The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16
THE SOLDIER BISHOP, ELLISON
CAPERS."

BY Rev. Walter B. Capers, President of
Gpiombus Institute, and the Soldier
Bishops Son. The Neale Publishing
Co., New York.
When Ellison Capers died, on April %,
1908. there passed from earth one of the
icentlest sweetest spirits that has ever
mingled with the lives of men. Endowed
with great physical strength, and with
a. mind singulary alert versatile, and
powerful, he had the heart of child
and the heart of a lion; he was coun-
sellor, guide, and staff to the hunblest
and to the highest; soldier in war,
soldier in peace, he was ever erect, re-
sourceful, conquering, yet making all who
came under his powerful spell to feel
that God at times vouchsafes to man the
essence of divinity. In his life, as in his
DEATH he was known as 1.-The best loved
man in South Carolina" and the knowl-
edge that he deserved this crown of
praise is the heritage of his church and
his state.
Following his brilliant fathers career
from the cradle to the grave, the author,
the late soldier bishops son, has used his
fathers own journal wherever possi-
BILE, transcribing its entries without re-
vision, and supplementing the records of
his military and his professional life with
copies of public documents. The book
concludes with chapter of tributes paid
to the soldier-bishop, after his death, by
eminent men, and by chapter comprised
of sermons and addresses delivered by
Bishop General Capers on historical oc-
ca SiOnS. X.
Educated at Arsenal Academy. and
holding a professorship there when the
war of the states commenced, he gave
up his bomb proof position for ac-
tive service. He took part in the
initial maneuvers preceding the bonn
bardment of Fort Sumter; commando
ed light battery on Sullivan's Island;
fought at Sessionville; particularly
distinguished himself as lieutenant
colonel commanding the Twenty-fourth
South Carolina volunteers, at the bat
tie of Jackson, Miss; was wounded
at Chickamauga, and promoted to
brigadier general at Franklin, when
General Gist fell. He was at Dalton
and at Jonesbore; he was with Gen.
erals Hood and Joseph e. Johnston In
the strenuous campaigns of the Army
|of Tennessee. And. he was always in
the thick of the fighting.
During the "war of reconstruction"
General Capers began his ministry at
Christ Church. in Greenville, S. G. Like
Paul. he worked with his hands--not
las tentmaker, however, but as a
carpenter and a gardener--and he;
taught school to help support his FAM
lily while conducting at the same time
an exceedingly dctiNe iHlnistAy. DotH
the white man and the black brought
their troubles to him. The news OF
this good mans wise counsel and great
works spread abroad. In time he be-
came Episcopal bishop of South Caro-
Nina and finally chancellor of&the Uni
yersity ofathe South, at Sewanee, Tenn.
To the many thousands to whoms his
l;fe was an inspiration this fine biogra-
phy will be most welcome news. A noble
ire is here recorded, life remarkable
in it's peace its serenity. its symmetry.
its rounded spiritual development; life
full of dignities and responsibility. yet
simple and happy as child's. The work
of Ellison Capers. as soldier, educator.
ana churchman, is today an integral part
of American life