Evening star., 1950-07-18
Dr.. E. {. Richardson
Dies at II; Minister,
Educator and Doctor

DR.. Edward Elliott Richardson,
n, clergyman, educator, author
and physician, died yesterday at
his home. 3214 Tenth place Sc.
DR.. Richardson was pastor
emeritus Of the Congress Heights
Baptist Church, of which he was
pastor for 30 years, and professor
emeritus of George Washington
University. He taught there for
As years.
The versatile leader was per-
hapS proudest of his ,45-year
record of unbroken Sunday school
attendance. He began going to
Sunday school at Calvary Baptist
Church In 1904. He transferred to
the Congress /, Heights church
when he became its pastor. The
period included a world cruise, on
which DR.. Richardson organized
Sunday school aboard ship, teach
ing the class himself.
A man Of simple tastes, he was
known to friends in Congress
Heights as "Doc."
Illustration Given. N.
A neighbor once told a story of
his understanding:
"He met my little girl down the
street, crying. When he asked
her why she was crying, she said
she didn't like spinach but her
mommy made her eat it. I came
out just in time to see Doc wiping
away her tears and convincing
her that she should eat spinach
and like it. But after my little
girl had gone, he conf1ded to me,
7 never touch the stuff myself.
I hate it,"
Born on a farm near Rock
ingham, VT, DR.. Richardson at
tended Vermont Academy and
planned a military career. But,
although he was first in his class,
a bad left arm kept him from his
commission.
DR.. Richardson came to WASH
ington in 1892 to study medicine
at Columbian College, now George
Washington University, and again
was first in his class.
Had General, Practice.
II was a general practitioner in
Southwest Washington for II
years. with the largest practice
in the CITY," he said, "but I didn't
like medicine. and all the while
I kept up studies at George WASH
ington."
From George Washington, where
he was a professor Of philosophy,
he received the degrees of doctor
Of medicine, bachelor of science,
master Of science and doctor of
philosophy.
For Is years he headed the
Congress Heights Citizens Asso-
citation and for five years was
president Of the Congress Heights
Progressive Citizens Association.
DR.. Richardson studied for the
ministry at Crozier Theological
Seminary, Chester, Pa, and be-
came pastor Of the Congress
Heights church in 1918. He also
received a doctor Of divinity de-
gree from the Columbia Bible
School here. He retired in 1943.
Wrote Several Books.
During a half a century Of ac-
tivity here. DR.. Richardson wrote
several books on religion and
philosophy. He was 40 times
president Of the Society for Phil
osophical Inquiry.
DR.. Richardson was a member
Of the District Ministers Confer
ence in 1922, and from 1915 to
1925 was president of the Central
Union Mission.
Surviving are his widow, the
former Grace D. Potter of Rut-
land, VT; a son, Edward M.
Richardson. of 1901 Alabama ave-
nue. Sc, and two grandchildren,
Edward Elliott and Joan Eliza
beth Richardson.
Funeral services will be held at
2 pm. tomorrow in the Congress
Heights Baptist Church. The
body will lie in state at the church
between IL am. and 2 pm. to-
morrow. Burial will be In Cedar
Hill Cemetery.