 5, l70l, and took
charge of the South Farnham Parish, Essex
county. April 5. In this county the family
has resided for generations.
The present Bishop, James Allen Latane,
was born in the old family homestead in
Essex county, January 10, 1881. He was
prepared to enter the University of Vir-
ginia by private tutor, and graduated at
that institution in 1852. While at the
University, and afterwards, he read law,
but abandoned it and his studies, and en-
tered'the Episcopal Theological Seminary,
near Alexandria, Va, in 1854. Here he
pursued his theological studies for year or
so. He was ordained deacon in the lite
church at Wildwood, Clarke county Va, in
1856. by Bishop Meade, while on a visit to
that memorable prelate and pillar of the
Episcopal Church in Virginia.
InJanuary, 1867, Rev. Mr.. Latane receive
ed call to Trinity Church, Staunton, Va.
which he accepted, and remained there as
its rector for fourteen years. In 1871 he
was called to st. Matthews Church, Wheel
ing, W. Va, where he remained until jan
liary, 1874, when he resigned, and wrote q
letter to Bishop Johns, formally withdraw
ing from the Protestant Episcopal Church.
and announcing his adhesion to the tenets
OF the Reformed Episcopal Church. Mr..
Itatane, after this step, returned to his old
home, Essex, and remained there several
wears. While here he was not idle; he es-
tablished two churches. one in his native
county and the other in the adjoining county
of King William. In 1876 he was elected q
Bishop of the church at Chicago, but de-
clined the position. In 1879 he was reflect
Bishop, and this time he accepted, and be-
ing cOnsecrated, was aSsignedt to the South
ern Jurisdiction but before going there
he made an episcopal six months visit to
the churches in Canada, Nova Scotia and
far-Off Manitoba.
At the recent General Council of the
Church, held in Baltimore, May %, Bishop
IIatane was unanimously elected the Pre-
siding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal
Church of the United States. His epis-
copal visitations will be confined to the
churches in the States of Maryland, Virgin
ia, North Carolina, and Kentucky.
1t may not be inappropriate to state here
that the Right Rev. Bishop is a brother Of
the youthful Capt. William Latane, the
brave Latane, y OF the Ninth regiment OF
Virginia Cavalry, Gen. w. II. +. Lees
brigade, who was killed in making charge
when Gen, Jeh Stuart made his famous
ride in therear,of Mcclellan s army in 1862.
Christian burial was given his body with
! in the Union lines, near Old Church, Han
over county, Va, by Mrs. Brockenhrough
and lady friends. her faithful negro slaves
digging the grave and the Virginia matron
reading the impressive and solemn burial
service of the Episcopal Church over his re-
mains, by the light Of torches at midnight.
This is the incident, The Burial of l4at;l-
he, =" which John r. Thompson immortal
lied i'll verse, and William ID. Washington
portrayed on the glowing canvass. Both
the artist and the poet were VlrglnlanS
Thousands OF copies OF the steel imprint OF
this war incidentnOW adOrn both Northern
and Southern homes of those who fought
with the blue and those who wore the gray
Bishop Latane resides in Baltimore, on
Lafayette avenue, near the Normal Schoo
building, and breaches regularly when al
home from the pulpit Of the Culnmins Me
mortal Church, northwest corner Of Ian
vale street and Carrollton avenue, facing
Lafayette Square, AS a pulpit speaker
there are few more earnest OF more epgag
ing