National Republican., 1886-07-02
REV. WILLIAM GIBBONS.
An Able and Faithful Servant Como to
Receive His Reward.


Receive His Reward.
Last Sunday the Rev. VIM. Gibbons, pas
tor Of the Zion Baptist Church, held the
services in his church morning and evening
as usual, and not one Of the large congre-
cation present thought for one moment that
they had heard their beloved pastor speak
for the last time on earth, and yet such was
the truth. Sunday night, before retiring,
Mr.. Gibbons complained Of being Ill, but
no special attention was paid to the com
plant until the next morning, when, still
complaining, he asked for simply remedy,
which was given him. He had taken the
medicine, when almost Immediately after
ward he fell to the floor in au lnsensi-
BILE condition. Medical aid wasIat once
called In, but all In vain, for in half an hour
he was dead Rev. VIM. Gibbons was born
In 1926 at Pen Park, In Albemarle county,
Va, and lived at the old home until he was
a grown man. At the death Of the elder
members OF the family he was sold to Prof.
Howard, OF the University OF Virginia, and
remained with him until the close OF the
late war. During all these years he had the
entire confidence Of DIR. Howard, and, al
though 1t was against the laws Of Virginia
for coloTed man to preach to his fellow
servants without permission, still he was
permitted to do so.wlthout molestatlon by
his owner He was general favorite with
all classes, and no man had more friends
than he. In 1866 he was ordained as min
lister of the gospel. The council that or
dained him consisted OF Revs. William
Troy, William Wells, and Cooper lie ac-
cepted call to the First Baptist Church at
Charlottesville, Va, soon after he was or
dained. In 1867 he came to Washington,
and year later he was installed pastor OF
the Zion Baptist Church, the services at
hot hot, ln11 To- hail
South Washington. The congregation
then numbered about 200. 1t, however,
grew rapidly, and at this time the congre-
CATION numbers over LOO members.
The Zion Baptist Church held o special
(called) meeting last Tuesday to perfect
arrangements for the funeral Of their late
pastor, Rev. William Gibbons. On motion,
committee on coincidence was created,
and the following appointed as the com
mittee j. L. Whales, w. f. Tolson, and
w. j. Howard. On motion, It was decided
to drape the church IN mourning for thirty
days. On motion, 1t was ordered that
the entire official board OF the church
accompany the precious remains of the late
pastor to their last resting place at Char
louisville. Va. The deacons are j. A. Nell
son, Lewis Burrell, VIM. Parker, Henry IL.
Hoben, j. II. Wight, Thomas Manning,
Isaac Bergman, aud Ralph Wheeler. Trus-
tees, Messrs. g. d. Lydnor, II. E. Brown,
Stafford Parker, and Wm. F. Folsom. The
committee ON coincidence submitted the fol-
| lowing, which was adopted; .--
Whereas 1t has pleased Almighty God, in his
all-wise providence, to remove from our midst
our rdearly beloved fatherand pastor the Rev.
William Gibbons whom by his godliko and
ministerial devotion to his profession his ever
Willingness TO perform the functions of his
| where the presence of a Christian was needed;
| therefore be 1t
RGo,Cd, That we the members of Zion BAp-
| tist Church. over which the lamented William
| Gibbons was pastor, bow in humble submis-
| sion to the Will OF Almighty God, fully believ-
Ing that he has been called from the labor
among those who have always looked upon
| him MS devout Christian and sincere and
earnest minister of the Gospel to enjoy those
blessings ofheaveu which await all who live
| In the fear of our Heavenly Father.
ResOlrrCd, That the proceedings of this sad
and solemn occasion be spread upon tho OFF,
| cial minutes of the Ziou Baptist Church; that
| the ofliccrsOf the Sabbath school be requested
| to take such action as may tend in the future
| to perpetuate the Christian character and OK
emplafy life of our beloved pastor, william
Gibbons
Rcsoired, That copies of these resolutions be
| engrossed, and placed in conspicuous. place
| In The church, and copy Of the same be for
| warded to the family of the deceased, pub
| llshed In the daily papers and spread upon the
minutes of the church organization.
W. J. HOWARD,
J. l.. WHALES,
w. +. FoLsON,
Committee.
The funeral services Of Rev. William Glib.
bons will be conducted by Rev. Walter IL.
Brooks, pastor Of the Nineteenth Street
Baptist Church, assisted by Revs. G. NJ. 2.
King, William Bishop johnson, William j.
Walker, Robert johnson, II. 8. Laws, and
! Temple Robinson.
The pallbearers selected are Rev. w. III.
Philips, of the Bethlehem Baptist Church,
| Hillsdale, ID, c.; Rev. G.. w. Lee, of the
Fifth Baptist Church; Rev. j. II. Welsh, of
the Pisgah A. M. E. Church; Rev. Robert
DYSON Of the Wesley Zion Church;
Rev. r. A. Reid, of the Asbury NJ
of the Third Baptist Church. The
remains will rest in the church early Thurs
| day morning, July /, and be reviewed by
the many friends of the deceased until 10
| O'Clock, when the funeral services will take
| place, Rev. Walter IL. Brooks officiating,
and assisted by those heretofore named and
such others as may bo invited to occupy
the pulpit and platform. At the conclu-
sion of the obsequies the remains
will lie In state In the church until
| 9 o'clock Friday morning. At that hour
the funeral procession will be formed and
the remains escorted to the Baltimore and
| Potomac depot. The body Of the deceased
will be placed on the 7;l5 a. m. train, and
accompanied by the escort previously des-
| ignated proceed to Charlottesville, Va,
where religious services will be observed In
the church. The burial will take place the
same afternoon, aJ which time Revs. Wal
ter II, Brooks and William Bishop
johnson, OF the Second Baptist Church,
viii ofiloiate, with the many
delegates from the churches and societies
who will accompany the remains thither.
All those going in n body to Charlottes-
vile can, II they come in time, be accom-
modated at excursion rates, namely, 50
| round trip. BY order of the church.
i A NEL GOV AnIlnn lhnlrmnn