The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-13
DEATH OF DR.. WI. CHRISTIAN
Tbs Vensrated CD Servant Of God Gone
10 Lis Long Home.
he WIS FULL OF YEAR bND HONORS.
For Torty -Four Years lie had boenn fiiinf
In The Methodist Church-,ic Was twice
Married, first Wife Being u .hter
ofthe Late yhos. Branch Of Ihis 'hNs


Rev. william Henry Christian died at
go o'clock last night at his residence
No. 90 west Cary street. Of congestion
of The lungs.
Although pr. Christian had boon n
partial invalid Tor some time past. on
yesterday ne seemed much better, and
several times expressed himself as feel
ing unusually well. lie ate hearty
supper. ana retired TO bed about 5
o'clock but aWokc al . o'clock, com
planning Of a painful pressure upon mis-
lungs. Or. II. Wythc Davis was at
once summoned. and did all in his power
for the sufferer. but all efforts were
unaNaiine. and ne passed quietly away
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
william Henry Christian was born in
New Kent county. Va. June p, No
igis parents were Edmund and Mary
Christian. Ills father was a farmer IN
comfortable circumstances. and he anord-
Cd him such educational advantages az
were To- be- enjoyed in the neighborhood
until Doc was old enough 10 proht by coli
legc Instruction. lie was then sent 10
Dickinson COLLEGE. Carlisle. PA, where
there ho went 10 Randolph Macon Col
lego. whore mo- graduated as Bachelor OF
Arts aud in due course also had the
dccrco of A. N. conferred upon HIM.
lie also graduated 'n some ot the schools
of tho University of Virginia. where he
spcat one session
Ia the sixteenth year of his age inc
was converted. at % camp-mcetine in
Charles city county. After his cradua-
O.
near Wilmington. n. c.. whore hc re-
mained for one year In November
IA5. ga the city Of Frcdericksburg he
united himself with the Virginia Meth
odist Conference. and from that dag up
10 a year ago was engaged Ina active
Church work. Ills FIRST appointment was
10 tho church at Frcdericksbtrg where
lc served two years. lie was then APP
pointed professor in the Warrcnton Fe-
male College. where ne remained until
ho was elected president OF the Raleigh
Female college. and remained there
until. Ina 1851 ne accepted the presidency
of tho Petersburg Female College.
RE.ENTERED THE MINISTRY.
Impaired health from severe attack
Of measles. while stationed I'm Fredericks-
burg. FIRST induced him 90 accept posi-
ton I'm "a literary institution. and now,
with restored health he again entered the
active pastOrate. and was sent as pre-
siding elder 10 the Holloway district i'm
1865. There ne remained for three years,
and then az the beginning OF the war
between the North and the South, he
was stationed IN Richmond. After spend
ing two years at Union-Stauon, he was
sent ia Clay-Stroet church. where ne
remained for two years. and then. at
the close of the war. he was sent a. pre-
siding elder 10 the Danville district.
Remaining there for three years. ne was
next stationed al Dinwiddic church now
Monumental. Portsmouth. At inc end
- two years. he was transferred TO
Manchester. thence, at the end OF two
years. 10 Lynchburg where he spent
four years as the pastor Of Centenary
church. and at the end Of his term there
he was appointed TO Cumberland-Street
church. Norfolk when. at the end of
his third ear. he was made presiding
elder Of the MurfreesbOro district, serv-
ing four wars. Since that time he has
been pastor AZ Manchester Centenary
church. Norfolk, Hampton, and in The
Danyille district His last charge was the
church at Bedford city the pulpit of
which is now filled boy the Rev. !. T.
Whitley. late pastor OF Broad-Street
Methodist church. this city. He was a
member of Liberty Lodge. No. 3d. Masons,
at that place.
RETIRED FROM SERVICE.
At the last annual conference held 80
This city. Dir. Christian, on account OF age
and ill-health. requested that he be placed
upon the superannuated list. and his re-
quest was granted. Immediately there
after ne removed 10 Richmond. and mas
since resided at .04 west Cary street.
Or. Christian was twice married. His
first wife was Miss Susan ID. Branch.
daughter OF the late Thomas Branch.
By her he had two children. Mr.. William
J.. Christian. who is now engaged in
newspaper work in Washington. and Miss
Mary Susan Christian, now residing with
Mrs. Thomas Branch. in this city.
Some time after the death of his first
wife DR. Christian was again married,
this time to Miss Mary Bragg. OF this
city. who survives. No children were
born to his second marriage.
DR.. Christian IS described 10y minis
ter who knew him well as a man void of
offence toward God and man in his
exalted aim. who never faltercd I'm duty
His voice and face invited confidence.
and no man ever regretted opening his
heart 10 him. He served the Church in
important positions, gaining always a
host Of attached friends, and built up the
kingdom Of GOD.
The funeral will take place from Park
Place Methodist church tomorrow at -
o'clock. and the intermcnt will be made
at Hollywood.