Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-01
vices in the revolutionary war, which was
granted him.

| HIS DEATH.
On Sunday morning, September 20. 1888, at
o'clock an, as he was preparing to go to
church to perform his official duties. he was
stricken with apoplexy and sank to rest like
the sun without cloud to hide his luster. As
| the news OF his death spread through the town
the citizens, irrespective of religious creed. ex-
pressed themselves with one accord "well
done good and faithful servant enter thou into
the joy Of thy Lord" A successful plaster cast
OF his face was taken just after his death. On
Monday the board Of aldermen and common
resolution: THAT we have learned with deep
| regret the death of one aged and venerable
| fellow citizen, Doctor Stephen Bloomer Balch.
| who for more than ffty-three years has been
| useful and honored minister Of religion in the
town, illustrating the holy profession he made
through his long career bya life of uniform
piety toward God. and benevolence, hberality
| and kindness to his fellow men, descending to
his tomb full Of years. and rich in the rever-
ence, esteem and love of the whole community.
| Resolved, that as a testimony Of respect to his
| memory, the members and officers Of this cor
poration will attend his funeral tomorrow
(Tuesday) at 10 o'clock am. Resolved, that
| the clerk OF the corporation be requested to
transmit a copy Of these resolutions to the
| family Of the deceased"
The town was draped in mourning. business
places were closed, and all the bells tolled as
the remains of this faithful apostle Of God was
carried from his residence, No. 1902 N
street. to the church where he had SO often per-
formed the last sad rites TO hundreds and thou
sands. Ministers of all denominations, includ-
ing eight priests representing the Catholic
| Church. who had loved and venerated him in
life, joined in the funeral cortege When the
hearse reached the church the procession was
| still forming at the residence.
The funeral sermon. an eloquent discourse on
the life and services of deceased, was preached
| by Rev. Elijah Harrison, of Alexandria, Va.
from Acts vii, 2: And devout men carried
Stephen to his burial and made great lamenta-
ton over him.. After the funeral sermon his
remains were incased in the front wall of the
| church
! His life checkered with many severe
trials. Dug out of one home flooded out of
another and burnt out of a third. yet his forth
| tude and plety. resignation and cheerfulness
| forsook him not. Keeping his eye steadfasty
| fixed on his sacred calling, he was to his expir-
| ing health faithful to his master. His family
| consisted of nine children, as follows: Harriet
married James Il. Wilson, purser in the navy:
| after his death she married Gen. Alexander
! McConb. who fought the battle OF Pittsburgh
\. y. IL 1914. She was woman of rema-ka-
bic beauty and gifts. and leader in society in
! this city -or many wears. Anna Gilmore mar
| RED pa:neI Campbell Wilson and resided hap
pity IL ;n!s city Tor forty years Jane Whann.
| a very talented woman. married William Will
hanson. who was fine classical scholar and
had five brothers in the Presby terrain ministry.
Eliza married Rev. Sep;imis Tustin. a noted
Presbyterian orator. Their four daughters died
in this city. His eldest son became distin-
guished Judge in Nashville, Tenn. George,
| father OF Admiral Batch. became a lawyer.
Louis 7. Witherspoon talented lawyer
and scholar; was elected judge i'll West Vir-
GINA. Thomas Boomer became one of the
lights of the Presbyterian ministry, was a man
of thrilling eloquence and voluminous writer.
He married Miss Carter, first cousin of the
confederate leader. Robert Z. Lee, lady Of
splendid classical attainmelts. Franklin died
young, and Hezekiah died on reaching man
hood.
HIS FIRST MONUMENT.
In October, 1885, handsome monument was
erected. not by the Presbyterian congregation,
but by his family, to his memory. in front OF
the church he founded and so long presided
over. 1t was Of white marble. representing a
pyramidal tablet resting upon a solid Ionic
base against the wall between the doors of the
main entrance. with no other ornament than a
wreath beautifully sculp:ured at the top. 1t
bore the following inscription and had chaste
and handsome appearance:
SACRED
To the memory Of
Stephen Balch, D. D..
Who died September %. 1893,
In the eighty-seventh year OF his age.
He the founder of this church,
And for more than half a century
It's revered pastor.
He planted the gospel in this town,
And his example was for many years
light to its inhabitants.
He being dead, yet speaketh.
Reliquia morales
Stephan Bloomer Balch, ID. D.,
Sub hoe marmore
In humantue.
His children have erected this tablet
To record
The virtue OF the dead and the
Gratitude Of the living.
REINTERRED IN OAK HILL
In the spring of 1873. when the church was
demolished, his remains were reinterred in the
Presbyterian cemetery on SD street near the
chapel. In the spring Of 1874 the phianthr
William W. Corcoran wrote to his children
questing the privilege Of removing the remains
| to Oak Hill cemetery. which was granted.
Writing to his son, Rev. Thomas b. Balch, he
said: II knew your father from boyhood, and the
sentiments Of profound esteem with which at an
early age regarded him undiminished at
the close OF his protracted and exemplary life"
And on June Is, 1874. the remains of this
apostle of God were renterred near the Swiss
Chapel in Oak Hill cemetery amid the trees
where the birds nest their young and the plants
bud and blossom. A neat mural tablet ordered
by w. W. Corcoran was mounted on the wall In
the Swiss Chapel bearing the following inserip-
IN HONOR OF
STEPHEN BLOOMER BALCH, DID,,
Born
on Deer Creek" near Bait, Nd,
April, A. ID. 1847.
Came to Georgetown, d. c.,
March 16, A. d. 1850.
Died September 90, A. d. 1888.
He planted the Gospel in
Georgetown. Founded
1.-The Bridge Street Presbyterian
Church.
And was for more than so years
its Pastor.
In life he Practiced what he Preached.
No Eulogy can add to such
record.
1t is MY desire that this sketch NAV be the
means OF arousing not only the Presby terians
OF the District, but the citizens Of Georgetown,
to erect in some public place monument to
this worthy pioneer of religion and education,
for many years IA lamp unto our feet and
light unto our path W. S. JACKSON.
"In Ispahan."
Made smooth some centuries ago
BY praying eastern devotees,
Blurred by those dusky naked feet,
And somewhat worn by stunning kneee,
In lspahan.
1t lies upon my modern fOOr
And no one prays there any more,
II never felt the worldly tread
or smart bOttines, high-heeled and red,
In lSpahan.