USA > Virginia > Sketches and portraits of the Virginia Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church > Part 23
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REV. COLUMBUS S. WAMSLEY.
Mr. Wamsley is the son of Solomon and Elizabeth L. Wamsley, and was born in Randolph county. Virginia (now West Virginia), Jne 3, 1851.
Ile was reared under Methodist influence, and had laid within him the foun- dation of a moral and religions character while very young. Ile was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, on August 12, 1866, under the ministry of the Rev. J. II. Waugh, of the Baltimore Conference.
The Church at once found in Brother Wamsley a willing worker, and in 1868 he was appointed Sunday-school superintendent. In 1869 he was made class- leader, which office he held until he entered the ministry.
Ile was licensed to preach in the year 1878, admitted on trial into the Western Virginia Conference at its session held in September, 1879, and was appointed by Bishop Doggett to the Glenville Circuit ; in 1880, to Pleasant Ridge Circuit ; 1882, to Elizabeth: 1883, Prestonsburg and Pikeville; 1885, Jacksonville; 1886, St. George; 1887, Meadowville, and in 1888 he was transferred to the Virginia Conference and appointed to West Goochland Mission ; 1889, Greene Cirenit ; 1890, West Amherst; 1891. West Hanover: 1893, Heathsville; 1894, Orange; 1896, superannuated, his present position.
Brother Wamsley went regularly through his course of study in the alloted time, and passed all of his examinations with great credit to himself. Having joined the Conference in 1879, in 1881 he was ordained deacon, and elder in 1883. Ile is a hard student, and applies himself closely to his book ; yet he has
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REV. GRAHAM HI. LAMBETIL.
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never been known to neglect his ministerial duty in any of its departments. Always on hand when duty called, under all cireminstances, he has built up & noble reputation wherever he has labored.
lle is about six feet in height, of excellent physique ; a man of noble character, moral and intellectual worth.
REV. WILLIAM R. PROCTOR.
Mr. Proctor is a son of the late Rev. J. II. Proctor, a well-known and honored member of the Virginia Conference. On his mother's side, his descent is also from a preacher. His maternal grandfather was Russell B. Foster, for some years a Methodist itinerant.
On September 9, 1867, William was born. The greater part of his life has been spent at the farm in Dinwiddie county. As a boy, he was of a religious cast of mind, correct in deportment, truthful and affectionate, responsive to the godly teaching of his parents and remarkably considerate of the rights of others-a boy to be depended on and trusted.
In 1882 he was converted and joined the Church, under the ministry of Rev. W. W. Lear. Of his call to the ministry, he says :
"Soon after entering my eighteenth year (1885), I sensibly felt that God was calling me to the work of the ministry ; but I hesitated to make it known even to my parents. I tried to drive away the conviction that it was my duty to preach. I had chosen a different walk in life, and wished to follow that. Be- sides, I wanted to be sure." He doubtless tried to persuade himself that he was mistaken ; but he honestly laid the whole matter before God and "wrestled with Him in prayer," with the determination to follow the guidance of divine Providence. "I became satisfied," he says, "that it was my duty to preach, and began to feel happy at being counted fit for the Master's service."
In 1887 he was licensed to exhort; that fall attended Randolph-Macon Col- lege, continuing two sessions ; in 1888, licensed as local preacher; in 1889, ad- mitted to Conference and sent to Matoaca.
Ten years ago the author made bold to affirm that William Proctor, then in his "gosling" as a preacher, gave evidence of "decided promise," as "his pulpit work was of no mean order." His zeal, fervid piety, studions habits gave pre- sage of future achievements, while his modest behavior, coupled with child-like simplicity of spirit, won host of friends. He has filled (in 1900) the predictions of 1890. Mr. Proctor, now pastor of MeKendree, Norfolk, measures up to a high standard of ministerial demands in the pulpit, pastorate and in the good report of "those without." The church of our chief city by the great waters and capital of seaport Methodism is served well by its corps of clever clergy, among whom William R. Proctor is a potent factor. He carries with him an atmosphere of "sweetness and light," Christian refinement, tempered ardor of high duty, resourceful enterprise and vigorous mind.
REV. J. SIDNEY PETERS.
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REV. W. J. TWILLEY.
Mr. Twilley was born July 23, 1852, in the village of Upper Trappe (now Allen ), Wicomico county, Md. His father, Caleb D. Twilley, died November 11, 1555, leaving his mother, Hester 1. Twilley, a widow, with three children, William being the second child and only son. He was converted in August, 1870, under the ministry of Rev. J. D. Hank. His father was a class-leader. Ilis mother, who in October, 1893, passed from the sorrows of earth to the bliss of heaven, was a woman of great consecration, remarkable zeal and un- usual efficiency in Christian work. Her name is revered and her influence still lives.
Mr. Twilley was educated in the public schools of Maryland and in Ran- dolph-Macon College. He was licensed as a local preacher at Ashland by Rev. J. 11. Davis March 24, 1573. July, 1874, he was sent to Berlin Circuit by Rev. J. B. Dev, Presiding Elder of the Eastern Shore District to supply that charge until Conference. In November, 1874 he joined the Virginia Confer- ence at Elizabeth City, N. C. At the request of Bishop Haygood, and to aid in removing a pressure then existing in the Virginia Conference, on account of a transfer of territory, he was, November, 1894, transferred to the North Carolina Conference, where he remained five years. November, 1899, was transferred back to the Virginia Conference. The work now served was or- ganized by him as part of the Belle Haven work nineteen years ago-this mak- ing the third time he has been in charge of it. He has never served a charge that would not gladly welcome his return.
Ile has had some experience as a teacher and an editor. He has been twice married. First, to Mrs. Augusta Schellanger, of Cape May, New Jersey; second, to Miss Lanra Pridgen, of Ehm City, N. C.
REV. RICHARD H. BENNETT.
Ile was born in the parsonage at Blacks and Whites (now Blackstone), Notto- way county, Va., March 12, 1866. His father was Rev. W. W. Bennett, D. D., and his mother Virginia Lee Sangster. Trained in the fear of God, he gave himself at nine years of age to the service of Ilis Church, being received into the commmion of the Methodist Church in old Sydney Station (now Park Place), under the ministry of Rev. George HI. Ray.
He entered the preparatory department of Randolph-Macon College at Ash- land when twelve years of age, and was graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1883, at the age of seventeen. Notwithstanding his youth, he won the Mathe- matical prize in his senior year on competitive examination, and in 1885 took the A. M. degree. The next year he taught as assistant professor in the schools of Mathematics, French, and English in Randolph-Macon College, being at the same time joint principal of the Ashland Male Academy, and taking Theology and Hebrew as post-graduate work in the College. In 1886-89 he was Princi- pal of Woodbourne Academy, at Trevillian's, Louisa county, Va., and, from
REV. ROBERT L. WINGFIELD.
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September, 1589, to December of same year, Principal of Spring City High School, Spring City, Tenn.
His call to the ministry came to him upon leaving college. IIe felt no oppo- sition to the work of the ministry ; but, trained in an atmosphere of piety, with the example of his father before him daily, he realized that the ministry was the holiest of vocations, and he hesitated to assume duties of so sacred a nature and franght with such responsibilities until the call to go was unmistakable. It was not until 1887 that he became fully satisfied that this was the work God had for him to do, and he set his face toward it to look back no more. He applied for and received license to exhort from the Quarterly Conference, pre- sided over by Rev. J. O. Moss, then on the Charlottesville District. The Quarterly Conference of Louisa Circuit (Rev. A. C. Bledsoe, Presiding Elder), licensed him to preach, March 23, 1889, and the Quarterly Conference of Trinity church, Richmond, to which he had transferred his membership, recom- mended him for admission on trial into the traveling connection; and he was received on trial in November, 1889, and assigned to Washington Street (now Asbury), Rielnond. There was no church organization, though a Sunday- school was in operation. Though young and inexperienced in the work, he was not discouraged, but set himself to build up a church, and, under the blessing of God, reported at the next session of the Conference 110 members, which num- ber grew to 193 within the next two years.
In the fall of 1892 Mr. Bennett entered Princeton Theological Seminary to attend Dr. W. Ilenry Green's lectures on Old Testament Hebrew Criticism, and to pursue other post-graduate work. At the close of the Seminary session in June, 1893, he went to Mathews Cireuit, to the relief of the pastor, Rev. George HI. Me Faden, who, on account of sickness, was unable to do the work of the circuit. In September of the same year Rev. P. A. Peterson, D. D., then in charge of Trinity church, Richmond, died, and Mr. Bennett was sent to supply the pulpit until Conference. Trinity urgently requested his appoint- ment to that charge the following year, but Bishop Granbery, thinking his ser- ยท vices needed in Baltimore, transferred him to that Conference and stationed him at Calvary. In March, 1894, he asked to be transferred to the Virginia Conference, though the Official Board of Calvary protested against his removal from there. As the Virginia Conference would not meet until November, he was made assistant pastor of Centenary, Richmond, and filled the pulpit of that church during the absence of Dr. Sledd at the General Conference in Memphis. On the election, in June, 1894, of Rev. James Cannon, Jr., pastor of the church in Farmville, to the principalship of Blackstone Institute, Mr. Bennett filled the pulpit in Farmville till the session of the Conference in 1894. The Official Board of Granby Street church, Norfolk, had asked for a young man as assistant to Rev. A. Coke Smith, D. D., and, though the Farmville church had asked for Mr. Bennett's return, Bishop Haygood sent him as junior pastor to Granby Street. Though full of pastoral work and other duties eon- nected with this charge, which was erecting the present beautiful Epworth church, he preached every Sunday either in Granby Street or some other church.
It was here he found his wife-the best piece of fortune which had yet fallen to him. In October, 1894, he was married by Rev. A. Coke Smith to Miss Mamie Bruce, a daughter of Garland S. Bruce, then a steward at Granby Street. Born of pions parents, brought up in an atmosphere of piety, trained in the best schools of the land, young, beantiful, devoted to Christ and His Church, no
REV. ERNEST F, HALL,
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fitter helpmeet could have been found for a preacher of the Gospel. Strange power has love over the feminine heart to lead a woman with everything wealth can give to leave her home and link her fortune with that of an itinerant Metho- dist preacher. But so it is, thanks to the providence of God.
In November, 1895, Mr. Bennett was sent to MeKendree, Norfolk, where he remained four years. During this time he received 273 members into the church. The last year was one of great spiritual uplift to pastor and people, and consequently of prosperity in all things else. One hundred and twelve of the 273 members were received this last year, and a debt on the church of $3,100 lifted.
Ile is now stationed at St. James, Richmond, to which charge he was assigned in November, 1899. Under his pastoral care the church is steadily moving forward. The congregations fill the church building, souls are being saved, new members added, the debt on the church building is being liquidated, and all interests advancing.
Mr. Bennett in person is tall, well-proportioned, handsome in face and figure, with a carriage of singular dignity. His face would attraet attention in any company. He is full of energy, well poised, brave, sympathetic. His sense of humor is keen, and he knows how and when to use this weapon of power. As a preacher, he is clear in thought, accurate in statement, sound in doctrine, and evangelical to the core. Ile reads largely and to purpose, bringing no un- beaten oil into the sanctuary. He is at home with the scholarly. yet is a wel- come visitor to the homes of the unlettered poor and a favorite with the chil- dren. Ilis high sense of honor puts him above that which is small in word or deed, and as a friend he may be trusted as only a true man may be.
REV. JACOB B. ASKEW.
Mr. Askew, though born in Philadelphia, Pa. (his birth dates November 23, 1858), hails from that part of North Carolina which was until 1890 in the Virginia Conference, a land of brave men and fair women.
Ile was converted in 1874, in the sixteenth year of his age. He attended a high school for two years, and entered Randolph-Macon College in 1876, having been licensed to preach, August 16th, the same year. He remained in that institution two years. He spent the year following as supplied junior on the Henderson Circuit, North Carolina Conference, and joined the Virginia Con- ference at its session in Norfolk, November, 1879. He was appointed junior on the Hertford and Edenton Cirenit. The next year he served Clover Hill Circuit ; afterwards Essex Cirenit, King William Circuit, Dorset Mission, West Lunenburg Mission, Burkeville Circuit, Montross Cirenit, New Kent, West Street, Petersburg; Surry, Prince Edward, West Norfolk, East Halifax, Trinity ( Lynchburg), 1900-'1, a suburban church at the end of Grace street, where his brethren already rejoice in a good and genial minister of experience and one authorized to administer all the ordinances.
One who knows Mr. Askew well draws a pen portrait of him. He is a fine fellow-in spirit, in character, in consecration to the work of God; a preacher very considerably above the average, a pleasant gentleman to deal with in
REV. LLOYD T. WILLIAMS.
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church and by the fireside. Above reproach, his record has been a steady and at times a very abundant fruitage.
Mr. Askew is of medium height, a trifle stout in build, creet, with a firm, dlastie step. His forehead is high, and his face open, honest and manly. He has sound and seasoned sense-never blown about by shifting gales. Ilis opin- ions are settled. Duty is supreme. Elders know full well they can count on him. Ile quits himself like a man. The spiritual and material interests of the Church did not fall apart or remain ungirt. He "carries up his corner" firmly and at the right moment. He has never married. It would be an easy task to win a wife, for he has engaging elements and a presence that satisfies the eye with intelligence, and a good heart.
REV. RANDOLPH T. CLARKE.
He is the son of William N. and Rosa A. Clarke; was born in Nottoway county, Virginia, September 15, 1859. His father, of industrious habits, was, in ante bellum days, a fine type of the successful and prosperous farmer. The war, however, left him, like a vast majority of the most substantial men of the Sonth, stripped of almost everything except his landed estate, and, being well advanced in years, with a large family, mostly of young children, on his hands, he never fully recovered from the wreck of his fortunes; and, therefore, young Clarke had scant early educational advantages. During his early youth he as- sisted his father on the farm, gaining such elements of an education as the very inefficient public schools offered. He sought the assistance of a neighboring farmer, who, with his wife, instructed their young friend at night in the usual branches of an English education, he insisting on compensating them therefor by such service as he could render on the farm during the day.
At fourteen he was converted under the ministry of the late Rev. J. W. Blin- coe, and became a Methodist. He served as secretary of the Sunday-school, and soon heard distinctly the call of Heaven to preach, but plead lack of education, yielding to God at last.
From Richmond, where he was then employed, he went to Randolph-Macon in the autumn of 1884, doing as well as he could with his inferior preparation.
When his funds gave out he went to work in Maryland, and then came back to the college in 1888, remaining till the spring of 1889, leaving then to see his father.
Ife was licensed to preach in 1887, joined the Virginia Conference in 1889, and was assigned to North Pittsylvania. Here among a warm-hearted and sym- pathetic people he spent the first two years of his ministry. The Minutes for these years show that every interest of the charge had best attention, all claims fully met, and nearly one hundred were added to the Church. December 17, 1890, he was happily married to Miss Lessie Wilkinson, of Chalk Level, Rev. Joseph H. Amiss, his Presiding Elder, officiating.
The years '92 and '93 were spent on Pittsylvania Circuit ; '94-'97 on Cascade, and he is now elosing his fourth year on West Amherst. Ile has shown in all these charges increasing diligence in the work of the Master, and has entitled himself to the warm love and confidence of his people. The Bishop and his
REV. LEROY J. PHAUP.
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Council have learned that he can be safely trusted. Mr. Clarke, had he em- barked in mercantile pursuits, would easily have risen to highest popularity in: any large establishment. Tall, erect of carriage, handsome of feature and form, of dark complexion, blue eyes, finely-chiseled face, with auburn mous- tache and hair inelining to eurl, he would attract attention in any company. He is the soul of honor, courteous, amiable, of pleasing countenance, winning man- ners, and voice-on the natural key-as pleasing as a lute. Ile is a man of strong convictions, uncompromising, fearless, deeply pious and thoroughly con- secrated to the work. He believes himself truly called of God, is a good and growing preacher, and everywhere makes full proof of his ministry.
The story of the struggle for an education, and then for preparation for ser- vice in the pulpit, has not been told in its full details ; but enough is put on the page to assure the reader that Randolph Thornton Clarke is worthy to keep com- pany with heroic men who count it their chief joy and highest conscience "to testify the Gospel of the Grace of God.
REV. LEROY J. PHAUP.
Mr. Phaup is a man of sterling qualities, good and true, a worthy pro- duet of the prayers and labors of noble Christian parents, aided ever by the grace of God. He is a man of striking personal appearance, tall and scru- pulously neat, and of even more striking qualities of disposition and character. Among these may be named indefatigable zeal. Brother Phaup is a very beaver for work-earnestness, fidelity and a genius for organization and construction.
He is a native of Buckingham county, having been born there to Jolm J. and Ann Eliza Phaup on February 6, 1864. Eighteen years later he was converted under the ministry of Rev. Travis J. Taylor on Prospect Circuit, connecting himself in membership with Smyrna church. At twenty years of age, on April 19, 1884, he was licensed to preach by Rev. J. C. Dice, on Augusta Circuit, Baltimore Conference. Then followed the struggle for an education, in which Brother Phaup was upheld and aided by the most noble self-sacrifice on the part of his parents. During the summer of 1888 was appointed junior preacher on Nottoway Cireuit under Rev. J. E. DeShazo. Leaving Randolph- Macon College in the spring of 1889, he was sent for six months as supply to Henrico Cireuit. He proved successful and acceptable in both of these positions.
But it was not until November, 1899, when received on trial into the Vir- ginia Conference and assigned to the pastorate of Howard's Grove Mission, Richmond, Va., that Brother Phaup had an opportunity to show his real worth as a worker in the Lord's vineyard. Within three years he raised the member- ship of the mission from twenty-one to two hundred and forty-two, and erected the new church building known as Fairmont Avenue. From this time his every effort has been blessed with success. Truly God has been with His servant. From Fairmont Brother Phaup was sent to the West Chesterfield Circuit, where within the four years of his pastorate he erected one new church and com- pleted another, already begun, and had marked success in every department of circuit work. The next two succeeding years, from 1896 to 1898, were spent
REV. HENRY F. B. MARTIN.
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at Madison Station. Nearly one Indred were added to the membership, and a beautiful new parsonage was built. From Madison Brother Phaup was sen4 to his present charge, York. Here he is maintaining well his past record. Zion church has been enlarged, Providence greatly improved, the parsonage thoroughly remodeled and modernized. Last year the membership was in- creased by nearly two hundred, and the work is still growing.
No small part of this unvarying success is perhaps due to the true, sweet wife whom Brother Phanp has had by his side since 1890. In December of that year he was married by Dr. Paul Whitehead to Miss Mary C. Turner, of Henrico county, a daughter of Samuel D. Turner, for thirty years a member of the Joint Board of Finance. Mrs. Phanp'is a true Mary, comforting and helpful to those around her. Five bright and happy little ones have come into the home, and in his family circle the father finds much to refresh and strengthen him.
After the statement of such facts as have been given, it seems needless to add that Brother Phaup is one of our young strong men, a man of whom his Church may well be proud. He modestly disclaims all glory for himself; but through him "the glory of the Lord" is being made manifest, and he is honored of God as Ilis instrinnent.
REV. WILLIAM A. TOMPKINS.
Mr. Tompkins was born in Fluvanna county, Va., April 24, 1851. He was the only son of the first marriage and the first-born of Launcelot M. and Ann Elizabeth Tompkins. His mother was a Methodist, but his father never con- nected himself with any church. The latter was a prosperous farmer, and he intended that his son should follow that ocenpation; but God had a higher calling for him.
William, the subject of this sketch, received early religious impressions; but he did not vield himself to the wooings of the Spirit until his seventeenth year. In the month of July, 1868, at a meeting held in a Baptist church near the home of his boyhood, he was soundly converted to God. He would have connected himself with that church, but he could not endorse the doctrine of close com- union. To accept that doctrine seemed to him like saying that the members of other branches of the churches are not Christians.
He was received as a member of Cmmingham church, on the Fhivanna Cir- enit, by the Rev. M. L. Bishop, who was in charge of the circuit at that time. When he presented himself for membership in the Church, he preferred baptism by immersion ; but, after a thorough study of the subject during a period of two years, he gave up his innnersion views, being fully convinced that baptism by ponring, fittingly representing the application of the Holy Spirit, is the prefer- able mode.
Mr. Tompkins soon felt that he was called of God to the ministry. He ac- cordingly was licensed as an exhorter by the Quarterly Conference for Fluvanna Circuit, presided over by the Rev. Jacob Manning, in the spring of 1871, and was licensed as a local preacher by the Quarterly Conference for Hanover Circuit, presided over by the Rev. Joseph H. Davis, in June, 1873. He was a
REV. SAMUEL C. HATCHER.
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student at Randolph-Macon College during the sessions of 1872-'3-'4, and a part of the session of 1874-5. He left college before the close of the latter. session because of the illness of his father.
In 1878 and '79 he served as a supply on the Robinson-River Circuit, Char- lettesville District, under the Presiding Eldership of Revs. D. P. Wills and J. D. Blackwell. In the fall of the latter year, his father having died and his sis- ters needing his care at home, he took charge of the farm, remaining there a year. Ile was then admitted on trial into the Virginia Conference at its session held in Danville November, 1880. Since that time he has served the following charges: Milton Circuit, two years; South Dorchester Circuit, three years ; Dorset Mission, one year ; West Lancaster Circuit, one year; Montross Circuit, one year; Spotsylvania Circuit, one year; West Campbell Circuit, two years ; South of Dan Circuit, two years; Pittsylvania Circuit, two years; Floyd-Street Station, one year ; West Buckingham Circuit, one year, and he has now, Decem- ber, 1900, entered upon his fourth year on the Middle Bedford Circuit.
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