The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-07-28
4 Sketch Of the Lif. Of Bishop Ellison Ca

4 Sketch Of the Life Of Bishop Ellison Ca
pers.
Tho following sketch Of the life Of Bishop
Ellison Capers will be Of great interest to
eouth Carolinians who do not personally
80 -s- :.snvp Va ,ns uivcsse OF south
Carolina:
The Right Reverend Ellison Capers. d. D..
just c nsecrsted Bishsp Ceadjutor Of the
Diocese OF South Carolina, bears a name
already henored in Christian annals in South
Carolina.
A SON Of that eloquent aud able divine of
sanity memory, Bishop William Capers, Of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, he was
born on the 14th OF October, 1887, in Char.
lection. Possessing in his youth, like Rob-
srtson, Of Brighton, decided military IN
st'bCts, he received his scholastic training
At the South Carolina Military Academy,
whence he was graduated in the class Of
1901 his cadetship revealing the germs of
those noble traits that adorn his Christian
character. At once trno AMI ,snde., nc vas
beth gentle AMI strong and emiueutly loyal
in his syuI athies.
He was successfully Major aud Lieutenant
Colonel Of the LIST Regiment uf Rifles, S. q.
NJ and Colonel Of the 24th South Carolina
Volunteer Infantry in the Confederate SER
vice. His was brilliant war career. No
officer bore himself more ga'lan,ly,
After brief civil service as Secretary of
State, Col. Capers was ordained to the sacred
ministry in the Protestant Episcopal Church
by the Right Reverend Bishop Davis, in
May, 1867. Having mt this time accepted q
call TO Christ Church =. Greec-:iis, s. c..
he now began his life work as a minister of
the Gospel.
Says Col. Thomas in the sketch of Dr.
Capers in his "History of the South Car olina
Military Academy:
'For twenty years during the prime Of
his life, between his Both and 5Oth year, he
lsbored assiduously aud effectively in that
parish by the mountain. Nor was his earn
est and discreet ministry without the visible
fruits Of the grace of God. His Citadel
training served him well i'll the offices Of
Christ. He organized vic;ory in the cause
Of the Prince Of Pe,ce.
"The discipline that he introduced in the
workings Of his parish brought blessed re-
suits. His parish that he found weak and
divided he made strong and united, becom-
ing one Of the most important of the diocese
1T was while engaged in this Cody W >rk
that, cbeying the call to u larger field and
more abundant promise of Christisn harvest
the Rev. MIR. Capers came TO Columbia
to assume charge at the capital of the
Stote-the centre of much iutiuence-of
the old parish of Trinity, consecrated to him
and to bi, new flock by the Cody, nalf-
century ministry of DR.. Sbani aud the earn
est labors of II Stringfelow and Judd.
With the herald of good name aud a career
both gentle and etrong, the Rev. Ellison
Capers began his new work with the sympa-
thies Of an appreciative parish. IIore for
the last five years he has repeated the work
Of his Greenville ministry, with the super
added force of the experience that comes
vpt nhSor nnI "a:
of a broader sphere of influence from the
environments Of the capital of the State. AS
preacher Of the Word with power aud elo-
quence; as rector with n sympathy coevist-
aut with human needs, as citizeus alive %
every duty Of high citizenship, DR.. Capers-
made doctor of divinity by the South Caro-
lima University IN lSSS-occupies COM
mandng place in the hearts of good people
as well as in the caunselI of the church of
his ministry
''Stroug alike with clergy and Aity, the
mantle cf larger responsibilities than any he
has yet borne may, in Gods Providence
await him 10 the future That his mind is
strong enough, his soul sweet enough, and
his shoulders broad enough for the heavy
churchly burdens, this would seem attesi ed
by his character and career.
.'Dr. Capers has been the recipient of not
y
offered the Bishopric Of Eastou. lie is the
efficient secretary and treasurer Of tho board
of missions uf this diocese of the Protestant
Episcopal Church, AMI is II mcmbc; of the
general convention from South CarUliua.
$50 many times on account Of his graceful
oratory has he been called upou to aidress
his fellow citizens, especially upoa Conied-
crate occasio as, that lie might fifty be con-
sidercd as having earned the title of orator
laureate of the Confedcracy'
The suggestion Of the biographer Of Dr..
Capers that the mantle of Bishop awaited
him was realized in May last when he was
promptly elected Bishop c ;adj utor Of this
diocese-his consccrdtion to which high of,
flee took place Thursday.
1t is, perhaps, rarely the case that Bish-
op has been Invested with his presty robes
anzi such auspicious circumstances.
\ brave SStiicr, a PATRIOTS, citizen, u man
ly man, $Capers now appears in the robe
ofa B SHOP, loyal to his own chutch and at
the same time commanding the sympathics
Of Christian people Of ali demon. nations.
Above all, does the new Bishop. illustrate in
his life and In his character the gOSpe, grace
of love-thnt love which embraces in its
scope both the brotherhood of IN, III and the
fatherhood Of Col.
Though baptized Methods, in early life,
and reared as such under the impressive
influences ami strong admonit,ons Of pious
parents, yet his independent connections led
hirl to ally himself with the Episcopal
Church, with whose admirable liturgy be
vas especially charmed as blending in
serip'ural union the religion Of beauty with
the beautyef re igi1n.
While Bishop Capcis is decided church
man in his princip7es, and Will doubtless
maiutain i'll its late gritty 1.-The faith once
delivered to the saints, yet The strength
and the beauty Of his Christian Crccd-his
Apostolic crown characteristic one that will
give him power to enlarge the bounds of his
church, and promote The cause Of Christ-is
that hc honrrs an! loves fellow Christians
OF every name, holding 20 be the loct"ine
OF God 5 Revelation OF Grace, that "all who
are baptized IN Christ have pat on Christ,
and are fellow heirs of the promises of God
and fellow Christians in His grace aud ssr-
vice."
Invested with the management under God
OF the BishoHric of Soutm Carolina. bishop
Capers brings to his sacred trust such ad-
ministrative ability, such disciplinary pow.
ora y,f