The Presbyterian of the South : [combining the] Southwestern Presbyterian, Central Presbyterian, Southern Presbyterian. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1909-1931, November 24, 1909, Page 24, Image 24

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24 th: REV. JERE WITHERSPOON, D. D. In the death of Rev. Jere Witherspoon, D. D., the members of the Grace Street Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Va., are called upon for the second time within ten years to mourn the loss of one who had long ministered to them in holy things. On August 13, 1900, Rev. Charles H. Read, D. D., the honored pastor emeritus, was called to his reward in a ripe old age, and after years of physical infirmity. On October 27, 1909, Dr. Witherspoon died in Canandaigua, New York, at the age of sixty, after a sickness of only several months; and even those who were closest to him had no idea that this sickness would be fatal. Dr. Witherspoon was elected pastor of this church on October 6, 1897, and commenced his labors on December 5, 1897. During the years which have passed since then, he has faithfully "Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way." While not of a robust constitution, Dr. Witherspoon was a man of great energy and determination, and it CAn be literally said, that he wore himself out in the service of God and his fellow men. In the pulpit he was diligent to preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, as he found it revealed in the Scriptures. He had no word of criticism or apology for any part of the Bible, and as he believed all of it, he sought to teach all of it. As a pastor, Dr. Witherspoon was ever alert. No case of sickness or trouble was too trivial for his attention and constant visitation. Nor did he confine his ministrations to the members of his own congregation, but in the hospitals of the city, and in many homes outside of his own church, he carried cheer and comfort to those who had no special claims upon his ministry. Was there a financial problem to be met, he was not only the first to give of his means as the Lord had prospered him, . but he was ever ready to do that much harder thing?give of himself to the cause. In the Sunday school, and in all of the societies and agencies of the church, he was a wise counsellor and guide; and as he went in and out among his people he exercised that rare gift which had been exemplified by his Divine Master before him?he called his own sheep by name, and the weakest of the lambs also. To these graces of his calling, Dr. Witherspoon added the charms of a gentleman. His gentle birth and manners found expression in his respect for the opinions of others, his appreciation of the things that pertained to others, and in his solicitude for their welfare. "Dr. Witherspoon is dead." These words came as a great shock and sorrow to the whole community. The members of this church can hardly yet realize that they are true; that they will no more see in the flesh one who had endeared himself to them in so many ways, as pastor and friend. As we awake to the measure of our loss in the death of our beloved pastor, be it resolved by this session, speaking for itself, and on behalf of the entire church: 1- That we praise God for the manlfes E PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOU tations of his providence and grace in the life, character and services of our departed brother, and we rejoice in the triumph over death and the grave which is his through Christ, his Redeemer. 2. That we bow in humble submission to the will of him who doeth all things well. 3. That we record our sense of deep sorsow and loss in being deprived of the companionship and ministrations of him who has so long exercised the pastoral office in our midst. 4. 'mat we tender to Dr. Witherspoon's family our heartiest sympathy in their bereavement, with the prayer that God will sustain them in their great trial. 5. That the clerk of the session be instructed to spread this memorial and thpse resolutions on the minutes, and send a copy thereof to Mrs. Witherspoon. B. C. Wherry, Clerk. THE REV. J. W. LUPTON, D. D. An Appreciation. When a minister of the gospel has labored faithfully In his calling for fortyfive years, and has so borne himself as to not only win respect for his office, but love for himself as a man, his death leaves a void that is hard to fill. And surely it is a proper tribute to him, to give to the Church at large some account of his character and work. Snrh a ronnr-a should be an encouragement to his younger brethren in the ministry. Dr. Lupton was licensed to preach in 1862, and was ordained in 1864 by the Presbytery of Winchester, Virginia. He resigned his last charge, at Leesburg, Va., in 1907. He was twice pastor at Leesburg?from 1867 to 1872 and from 1898 to 1907. He was pastor at Clarksville, Tenn., from 1872 to 1898. Thus he gave forty years to these two churches. It was while he was in Clarksville that for twenty-five years our relations were most intimate; and I had opportunity to note his peculiarities of (pmnoromont o?.a disposition, his principles and methods of doing the Lord's work, his ability as a preacher and his faithfulness as a pastor, and the influence he exercised both in his own held and in the Presbytery; and on the Foreign Mission committee, Dr. Lupton was a modest man; hq never boasted of his success. But he came in touch with one of the most intelligent and cultured communities in the South, and also with large numbers of students at the Southwestern Presbyterian University, and his influence on all was most beneficial and the growth of his church was steady both in numbers and effective ness. He humbly and thankfully attributed the results of his labors to God. At the same time he was generous in giving credit to his hrothron fnr " ?? ? ?v?. ??UUVC*CI LUC/ did for the Master. He was one of the most conscientious men I ever knew, and was almost morbidly afraid of doing an injustice, either in thought or deed. His judgments of others were exceedingly charitable, always giving to every action the best interpretation. He was one of the gentlest and most unassuming of men; yet he was independent in his thinking and Arm in rTH. November 24, 1909. his convictions, and absolutely fearless in the discharge of his duty. His preaching was the outcome of painstaking study, both of the word of God and of the needs of his people. He had an almost overwhelming sense of his responsibilities as a minister, an ambassador of Christ, and he carried his people on his heart with the tenderest yearnings of love. He felt deeply that the old gospel is the only way of life, and he preached it, simply, .plainly and earnestly. With thorough conviction, he accepted the Calvinistic system of Theology as embodied in the Westminster Standards, and in all his preaching he emphasized the foundation truths of that system. In his pastoral work, he literally waicnea ror souls as one who must give account." He never shirked an unpleasant duty in warning or reproving those who were going astray. He was the very heart of sympathy in comforting the surviving. In his social relations he was genial, affable, courteous, approachable. As a thorough gentleman he could adapt himself to the company, and yet preserve the due dignity as man and minister. I have known no man who more worthily filled, and more faithfully exalted, his office. May our Lord raiBe up many like him. James H. McNeilly. MEMORIAL OF DR. ALFXAMI-IPD "The Synod of Mississippi has heard with profound sorrow of the sudden death of our beloved brother and faithful coworker, Rev. W. A. Alexander, D. D. The information comes to us that he fell in the union railroad station in the city of Memphis, while on his way from his home in Clarksville to attend the sessions of this meeting. He was in the midst of earnest duties, with his mind full of the affairs of the university, in which our representatives had made him a teacher 17 years ago. Our hearts are full of the tenderest emotion. Our voices are muffled with unwonted solemnity and deep grief. We use no extravagant language when we ask, 'Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?' "William Addison Alexander was born in Kosciusko, Miss., in 1857. He was a child of the covenant, a son of the Manse. He had the best of home training. The personal instruction of a scholarly father prepared him for the University of Mississippi by the time he was 14 years of age. There he conducted himself as a thoughtful, pious, industrious young student He won the respect of the faculty and students. In due time he was graduated with distinguished honor. After one year of teaching in the university he went to Princeton Theological Seminary, where his wonderful powers of acquisition jvere soon discovered by hia, teachers. He took the full course and won great favor in the highest esteem of the Hodges and their noble colleagues. Coming home to his native Presbytery, he became pastor at Lexington and later at Yazoo City. "Many of us remember that he was the cordial host of the Synod of Mississippi