The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-11-23
DEATH OF REV. CHARLES F.
DEEMS, d. ID.


Deems, D. D., pastor Of the Church OF
the Strangers, New York city, which
occurred at his home in that city at
five minutes past 10 O'Clock Saturday
night, will carry sorrow to the hearts
of many persons in North Carolina as
we'll as throughout the country
generally. DR.. Deems was we'll known
in this State, where much Of his life
was spent, and had many warm friends
in Henderson where he has visited and
lectured. From the Wilmington Mes
sengey we take the following brief
sketch of his life and labors. 1t says:
Although for nearly year he has
been in failing health, having suffered
from an attack of paralysis, his death
will be shock to his many friends
and acquaintance scattered through
out the South. There are few of the
clergy better known in the South, and
it is the good fortune of but few to
have drawn to them SO many sympa-
thetic and friendly hearts as he did.
His many attractions of mind and
character, his open geniality and
cordially of nature won him friends
wherever he went, and these he re-
tanned throughout his extended life.
DR.. Deems was native of Baltimore,
and was born Goth December, 1920.
So he was recently, therefore, IS years
of age He was educated at Dickinson
College, Penn, and was the son Of
Rev. George Deems, who was for
many years a member of the North
Carolina Methodist E. Conference,
dying at about 76 years of age. Or.
Deems entered the ministry when but
70 years of age, we think, and first
united with the New Jersey Confer
ence. When but 20 years of age he
came into North Carolina as agent of
the American Bible Society. In 1S41,
he became adjunct professor in the
University of North Carolina Of logic
and rhetoric. We easily recall his
| appearance when he was about twenty
six. He made fine impression upon
the students as a preacher and the day
he was to occupy the desk the old
chapel was filled, as on that day the
boys would not "snap," as they
delighted in the fine sermons of the
young and eloquent and captivating
preacher. He published small
volume of his sermons to the students
preached in his early manhood, and
fine sermons they are. He was elected
professor in the Methodist College Of
Randolph Macon in Virginia about
1S4S, and remained there for some
two years. He then resigned and
entered the North Carolina Conference
in 1S4o, we think it was. In 1850 he
was chosen a delegate to the General
Conference. He YVES elected while
attending the Conference to the Presi-
dency of two female Colleges, one in
Louisiana, but he accepted the one at
Greensboro, N. G. In 1854 he
entered the regular work as a preacher
and SO continued for four years. He
was Presiding Elder Of the Wilmington
and Newbern districts. He visited
Europe and Palestine twice, the first
time about 1852. In 1865, i'm
mediately after the war, he went to
New York, edited religious paper
and afterwards became pastor of the
Church of the Strangers with which he
continued until stricken with the
disease that has terminated fatally.
He was elected president of the
American Institute of Christian Phi
losophy in 1881, which office he has
held ever since. He was also at one
time President of Rutgers Female
college in New York city, a famous
school. He was for nearly ten years
editor of the Christian Thought, a
valuable and learned religious monthly
magazine. He also edited Frank
LesHe's Sunday Magazine at one
time. He published dozen volumes
perhaps, the best known and most
valuable being his excellent I" Life of
Jesus" He was an intense worker,
one of the most laborious in the great
city. In his mental and physical
prime he was preacher of singular
charm and effectiveness We have
heard some superlatively excellent SER
mons from him, the greatest bein,. one
preached in Raleigh about 1863, on
"The Lord our God is one Lord. y
He was an extraordinary platform
speaker, and during the war he spoke
in many parts of this State with great
power and eloquence in furthering a
plan he had then formed to build an
institution for the education of the
orphan children of the men who fell in
battle. His life has been that of a
most indefatigable worker for the good
OF mankind. He will be missed even
in the city Of his labors for twenty
eight years, and in North Carolina
thousands will be deeply moved when
they learn that the man of eloquence,
of many gifts, of great personal
attractions, has fallen on sleep and has
gone to his reward. Writing at 3
O'Clock in the morning we can not do
justice to his manifold endowments of
heart and mind. He was our personal
friend since 1S49, and we cherish that
unbroken friendship as one of the
gracious events of life. We may not
doubt that he is at rest with his Re-
deemer in the many mansions after SO
long, so faithful, SO useful, so devoted
i service for his Risen Lord and
Master.