The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-24
BISHOP BECKWITH DEAD.
The CEURCE LOSES ONE OF ITS
GREATEsT LTGHTS.

TIE CHURCH LOSES ONE OF ITS
GREATEST LIGHTS
Little Hope Entertained o.the Bishop
Recovery after tie Pareiyt:c stroke.
and ne Passes Away G1ietly-his
Death Greas Loss % tie church and
a Shock TO the People o. the state
Sketch OF the Bishops Lfs-ais Final
Illness
Bishop J. ". Beckwith died az his home
in Atlanta Yesterday. 4 dispatch t. the
MORNING NEWS announcsd his death at 6
O'Clock yesterday morning. Since Sat
urday morning, when be was
Sricken with paralysis, his friends
entertained little hopes for his recovery
Although bis serious condition was known
10 his friends II Savannah, they had some
honeS Of Ms recovery. and bis death caused .
great shock. The kilograms tearing the
sad fntel liEecce did not reach SaTar- .ah
uutil after the morning service, and prayers
were offered n ali Il the Episcopal churches
for his recovery.
Bishop Beckwi,h wes well known IL Sa-
vannah, having formerly resided here aud
having Dsea frequently here IN the dis
charge Of his du-4es a. bishop Of Georgia
Few men had mere devoted admirers
than he.
IN TIE PRIME or LlFE.
Bishop Beckwith was 10 his Goth year.
Although known and hon0red throughout
the country, and in the s9utn especially, he
was more Intimately known to the people OF
TINS state, where his life work has been, he
having been bishop Il Georgia Tor over
TWENTY-FIVE years. \ short sketch OF a
well-spent life Will be Of interest 70 those
who knew him, personally or BY reputation
John Watrous Beckwith was Of Scotch
descent, and was born IN ha'eign, y. ~
FEB. 9. 1881 he was the son Of physician.
His parents moved 70 Petersburg, Va. when
be was ten years old, where he vas
brought up. he graduated at Trinity
college, Hartford, Conn, in loJ%, was
ordered deacon May "A, 1884, and ordained
priest May % 1855 His first pastoral
work was in Calvary church, Hadesboro,
n C.. DE removed from there % Maryland
and became rector Of All Hallo~s. Anne
Arundel county, where he married Miss
Ella brOckenbrough.
At the beginning Of the civil war he re-
moved 70 Mississippi aod became rector Of
All Hallows church, Washington county.
He next removed 70 Alabama and become
rector Of Trinity church at Demopolis. At
the close of the war tie removed to LOulsl-
ana and became rector Of Trinity cnurcn,
New Orleans. He was very successful Ia
New Orleans, and built up the church
wonderfully. He remained at New Orleans
until his elevation 70 the episcopate. During
the war he saw Eervice as chaplain on Gen.
Hardees staff, and waI later with Gen.
Polk.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS A BISHOP.
He was elected bishop Of Georgia at the
Episcopal convention IN Macon in 1857,
being nominated by John K. johnson, de-
ceased, former city treasurer Of Savannah.
He was consecrated bishop Of Georgia in
St Johns Church in this city April 2, 1858,
by Bishops Green Of Mississippi, Atkinson
Of North Carolina, K. II. Wilmer Of Ala
bama, j. +. y. Wilmer Of louisiana, and
Young Of Florida. He received the degree
Of S. T. d. from Trinity College in 1858,
and that Of ID. ID. from the University Of
Georgia the same year. He removed to
Savannah after his election 10 the Z pisco-
pacy, and lived here for several years. He
was rector Of Christ church during his stay
in Savannah, in addition to his duties as
bishop. On account of his wite's health be
removed TO Macon. where he resided for
about FIVE years, and afterwerd to Atlanta,
where he has resided for the last several
years.
He leaves a son and two daughters,
one Of whom is Mrs. A. L. Lawton, Jr.,
resides In Savannah, and his son, j. r. Il.
Beckwith, ESQ.,, is wellknown here. A
younger daughter, Bessie. is unmarried.
Mrs. beckwith died few years ago.
oEoRGIA's SECOND BISHOP
Bishop Beck with was the second bishop
Of Georgia and the eighty-sixth bishop in
the line Of episcopal succession in this
country.
After the stroke of paralysis which end
ed his life Bishop Beckwith seemed 70 re-
al ct yr.ry ardaI tbrrsrrh IL
physicians encouraged him with the
promise that lie should be out again by the
first Of tne year. He was willing and re-
signed 70 the consequences. Feeling that be
should be i'll for some time
az le st, he called the standing com mittee
Of the diocese 70 him in Atlanta short
while since, and turned over the work to
them, no Savannah members being present
In doing 50 he remarked that his phy sicians
had said that they would have him out by
the first Of the year. in which case he would
resume his duties, but be very much doubted
it.
-"If 80, it is all right" he said, land if moi
it Is all right"
Inc abscsss, which il assigned as tbs
cause Of his paralysis. formed below the
teeth and had features in common with
cancer. The bishop had been suffering in
tensely from IT for several weeks. Thl
funeral will probably take place Wednes
day.
Rev. c. H. Strong and Rev. o. p. Fitz
simons left for Atlanta last night TO pa,
their last tribute Of respect TO their deceased
superior Mr. and Mrs. A. r. Lawton, Jr
were in attendance upon the bishop at tn
time Of his death
The growth Of the Episcopal church il
Georgia has been largely due TO Bshol
Beckwith's efforts. He was widely known
for the eloquence and tine power of his ser
mons, and in this respect he had few supe
riors in the Episcopal church. A nobl
christian soldier has gone to his rest.
HIS THIGH FRACTURED.