Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-08

| learned habits of business which we're Of
| great use TO him N after years, "a was
shown by the value of his advice in the
| secular affairs Of the Church aud his CON-
| mand of details in the organization of So
cleties. the conduct OF rlIssion-worE. &c.
He was ordained in 1887 and spent his dea-
conate in work among the colored people
OF Baltimore. After being admitted 20 the
priesthood he had charge of churches in
Frederick, Md. Clarke county, Va, and
Princeton, \. j.
his WORK IN RICHMOND.
From Princeton he was called in 1856 to
Richmond TO succeed DR.. Cummings. the
eloquent pastor OF st. James church,
and though repeatedly called 20 other
charse ses--notably Emmanuel church, Baltl-
more. with much larger membership and
at higher salary--he would DOT leave this
charge. but clung 20 mis- people here whom
he loved and upon whose affections he took
a firm mold at the very beginning Of his
ministry among them.
OF DIR. Peterkln 1t cannot be said that his
lips were touched with a coal from the
altar III that ne swayed men with impas-
stoned oratory. But the consecrated
flame of the altar burned in his heart and
he made its glow felt by all who came
within the circle of his influence. The
spirit of God was upon nm, not as upon
st. Paul, but as upon st. John. His
nature was essentially simple. the cast OF
his mind poetic, and his admonItions aud
expostiOns came not with q burst that
startled, but like song in the night.
leaving an undylng echo OF truth IN the
soul.
SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS.
Meekness, self.abnegation, charity, and
! gentieness were the salient characteristics
of Dr. Peterkin. Not that he dh not pos
sess the frmuess and that courage of con-
ylctlon which help TO make up the stature
of the perfect man, but be believed that
! the easier was the better way, that soft
answer turneth away wrath. and he so
! guided his daily walks.
| In private life DIR. Peterhn was a most
delightful companion. His literary cul-
| ture was extensive. lie was the author OF
| more than one poem full of sweetness and
| light. and his conversation was studded
with pearls of thought. There were none
that he could not interest-none that he
! would not interest himself III. He acted
up 10 his sublime faith III Whatever posi-
tion he was placed in manner which CON-
manded respect tor him personally and
for the cloth he wore. Under all circum-
stances he was loyal to the right and duty
and answering IN his devotion to the
Master.
| HIs LAST aIcENEss.
DR.. Peterkin had been failing for some
time, but il was only within the last six
| weeks that ID was realized that the end was
so very near. His life was an example
around which there vas halo of purity.
His death illustrates:
"Hos beautiful II is for a man to die
Upon the walls OF Zion; 10 be called.
Like a walch-wOrn and weary sentinel
To put his acmor Of and rest In Heaven
He fought good fight and has gone 20
the reward Of holiness-to that celestial
shore. where two lovely daughters await
him. He will be mouIned not only by his
own Church aud his own communion, but
by the good and the true of all other de-
nominations in Richmond. The imperish-
able epitaph he traced for himself ls
Servant OF God, we'll done" The tri.
butte, high and low, rich and poor. paw his
memory IS the conviction that the world
better because such man has lived.
DR.. Pe,erkin married Miss Elizabeth
| Howard Hanson. and his wife and one son,
Bishop George Peterkin, survive him; He
also leaves brother, Mr. William Peter
kin.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS.
The funeral will take place from St.
James church tomorrow at noon, 1hee
Episcopal clergy will attend IN a body and
the ministers of the other denominations
will be invited to be present. The ser
vices will be conducted by Rev. DR..
Dashiell Rev. Preston Nash, and Rev. j.
X. Mason, and 1t is the request OF the
family that flowers be omitted.
The following gentlemen have been Sc
lected as pail bearers; Honorary Messrs.
William f. Gray, 5. @. Greenhow. Jonn G.
Shafer, ]. Il. Powell. y. W. Piekrell. Will.
liam ID. Gibson, and Drs. Edward L. Rob.
inson and J. b. McCag. Active1Messrs'
b. Alsop. Preston Cooke, James L. Gray
Frank II. McGuire, 10. F. Williams, w. NJ
Woodward, G. Z. Whitlock. and John L.
| Williams.
The ladies OF st. James congregation
had determined TO drape the church as 8
mark of respect to the memory OF their
beloved pastor, but upon being apprised
that DIR. Peterkln had expressed himself
strongly in opposition to such tribute tC
any mortal abandoned their preparations
At the meeting of the Presbyterian min
listers yesterday morning resolutions OF
sympathy with the family OF the deceased
I