The Washington herald., 1920-07-16
DIES ON EVE
OF VACATION
Rev. DIR. Randolph McKim,
One Of Most Noted of D. c.
Pastors Passes Away.

q
two weeks vacation with his fam
lily at Bedford Springs, Pa, Rev. DIR.
. Randolph Harrison McKim, who had
just completed his thirty-second
year of active work as pastor of the
Church of the Epiphany. died sud
denly yesterday, from what is be-
lieved to have been the result OF
overexertion, coincident with his
trip from this city.
He was stricken with apoplexy
while playing golf yesterday after
noon on the Bedford Springs Golf
Clubs course, and died within few
minutes.
DR.. McKim, whose career has en-
braced activities as a soldier In his
younger days, had just rounded out
his seyenty-eighth year. DR.. Mckim
had not been in good health for
several months.
Born I'm Baltimore.
DIR. McKim was born In Baltlmore.
Maryland, April 16, 1912, the son Oh
John IS. McKim and Catherine L.
Harrison. He attended the Univer-
sity of Virginia from which ne re-
ceived the degree of "Bachelor OF
Arts" in 1861. Shortly after ms
graduation the civil war began ano
he was one of the first to enlist In
the South's aid. He was a f1rst pri-
vate in the ranks of the corps, com
manded first by Gen. Joseph T.
Johnston and later by Gen. Thomas
j. jackson. He was afterwards
commissioned first lieutenant and
assigned as aide de-de-camp in the stan
of Brig. Gen. George H. Steuart
Near the close of the war he was
chaplain of the Second Virginia
Cavalry under the command OF Col
Thomas T. Mulfcrd in the brigade
of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee.
Communicated at 10.
When he received his commission
DR.. McKim was but 19 years of age
He was ordained priest by Bishop
Johns of Virginia May 26, 1866, in
Trinity Church, Staunton, Virginia
Immediately after his ordination
DR.. McKim ministered for short
time in Baltimore, Md, and Ports
mouth, Va He then received his
first church, becoming rector oi
Christ Church, Alexandria, where
he served from 1867 to 1875. He
was then assigned to the Holy
Trinity Church, New York, where
he was rector for eleven years
After relinquishing his rectorshiI
there DIR. McKim went to New or
leans for two years. In December
1883, he became the rector of the
Church of the Epiphany here In
Washington, where he remained.
His ministry hers has been spent
amid the trying times of two wars
In these times DR.. McKim bore a
full share.
Aided In Temperance Work.
DIR. McKim was active in the or
ganization of the church temper
ance society. the church league anc
in the introduction of parochia
missions and in the founding of the
Diocese of Washington.
Recently DR.. McKim had been ex.
tremely interested in the healing
z movement, believing faith cures oi
today were a repetition of the
cures effected in the Apostolic
days. He was the first local clergy
man to conduct a Christian healing
mission in his church. He was so
impressed with the work of the
English healer. James Moore Hick-
son. who last April conducted a
Christian healing mission, which
drew thousands to Trinity Church
that shortly after he announced a
mission. to be held in his own
church.
Conducted Healing Service.
Dr. McKim then conducted the
healing services for a month. The
church authorities are in receipt
of dozens of testimonials from pa
tients who had been healed.
The mission conducted by DR.. Nc
Kim was so successful that the
Bishop of Washington appointed a
epecial diocesan committee to di-
rect the Christian healing work of
the Episcopal Church of Washing
ton, and as a consequence it be-
came a diocesan, instead OF par
ish, matter.
So prominent was the position he'd
by DIR. McKim in the ecclesiastical
world that he was generally thought
of as the logical candidate for the
bishopric when that place was va
cant several years dSO ne Cc.l-
ference. however. elected the Rt.
Rev. Alfred Harding.
Author Of Numerous Books.
The desire of DR.. McKim has been
to save his church from rationalism,
sacerdotalism and the bondage of
traditionalism as his shown in his
numerous books, such as: "Condi-
tional Immortality" "a Soldiers
Recollection" "A Proposal to Change
tn Name of Protestant Episcopal
Church" and For God and Coun-
try"
- During his thirty-two years as
rector, the Church of the Epiphany
has undergone great changes. Tho
parish has resisted the temptation
to follow the uptown drift and has
become a downtown parish. The
church has been rebuilt from the
very ground up except for the roof
Its interior has been greatly beau
titled and expanded. The organ is
the largest and most elaborate in