Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-02-21

! Inc rev. y. Is. GraW, ~. d., the pfeSlu
ing elder of the Bridgeton District of tn,
New Jersey Conference of the Methods
Episcopal church, died at his residence Oh
Haddon avenue, early Monday morning
after an illness of little over a week, from
a large carbuncle on his back.
Drs. Woodward and Middleton were il
attendance, and specialist from Phila
delphia was called Sunday in consultation
but he continued to sink until the end
came on Monday.
DIR. Graw was probably the best known
Methodist preacher in New Jersey, at least
in the bounds of the New Jersey Confer
ence. Not only was he well known in local
Methodist circles, but he was familiar
figure at the quadrennial sessions of the
General Conference of the Methodist Epis-
copal church for long term of years, hav-
ing been elected a delegate by the New
Jersey Conference, usually by large
majority.
| At the sessions of the annual Conference
DR.. Graw had been one of the leading
speakers on all matters of Importance for
at least quarter of century, while he
had been a member of the Conference for
nearly half century, having been adj
mitted in 1856
Throughout his long connection with
the Conference he had been recognized as
one of the most vigorous orators on the
floor of Conference, and on all matters of
weight, whether he was for or against, he
was always looked upon as a strong de-
batter, and as general rule attracted a
large following to his way of thinking
DR.. Graw had served on all the districts as
a presiding elder including the Burlington
district, from 1871 to 1874, which district
no longer exists.
HIS LIFE RECORD.
DR.. Graw was born in Railway, n. j.,
nearly sixty-nine years ago, and lived all
of his life in his native stage. During his
ministry he was actively associated with
the old Barnsboro Camp Meeting, Pitman
Grove, Ocean Grove, Ocean City, Island
Heights, Malaga and National Park Camp
Meeting Associations, and was to degree
instrumental in the spiritual and financial
success of those great Methodist resorts.
While pastor of the old Third Street
Church, Camden, he was largely instru-
mental in selling the church edifice to the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company for $65, 900
and transferring the society to its new
home at Sixth and Stevens streets where
the present handsome church edifice was
erected at a cost of about $125, 900, under
his pastorate.
He was recognized as conservative on
all radical changes in the Methodist Epis-
copal church. On the question of the time
limit, he advocated a return to the three
year rule, or to allow the limit to remain
at five years.
He made number of vigorous addresses
on the subject of equal lay representation
in the General Conference, being strongly
opposed to such representation.
He had served in the pastorates of many
OF the leading churches of the Conference,
and outside of his ministerial work was for
number of years interested in various
publications, and was one of the best posted
men on temperance matters in the State,
and one of the most vigorous temperance
advocates
AS preacher he was looked upon as
thorough theologian, forceful pulpit
orator, who never hesitated to express his
sentiments, being fearless to degree
which brought forth criticism ofttimes from
his fellow ministers.
Since his admission to Conference he had
served the following appointments 1855,
Staten Island, oStapleton; 1878, Free
hold; 1S59-60, Haddonfield; 1861, Trinity
Church, Bridgeton 1862, Chaplain in the
United States army; 1864, South Street,
Salem; 1S65-66-67, Lambertyille; 1868
1910, Long Branch; 1871-72-73-74 pre-
siding elder of the Burlington District;
1875-76-77, presiding elder of New Bruins
wick District; 1s78-79-sO, Third Street,
Camden; 188l-82-S3-84, presiding elder of
the Camden District; 1885-S6 -87- So $50,
presiding elder of the Trenton District;
1-92-93-94- So, Third Street, (now
First, Camden; 199S-99-190O, presiding
elder of the Bridgeton District.
His funeral took place on Wednesday, at
IL o'clock, services being held in First M.
E. church, and interment being made
privately at Beverly.