The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-07-07
in M.
Rev. VIM Capers, d. D., First Bishop
of the I'd. e. Church South.

"A Sketch of the Life of This Good
Man That VIII DO Road
With Great Interest.
TO the Editor of The News and
Courier: We find ourselves In great
good fortune, in the unexpected pos.
session of most acceptable information
Of our late distinguished Church citi-
zen, William Capers, d. D., the early
ard eloquent evangelist of the Metho.
dist Church in South Carolina.
First, We have an acceptable por.
trait Of this wonderful pulpit orator
and c%hurchman, which we are de-
lighted to have you reproduce for
your many Thousand readers.
Second, a copy of the funeral SER
mon pronounced in Nashville soon
after his burial, in 1865, by the elo-
quent and scholarly Bishop Pierce, of
Georgia, In the Central Methodist
Church at Nashville, Tenn.
Third, the report that reaches US
that the mural tablet, erected in
Warrington Street Church at our
Capital City, causelessly destroy ed,
with the church, by vandals, in 1865,
is to be soon restoredl Our dearly
beloved Bishop passed away half a
century ago, but there survives some
who have heard his eloquent sermons
and his enthusiastic leading in hymn
singing and In thousands Of homes
there remain those who love and rev.
erencc the memory of the great and
eloquent Bishop, as q family history
and possession!
Bishop William Capers was born In
ST Thomas Parish, twenty miles from
Charleston, January 20, 1890, and
dled near Anderson, S. c., January
20, 1855. He was educated at the
South Carolina College and was near
his graduation when the call reached
him-to preach the Gospel giving up
a promising and brilliant civic career,
with social position and means for a
State, he responded to that mystic
and silent call of duty and became q
circuit rider and preacher in the then
humble and untnviting Methodist
Church.
We do not feel equal to writing Of
such a life, or ever referring to his
brilliant career, and publish instead
Bisnop Pierce's funeral sermon, which
has so fortunately come to US at this
tims pronounced half u century ago,
it recalls 40 once u great and clio.
qlent prelate, as he was %yenerated
and beloved half u century agol We
feel sure 1t will be read eagerly in the
present generation by all who recog.
nize the spirit Of self. sacrifice, rare
talent, pulpit ~oratory and devotion to
Gods service.
Bishop Capers's family was origi-
nally English, and from a mcmoran.
dun kindly furnished us by Mr.. Sal
ley, the erudite and painstaking Sec
rotary of historical commission,
we have this item:
"1G92, October 26--Mrs. Honoria
Lawson, Johnatban Amory and Rich
ard Capers gave bond to Governor
Ludnell for Mrs Lawson's proper adj
miD%istratiOn upon the estate Of An
thony Lawson. (Record OF the Court
Of Ordinary Of the Province of South
Carolina, Book 1, PIP 1-3)" This Is
the earliest mention Of the family
name in South Carolina, and as this
Mr.. Capers was likely to have been In
Charles Town before this signing, and
the colony that founded Charles Town
had landed on the Ashley In 1870,
only twenty two years before, this
Richard CaperS in residence most
likely dates back to very near the
first colony, and his descendants ap.
pear in successive residence through
more than two centuries since. BY
marriage they were connected with
The Huguenot refugees from France.
Bishop Pierce, OF Georgia, was the
associate and Intimate friend of the
lamented Capers, and in felvent and
eloquent language he pays his noble
tribute to his friend gone be.
FORE" 1t Is only in order here to make
sOmd closing remarks on the great
Carolinian who was so potent an in.
fiuence for good in South Carolina in
the last century.
AS the news OF the Bishops death
sped owe the State, cities, towns and
churches claimed his burial place and
20 calm this riva!ry the Capital City
vas wisely selected and his remains
lie in the cemetery Of the Washington
Street Methodist Church which he
dedicated in 1881.
In that sacred edifice was erected
a mural tablet bearing this inscrip-
tion:
The Rev William Capers, d. d.
This Monument
Is Erected by the Congregation Of
this Church
In memory Of
The Rev William Capers, ID. d.
One Of the Bishops OF
The Methodist Episcopal Church,
South.
Who was born in ST Thomas Parish,
S. O.,
January Goth, 1890.
And died near Anderson G. H., S. c.,
January 205h, 1855,
Having served his own generation by
the viii Of God, in the Christian
Ministry forty six years.
His mortal remains repose near this
church,
The corner. stone Of which he laid
During his ministry in this town
In 1881,
He was the Founder of the
Missions to the slaves
On the plantations Of the Southern
States.
TO shining abilities
NNhjn1 rnn1nrn1 hir, ynrnol To-,