Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-06-19

Rev. Francis McNeele Whittle, the
venerable bishop of the diocese OF Vir-
sinis, died yesterday afternoon at bis
home 10 Richmond. His death,
though net sudden, was unexpected.
BE had been in frail health for several
wears. and some weeks ego gave Up the
active work OF the bishopric. Some
weeks ago, while walking across the
floor, the bone in bis hip broke snd he
fell heavily. He soon rallied and bis
family and friends began to hope be
would be- spared for come time, but
Tuesday afternoon there was q decided
change for the worse. and he sank
steadily nI I'll the end came.
Bishop WHIT le was ripe 10 years and
10 houors. He would have been
,evet ty-nlne years old next MOI tn.
he is surv we'd by two sons- Messrs.
Foitssaue, of Petersburg. and Francis
NJ, ir., of Atlanta, and one daughter,
Mrs. Jones, OF Winchester,
Mrs. Whittle, who was Miss Fair
fax, Of Virginia, died some years ago.
Two other children, his Oldest dsugh-
ter. who was the frat wife OF DR.. John
N Upshur, aud SOD, Llewellyn, are
also dead, the latter having died while
q cadet Of the United States Naval
Academy at Annapolis.
Right Rev. Francis McNeele White
was on OF the best.kDown men 10 thf
Prot sstai Episcopal Church. he was
born 10 Mecklenburg urty, tnis State
July 7, 1928. His early schooling ws'
| for the greater part procured OF nl'
home. but later be entered the Episco
osl High School at Alexandria. aDt
after completing his course OF study
there taught for some time. Later n
| ept red the Theological School at Alex
| sndrla from which be was graduated II
| l847. % July 16. 1S47, he was ordaln
| cd q deacon, and on the 9Th day OF Oc
| t,ber, 184S, was ordained priest. Hi
| first rectorship was OF Kauawhs parish
Kapawha county, now West Virginia
but then OF Virginia. He remained a
| rector OF Kanswhs parish for two year
when be was forced to retire from hi
duties owing to his III health. In lS5
| be became rector ofSt James, Northan
| psrish. Goochland county, and remain
ed In charge OF the work there unit
1854. when he became rector OF Grao
church., at Berryville. While In chsrg
of the work there he devoted much q
his time to mission work in the noun
tain region OF that section, and as
monument to his able and efhcieD
work there o chapel stands In th
mount .in Businesses OF Clarke county
he afterward took up his res
dence In Louisville, KY, and II
mained there until 1868, when be wa
eIet ted on the ninth ballot by the couI
Gil of Virginia ss assistant to the lat
Right Rev. John Johns, then bishop
the Diocese Of Virginia. He was COZ
secrsted ss assistant bishop VI VlrPini
In g.. Paul's Church, Alexsndria, Apr
| 80. 1868, and upon the death of Bisho
Johns, April 1876, became bishop
the Diocese or VIRGINIA. As sssistsr
bishop Of Virginia, B shop Wnittle col
tinued to reside In Alexandria, unt
1871 when he moved to Richmon'
where he had since resided.
Bishop Whi tie received his degr'
of doctor of divinity from the TheoloI
icsl Seminary of Ohio in 1867. and tt
degree OF doctor of laws was conferrt
upou him by William and Mary Collei
10 1873.
Blsbop Whittle was a pronounc,
low churchman in the Protestant Epl
\ copsl "fower convention" Of the Di
cese Of Virginia, which was held
Fredericksburg in 1878. In bis Iette
Bishop Whittle forbade the use
flowers 10 the decorations OF the Epl
copal churches of bis diocese at Esstt
This practice was just then becomil
general among the churches, but Bis
op Whittle held that the custom was
authorized by the Scriptures, aud W
iu violation OF them. The letter caus
a great sensation in the council, and
- was charged that In issuing the epist
nal le tier, Bishop Whittle had excee
ed bis authority.
Rev. DR.. Armstrong, who was th
rector OF Monumental Church, Rit
u mond. and Gen. Bradley I. Johnse
y delegate from Grace Church, Richmor
- were the leaders in the opposite
The debates we're spirited and the hi
., bitter. DIR. Armstrong and his son
a ents, however, lost their fight. bisn
ID Whittle was sustained By the conv'
ton by an overwhelming majority.
-. ~At AtvnNn