The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-03-03

that day conveyed the tdlngS TO his
daughters, Mrs. Lucas Brodhead and Mrs.
Thos F. Carter
DIR. Brock had many warm friends in
this county (where he had made several
long visits to his daughter. Mrs. Lucas
Brodhead. at Okalee), who were much
distressed to hear of his death. He
made his last visit Ito Woodford about
two years ago.
Robt. L. Breck was born in Richmond,
KY, on May s. 1927. lie was son OF
Judge Daniel Brock, one of the most
eminent of Kentucky jurists, Judge of
the Court of Appeals from 1913 1919 and
a Congressman from Kentucky in the
31st Congress, and grandson of Rev
Daniel Brock, a Congregational chap
lain in the Revolutionary army, who was
with Montgomery in the assault on Que
bee. The mother of the subject of this
sketch was Jane Todd, a daughter of
Gen. Levi Todd.
DR.. Brock graduated from Centre Col
lege, Danville, and studied theology at
Alleg hany Seminary and at Princeton |
AT the latter place he was the classmate |
and intimate friend of DIR. Joseph vii
son, the father of the President When |
DR.. Brock married Miss Martha Rodes,
of Richmond, Ky, DIR. Wilson was his
groomSman.
The Versailles Presbyterian church
was his first charge. He spent six years
as pastor in Macon, Ca, and built a new
church there. His last passionate was in
Berkeley, Cal.
The history of DIR. Breck's prime
would be extremely interesting, for he
played prominent part in large affairs.
There were giants in the earth in those
days" and DIR. Brock was one of them,
both in mental and physical stature In
the mental turmoil through which the
Presbyterian Church passed during the
Civil war, DIR. Brock was conspicuous
figure and held his own as debater and
a parliamentarian with the most bril-
liant men in his denomination in Ken
lucky, who at that time were the equals
of the ablest men in the nation. DR..
Brock was the moderator of the Synod
of Kentucky at its famous session at
Henderson in 1866, which struggled with
the questions which separated the Syn
cd from the Presbyterian Church in
America and which led the former into
utilization with the Southern General
Assembly in 1869. During this harass-
ing strife, DR.. Breck's voice was nobly
raised in the hope of re uniting the
Northern and Southern Churches. Tho
naturally combative and most formid-
able antagonist, his christianity and love
of his church impelled him TODD all in
his power for peace. When disappoint
ed in that, he went loyalty with his own
people in 1869. He always took high
and noble ground. In ante-bellum days
he was one of The Southerners who stood
very strongly for the doctrine that the
extent of property rights in slaves was
simply claim TO their labor and moth
ing more.
The most interesting part of his life,
to his children, came i'm mediately after
the war, when schools and churches
were closed and The whole country de
moraliZed. OF his own motion he open
ed the Presbyterian church in Rich
mond and gathered the remnants of the
flock. For several years he might have
been called the chaplain of Madison
county, for he drove from end TO end of
it, visiting sickbeds, performing mar
rage ceremonies, burying the dead and
writing wills and epitaphs for high and
low, without respect to UNCONVENTIONAL
lines. He also taught their children
along with his own. Years later, when
DR.. Breck was gathering funds for Cen
trail University, the people of Madison
embraced the opportunity TO show their
appreciation of his interest in them. Ii
. was noted at the time that all denomi-
nations united in generous contribu-
tions.
DIR. Breck was one of the founders Of
Central University in 1874 and was its
first Chancellor. 1t was said of him
that Ito his zeal, efficiency, energy and
weight, more than TO any other man
Central University is indebted for its es
tablishment." In 1880, ill-heallh com
PEELED him to remove to California
where he resided, with the exception o.
several years spent in Kentucky, unit
his death.
He is survived by one son, DAME
Brock. e-president of the Selden
Brock Construction Co. of St Louis
and four daughters-Mrs. Hugh A. No
ran and Miss Belle Brock, of California
and Mrs. Lncas Brodhead and Mrs Thos
F. Carter, of this county. Dr. BrecE
was buried at Richmond Feb. Goth.
We have spoken of the great part DIR
Brock played as faithful and devoted
minister of the Presbyterian church in
time that imperatively demanded men
! and men of exalted character, but there
is more. much more, to be said of him
He was possessed of true and profount
learning, was broadly informed alonl
every line of human thought and en-
deavor, was a fine classical scholar, {
fascinating companion, man who's
conversation was both liberal educa
tion and delight.
OUTLYING all of his contemporaries, h
concluded career once so active, il
years of quietness and peace. He wa
the very last of yirile and wonderful
generations generation cast in Nigh
8 ty mould which has, perhaps, been bro
ken forever.-A. A. B. in the Woodfer
d Sun.
Il.