The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-21
Overtaken With Illness Yester-
day Morning and Dies While
In Jefferson Hotel
Had Been in Poor
Health for Year
Trip To Florida Thought To
Have Restored Him-Was
Secretary Of Baptist Foreign
Mission Board

Oyertsken with q sudden illness while
ON his way to the Sunday School OF
the Second Baptist Church, yesterday.
Rev. DR.. Robert J. Willingham. general
secretary OF the Foreign Mission Board
OF the Southern Baptist Convention.
died shortly before - o'clock in the
Jefferson Hotel, into which he had
stepped TO rest for few minutes.
Within a few minutes after entering
the hotel he declared he felt worse and
friends and physicians were sum
moned. He rallied for brief period.
then suddenly his condition became
worse and he passed away.
For about year DR.. willinghaua had
been in poor hath a little more than
a year ago he was stricken with q ssri-
GUS illness, from which he partially re-
covered. He found himself after few
weeks at HIS home able to travel and
he went to Florida for a change OF
scene and OF climate. In the hope that
his recovery would be complete.
Apparently Wei.
During recent weeks he had appar
entity almost entirely recovered robust
health. and during the more recent
days he appeared we'll at his work in
the Office al Eleventh and Main Streets.
at his home and on the streets.
His sudden Illness and sudden death
yesterday morning came unexpectedly
and proved great shock not only TO
thoxe OF his family hut TO hundreds Of
otssrs By whom he was known and
loved. and with whom ts ~aa popular.
scores called at the home OF tho ~.
-reavsd family, at 1891 Grove avenue.
auring the afternoon ana evening TO
their sympathy.
D.. wiilingham during the last few
weeks. encouraged by his improvement
in health, had frequently expressed the
belief that he would shortly be able to
fully resume his duties at tho once Of
he Foreign Mission Board His asc-
Gates and friends Joined with him In
he hope. He had been hoping that be-
fore long he would be able to get back
INTO the work Of visiting the churches
and various meetings. as he had done
In other years. 1t was great sorrow
70 him during the meetings OF the vari-
ous Baptist State conventions this tall
that he did not feel able to attend
any OF them. He loved his brethren. and
was always glad of an opportunity to
ningls with them.
Studied for the Bar.
Robert Josiah Wilhngham was the
son OF BENJAMIN Lawton and Elizabeth
5aynard Wiuinghana. He was born in
Beaufort District. 8. c.. May is. 1854.
At the age Of nineteen he was GRADUATE
"a Master OF Arts from the University
% Georgia, In 1873. For four years he
engaged In teaching and mercantile
business, meanwhile also studying law.
At this time there came great crisis
n his lite. One who knew him we'll
wrote some years ago concerning this
.risis:
ION one side lay wide opsn before
aiQ. with his charming young wife, the
road to wealth. On the other. q gentle
GALL to q higher and holier work, The
struggle was long and hard. but con-
victions OF duty prevailed: he turned
from his nattsrtng worldly prospects,
went to the Southern Baptist Theo-
loEical Seminary, At Louisville. KY, to
prepare himself for the ministry, and
became pastor OF the Baptist Church
It Talbottom, Ca. In 1879"
From 1882 to 1887 he was pastor at
Barnssville, Ga. iSS7-'s1, First Baptist
Church. Chattanooga, Tenn. and from
1891 to 1893 he was pastor In Memphis,
Tenn. In September. 1893. he became
The corresponding secretary Of the For.
sign Mission Board.
He took charge OF the work at 4 time
when the treasury was not only empty.
out burdened with . heavy debt. The
finances OF the whole country were GU /,
II Joint. and four months OF the con-
sent!on year had passed. So bravery
lid the new secretary work for the re :
naming eight months that the contrt.
buttons to tbs work that year were In
reased over those OF the previous year.
Known Throughout Country.
DR.. Willingham soon became recor.
aixed a. one OF the greatest missionary
secretaries in the whole country. HI
Mw the work Of the Foreign Mission
Board make marvellous advance dur
ng the twenty-one years while he was
secretary The contributions to the
work. grew from $106.332 in 1898 10
i5S7.45S in 1914. The number 81
missionaries in the foreign fields were
linety-four when he became secretary.
Vow there are three hundred Knission-
Z lries. The number Of native converts
100 ct the present time.
When DR.. Willingham took charge
ne was the only secretary. A few
tears later the board gave him one
assistant, Now the work haa grown
Until three other secretaries have fer
I number Of months been associated
With him IL the work.
Some months ago the board was
eor1nniSed. DR.. WillinghAm being
nade gensral :scretary ~ charge q
~ work OF the board. Associated
ire Rev William II. Smith. corres-
bonding secretary: Rev. J. r. Love.
a0ne secretAry. ana Rev. DR.. Z. B.
Ray. foreign secretary.
Or. Willtngham u survived BY hia
M cqrnsille bacon Willinshszn; "
u y -
aS tpned 81 Third Pase