The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-17
Memphis Appeal. Dec III

cy and Followed its Flag for Years.
Memphis Appeal. Dec III
The Rev. George Patterson. D. D..
pastor of Grace Episcopal church, one
OF the best known and most generally
loved ministers in the south, died OF
heart failure very suddenly last night
at $50 O'Clock. at his home, s42 Lauder
dale street. this city. after a long period
Of failing health. but a very short de-
tenton from his pastoral duties.
DR.. Patterson has been identified
prominently with the eccl siast,cal work
in this city for almost sixteen years.
having been called to the pastorate of
Grace church February 6, 1856, and by
his long residence. as well as his pure
life n remarkable personality, he has
won the esteem and love of the many
VINO nave come into contact with him,
either personally or through his duties
as rector. and without exception those
who knew him will mourn his loss and
revere his memory.
By birth Mr.. Patterson was a native
OF Boston. Mass, having been born in
that city of a Greek father and Ameri-
can mother. July IL, 1928. He was edu-
Gated for the ministry at Nashota, Wis,
and was ordained in 1856 by Bishop Ives
of North Carolina. He moved to that
state some years before the civil war
as chaplain to a prominent planter. At
the beginning of the war he became
chaplain OF a regiment of the state
troops and served in this capacity and
as chaplain to General George Stewards
brigade. throughout the entire bloody
struggle, being most of the time with
the army of General Robert E. Lee. He
was an enthusiastic advocate OF the
cause Of the C~onfederacy, and though
of northern birth lived for the greater
part Of his life in the south.
AT the close Of the war DR.. Patterson
became rector of st. Johns church, at
Wilmington. N. c., in which parish he
labored for several years, finally giving
UP the work to travel through the south
and solicit donations for the university
of the south. at Sewanee, Tenn. In this
work he was very successful and by his
faithful and untiring efforts greatly
strengthened the institution, both flnan-
cially and materially. After a term Of
years in this field he accepted a call as
rector Of a missionary parish at Tyler.
Texas In this new field he remained
until called by the vestry as rector of
Grace church of this city.
In thic city his work was blessed with
the same marked success that attended
his labors for the university of the
SOoAl III III liz PARISHES dl W
ton and Tyler. He soon endeared him
sef to the members of his church and to
the people Of the city at large, and espe-
cially did he establish himself in the
good graces Of the young people of the
CITY. with whom he exerted the widest
influence. He was chaplain of ehe
Chickasaw Guards until that body lost
its military significance.
Without exception, during his long Pc
riod Of labor in this city, DR.. Patterson
would celebrate the date Of his call to
the p%astorate Of Grace church. and on
the 9Th Of each February he would as
semble the members of his charge, and
his friends at his home In honor Of the
dav. AS each year passed It became
regarded as a Ike day Of reunion, not
only by DR.. Patterson himself, but by
his friends and the members of his
flock. and it was a day that all r~ejoiced
in sharing with their beloved rector and
friend.
q He was a member OF the order of ST.
John n was never married, claiming
that men of the priesthood should de-
vote their lives exclusively to their no.
bile work. He was a we'll recognized
charitable worker. but followed scrip
2al injunction n did his charities in
secret- In consequence, the world will
never know the extent of his deeds OF
kindness and the number Of unfortu-
nate individuals that he assisted.
The vestry of Grace church met al
the residence last night, but no ar
rangementS will be made for the funer-
al until the return of the Rt. Rev
Thomas F. Gailor. D. D.. who is at
Franklin. Tenn. No written eQues has
been found regarding the place of inter
ment. but DR.. Patterson's nearest
friends feel confident a will was left ir
which these directions were given. Re
Gently Dr.. Patterson requested OF Jas
F.. Beasley. with whom he has long
maintained a close friendship, that his
remains should be laid to rest under thu
spot where the chancel would be wher
the new church is built. which the con
gregation has long had in contempla.
s. ton. at the corner of Vance and Lau.
,derdale streets. Some years he ex
pressed the desire that he should b.
buried at Wilmington. where he held hi
first charge. AS the request was mad
of Mr.. Beasley within a week befors
DR.. Patterson's death. the vestry will IL
all probability respect it, unless n writ
ten request to the contrary is FOUND
For more than a year DR.. Patterson
has been in poor health, but until re
Gently he has regularly filled his pulpit
and attended to the other duties Of hi
charge. For two weeks his health ha
not permitted him to attend the ser
vices at Grace church, but no grea
alarm was felt by his friends n hi
flock.
Yesterday afternoon DR.. Heber Jone:
who has been DR.. Patterson's physical
since his residence in Memphis. mad
his regular call at the home about
o'clock, and found DR.. Patterson in
8 state of collapse. He was speeches
= and almost unconscious, but responde
to stimulantS that were adminiStere
and until 6 O'Clock he gave hope Of re
; covery. At this hour he began to visi
bly, sink, ard at 500 o'clock PEACEFUL
passed into the great beyond.
DR.. PatterSon's Greek name wa
a Papathakes. but in his early years h
had this changed to the more easil
handled nam of Patterson. So far a
n could be learned he had no relative.