Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-01


His last words were
ALL Is WILL"
He had been unconscious all Of to-day,
and 1t was apparent TO his family that his
end was near.
About o'clock this afternoon he sank to
rest easily and peacefully as o child, and
without an apparent struggle,
sketch OF His Career.
DR.. Edwards was the best known preacher in
the Virginia Conference and in his long service
IN the ministry had often been stationed mere IN
Richmond His sermons always commanded
attention. In revtvals ne was great power. lie
was OF the medium height, rnther slight OF ngure'
with bright, winning eyes snd dark, curly hair,
which only recently became streaked with gray.
he spoke with great fiuency. His words gushed
forth With rapidity defying tho best short-hand
reporter. He was a sincere, earnest, persuasive,
beart-reaching pulpit orator, and his mind was
rich In Biblical research and illustratration ana
IN creative imagery. He was truly sympa-
thetic soul In the midst OF grief ne was
great comforter. When with COM
paby Of lght-hearted, merry young people no
wns the gnyest OF all. Splendid as be was In the
pulpit; able as he was 20 picture the graces OF
warn sinners, nowhere did he better excel than
In private conversation. He was q pleasant,
helpful man 20 meet. He came 10 you with
smile lighting his face and made you partaker OF
nio uuIDAulutSS. Ills llt NhH Nth nRVht. AA'
led thousands 20 the altar. Many young men he
caused 20 enter tho pulpit. He built many
churches His voice was ever raised TO encourage.
After nfty-5eyen years preaching, writing, ana
talking the Gospel he has gone, bequeathing 10
his Church fame that will not die, because the
material Of which the structure Is built will ever
exist. To his family and friends Is left the pre-
clOiis recollection Of his noble works, OF many
secrhces, Of great sorrows cheerfuly borne, OF
life well rounded, and n death triumphant
DR.. Lafferty, in the 1890 edition Of his book OF
Sketches Of the Virginia Conference Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, has tho following:
on HISTORIC GROUND.
Rev. John f. Edwards, son Of Thomas and
Susannah Edwards was born In GufOrd county,
n. C., August l, 1914. On his fathers side he
IA OF Welsh descent; on his mothers OF Swedish
blood. His early education was received princi-
pally among the Quakers. Living, as ms pa
rents did, in the neigbbOrhood Of tho New Garden
Quaker school, he spent four or five years, first
and last In that institution. lie professed con-
version nc n camp-meeting held at Centre Camp
ground September IL, 1882, Joined the Metho-
dist Episcopal church, and soon become exer-
cised on the subject OF entering the minis
try. April Z, 1884, he wns licensed
as local preacher and spent
tho remainder Of that year on the Iredel circuit
assistant 20 Rev. Joshua Leigh. February,
1885, he joined the Virginia Annual Conference
and entered on the regular work OF an itinerant
preacher. At the time OF the division Of the
Virginia Conference, I'm February, 1887, no was
| into the North Carolina Conference. In this
conference he spent eight ycars, being stationed
ono year in Beaufort, on the seashOro; one year
| on the Roanoke circuit, when lt embraced War
| ren and Halifax counties, with not less than
4 twonty-two regular appointments. Warrenton,
| Halifax, and Enfield small towns) we're all
| In this big circuit. Tue membership was
| large, and represented millions OF dollars.
| The pastor was q married man, with wite
and one child 20 support. His allowance was
| f4ae Tor the year, and by an extra effort M 9,
| fifth quarterly meeting he entire amount was
| raised with surplus Of four or I've dollars, the
whole Of which, in the iberality OF the stewards,
was paid over TO the preacher. In 1S4l and 1872
| DR.. Edwards was stationed In Newberne whore
very great reyiyals attended his ministry. A
new house Of worship Was nearly completed
when he left that charge. A protracted attack
Of typhoid-fever left him broken down In health.
During the year 1S43 he did no regular work.
In 1914 and 1S45 he was stationed In Raleigh.
TRANSFERRED TO VIRGINIA.
At the close Of bis pastoral term in Raleigh he
was transferred by special request 10 tho Vir-
ginia Conference and stationed at Cente-
nary, since which time, up TO this present
writing, his ministry has been confined ex-
clusYely TO tho cities OF Richmond, Norfolk, Pc.
tersburg, and Lynchburg, except q pastorate OF
four years In DanWllo-twenty years, hrst and
last in Richmond; four years In Norfolk, four
years In Petersburg, and seven years In Lynch
burg. In Norfolk he was connected with the
building OF Granby-Strcet church. The Market
street church, IN BetcrSDurg was Duilt mainly
by his efforts. Trinity church, In Richmond, was
carried TO its completion Just after the late war
by him, while ho was pastor In Richmond. Gen.
tenAry church was enlarged and remodelled al
an expense Of e25,000, while he was In charge
Of thai station, from 1872 To 1876. Park-Place
church, in Richmond, was also built under his
pastorate. Also, Mt. Vernon, In Danvile.
HONORARY DEGREES.
The subject Of this sketch received honorary
degrees Of A. NJ. and ID. ID. from Randolph-MacOn
College. In 1856 DR.. Edwards travelled In Eu.
rope, and on his return published book OF
travels, which had fine run recent traveller
says Il Is ON sale in London, having gone through
several editions In England, and sought for by
| tOuriBta
lie was the author Of " Log Moeting-HOuse," the
| "Life OF Rev. John Wesley Chllds," and also OF q
| small book styled "The Confederate Soldier p
| Besides those works he has published conside-
rable number OF tracts, lectures, addresses, and
other miscellaneous matter.
Dr. Edwards had been member OF the Gene
ral Conference at each quadrennial session nom
| 1853 70 1886. His whole ministry has been de-
voted 10 the pastoral work. He lectured ON men,
tai and moral science for two years In the Peters-
burg Female College while at Market-Street
| church, In 1859 and 1860. He, with DIR. ID. 5.
| Doggett Date Bishop, originated and edited
The Kpisoopa( Methodist for one year Just after the
termination Of the late war; He has never been
presiding elder or agent Of any sort.
He has never been presiding elder and persist
entity refused 20 be professor or president IN col
| leges He has missed no good fortune In his ca
reer II we make exception Of the bishopric.
BEST WIFE.
| He was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Clark, Of
| Prince Edward county, Virginia, In 1898, Wnc
Uell illustrates Solomon's portrait OF best Wie
He has three children, all sons, one OF whom Is
| momber Of the COnference-Rev. William k Ed
| wards, ID. ID.
Ever since the preparation Of the above sketch
! by Dir. Lafferty Dir. Edwards had been pastor 0l
| the Court-Street church, Lynchburg. lie al
| tended the General Conference In 1880, ana per
haps his last public appearance In Richmond
was during the session OF the Virginia Confer.
| ence held In Broad-Street church Ia the fall o.
| 1889. He Was then feeble, but spoke with grea
| clearness and force.
DIR. Edwards was born on the day Of the battle
| OF QuilfOrd Courthouse, n. C., and not far IRON
the battlefield. His grandfather was killed neal
| the Alamance few days before the battle WINE
leading a band Of Wings TO Join the Continental
| forces.