Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-09
THIS ClTY'S NEWS.
BISHOP GEORGE r. PIERCE.
Memorial Address at Centenary Method"
chureh-Snteresiing Remarks from Dr'
HnuI Whitehead.

Sunday night Or. Paul Whitehead de-
llyered memorial address on the lie and
character Of Bishop George +. Pierce,
senior bishop of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South. There we're present
large congregation and the following mn
isierS: Rev. 7. A. Peterson. pastor OF
the church; Rev. Or. John Hannon. Reys.
4. &. Blcdsoe. Thomas i. Wise, William
Z. Wright. ard Rev. DR.. J. j. Laflerty.
Dr. Whitehead said
The great man whose death has occa-
stoned this service occupied the chief place
in southern Methodism, not only by reason
uf his oGicc-the senior bishop OF our
Church-but still more by reason OF his
personal greatness. In depth and fcryor OF
pioty, breadth and strength Of intellect,
cioQucncc and power as preacher, sagacity
and conservatism aS an ecclesiastic leader
and governor. be was without a peer among
Us. feel very inadequate 10 the task set
for me of portrayal OF his character and
work. What | shall do will, however. De
done con dmOrt. On no one has Bishop
Pierce made \ stronger and more favorable
impression than on me from the moment
when | first saw him enter the room OF
the Virginia Conference to preside over
election as bishop. Then in the full vigor
Of his early maturity, model Of manly
beauty and strength. with an eye like an
eagles, with the port and grace OF king,
full OF a cheerful sObrlety and dignity.
without touch Of pride, vanity, or
baughiincss OF micn, the law OF kindness
on his lips and the hiding.place o! the
Divine power rs a preacher on his brow
he was q sight long TO be remembered.
The opening prayer and address OF that
session are still !eit as | recall them
across the gulf OF an entire generation.
lac goodness OF God gave 10 our
Church tie services Oi this noble man at
an early age. He began to preach al nine
teen, and he was spared to 90 beyond three.
scOrC-aud-ten. Tie was able this year, in
the month Of February. to celebrate what
few married people ever see, his "golden
wedding" More tnan half a century he
proclaimed the Gospel Of Christ. Thirty
years and more he exercised the Office OF
bishop. leaving tie powerful effets
oi his administration and preaching from
Virginia 70 California, and from Ken
tucky TO Texas. Iie has died, a. il
were. before his time, worn out by eXGes-
sivc latcrs, consumed by zeal tina, would
not Ic rcprcsScd nor always wisely re-
strained. lie has compressed into the
hfty-fouT years of his ministry century's
work Of the average man, and with a con-
s,itUtion naturally endowed bevond even
that oi hi, father (who lived past ninety
veals) he might have lived TO a hundred
lad be srared himself But to the cause
a God and the Gospel Of Christ he knew
not bow 10 say Nay" in response TO sny
demand. lie had q great horror OF TaStin9
out and till his health actually broke dozen
appeared to have had no apprchcnsiOns OF
. yrc mature disabling.
! propose 10 consider Bishop Pierce
First, Asa m0H-a Christian nan.
secondly, As a Christian ruler.
Thirdly, y q Christian preacher.
|. A. mQ'i--a Christian man.
IN JrSCu, he would have attracted no
tice in any assembly. Many great and holy
men Lave been OF weak bodily presence y;
he was an exceptionally handsome and
courty man. The dignity of his bearing
made upon most persons the impression
that he was tall though not pOrtly. In
fact. he was Of medium height and weight,
oi singul2rly wcli.knit frame and we'll
VTopor'i0red figure. OF his face before
the wal. a refgpCTt6ctiikcaeSs Is that in the
Southern NtModis. PU.pit, the volume Of
sermons published hy the late W. I. smith
son, OF Washington city. None OF the
pictures | have seen Of his appearance
since lSGG are good. There is q haggard,
weary, and generally broken look about
them that was never true OF him. Even in
physical ruin. there was majesty and ex-
cCllence of counteuaucc about him that the
photographers and enNayers have failed to
got: perhaps ii required play Of features TO
bring il out. Disease and age marrcd the
pcriectiCn 81 those raro faatnrDs and whilo
they could not change altogether the glory
Of such a COuntcnance they quenched much
oi the charming light that it had In il. first
and perfect form. But TO the last he was
Grand and SiTiiiug-in the hcsh as in spirit.
That he attached no sort Of value 10 personal
auDearaucc was evident by multitude Of
signs. re could never have primped or
dressed on d.t.tidjnized for an occasion;
that was as impossible with HIM as any
other abominaiiOn whatever.
A. to hs character ~ a man may say,
in general. that there was nothing little
about him. He had no weak eccentriciues
such as have damaged many good man;
he was no eqOfiSt, nOr bad he any leanings
that way, though they might have been his
Nv inheritance. and have been the blot and
blcMish Of many a great man-and good
man, too. He had no marked fault OF tenn
per. disposition. or spirit. He was readily
equal 10 any emergency that arose III hi'
course a. lie, and could not be surprised
INTO saying or doing anything really un-
worthy OF him and beneath the usual level
Of his character and life.
His Christien character was genuine and
decided. Truth. sincerity, humility. un-
,olii,hue,s. love OF good men. hospitality.
Temperance. dey0utness. heayenly-mnded-
ness. complete separation from the world,
faith. and love-thesc graccs were in him
and abounded His experience was deep
and unaffected. His was thorough con-
version after the old school: he believed IN
and exemplihed religion oi the expert
mental. evangelical type; had conscious
accordance with God through Our Lord
jesus Christ. and reioiced IN hope OF hi-
glory: and loved al the means Of grace
that tend TO deepen this religion "oi power
and oi love and Of sound mind 1t
vas. therefore, moi surprising that IN 1ull
view Of death, and perfectly conscious. he
said An /. clear before me. am very
Lappy even in prospect Of death" ana tha'
he departed ain perfect peace"
lie was an unQ0dlWed ueth0diSt. lie
approved and loved all the peculiarlties on
doctrine and usage in his Church. lie
NAV at times have seemed somewhat 0!d'
foG,iSL, or even leaning towards Sectarian-
ism. But what had this appearance grew
out of his adherence Of a ndmbV-pdmty
Methodism. which desires TO retain the
glory connected with the great Religious
Movement Of the Eighteenth Century y so
called. and vet cmascu.ate it by the prac-
tical nulliGcaton of It's most cherished
principles. He Justly looked upon this as
a surrender to the world. IL SptrfsdI adu-
terH And with il he had no patience, but
,mote il bin and thigh with "the sword OF
the Lord and OF Gideon wherever heiound
it. He had no apologies TO make Tor MS
Church; there was in him no aplnS Oh
others. no cringinS 10 the assumptions anu
preteEsiOns OF others. OF broad, genuine
catholcity Of heart, he held out the rlghi
hand Of fellowship to all who love our Loru
Jesus Christ in sincerity. But he held IL
out standing on the platform Of equalityand
independence.
His greatness OF mind was OF the sort
which attests itself everywhere. In pri-
ylte conversation, IN 4 Gelbcrallve Dody'
in the Bishops chair, in newspaper aril'
cles, and i'm sermons, the tokens OF deeP
and great thinker were Immediately gwen
Nothing ShqllO,o fell out by the way. ne
qrdSped with the hold Of master NINA
whatever came near him and single sem
tencc from his lips often had in 1t the spe-
ciGc gravity OF gold.
II. As Bishop, presiding IN anhuai anu
general conferences, holding district con-
TRAVELLING fhrarDh fnp WllDlt