The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-06-04
son, s. c., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1902
Death Of Dr.. B. M. Palmer.

II. benjamin NJ. Palmer, of New
Orleans, died on the 2sth of May from
injuries received on the 5th of Mov
when he was run over by street car
within short distance of his home and
dragged for fully block.
His right great toe was cut off and
injuries were inflicted on the forehead.
and his right leg was broken in two
places just above the ankle. He lin
soTed from the time Of his Injuries %
days.
Rev. DIR. b. NJ. Palmer was born in
Charleston, S. c., January o5, 1918, son
OF Dr.. Edward Palmer, who after
sixty years of service in the church.
died in 1852 ut the age of %. DR.. Pal
mer passed his boyhood at Mcpher-
sonville and was sent to Amherst col
lege when only 13 years of age. There
he met Henry Ward Beechcr, then
student in higher class, and the
two became fast friends. At the age
of 10 he returned to South Carolina and
taught for two years, thence matricu-
lating at the University of Georgia,
whence he graduated in 1888 and enter
ed the Theological Seminary at Colum-
bia. In 1841 he was licensed and enter
ed upon q career that was destined to
make him famous as preacher.
Shortly after his ordination he was
called to the First Presbyterian church
of Savannah, taking with him his
bride, Mary Augusta Mcconnell. In
1S4S he went to the First Presbyterian
church in Columbia, s. c., remaining
| there until 1857, when he came to New
Orleans. In 1847 he established the
Southern Presbyterian Review which
he edited for number of years, win
ming wide fame and in 1860 was elect
| ed to the chair Of pastoral theology in
the Seminary at Princeton University,
though he declined the election. Many
other flattering offers were made to
him throughout his career, including
the pulpit of DR.. Alexanders church in
New York, but all these offers he re-
fused, preferring to remain with his old
congregation in New Orleans.
DR.. Palmer was one Of the strongest
leaders of the South in the pulpit i'm
mediately preceding and during the
civil war and on Thanksgiving Day,
1860, preached his famous secession
sermon in New Orleans. In 1851 when
the Southern churches Withdrew from
the Presbyterian Assembly at Phila-
delphia and met in Augusta, DR.. Pal
mer was chosen as moderator, taking
his place as head of the Southern Pres
byterian church. His service in the
army was irregular, but his intimacy
with General Polk and General Beau
regard helped to turn his attention to
the spiritual necessities of the troops,
and ct one time he had full charge of
detailing the Southern ministers in the
army of Tennessee. DR.. Palmer was q
profoundly impressive orator and his
reputation as preacher was nationsi.
His church in New Orleans, the First
Presbyterian, has probably been visit
ed by more strangers, drawn by his
reputation as pulpit orator, than any
church in the South. Two years ego
DR.. Palmer delivered notable grafton
at the Louisville reunion of United
Confederate veterans. DR.. Palmers
wife died in 1883. He had six children,
only one Of whom is living.
DR.. Palmer preached the centennial
anniversary sermon Mt the University
of Georgia at the centennial celebra-
ton at Athens last year.