The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-21

some floral design.
Here For Ten Years.
For the past ten years Dr. Whit
slit had been professor of moral phil
usophy at Richmond College, retfr-
ing at the close of last session on
account IF -heaith---------
Or. Whitsitt was one of the best
known men in the Southern Baptist
denomination, a generation of stu
dents have graduated under his teach
ing. and are scattered all over the
world. Few men have so marvellous
~ had the gift of retaining the af-
fectton of those whom they have
taught and even in the later years of
his comparative retirement DR. Whit
slit had gathered about him large
circle OF warm personal friends.
DIR. Whitsitt was born in Nashville.
Tenn. on November rs. 1871. He
graduated with the degree of Maste.
of Arts from the University OF Ten
nessee in 1861, and enlisted as Con-
federate soldier. serving throughout
the war as a cavalryman under GEN
eral Nathan Il. Forrest.
A. the close of hostilities he entered
the University of Virginia. which in
stitution he attended in the years 1856
and 1857. He then went to the South
ern Baptist Theological Seminary.
which at that time was located at
Greenville. S G., where he completed
his theological course In 1859. From
1859 TO 1871 he travelled abroad COM
pleting his studies at the University
OF Leipzig. lie was given the homo
rary degree of doctor OF divinity by
Mercer University in 1879. and OF doc
tor of laws by William Jewell College,
Georgetown College and the South
western Baptist University In 1888.
On October 4, 1881, he married Miss
Florence Wallace. OF Woodford, XIV,
who survives him with two children.
DR. Whitsitt was ordained to the
Baptist ministry. and first served as
pastor OF Mill Creek church, near
Nashville. and later held a pastorate
at Albany. Ga His life work MAS
teaching. From 1872 to 1898 he was
professor OF church history in the
Southern Baptist Theological Semi
nary, first at Greenville, S. c., and
later with the institution when 1t
moved to new quarters in the city OF
Louisville. In 1896 he became presi-
dent Of the seminary, succeeding the
late Or. John A. Broadus, and upon
retiring from that position ten years
ago accepted the chair of moral phil
osophy in Richmond College.
Brought Into Controversy.
Or, Whitsitt was student and
teacher of church history for many
years In the course of his studies
he arrived at the conclusion that the
English Baptists did not begin 10
practice immersion earlier than 1871
In an article prepared for an -eney-
clopaedia he made this statement and
subsequently, repeated 1t in other pub
locations.
The question involved did not at
all concern the scriptural origin of
immersion, On that point he was
from first to last at one with the
BAptists.
The controversy arose over a mere
matter of church history though, of
course, as IL proceeded other inciden-
tai matters were brought in The
friends of DR.. Whitsitt deem il i'm
portant to make this as clear as pos
sihie, since his spirit and position
were gravely misunderstood and mis-
represented. He was 10 the last a
loyal and intelligent member or the
Baptist denomination. understandings
fully what they held and taught and
in thorough sympathy with their doc
trines and poiity.
Though DIR. whitsitt through the
publication OF these historical views
was brought into great prominence.
he was by no means a controversial
ist in spirit or temper. He was first
Of all a student and teacher, a man
of gentle manners and aiYectionate
disposition II was his desire always
to shun anything like heated or aeri-
monious debate and to avoid as far
az possible any controversy.
Resigns From Seminary.
II was during the presidency Of the
theological seminary that these pub