The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-08-16
DIR. J. III. WILSON

The following notice of the death
of DR.. James Herbert Wilson of South
Carolina is taken from the Lutheran
of Philadelphia:
The death of James Herbert Will
son. D. D.. removed from eartly actlV-
tiles. one of the foremost leaders in
our church in the South. He was
taken suddenly i'll while apparently
enjoying his usual good health. and
died within a few hours of severe
heart attack, July 8, at Sumter.
.sDr. Wilson was born April 16, 1894
at Williamston His parents, Delaney
Lane Wilson. NJ. D.. and Hannah Bar
rett Wilson, both died in 1857, leaving
their younger shildren to the care OF
foster parents James. at the age OF
three; was cared for in the home OF
Mrs Kerr. in Saluda (then Edgefeld)
County. Although his parents had
been Baptists. he grew to manhood
amid Lutheran faith. and was ever its
staunch defender His desire for an
education w:s gratified by his foster
parents sending him to Newberry Col
| Iege as a nlemb ber of the clas OF II.
He was awarded the college oratorical
medal for an address on THE Human
Face" unexcelled in college annals
| for uniqueness, beauty Of thought ana
/: f:elouuence. He completed his course
at the Theological Seminary, Salem,
Va, in 1880. and was ordained by the
South Carolina Synod in November: OF
| the same year. His ministry of 81
years included the following pastor
ates: Early Branch, 188O-83; Cameron
1883: Ehrhardt, 188S-1902; Sails
bury, 1902-1907; Orangeburg 1910-l3;
Sumter. 1914-l9. He also served as
! the financial agent of. the Salem or
| phan Home, :1907-0S, in the canvass
| for the cancellation Of debt OF 81 y
| 900; and in similar connection with
| Marion College, 1913-14. He was
| member of the board Of trustees OF
! Newberfy College and also served On
the board of. Mont Arnoena Seminary
! while he was member OF toe North
Carolina Synod AS a member of the
| board of directors Of the Southern
| Theological Seminary he served as its
| president. Newberry College confer
red on him the A. NJ. degree in 1880,
and that of doctor of divinity in 1905.
,"Dr Wilson was president of the
South Carolina Synod for two terms.
On the floor of Synod no member sur
passed him in his grasp Of conditions,
and he carried this knowledge into ef-
| feet along with his splendid executive
ability. He was able to narrate with
marvellous accuracy the most minute
details of complex issues and difficult
questions which concerned the synod
He was firm bu. fair in his convic-
tions and commandedNth respect and
confidence of the entire synod. His
influence extended beyond synodical
bounds to the general body to which
| he was sent as a delegate more often
perhaps. than any other, pastor.
| "Companionship with DR. Wilson
was the delight of his friends and
parishioners Mod >sty was one of his
chief virtues as a minister and man.
His sermons bore the imprint of earn
Fest preparation and thoughtfulness OF
the needs Of the people. The gospel
of the Lord and Savior was his theme
and he made it the pattern OF his own
| life.
hAIn 1879 he married Miss Mary l..
Dunlop of Salem, Va. She died in
1895 He also lost son, Robert Dun
lop, in 1917. One son and three
daughters survive-Lawrence L. OF
Palmetto, Fla; Mrs. C. E. Belts and
Miss Harriet B. Wilson, Atlanta, Co.,
and Miss Pauline Wilson, Northf1eld.
Mass. Services were seld at his late
home in. Sumter, July II, where he
was pastor of ST. James church. Ad-
dresses were made by O. j. Krepps.
D. D.. president of the board Of direc&
tors of the Southern Theological Sem
mary; A. G. Voigt, D. D.. Ii. D., dean
of the Seminary. and II. A. McCui-
Tough. D. D., pastor of st. Paurs
church. Columbia, all of whom testl-
! fed to the chara cter and eminent sery-
ices of DIR. Wilson. DR.. Brunson, OF
the Sumter Baptist church, paid a
beautiful tribute on behalf of the
Sumter Ministerial Association, of
which DR.. Wilson was President at
! the time of his death. declaring that
he was loved and admired by the en-
tire community without regard to
creed. and that his simple faith in
Christ had made a profound impres-
sion upon the entire city.
The final service was held Sunday,
July Is, at Mt Pleasant church. Ehr-
hardt. S. c., amidst the scenes of his
longest pastorate. The service was in
charge Of Dr. kreps, assisteds by the
pastor loci. P. D.. Risinger, S. W.
Copeland. former parishioner. bore
tender testimony to the virtues of his
pastor and friend Here in the
churchyard tire mortal remains Of DR..
Wilson we've laid to rest beside those
Of his wife and his son. and in the
presence of large congregation of
sorrowing friends