Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-05-17
DEATH OF DIR. CARTER.

After a Brilliant Service In the
Ministry He Abandoned IL and
Entered into Politics, but Re-
turned In Later Years.
Rev. DR.. George w. Carter, one of
the most noted men in Southern
Methodism, passed away Saturday at
his home in Washington.
For many years DIR. Carter was
recognized as one of the leading
ministers in the NJ. f. Church, South.
There were few such gifted men.
His ability and genius were readily
recognized.
A CHECKERED CAREER.
DIR. Carriers career was checEered
and remarkable one. He was born
in Loudoun county, Va, in 1926.
Early in life, indeed before he was
of age, he entered actively into the
ministry, joining the Virginia Meth
odist Conference. The talents he
showed at the commencement Of his
career commanded the first places in
the Virginia Conference, then already
full with men of high attachments.
AS speaker, DIR. Carter was we'll
nigh invincible. 1t is within the
recollection of many now living that
he once met in public debate, in the
town of Salem, on the question of
Southern slavery, a distinguished
representative of the abolition ele-
ment of the North; and, while DR..
Carter was replying to the opening
speech that had preceded him, his
antagonist suddenly left the build
ing and abandoned the con test.
The crowd Immediately bore DIR.
Carter on their shoulders trium-
phantlY through the town. He was
an ardent secessionist, and demon
strated his patriotism by resigniug
the presidency of the Texas Univer-
sity and organizing a regiment of
Texas cavalry, which, as it's colonel.
he CALAMITY led through many of
the hardest fought battles Of the
war between the States.
EVENTS IN HIS LIFE
DIR. Carter preached for twenty
one years, and then left the ministry.
He remained out of it for twentv-one
years before returning to it. In the
time intervening DR.. Carter prset:ced
law, had considerable experience in
politics, was president of one univer
sity and one or two colleges; was a
professor in several colleges and uni
versities; at one time was private
secretary of Senator Pinchback,
colored representative in the Senate
Just after the war. He also edited
several newspapers, and was regarded
as writer of great force. DR.. Car
ter had lived in twenty states; was
Minister to Venezuela under Presi-
dent Garfield, and had held other
positions of honor and trust. He
did not resume his ministerial or ed
ucatlonal work on the conclusion of
the war, bat embarked on the tur-
bulent sea of political life during
reconstruction times. DR.. Carriers
distinguished ability soon made him
conspicuous leader in tho politics
OF his more recently adopted State of
Louisiana.
RETURN TO THE MINISTRY.
Through all this checkered career
DIR. Carter never lost the sense of his
obligation to preach the gospel, and
under this solemn conviction he
turned away from the triumphs of
his political career and re.entered
the work of the ministry. Bishop
Duncan and the late DIR. A. G.
Brown were among DR.. Carriers
warmest friends and it was largely
through their influence that he re-
turned to the ministry. He again
became prominent, but soon after
the memorable session in 1895. in
which he was tried for violating the
law of the church by marrying again
while former wife, from whom he
had been divorced, still lived, he re-
tired from the active ministry and
since that time had resided in Wash.
lngton and devoted his talents TO
literary work. His trial before the
conference resulted in his acquittal. |
DIR. Carter had been married three
times. His last wife, who survives
him, was Miss Virginia Statham, of |
Lynchburg.
Thus closes career, the like of |
which, IN its more minute details, is
rarely recorded of a man, brilliant
by natural endowment, great by
successful achievement, and tragic
In Its caangeful vicissitudes of for
tune. He arose like the glory of the
morning sun and the day of his
Observation-Disclosures not, but rather
took on the variable hue of the
sun set.