The whole religions community of the
South will be deeply grieved to learn of the death of the vanerable
Bishop Meade, of
Virginia, whish took place in this city yesterday morning.
A Virginian of the olden time, descended from one of our most ancient families, and united by close-ties of consanguinity with others Illustrious in
Virginia's historis annals, he was as fine a specimen of the
Virginia gentleman of the olden time, and of what is better and nobler, the conscientious Christian minister as we have ever seen.
A man of more exemplary and almost austere virtue, we never knew.
A man of loftier moral and physical courage never led armies to victory.
A more generous, humble, and self-sacrificing character, is not recorded in the annals of our country.
The signal and remarkable proof of this will at once recur to those who are acquainted with his private life.
In the omited sphere of a
Christian Bishop he was unblameable, and in the character of a Christian, above suspicion.
All religious denominations of the
South held him in profound reverence and honor.
Of the fifty years of his ministry it may be said with truth, ‘"He has fought a good fight — he has kept the faith."’ His last ecclesiastical sermon was on Thursday of last week, when he assisted in the consecration of
Rev. Dr. Wilmer to the Episcopate of
Alabama.
He was then in such feeble health that he could with difficulty get through that portion of the services which fell to his lot. It was evident that while the consecrating hands of the
Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in this country were laid on the head of a new leader of the
Christian host, the consecrating hands of the Angel of Death were descending upon his own white locks, and preparing them to receive that crown of glory which is the reward of him who is faithful to the end.
