Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-02-17
ITO WAYSFEB Fl BISHOP GIBSON DIES DIES FROH WOUND

f Church Expires in RIchmond-ft
Seventeen Years Occupied That Pt
sition. Death Follows Long Hines
; The clergy and laity Of the Prote:
tant Episcopal Church ir.' the dloces
of Virginia as we'll as his many othe
friends in Virginia and elswhere wi
learn with much regret q the deaf
of Bishop Gibson at the Episcops
residence in Richmond last night. Tn
Bishop had been in failing tealth ow
ing to a serious complication OF dis
eases for npmbeR Of years past
though owing to his optimism am
strength of vii! he attended to tn
duties he reserved to himself almost t.
the end. He spent several days a
the Seminary near this city, week be
fore last, only returning to his home
in Richmond last Monday morning
But towards the end of tie week ne
failed rapidly and on Saturday, (day
before yesterday, DR.. Green, the
dean of the Seminary, received tele-
gram requesting him 10 come TO
Richmond at orce as the Bishop was
very iii. He left on the first tram
and remained with him to the e''d.
The Right Reverend Rooert Atkin-
son Gibson, d. D., was the son OF. the
late Rev. Churchill, J. Gibson, d. d.,
rector of Grace Episcopal Church,
Petersburg, Va, for the long period
Of ffty-two years. He was born IN
that city on the ninth of July, 1916,
ard was consequently in the 73rd
year of his age at the time OF his
death. He received his college educa-
ton at Hampden-Sydney College,
Prince Edward Co., Va, winch he left
early in the Civil War to Join the cell
ebrated Rockbridge ArtiIery. he
served in the Confederate cause with
honor and distinction and in the year
1867 he entered the Theological Semi
nary where he graduated in the year
1870. After his ordination to the
diaconate in 1870 he was appointed
a missionary of the Southeastern
Convocation of the Episcopal diocese
of Virginia became an assistant min-
ister of st. James Church, Richmond,
in 1872, then rector CT Trinity
Church. ParkerGburg, Wet Virginia.
in 1878, where he remained until
1887, when he accepted the rectorshlp
of Christ Church, Cincinnati, ONO
He left this church in 1897 on MS
as Coadiutor Bishop of Vlr-
ginia, to Bishop Whittlc, Hc was cor
secrated to this office in Holy Trinity
Church. Richmcnd, On the ;.rd OF NO
vember, 1897. On the death OF bishop
Whittlc, June IS, 1902. lie became
automatically The Blsnop OF the Ep'"-
copal diocese of Virginia.
Bishop Gibson was as man,
clergyman and Bishop Christian
gentleman IN the truest sense of the
word. He ruled his diocese with WIS
dom, faithful Ccvotion to daty, ana
kindly consideration for lis clergy
and laity alike. It's missionary IN
.erests were a:Aong the chief objects
Of his care. He was :cwarded as
the years passed onward with the
,ovinp service Of an attached people.
His relations with oth2r churches
promoted the spirit Of unity and
Fellowship following the cid tradl-
t;ons of the diocese Of Virginia.
As President of the Theological
Seminary to which he was elected
hr the Board of Trustees after the
death of Bishop Whittle. he sought
and worked fo, its highest efficiency.
His wise counsel was appreciated
in the Board and by the professors
and students and in everything all
fonnd in him one who was willing to
do his part in keeping the Seminary
,brpast with the spirit of the age
while respecting the traditions OF the
past.
Bishop Gibson's wife who was a
daughter of the late Honorable =: -;
H, Stuart. OF staunto". Va dieo
some years ago. He 5 survived OS
+yo sons, the Revs- A. S. Gibson
rector Of Trinity Church Manassas
Va. and Churchill J. Gibson, now =
\ Chaplain in France, and rector
of lee Memorial Church. Lexington
" and by three daughters Misse:
Incv P. and Mary Gibson whe WIFI
him formed the family at home ant
Mns Fanny Gibson Woodward, VII
of tho Rev. Edmund Lee Woodward
N D., rector of Grace Church IL
Plains, Va.
The date of the funeral has no