Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-08-26
DEATH OF REV. HENDERSON
SITTER. d..

@SA
Rev. Henderson Suter, the beloved
and honored rector of old Christ Church
in this city, died at the Infrmary yes
terday at twelve o'clock. This sad in
telligence ives not unexpected, as his
serious condition was known to his
family and friends, and had been stated
in the GAZETTE. Mr.. Suter had been in
delicate health for many years. Last
summer he received but little benefit
from his vacation and had a severe at
tack of iaundice. he recovered from
this and with characteristic energy at
tended to his parochial and other du.
ties. Still it was felt that he was not up
to his usual mark Of health. although
he rarely referred to his condition ex-
cept when inquiries were made by
friends. About the middle of last July,
however, he was compelled to give up.
During the last two Sundays of that
month he was unable to fill his pulpit,
so on the former Rev. DIR. Walker, ofthe
Seminary, took the services, and on the
latter Mi. L. M. BLACKBOARD, Principal of
the Episcopal High School and q YES
tryman of Christ Church. MI. Suter
then went with his wife and daughters
for change of air to Bedford City dur
ing the greater portion Of August, the
regular month of his vacation. But as
there was NJ Improvement IN his health
it became evident that his case was a
serious one. He suffered intensely at
times, and realizing himself that there
was no change for the better. he deter
mined to return home. Before and
during his absence the rectory had
| been undergoing repairs and, although
not quite finished, it was at once made
comfortable for him. He returned last
| Thursday morning and remained at
the rectory till Friday evening, when
he was taken to the 1nfrmary for the
performance of an operation which was
deemed absolutely necessary, as has
been heretofore stated in these columns.
The operation gave him relief but it
was seen that all hope of recovery was
gone and the end came, as we have al
ready mentioned, yesterday at noon.
| Rev. S. A. Wallis, who has had
charge of the church during the month,
was with him yesterday morning about
nine o'clock and at his request resd the
prayers appointed by the church for
the sick and dying. Mr.. Suter joined
audibly and, earnestly in the Lords
, PRAYER and before the prayers were OF
fered, had himself engaged in prayer.
His family we're all gathered around
his bedside. His end was peace and
that of q righteous nan and minister of
| Jesus Christ. His calmness, resigna-
ton, trust and brave self-possession
through all were wonderful. The
operation had revealed cancer of the
liver as a main trouble but q post NOR
tenn held yesterday evening showed
that he had a complication of diseases
which must have caused years of suffer-
ing. 1t was remarkable that he was
able to accomplish SO much and live as
long as he did.
DR.. Suter was born in Georgetown,
D. c., July 31st, 1928, consequently at
the time of his death had entered upon
his 6Sth year. His father, Alexander
Suter, esq.,, was cashier OF the Farmers
and Mechanics Bank of that city. On
the maternal side he was the grandson
of the Rev. Thos. Read, the founder Of
old RocklCreek parish near Washington.
His general education was received In
his native city, upon the completion of
which he decided to enter the Theo.
logical Seminary, near this city. He
was not able to take the full course at
this institution as he felt it his duty to
undertake the support of his widowed
sister and her children. He was for a
time in his early manhood deputy
clerk Of the old circuit court of the Dis
trict of Columbia. The desire OF his
life was finally accomplished, and he
received ordination to the diaconate
in 1857. His first charge was Grace
Church, Georgetown. Thence he re-
moved TO Berryville, Clarke county,
where he was rector of Grace Church
tor nine years, being there during the
trying days of the civil var. He re.
signed this charge in 1866 to become
rector of the church in Halifax c. 81,
AS the climate did not agree with his
health nor that Of his family, he re-
NAMED there only ten months. His
subsequent charges were st. Paul's
Church, Lynchburg; Wickliffe Church,
Clarke county; st. Johns Church, Lib
erty, now Bedford City, and Christ
Church, in this city, to which he was
called in 1878 on the resignation of the
Rev. VIM. NJ. Dame, who had accepted
a call to Memorial Church, Baltimore.
Mr.. Suter entered upon his duties as
rector here on the first Sunday in Sep
TENDER, so his last Sunday on earth
was the last Sunday of his seventeenth
yea as rector of Christ Church.
DR.. Suter was one of the most prom
inent clergymen in the diocese Of Vir-
ginia. He was a man of talent, intel
lect and. remarkable administrative
ability. He was recognized as an able
and gifted preacher. He occupied the
most prominent Offices that can be filed
by a presbyter in the administration of
the diocese and seminary. He was q
member of the standing committee of
the diocese, and an examining chap
lain, a member of the board of trustees
of the education society and its execu-
tive committee, also its secretary and
treasurer. Besides he was n of the
board of trustees of the Theological
Seminary and High School, and with
Col. Arthur Herbert and MIR. Julian L.
Burke on the executive committee Of
~ I'll mt l,t;ae af This oor~ff-