The Washington times., 1914-02-12
Hes 90, BUT WILL
PREACH A SERMON
le Rev. William Wallace Curry
to Occupy Pulpit of the
Church of Our Father.

congregation of the Church Of
~ Father will have the opportunity
istening to q sermon Sunday morn
hg from a man, who, though celebrat-
. his ninetieth birthday, retains the
g Of the youth. the mental aptitude
Il ne half his years, and a love of
L, anity equaled by few:
j. is the Rev. William Wallace
(uf ~. a Kentuckian by birth, who for
Dn years has been a member OF the
|Oa ] of review OF the Pension Office
|nC whose regularity in attendance at
be office is today the marvel of his
IS nCiates.
Y ith becoming modesty Mr.. Curry re-
|er extraordinary and can offer no
byal road to long life ana continued
Eg0r-unless il is not to worry. But his
bUr charming daughters, who are now
ith him at the Curry home 1920 Mon
be street, attribute his preservation
regular habits. plaCidity Of disposi-
bn and to his being a great walker.
normal Reception.
Wisdom from Age and Experience"
FnI be the topic of the Curry sermon
uuday and a few moments cOnversa-
ion with him will convince one that he
possessed of a mastery of the sub
b { He is a member of the board of
rustees of the Universalist Church, and
t the instance of the Rev. John Van
IcEaick, jr, the congregation is ar
anging a demonstration in his honr.
On Saturday, from to 8 O'Clock,
here will be an informal reception at
Be Curry residence when the house
will be banked with flowers and a cor
la welcome will be extended to the
Ia ny friends of the family.
Nj. Curry is the oldest member of
he Masonic Order in the District of
olumbia, both in point of years and in
n gth Of membership. He Joined in
in 1877 and is now a member
{ the lodge in Danville, Ill
Born In Louisville.
= uliam Wallace Curry was born in
,ouisvilIe in 1924. His father was the
Wner and captain of one of the old
nssissippi river steamboats, and his
family, the Hinkles, boasted
Z many of the most famous ministers
{ the middle West. The family re-
no. ed to Louisiana when he was quite
Dung, his father taking up the cotton
rade.
While in Louisville completing his edu.
auOn Mr.. Curry waS so impressed with
sermon by W. w. Dean that at once
4 determined to become q minister.
ir. Dean afterwards came to Washing
on and was employed in the Treasury
,epartment until he was ninety-four
ears old. Mr.. Curry preached IL. Ken
1Cky, Ohio and Indiana
In 1851 he married Hanna Singer, of
inCinnatl, and in moving to Indiana,
be trip was made in an old prairie
chooner. They had five children, all
iris, and all of whom are still living
nth him except one whose business
al'ed her to New York several years
g. Mrs. Curry died in 1896, after
eng an invalid for twenty years.
Was Secretary of State.
At the outbreak Of the civil war Mr..
urry was the owner of a newspaper
I New Albany, Ind. He disposed of
b paper Joined the, 5Srd Indiana Regi-
lcnt, under Colonel Gresham, and be-
{ -e its chaplain, serving in that ca
{ ty until after the battles of Kene-
Z Mountain and Atlanta, when he re-
j. ID his commission to accept the
r I'd country nomination for Congress.
e was defeated, but was afterward
], ted secretary of state for Indiana,
. ing in that capacity when Thomas
Hendricks was governor.
Sc came to Washington in 1881, and
j rtly thereafter accepted a position in
Pension Office, where he was made
0ember Of the board of review. For
zen years ne was out Of the service
ne Of the most successful of pension
.ritOrs, but he is again upon the rolls
b. the Office, where he expects to re-
q for many years.