The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-21
Eminent Baptist Teach
er Dies at Home
in Richmond.
WAS PRESIDENT
OF Sc M [ NARY
Much Loved Minister Was
Strong in Controversy, and for
Years Was Storm Centre.
During Past Decade Has
Been With Richmond
College.

William IIeth Whitsitt. D. D., LII d.,
former president of the Southern Bap
list Theological Seminary at Louisville
Ky. and for the past ten years pro
fessor OF moral philosophy at Richmond
College. died at his home, 3l4 North
Park street. yesterday afternoon short
~ before O'Clock aged sixtv-n,no
years and Two months. Tile rureral
services Will be held at the home to-.
morrow afternoon at 3 o'clock ana IN,
burial. by his own request viii be pr1.
rate
Although recently retired and In tain
ing health Dr. Whitsitt was one OF tbs
I nest known men in the Southern Han.
| list denomination a generation o,
students have graduated under his
teaching. and are scattered all over tho
weird. Few men have so marvclolsiy.
mad the gift of retaining the affection
OF those whom they have taught ano
even In the later years of his ,ompara-
tive retirement. DIR. Whi.a.tt hua
gathered about him large circle or
warm personal friends
Centre of Great CnntrovcrsS.
Around few churchmen of the prasr..
dag have the thunders of controversy
so loudly ragged. For years he Was the
target of criticism because Of certain
views EXPRESSED in magazine articles
1 and through the press. AItnourn .l,.
believed he held his own in this cor
! troversy, it was to put an emu 10 con-
tcntions which We're perhaps likely to
harm the institution that he volun-
tarily retired from the presidency o1
the great Baptist theological institu.
ton which he had done much 10 build
and in 1901 he took profes sorship -,
Richmond College.
Or. Whitsitt was born in Na,avliie.
Tenn, on November IS, 1871 FL,
graduated with the degree OF Maste,
OF Arts from the University of Tenres
see In 1851, and enlisted as Com
Iederaie soldier. serving througnon;
! the war as cavalryman under General
Nathan Is. Forrest
Highly Educated.
At the close of hostiities ne entered
the University of Virginia. which an
stitution he attended in the years 1866
and 1861
ne then went to the Southern Ban
list Theological Seminary, which M
mat Time was located at Grcenville, s.
- Were lie completed his theological
course in 1869. From 1859 TO 1871 he
Travelled abroad, completing his studIes
at the University Of Leipzig. He was
given the honorary degree OF doctor Of
uiNihity by Mercer University in 1S73
ana of doctor OF laws by William lew.
ell College. Georgetown College and
1855. -
On October T. 1851, he married Miss
Florence Wallace. of Woodford, XIV.
VINO survives him with two children.
Dr. Whitsltt was ordained to the
BAPTIST ministry. and first served as
pastor of Hill Creek Church. near
Nashville, ana later held mas.
tora;e at Albany. Ga.
His life work was teaching. From,
1877 to 1895 he was professor OF church
history in the Southern Baptist Theo-
logical Seminary, first at Greenville, S.
T.. anu later with the institution when
IL moved to new quarters in the city
OF Louisville In 1895 he became pres
.dcht OF the seminary. succeeding the
late Dr. John y. Broadus
Ills Views Assaulted
1t was during his presidency that a
famous controversy arose which stirred
the Baptist denomination. 1t is said
That this began over a brief historical
statement Of BAPTIST views which Dr.
Nhltsitt prepared for an encyclopaedia
:hen being published, and which an
Pcared over his signature. His state
ment as to the origin OF Immersion
greatly offended some OF the BaptIsts
I DE-. Whitsitt then took the ground
that Baptists had not generally prac-
ticed immersion is mode OF baptism
until comparatively late in the Chris
tian era.
This article created sensation in
denonlinational circles. and church pa
pers and periodicals were full of H.
bitterly criticlzing his views, Claiming
mat immersion as mode OF baptism
dated back to the time of Christ. 9th
ers Endorsed him IS positively
After two years Of bitter controversy.
tearing that further discussion Of his
Views would he To the detrimcnt OF
the institution over which he presided
LII Nhitsitt voluntarily resigned the
presidency, and later accepted the
chair of moral philosophy In Richmond
College. In this city, a position which
he held until the close of the las, scs-
sion. when, because Of feeble health
md advanced years, he was. at his own
request, placed on the emeritus list
While IL went on the controversy
which centred about pr. Whitsitt was
lively and At times acrimonious. and
during it's course lie defended his his.
torical views IN many able magazine
articles and in papers prepared for
periodicals and the daily press.
Iinnorcd by Association.
Although a vigorous fighter In con.
trovcrsy. he was known as a man of
lovahlc temperament I'm private life, as
Is attcstcd by many of his old stu
dents, now scattered all over the world
When the Baptist General Association
met last autumn in Roanoke. Dr. Whit
slit, then too feeble to attend, COM
mssioned Rev r. H.. Pitt. d. D.. OF this
city. to rise in the assembly ana give
his love TO his brethren. The associa-
tion took special note, sending TO him
message OF love. respect and greet
Ing.
Besides his magazine articles. DR..
Whitsitt was the author of number OF
books which are standards, among
these being his History of Commun-.