Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-15
John o. X sLeIcHT.
Died In Richmond, Va. March To- iSvS
IN tho g.d. Year of His Age-In Memo


Ram.
Tho session of the First Presbyterian
church. OF which body Mr.. sleight had
boon for twenty-slx years an honoreo
member. adopted and ordered spread upon
TIA records the following memorial shetch
April ]. 1884: r,,,,-
lin street. New York city, January 20
lSs Uls early childhood was passed IN
Pleasant Valley. Duchess county, y. J.,
yvher, his education was begun. iiis
father was Henry G. Sleight, VINO hVea
to the advanced age or 81 years, anu
died at Sag Harbor, Long Island. January
7. 1877. The mother still survives, residing
In sag Harbor. and is now In her oo'h
year
when the subject OF this sketch was
N years old the family removed 10 Gene
geo. ILL.,, and at this place was educated
I'm n seminary presided over by the cele-
brated Or. Lyman. Here he made ms
profession OF faith in Christ before Nc
was II years old Having completed his
studies in the Geneseo Seminary IL was
his earnest wish to prepare himself Tor
the Office OF the holy ministry. but ieeDle
health and q threat or lung trouble
compelled him TO abandon mat nope
Engaging I'm secular pursuits at length
L.
the Chicago Tribune, but his delicate
frame proved unable TO withstand the
severe winters of the Northwest, and in
iSj6 he found ii necessary 10 seek a
southern climate. at which time he made
his home In Richmond, Va.
This proved 10 be the scene OF his HES
labors and usefulness. The Southern
Presbyterian General Assemby's Com
| mittee of PlA icatOn, located in Rich
mond. made MIN its business agent IN
| 1868, and with the exception or the pefiod
from 1871 TO 1883. spent In philadelphia
| in connection with the Northern Board
| of Publication and in business on his
! own account in Richmond. Mr.. SieiGnt
| held this responsible position continuous
~ TO the day OF his death. In THIS Dusi-
| ness office, one involving many delicate
| and difficult duties, he was emlnently
successful, and mad the satisfaction or
| seeing the work prosper greatly IN ms
! hands. Being brought in contact with
great numbers OF people, personally ana
by correspondence he impressed Ill with
| his kindly, gentle nature, his business
ability. and his unvarying courtesy, ana
| made hosts Of friends. Perhaps TO eluer
in the Southern Presbyterian Church was
| more widely known or so generally loVed
as was Mr.. Slelght at the time of his
! decease.
| When he removed to Richmond he iden-
| titled himself with the First Presbyte-
rian church. received March II. 1850, IN
! full fellowship. with which he continued
10 the end. He loved the church. and
| gave 10 Il the best lab0rs Of his hands
| and heart. Among all its members the
church has not numbered more de-
voted servant. 1t was the centre or ms
religious life he delighted In its worship
| and he was rarely absent from any ser
vice. lie was gifted in song, ana FOR
MANY years he led the singing In the
prayer-meetlngs and Sunday school. lie
| also served for a long period as % mem
her OF the church choir. His wore was
remarkably clear. and characterized py
an unusual amout Of tender expression
Mr.. Sleight was elected elder February
&C. 1868 In this position he was mo5'
useful and acceptable. Few elders come
so near the Scripture ideal Of their office
Not only was be regularly present at all
! session meetings unless unaVoiddbly pre-
| vented and while interested in every
question that came up for discussion
was courteous to his brethren and gentl'
in speach but he also performed the du
ties Of an elder in adInonishing the un
converted, in leading the young 10 CHRIST
| and in visiting from house TO hous'
among the people, sympathiZing with th'
unfortunate, the sick, and the bereaVel
and leading them in prayer at the thron
OF heavenly grace.
Mr. Sleight was an elder upon whom M
pastor could lean. lie was always read.
10 take the prayer-meeting or a fnsslol
service and conduct them at his request
and 10 the satisfaction and profit Of tn
people When called on 10 pray hi
words were 10 the point. His prayer
were full Of JUNCTION and never too lone
, He will be greatly missed from III
| prayermeetinS.
. IL remains 10 speak OF our believe
, brother rs a Sunday-school worker. Her
; was his forte. lie had been superlntend
ent of the Sunday school Of the t'irs
} | Presbyterian church at the time Of hi
death for between twenty-five and thlrt
years. Ii was Tong. faithful, AMI sue
| cagsful service, blessed Of God to IN
2 conversion Of very many young person
= To lives of holiness and usefulness. iii
: form and face will long be remembers
4 as teachers and scholars turn their eye
b. towards the superintendent desk in th
| Sunday school, and it Will be years b,
fore the memory Of his voice will ceas
To cling to those walls, wherein IL r.
Il verberated for nearly q third Of Ger
fury.
He had been for n number Of year
and WAS ut the time Of his death, III
f Presbyterial Superintendent Of Sabbat
n Schools, doing excellent work in the V;
, riOus schools of Yidewater Virginia
S everywhere known. trusted. and love-
u But Sunday-sch0ol workers OF all d
: nominations sought his services, and Sc
/ dom sought in vain. lie was link
IA Christian unity among them, and GROVE
- came 10 hear his sunday School Talks
lie as he called them. Mr.. Sleight was
= thorough Sunday-scho0l man. He h
J. few equals in his power to interest. Il
d struct. and enchain the attention Of
5. congregation Of young people. He wa
e. indeed, the children's friend.
l. In conclusion. we pass into the sanci
Is ties Of Mr.. Sleights home life. AS to h
:. devotion 10 his parents the aged mothe
who looked for the last time two weel
, ago upon the face Of her son. then sie
-; in death, could testify. His life was lin
W. "a to hers and to his fathers while
~ lived by a loyal, loving service and ca
q, that ceased only with the beating of i
- heart.
~ Now we touch the tenderest tie. In Is
III he was married to Miss Mary Elizabe
80 Talcott. OF Kewanee. III. She was Z
- helpmeet Of his life. the sharer Of
m his sorrows and his joys. Never havil
.. any children. these two congenial sou
~. were all in all to one another thrOugho
- their life together. She lived 10 symp
K thi,n with him in many trials and
nj minister tenderly at his bedside dur
the last. long illness. and TO follow hi
TO his grave At Sag HarbOr. We COZ
= mend her and the aged mother. and
W the family. TO the God Of all grace a
comfort. We bow our heads in subm
n sion before our Fathers Will We tina
Him that He gave our beloved broth
-s 10 us for so long. and We bless Him
- the assurance We feel that he Is now
~ fore the throne.
10 ROBERT =. KERR, Pastor
no ROBERT Il. BROOKE, Stated Clerk
lie Special Piano Bargains.
ar We are receiving a large stock OF n
ar. Upright Pianos, which we will sell d
ls. week at special prices.
70 HUME-MINOR COMPANY,