The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-16
REV. DR.. CHARLES F. DEEMS
Dr. kingsburys Appreciative Article on His Dstin-
guished Friend A Life Filled to the Brm
With Uplifting Work.


personal friend, man of distinguished
parts, bright as sunshine, genial and
gracious, now passed away nearly nine
years ago, with whom 1 held most
friendly relations from 1S49 to his death
in New York city on 18th November,
1893. l wish to write of Rev. Charles
in North Carolina for quarter of a
century, and then went to New York.
where he edited two excellent religious
and literary weeklies, was pastor of the
Church of the Strangers, president of the
American Institute of Christian Phil
osophy, edited a philosophical monthly
called Christian Thought and wrote
several books one of exceeding value,
The Life of Jesus Christ edited the
Christian Worker, On eight page il
Illustrated religious paper, and was an in
cessant worker as pastor, pUblishins
sermons and making a decided impress
sion in the greatest American city.
Dr. Deems was born in Baltimore De-
cember 4th, 1920. He was educated at
Dickinson (MethodisD College, at Car
Isle, Pennsylvania. He was graduated
young, before he had reached nineteen
The president of this college was Rev.
DR.. John Price Durbin, of very uncom-
mon gifts, a preacher of strange and yet
astonishing power. DIR. Deems, in his
college "reminiscences, pays high tribute
to most remarkable minister who in
his preaching qualities suggests Bishop
Kavanaugh, of Kentucky. Years ago L
led tO hicrb
DIR. Durbin, and read once in a New
York daily striking sketch of his mas
terly oratory. DR.. Deems told me that
DIR. Durbin said to him while under his
tutelage. Have you read Buffers
Analogy? The reply was: Not yet,
but l will when | get to be Doctor OF
Divinity" The great divine responded:
You will never become a Doctor of Di-
vinity until you have read it," Later
young Deems, but nineteen years old,
visited New York, and preached in some
of the leading Methodist churches, and
much to the entertainment of his hearers
He was praised no little BY reason of
u@his very promising gifts as a speaker.
About the time of graduation from Dick
inson College, he published small vol
ume of verse. He sent copy to the
genial Louis Gaylord Clark, editor of
the old Knickerbocker Magazine, pub
lishcd in New York. He succeeded his
more accomplished and better known
brother. Willis Gaylord Clark. Deems
had sent to the magazine some poetic ex-
periments before which appeared in due
time. He was sure the editor would
give him a favorable notice, and with
interest awaited the coming of the best
American monthly of it's time. At last
the number was in his hand, and he read
brief notice of the volume the pith of
which was as 1 recall what he told me-
Young man. take to the whooping
cough or the measles, but do not take to
writing 5verse." This was not absolutely
squelcher, but he INDUCED his gifts in
that direction less frequently He wrote
some clever verse afterwards. One of
his hymns is in the Hymn Book of the
Southern Methodist Church. He wrote
the following. which his sons in their
capital biography of their father, have
placed in the forefront of the book:
A Little Letter in Rhyme
Dear Friend:
The world is wide
In time and tide
And-God is guide;
Then do not hurry
That man is blest
Who does his best
And-leaves the rest:
Then do not worry.
Yours faithfully,
CHARLES T. DEEMS.
Soon after his visit to New York, he
was appointed to a responsible field OF
labor in New Jersey, and at the end of
the first year he was made the General
Agent of the American Bible Society in
North Carolina. His account of his COM
ing to North Carolina is racy and anus
ing, in which admiration and disgust are
mingled because of what he first saw at