Smyrna times., 1898-02-23
Death Of DR.. John Alexander Roche.

Intelligence of the death of the above
well-knOwn gentleman, reachedus Just
before going to press last week, and
was so announced. He was born in
Maryland in 1913, but came to this
town, when a boy to go out of it in
1886 into the Methodist ministry. He
always maintained an interest in Smyr
ma and its people, and possibly the
name of no one not resident, was
more revered in the community than
his. He dates back to the "heroic"
days of Methodism and was the last
one of the great revival of 1929, that so
strengthened the church and sent
seven men into the ministry. When
he came to Smyrna last fall to partici-
pate at the funeral of Joseph Reyn-
Olds, the last survivor of his youthful
associates, the feeling was general on
the part of his friends that they would
never see him again. Though pos
sessing a wonderful endurance, it was
seen that feebleness was taking pos
session of his frame, and his death
was not a surprise.
His coming was always source of
pleasure to his friends, who regarded
him as strong as preacher and won
derful in prayer, and his personal
presence was always felt a benediction
He was no less able as an author
than as a preacher, as was shown in
his Life of Rev. John p. Durbin, -
and the Life of Mrs, Sarah A. Lank-
ford Palmer" finished a few weeks
since.
An unmarried daughter and two
sons survive him, both of the latter
being clergymen in the Episcopal
church.
The following from the pen of DR..
Ph9bus, a successor of DIR. Roche in
the pastOrate here, covers the points of
his long ministerial life:
To tie BeiOUcd in ,Siayr1ia, DclatOarc:
He who said to the Angel of the
| church i'll Smyrna, situated on har-
Dor of the Aegean sea, "Be thou faith
full unto death and | will give thee Il
| crown of life, hath rewarded an angel
of the church in Smyrna, situated in
| Kent County, Delaware, with this
prize of Onor:-REv. JOHN A. ROCHE.
| NJ. d., ID. D., has been called home to
| heaven.
He was a minister in the Methodist
Episcopal church sixty-three years,
tiftytive in pastoral charges, by episco-
pal appointment; five as supernumer-
ary, and three as superannuate, by
! Conference permission.
He was a member of two Annual
Conferences: first, Philadelphia, from
1885 to 1851; second, New York East
from 1856 to 1898.
He began his itinerancy on the Pen
insula at Snow Hill, Md; passed to
Accomac and Northampton Circuits
East Virginia: and thencefOrward was
a servant of the church, in Pennsylva
MIA, eleven years. In 1850 he was
bearing the banner in Smyrna; and il
Wilmington, Del, the two years fol
lowing. Next he was in Philadelphia
four years.
He was pastor of five parishes il
Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, an(
nine in PENNSYLVANIA.
He was transferred to the New YOrl
East Conference in 1857, and served
twelve different charges therein dur.
ing the thirty-three years still pertain
ing to his active ministry. He was, il
a sense, effective while holding a non
effective relation to his Conference.
He was under the two years time
limit from 1885 to 1868; the three wears
from 1863 to 1888; the five years from
1888 to the close of his life. Yet, N
that long period, he, the sOught-fo
champion, the cO-equal of any of hi
ministerial brethren, the pulpit orator
the Discipline enfOrcer, the graceful
gentleman, the much-lOved pastor, tn,
Bible Christian, ministered to twenty
SIX separate charges within fifty-fv,
years. He was an itinerant.
Much will be said of him hereafter
close this note by using in associa
ton with his name words spoken b,
him in the last paragraph of ''Life O
John p. Durbin'':
''TO the glory of Christ's Kingdom
he'-JOhn A. Roche-'laid his talent
at the foot of the cross and gave hi
life to the duties of the ministry"
AtfectiOnately yours,
GEORGE A. PH9BUs.
134, 2nd Place, Brooklyn.
The remains were taken to st. Pc
ter's P. E. Church, of which his sol
was rector, and services held Frida
evening, Dean Hoffman, DIR. Seabur1
and DR.. Gilloudet officiated. Saturda',
morning he was taken to st. Paul
NJ. E. Church, 89th street, where sci
vices were conducted by Bishop New
man, DR.. Poulson, DR.. Kellar an
others. The interment was in Wood
lawn cemetery Satnrdnv afternnnn