Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-12-25
a METHODIST PATRIARCH COVE.
Death Of the Rev. Henry COlclazer
This MOrntDg-His Long Life I'm
the Ministry.


PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 18.-The Rev. Henry
Colclazer died at his residence, No. 220i
Bsinbiidge street, at O'Clock this morning
tThe Rev. Henry Oolclszer, whose retirement
from active labor in the Methodist church
after Sc years continuous service In the min
istry, was prominent feature in the pro
ceedings of the conference which assembled
In this city last March, was one OF the few
men who then remained among us as land
marks Of the age which produced such men
as Garrison, Longfellow, Greeley and Wen
dell Phillips. His intellectual capacity was
unimpaired; his carriage as erect and his eyes
as bright as those OF many man in the
prime of manhood. He was below the
average hight perhaps feet inches high,
and sparely made.
Mr.. Colclazer was the son Of Thomas and
Elizabeth Cololazer, and was born at George.
town Heights, District of Columbia, in the
year 1919. He was educated in the George
town high school. and when the family re-
moved TO Ohio in 1895 the subject of this
memoir accompanied them. Thenew arrivals
took up their residence at Coshocton on the
banks Of the Muskingum river. In the year
1928 Mr.. Colclazer entered the old Ohio an
nual conference being then in his 10th year.
For two years he labored in the conference
and was then sent to Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Shortly afterwards the Onio conference was
divided and the Michigan conference consti-
tuted. A further division was made some years
later, but Mr.. Oololazer remained attached to
the Ann Arbor district and was stationed at
Detroit and other points, till in 1876 he was
transferred to the New Jersey conference and
stationed at New Brunswick. During his
say 10 Michigan he took an important part
In the organization Of Michigan University
and was appointed first librarian of thai in
stitntion. 1t was during his residence in De
troit that he took the step Of introducing
instrumental music in his church, measure
which provoked much opposition and led to
BE was triumphsntly acquitted.
On his transfer to New Jersey he continued
TO labor in that state until 184S, when he was
appointed to Wharton Street Church. Pbila-
delphia, in succession to the Rev. Mr.. Cooper,
the change arising out of the elevation Of the
Rev. Mr.. Scott to the bishopric. MIR. Col
clazer remained member OF the Philadelphia
Conference until division took place result
ing in the formation Of the Wilmington Con
ference, of which he remained q member. Being
admitted into the Philadelphia Conference he
served the church ut various points from
Pottsville, Pa, down TO Acoomack aud North
smpton counties In Virginia.
In 1861 during the troubles on the Mary.
land border arising out of the war ferment,
Mr.. Colclazer ably fulfilled the duties OF
presiding elder for the Salisbury circuit, and
during this time he married tile daughter Of
Governor Hicks. During Mr.. Colcazer's itin.
eracy In the Wilmington district he had been
successfully stationed at Dover, Middletown,
Newark, New Castle and other points. The
charge which he resigned was that Of Bethel
and Glasgow churches in this circuit.
MIR. Oolclazer's biography is in one sense a
history Of contemporary Methodism, at all
events of the Methodism Of the nineteenth
century, so far as this country is concerned
He lived 10 see his church rise to promi-
nence which the most ambitious hope Of Its
most ardent adherents little dreamed Of. In
the old Michigan conference, to which he was
attached in his youth, there were but six
preachers now there are over 500, while the
increase Of membership in the other confer
ences TO which he has been attached have
been In like proportion. He leaves one son,
Henry 81. Colclazer Of the Philadelphia
Record, and two married daughters, one Of
whom is the wife Of Henry Truss of New
Castle.1