Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-07-28
M E M 0RIAL
BY PEARL. THOMPSON

This Memorial was found in the
Thompson family Bible in the home
Of H. J. Thompson. 1t was written
by Richard Wainwright Barber on
August 9Th, 1888. Mr.. Barber wa a
son of Christ Episcopal Church, Clev-
Gland, N. c..
"Died on the 10th of June, A. D.,
1888, at Banners Elk, Watauga
County, N. c., after a protracted ILL
ness, Rev. George Badger Wetmore,
D. D.
He was born in New Berne, N c.,
on the 18th day of February, A.. D
1928 His childhood and boyhood were
spent in Raleigh and Fayetteville, N.
C.
He was a lineal descendent Of
Thomas Wetmore, one of the first set
tiers of Middletown, Conn.,, who came
from Wales, in the year 1912.
His parents were Episcopalians. His
grandfather was a Methodist, because
there was no Episcopal minister at that
time in New Berne, her home, and
the Church there was in bad repute,
the last minister there having been "a
~foxchasing and card-playing parson'
But she loved the Church, and, even
in the face of this stigma, did not like
to hear it abused.
On his mothers side, Mr.. We<more
was a descendent of Richard Cogdell,
who was a member of the Colonial
Legislature of N. C. His mother was
a sister of Hon. George E. Badger.
He graduated at the University of
N. c., in June, 1874, with the first
distinction, and spoke the Latin Salu-
tatory. Shortly after this he studied
law, obtained license, and settled in
Richmond Co. Here it was that his
mind was turned to the ministry. He
was ordained Deacon by Bishop At
kinson January 18th, 1855, and Priest,
May 31st, 1857. His first wife was
Miss Rosa T. Hall. From this mar
rage there are surviving four sons and
four daughters. His last was Miss Pat
tie H. Banner, of Watauga County,
who lives to mourn his loss. In Feb
ruary, 1855, he took charge of the
Church in Mocksville, together with
Christ's and St. Andrews Churches,
Rowan County. Very soon after, the
members of the Church forming the
nucleus of St. James Church, Iredell
County, came under his charge. He
also in the course of time preached at
Huntsville, Pennington, and Lexing-
ton. 1t was on taking charge of these
first named Churches that / first be-
came acquainted with him. I was pres
ent at the first service he held at
Christ's Church-the occasion being
ny mothers funeral.
For fifteen or twenty years after
this we lived on very intimate terms,
IN exchange of servicsa frequently
occurring. AS many of his charge were
my relatives, and most of them &C
1uaintances, l had the best opportun-
ity of knowing the existing relations
If Pastor and people. I do not think l
ever heard mutual expressions of more
implicit confidence or deeper affec-
ton. He loved them and they loved
him.
For the last twelve or fifteen years
Of his life we were not thrown so
much together, nor did circumstances
place me so frequently among his
flock. In the fall previous to his COM
ing to Rowan, l received a letter from
Bishop Atkinson, congratulating me
on the prospect of having as a neigh
Dor, one SO superior intellectually and
socially as Mr.. Wetmore. My expecta-
tons were high, but in my intercourse
with him I was not disappointed.
In guardianship he was drawn
towards the Evangelical class of the
ologians, but was so modest in the as
sertion of his views, and so genial in
his disposition as never to bring him
self into unpleasant collision with his
friends. Indeed, his best friends, those
whom he loved most, and who were
most attached to hi, differed very
widely from him on many points. For
instance, it would have been scarcely
possible to find two men of more OPP
posite views on many points of the
ology than he and his brother, the
Rev. w. R. Wetmore, and yet the re-
mark has often been made, that two
brothers never loved each other more
tenderly. His best friends believed that
whatever his views were on many sub
jects, he loved the Church and desired
her advancement.
Early in life he became impressed
with the feeling that the demon on
intemperance was the one great mon