334 VIRGINIA BAPTIST MINISTERS By: George Braxton Tavlor (6th seri s)

From North Carolina he moved to Caroline tounty, Vir­ ginia, where he lived until his death. Here he served Liberty, Bethel, Bethesda and Zoar. He served Liberty Church in a second pastorate. When the infirmities of age came upon him, he retired from the active pastorate and lived on his little farm near New London. When Mrs. Eubank died in 1928 he went to live in the home of Robert Callawn. No father ever had two children more devoted to his care than were Robert Callawn and his sister Miss Mary Callawn. There Mr. Eubank lived until his death, August r Sth. Now his and Mrs. Eubank's bodies sleep side by side in

the Liberty Church Cemetery, Mica, Virginia. He was born in Lancaster County, Virginia, November

30th. He was the son of James Eubank and Mary Ann Haynie. He had one brother, Cyrus Giles Eubank, and one sister, Mrs. Roberta J. Neel. Mr. Eubank's maternal grand­ father was Cyrus Haynie, of Lancaster County, Virginia. He was married twice, first to Miss Alice J. White, of the

Eastern Shore, Maryland, in 1870. She lived Jess than a year. His second marriage was to Miss Roberta F. Dunaway, daughter of Raleigh Dunaway and Ann George, of Lancaster County. Mr. and Mrs. Eubank did a fine part in giving homes and educational training to several of their kinsmen's children.

Amos Clary

ROBERT EVANS PEELE 1852-1930

He was born in North Carolina (near Jackson, N orthamp­ ton County), December aznd ; baptized by Rev. John Hay­ good, Mt. Carmel Church, Northampton County; ordained by Rev. R. T. Vann and Rev. W. P. Blake at Crowell's, Halifax County in 1881; married, near Scotland Neck, De­ cember 23, 1879, to Miss Addie Evans Whitehead, Dr. J. D. Huffham performing the ceremony. His parents were Isaac Peele and Nancy T. Cobb and his brothers and sisters: Mrs. Mary E. Hardee, Mrs. E. P. Buxton, Miss Pattie Peele, John Peele, Benjamin Peele, Mrs. Etta Fitcher, Mrs. Jim

VIRGINIA J

Buxton, Edward I. Peel His wife's parents were toinette Purrington. T was spent in North Ca Baptist Church (Wilm Patego, Oregon, Mills, (twice), Jacksonville a churches were: Una, In Virginia was his fin some fifteen years; he and was buried in Cla Richmond College his work, but his rather fr into a robust physique. century and celebrated when they stood "thei happiness of fifty year After his death R

Peele was great. His get such good wives, wherever Brother Pee His unique personality date reading make hit We have seldom seen with the thinkers of th who was his "son in was not a seminary rr only in theology but activity. He was a co ings were clear, tho inimitable. " . . . Brother Pe

everyone, was the rr beloved citizen of his missed on the streets and form were so oft and hearty handshak to have been the on! good kind and the ' tribe would greatly i

VIRGINIA BAPTIST MINISTERS 335

ine County, Vir­ e served Liberty, erty Church in a came upon him

ved on his littl~ .nk died in 1928 .awn. No father care than were Calla wn. There r Sth. ? side by side in 1a. ginia, November and Mary Ann ubank, and one maternal grand­ nty, Virginia. J. White, of the

ived less than a -rta F. Dunaway, rge, of Lancaster e part in giving f their kinsmen's

Buxton, Edward I. Peele, William Joseph Peele, Alice Peele. His wife's parents were James Whitehead and Wi11iam An­ toinette Purrington. The larger part of his preacher life was spent in North Carolina where he served the Brooklyn Baptist Church (Wilmington) twice and also these fields: Patego, Oregon, Mills, Crowell's, Dawson's Chapel, Burgaw (twice), Jacksonville and Wall ace. In South Carolina his churches were: Una, Mullins, Ebenezer and Page's Mill. In Virginia was his final pastorate, Clarksville, which lasted some fifteen years; he died in Richmond, September 29th, and was buried in Clarksville, Virginia. When a student at Richmond College his not over good health interrupted his work, but his rather frail frame of those days developed later into a robust physique. He rounded out a ministry of half a century and celebrated with his wife their golden wedding when they stood "their faces radiant with the accumulated happiness of fifty years" at the head of the receiving line. After his death Rev. Marinus James wrote: "Brother

Peele was great. His wife is greater. Where do preachers get such good wives, anyway? We have discovered that wherever Brother Peele goes he leaves a lasting impression. His unique personality, his philosophy of life, his ever up-to­ date reading make him a power and an interesting character. We have seldom seen a pastor who kept such constant pace with the thinkers of the modern world." Rev. E. H. Puryear who was his "son in the ministry" wrote: "Brother Peele was not a seminary man ... but he was a learned man not only in theology but in every field of human thought and activity. He was a constant and voracious reader. His writ­ ings were clear, thoughtful and original. His style was inimitable.

" . . . Brother Peele, as he was affectionately called by everyone, was the most beloved pastor perhaps the most beloved citizen of his community .... He will be especially missed on the streets of Clarksville where his familiar face and form were so often seen and where his friendly greeting and hearty handshake were extended to everyone. He seems to have been the only one of his kind. But it was a mighty good kind and the world would be much better off if his tribe would greatly increase."

Amos Clary

kson, N orthamp­ Rev. John Hay­ .ounty ; ordained ke at Crowell's tland N eek, De~ tehead, Dr. J. D. rents were Isaac nd sisters: Mrs. iss Pattie Peele itcher, Mrs. Ji~

VIRGINIA BAPTIST MINISTERS

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Addie E. Peele and the following children, Herbert Peele, Elizabeth, North Car­ olina; Miss Rennie Peele, Wilson, North Carolina; Mrs. Laucklin McNeil, Amarillo, Texas; Mrs. ]. ]. McCullen, Florence, South Carolina; Robert Peele, Clarksville, Vir­ ginia; Joseph Peele, Edenton, North Carolina; Manly Peele, Washington, D. C.; Wilfred Peele, Philadelphia, Pennsyl­ vania; Edward Peele, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and a number of grandchildren. During his pastorate in Clarksville he wrote this to the

Religious Herald describing "The Greatest Revival I Ever Conducted": "Some time, no matter when, some place, no matter where, I was called upon by a young preacher to assist him in a meeting of days. I responded to the call, and found myself on the spot on the day named for the meeting. I preached on Sunday morning to an overflowing house, and O? Sunday ?ight to a still greater audience. On Monday mght the windows and all out of doors were filled with people, and the interest seemed to be intense. The meeting increased i~ power as the days went by. On the fourth day of the meetmg, as I remember, John Robinson's Circus came to the city fifteen miles from where I was holding the meet­ !ng. A good part of the chu:ch and some of the most prom­ ment members left the meeting and attended the circus. On the night after this the people came back in still greater numbers, including the crowd that had deserted me. I preac~ed wit~ unusual vigor and at. my best, and had rapt attention. I did not allude to the fallmg off the night before, but at the close of the sermon announced that the meeting would close with the benediction; that I could not hold a revival in a church where a large part of the prominent members were more interested in the circus than in the souls of. their own children and their neighbors children. And with this. remark I pronounced the benediction. I was told by the semor deacon that night this is the greatest revival you have ever held anywhere." The opening chapter of his book entitled "Essentials of

Christianity," was about "Our Times" and pictured in inter­ esting manner "The Fundamentalist," "The Modernist" "The Sentimentalist," "The Materialist," "The Free-thinke/"

VIRGINIA

JOSEPH

As a friend I bring to magnify his merits, a charge it all to the bias that by and large, you v me in my estimates of th Joseph Judson Taylor

Martha King Taylor, Henry County, Virgini preachers, for his fathe cousins, were all honore Early in life he was con the fellowship of his h ceived at the J acksonvi the Southern Baptist 1 distinguished himself contest, the brilliancy o who heard it. Among Bitting, A. G. and J. M Winfrey and J. A. Frei On handing him his dip one but a lion." The ( higher Mathematics as History, English and first pastorate in Lexi Miss Anna Sydnah Sydnah Anna Jones r and their only son, E half century of his mi the old Upper Stree Street Church, Mobile then four years presid then pastor of the Firs Savannah, and the ch and Jasper, Alabama. are, among the most n he won deserved fame pastor of broad symp

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"An illustration of the goodness of God" was the characterization of the life of Rev. R. E. Peele given by Rev. Herbert Williams of Chase City, when out of the memories of a forty-nine year old friendship, "unmarred by a single jar," be paid tribute to his com­ rade in the ministry at .Mr. Peel.e's funeral at the · Baptist Church of Clarksville Wednesday afternoon, speaking to a congregation that over­ flowed both main auditorium and an­ nex of the church. Bob Peele, Mr. Williams said, had

been Messed physically, mentally, fi­ nancially and spiritually-physically in that endowed in young manhood with frail and puny frame be had under God developed a robust physique and phenomenal endurance; mentally in that with limited educational advant­ ages which had included not more than ore year of college he had acqr-tred a liberal education and an ability to think things through with all the thor­ oughness of a real student and to ex­ press his conclusions with an ortzi­ nality that made him the only Bob Peele in the world; financially in that on slen~er resources of a Baptist preacher serving churches never wealthy he had reared and educated ten children a rich man's job; and spiritually in that from a shy and diti:ident youth, not particu­ larly marked by personal charm, he had grown into a genial spirit and a man of whom hundre~ said "Bob P~;le _w~~ t~e best friend r ever bad .. ,

Boo Peele was a man nr (' ad a minister second. He loved his fellow man and I have no doubt that this con­ gregation would say with one accord that he was the best-loved man in all this section. But genial as he was and friend as he was to all humanity his first friend and best friend was Jesus Christ and his passion was to invite men to see and follow his Lord. That would be his theme if he could speak to you today." Having become acquainted with Bob

Peele when the latter, ordained to the ministry but without a charge was liv­ ing at Crowells, as teacher first at Cro wel ls and later for two years at Pantego, when Mr. Peele took his first pastorate there, Mr. Williams came to k~iow the young preacher well and love him much and it was throuch this friend h · i:. s Ip that there came to the young teacher the first suggestion of his own call to the ministry. Also it was through a suggestion of Mr. Williams that the Clarks>ille Baptist Church in 1913 invited Mr, Peele to fill the pulpit there and later extended him a call to the pastorate of the church. Thus an a ·sociation between the two men, Leguu in youth, was renewed and con­ tinued unbroken !or more than sixteen years.

BIBUCAL

Knowing Bou Peele, knowing his work, knowing the love of the people for their old pastor and friend, Mr. Williams spoke from his heart, and it was plain to the most casual observer that his words found an echo in the hearts of those who heard him and who listened more as if they were witness­ ing an ascension than as if they expecting a burial. The service was conducted by Rev.

D. l\I. Simmons, pastor of the Clarks­ ville Baptist Church; which Mr, Peele himself had served as pastor for fifteen years, assisted by Mr. Williams and by Rev. F. l\f. Allen of the Presbyterian and Rev. Hunter Early of the Method­ ist church. Visiting ministers, his com­ rades of other years in the ministry, included Revs. C. L. Dowell and w. R. Cullom, of Wake Forest; and Rev. W. D. Poe and Rev. E. G. Usry, of Oxford. Among the scores of telegrams of

sympathy received by the family came one from Dr. R. T. Vann, likewise one of Bob Peele's friends from young man­ hood, reading: "Sympathy for you. Con­ gratulations for him." Hymns sung in the church were

"Lead Kindly Light" and "Oh Love that Will Not Let l\le Go," and at the grave in Clarksville cemetery, where the body was buried beside that of the daughter, Lizette Peele, who died in 1920, and who is the only one of the ten children not now Ilv ing, "Abide With lie" and "Nearer ~Iy God to Tllee.'' Rev. R. E. PePle died at a Richmond

hospital, to whk-h lie had been taken critically ill on July :!1. ~Iond:1;.- after­ noon, September 2!1 . From tin- hour that ne":s of his death readied Cla rksville, until. the funeral on Wednesdav a con­ stant stream of ,·i::,:itors and messazes of appreciation poured into the ho~c at Clarksville and the kindly and ten­ der ministrations of Joviug neighbors and friends brought solace and comfort to the bereaved family. Children pres­ ent at the funeral and with itheir mother during her trial were Herbert Peele of Elizabeth City. ~liss Rennie Peele of 'Yilson, ~Irs. J. J. McCullen of .Florence, S. C., Hobert Peele of Clarksville, Joseph Peele of Edenton and ~1anly Peele of Washington, D. c'. Two sons, Wilfred Peele of Philadel­ phia and Edward Peele of Cambridae .Massaclmsetts, and one daughter, M~s'. Lauchlin l\fcNeill of Amarillo Texas were not able to be present. ' ' Relatives or close faruitv friends at­

tending the funeral wt>re. 1\frs. J. H. White of Elizabetb City, Mrs. H. M. Shaw of Raleigh, Mrs. Garland "'~lJ 1 ette and Buxton l\Iidyette of Jackson, l\frs. W. J. Peele and l\Irs. Wright xre­ Neill of Raleigh, Mrs, E. E. Bishop and Stuart Bishop of Durbarn, l\Irs. Paul

er · t: -a e Forest and ... lisi:; Ellza- beth Rogers of Wibon.

Beginning his ministry in Beaufort County at Pantego, wbere he serYed also Oregon l\lills and preached occa­ sionally at Jack's Neck, now Belha\en Mr. PeeJe returned to Crowells, "-her~ he had formerly taught school, as pas­ tor of ·the church there and also at Dawson's Chapel. From there he 'Yent to Wilmington where he was twice pas­ tor of Brooklyn Baptist Church, and he was also twice E)astor of Burgaw Baptist Chureb, serving at one time or another JacksonYille, 'Vallace and oth­ er churches in that >icinity while liv­ ing at Burgaw. Following bis second pastorate in Vnlmington, he went to South Carolina, living at Una, Mullins, Ebenezer and Pages .:\Iill. It was from Pages Mill that he returned to Burgaw and from Burgaw tba t he went to Clarksville.

Up until his last illness he "·as ac- · ti Ye, preaching, teaching and talking with friends of the goodness of Christ Jesus, as he found opportunity.

HERBERT PEELE. Elizabeth City, N. C.

Scoutmaster. "Time :flies." Smart Tenderfoot. "You can't.

'l'lley go too fast.."-Boy'g J~ife.

r Rev. R. E. eele Dies At 1 • Richmond Ho pital; Funeral

ill Be II Id At Cla ksville News was received here jusl as

U>c f'iua.l edition of The Daily ,\J­ v, nee was rc:1dy to r·,, t o p1·e;;s t :~ !J."'' ~" t~~- PC't1le, father of

1;··.,,- IJ, rburL f'•'L'lc. rlicd at 3 l'l•wk t lns 11 I tPrnoon a t .Iohn- '"•lh0 I In· ['ilal, llirhmnnd

11 t.d \.\ ltf lJl' t'Oitd11C'(t·1] at

"' i-- .·1 ,1"7F '. It- Jd '•·JI ''. I 11' l lu lillll' hr·• ~H)t lH. 1.~U lh.a .. J l-d upun.

With 11 strcng th and courage • u·1 t was drnrll<'.tcri~tic of his life, th. cu rm- to hi~ lust, days, a Chris­ ''" n optimist. He hall known so r­ : .. w. d1:.;" ppoiutment and hardship · '•d couqunrod thom with love and t !ti lb.

"The gr eatest thing in life is to • ,,, u good sport. Tell my friends r am still smiling," he told his son, Herbert Peele of this city, on <•11t' of tho luttcr's last visits to him at the Richmond Hospital. '~I ill later duriug his illness ht~ die- ta tcd a letter in broken language t ' { lo the same son in which he re- .~:::::=:~·~~""''.::··:·"':.._..:'.::::!!:~=::~~!!J Ji ct edly spoke of his "partner- ~111 p wilh Jesus Christ." l . Dcspitn Ute fact that his pro­ lt -nun wa s the reason for his heard a prominent member of the • • t >'~Im~. and living many years church just ahead of me who did tn Virgtntn anti South Carolina. not know I was within bearing ;1r. rel'! . vns a t1ye North Caro- say: 'Well, if that's a fair sample ,nuan, h~mg horn Ill Northampton of the new crup of preachers it's County m 1852, the son of Isaac a gloomy prospect for the minis­ l'~t:le. His home was about three try.' nule:o< f~·om Jackson sitttfltcd on "Somebody told the h1·othcr that t ht· mam road from Wlnd~or to I was just behind bim, and turn­ •1:tr:y.;burg whero passage was ing he ::;aw me Rt his elbow. 'Aw rhrn tak n to Raleigh 01 Rich- he don't care,' said the olclcr bro~ mond. !.her, not knowing how deep his

, Cultum and Uo~plt~tlll.r thoughtless remark had cut. I . I• rom eal'ly ~oyhood many of the have ncvn forgotten it, anJ I have miluenrcs wh1<'h were to play a always been careful not to wound rnajot role in lat,er life became or discourage a young Christian, uon11nant, n.nd no. only be<'au~e but h<wc tried rather to encour­ the home was situated in such a ago him " 'trategic place. but als~ because J1j1J<•o11raging Yonng l\11•n the Pt:ele fam~ly was .famed far How well Josiah Elliott's policy ,rnd wide for its genume culture of Pnroul'agement worked is indi­ and hospitality, travelers journey- catcd hy the large numbel' of ing. through Northampton would young men whom he led into the ?-va1l themselves uf thu 01,Jlol'tun- mini:;l ry, no less than 10 looking ily to :<top at tho hornr, of hm1.c to llim :i~ th it t· thcr in the Gos- f'etll '111.r I\ r.•co1rn1. I 1111 I 1•• ~ I 11 " ''" .1. r.11. l•~lliott out !H IOU tJ lt!iJ I ulorii 1 'Ji.•,J:I I f I, • L 11 lt'l 1·1• dlll'C•'~ \..•J Iii.• .. I I ' I l t I - 1°t• -;:-t, .. ;- I ir t~ I. t 1j0l-~1-7"17;:r::- ...,!~...1 1 ~ '·11 h diflll h UI!.h d 11 1 i to f 1 l l Lh 111 elves tot· lllcir call- I l)avitl Stone, Whv wa:. governor of ing. ln fad, it would be difficult I North Carohna, United Slates lo fmJ two p1eache1.; in North i Sen:Ltor and rongresf'man; George Carulina who built more churches Outl~1w, a member of Congress or baptized more converts than and president of the Chowan Bap- did Bob Peele and Josiah Elliott. 'rnt As3ociation, to whom Thomas Not Jong after his ordination l<:i1 t'J 1a adctl'Csscd his letter Mr. PPele received his first. charge thc.nlong tho association for the down m Bea11fort County and the JJ11tle1inti resolutions that body following is one of the many stor­ lia11 p:t':l~ed cornmending his reso- ies Mr. Peele was always fond ()f luti0n:oi on Religious Liberty; Da- telling: ' vid Outlaw. solicitor and ~on- '' ly fir 1•h· tg6 a.flQr ntedo.g

·:;man; Wilham W. Chen}, the minist1 y was do.vn in Beau­ po ular \Vhig orator slated to Le fort County It was n. dark and .wrney general Ill Henry \,;Ja)'"' I ~1Ul''"> rn: ,,L, .. H'-'. ·:--· '~· .. ·~··

~ oinet had that \l'\1lig idol reached 1 ing in a nr e ry dnzzie. ~ut when t' , goal of his ambition. \the hour for prayer sen·1ce c<une - gearPd in this atmosphere of. I we!lt drv;n tn an old grange hall · lges. co:lege presidents, United, v.·hich was our place or meetmg.

;;:: n.tes attor::meys, authors and \Ve had no cburc.h hou<;e t.hen. I ~ bolars, learri.ing at an early age had been on the field at that time ; e lessons of tolerance, persever- mgh unto t\\·o years and had mel -.·.ce, patience, sacrifice and self- a handful of folks on S';'z:days and ,• .mal: inheriting from hi.;; God- a smaller handfu~ on_ ''v ednes.da_Y • arin"' and God-loving pan.nts a nights. On the mght 1 am thmk­ . ·ofo;nd reverence and innate ing of a litt'.e boy, the s~n of my i· ve of humanity, it is no small host. went with me lo this prayer .,·onder that some years later service. \Ye were P3:ls. and he us­ •\·hen he had reached young man- ually followed me lche a shadow. hood "Bob" Peele turned his eyes J was more than glad to have him ivwa'rd Wake Forest where he because he gave me a hold on the 1!anned to enter Wake Forest Col- promise that ·where two or three :e"'e to prepa.re for the ministry. are met in the ~laster's name He

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However, he was informed by will be in the midst. . Ll.e college officials that he was "The ba: and I '.vere the fm;t ,,. vsically too frail to attempt the and the laEt that mght. I .sang a :,rduous work of college-a cir- solo, became :he boy d1dP .t smg. c mstance difficult to imagine I felt that I h:id come t? tne end , .. -ien one calls to mind the robust- of my 101e. and I d1d'1 t car~ if ,... r ss and splendid physique .. tha.~ I the rope hUTJg me. ~ sang, ·,;\hut ., ..s his in later years. But Bob a Friend \ e ~aYe m Jc.us. p ele v. a'! not discouraged and was not '"ln:~1nus of hav•r.g .any 1

1 ,-1nv•ying to Richmond entere.d other ftie. J. ar:d doubl!' copsc1ou~ 'I · :hmond College and upon his tha He on·· could help me. As l

"'~t.>riAl career. timshed th• <ln~m"' \PT~" T hea·d1 :..ii ~t is this crree·· 1::1 th( • ir.- t 'I :l he

....;_ l. • • '_:_:;_~· .... -_:-~1 O\l.:t ln:- c: _fl .... i:) nr _ ., ... ~ ~ n -;-~:· .... ..JOI

l:..j,Ji.,Y "-!. ........_.._ ,,... .......... v1 .lt...>J ~""' ~ 1 C::\\·~t'll.'f. 1 L ... ti .J. &l~ .. v G.i..t.:J. ..._ ... --

r' :~io·· "'LS Ul,. old f' "hiomd: wouM be u · 1 l: < "' c th ;- h,1 le id. m'.nus pretentiousr:es., of hDY I man being

rt, in which he endeavored to I An Early CxperiL'nce . ..JCh t.he ::imple go~pel and the ''The:i tl door opened slo~vly c ipltr f _ith. . and slig-h!. y a~ well. The first

With Josiah Elliott 1

thi:ig I ss:.\ was a mouth, the It was at Reynoldson Church in largest it i-:eemed that I had ever

;.be Rock,· Hock Union of the I beheld, Then a. chin, and lanly a L'hcwan Baptist Associalio~ early 1 flat nose and receding forehead. :'1 1SS3 that he preached .his tnal I It was the face of a negro, black r ·ermon. being orda1:ied mto the I a~ the_ ace of spades. The black I f.ill ministry of the Gospel r:ot I fetchea a grunt which I can still 1 ""' afterwards .• .\.n mtere!:>tmg lD- l hear and which seemed to me to ~:d:nt in connection v.ith his or- express the contempt of the world, ..,ma.lion is the fact that the late I the fle~h and the devil-and even F~ev. Josiah Elliott of Hertford. the church. I felt like t!:J.e off­ a.nother veteran of the mini~try I scourings of all things. and the who bore the scars of many a L<.t- footmat of all of Adam's race. I tle to advance the standards of I felt myself going down, down, in

•·at Kir:gdom which Jerns Chnst I miserable failure and that annihi­ came to earth to establish, also j lation would be a blessed relief.

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preached his trial sermon at the ·'But berore 1 went completely ,,,a.'lle time at the same church and I under I found myself on the Rock tJD the same evening. of Ages and the Everlasting Arms \'\"hen indulging in reminiscences underneath me. ~1y extremity was

~ome four years . ago these two 'I Got.l's opportunit~·. 1 said with .Job, veterans, whose lives were cl0s~- 'Though He slay me, yet will I ly related from that momentous trust Him.' dav 47 years ago, Mr. Elliott told "My work bef:an on that night. this ftory about it: In three years I had built two

"The Yeopim Church was meet- churches 2nd had begun a third. 1 mg at Reynoldson and I h'.ld been a"ld baptized 100 belieYers. One ~f I appointed to lea-:'. the opemng ser- my preaching points was Jacks "ice and Brother Peele to preacn ~eek. which was tr.en a log school the introductory sermon. It wa:: • house v:ith a log cut out for a mv tir~t experience in conducting 1 >1.indow and which is nov: Belhav­ ~uch a ~;':n·ice and I reckon it was 1 en." c:J.e of B:·ott.er Peele's first set-; Since that fir;;: cha> ge Mr Peele mons. v.-nen the service was over has served numerous pastorates and W" .~·"rt< coming out l over-1 1 Contmu<?d on pa~e 2 l

1rnv. n. E. 1'£1'JLE

THE ADVANG~~ E=L=IZ=A=B=E=T=H=C=IT=Y=-·~N=. c=·,;,,· ~:rv~rn~-~~?::;;A~Y~EVENING, S.EPTEMBER 29, •

.l'Jd1•nton l'l'rsonal'i ~>y, Lhe Jea~ing Baptist preacher Ldt•nton Sept. 29. _ Mr. and ~n t~11s section at that time, and

' 1 '. J. E. Adams and Mr. anJl o_n:wlcre~ by some as the ablest II1s. K. L. Stallings who have P.1:acher m_ t~e old Chowan Bap­ wade their home at. the Hotel Hin- list A~sociat1?n. He was very ton for the past, month left Friday. m.u~h like Qumtou Trotman and Mr. Arla~s and Mr. Stallings, rep-';;·~" kr~?wn by the Flapt.ists as rescuta tives of the No1 th Ca.rol iun !J1' hnp because preachers were Inspcc.tion and Ra ting Bureau r rce and he looked after supply­ hnvo completed lhc rerating .: t~ ·;.,all' lhe churches with men. Edenton for the Southeastern u 1 '''trends J. D. Huffman Robert derwriters' Association. rvnge, Charlie Scarboro~o-h the Charles L. Abernethy of Nw «o 8peights, B. B. Willia0m~ A

Bern passed through the city \v,, '. Durfoot, and John N. Hoggard nesdny. v.crc the leading preachers of the ,.carol Gn_utlwin, student of o«. 'howan Association. Lidge Jn.sf.it u tc, rcl urned home . Rev. John N. Hoggard was prac­ \V,ednefld:ly for an appcndlctt ts op-ti~·a~ly Mr. Peele's father in the er al ion. p11mst1 y and the greatest influ- \\'1ll1am Cruhnru left vVcdnescl:•vtme in hi11 life at that date. Of all

Ior _Plnladr;lphia where he wiLthc pr•'acliern he was best known cont iuue his studies at Jef'Iersou 10 him because he was his pastor Medit n l College. f()r a number of years while

----- ------ )H <': ching' at Corinth.' Church iu RE\'. U. E. l'EEI,E HI.ES Nortll:uHpt.on County during bis

• T Cont inued from page l l '-·1rly mnustry. Rev. Hersey B. 1? North C'110Hna, Virginia, and P·11 ltr-r was a lso a great influence

I Snuth Carolina. Mur.h of his In': Jn Mr. Pr elc's life. · lnr.r! work was in country churth- _ U1·. I~la<'kwdl a Ji'l'icnd "> but twir·c he was pastor of th,'" 1 >r. Calvin S. Blackwell, who hi:ool·:lyn J;;ipti"t Chu1ch in vVil· ":1~; al Ort(' time pastor of the 11lllJI'l"11, l!H 11 ill' n·rvrd at. Dur Fm;t l1ri.plist Church of this city f'l\\ and ~111 lin!:, Routh Carolill't :.Lnd for whom Blackwell Memorial l1w1Jly 1;·t1i.1>; to ('l .• rk!-lvillf' v;'.~D·1pti';t Church, nl first founded t ·11"1· ''·1'"''. i.' 'i·•I I tlir l'.l'.'t0, , t1· as :~1ission of the Fii'st Baptist (,~ 1.li•· Bi1pl1s_t Cht111 ti 1•··· ~;·•it',. :11·d1, wn11 narnetl, was anothel' l.1 vr·aJ"1, 1c•f'1gJ11n1: :t l<•w .~· · 1!;un:tl friend of Mr. P•'elf', being ==-,.._, _ .. • .t P 1111 .: <·1rmnt oi :t!I 1t1J11ry \\hi•:, 11•;c;ly [issocince<.l with him in hifl A h·· :1·1',1v•·ll and .wlr.1 h lr·.111rH1r.11 d..,J!,, 1: wl11·n he wa~ a p:1st.nr :it .. \

1111.ld• .11tn lll\ i>lf· lq , .. ' I '"' I 1;'1pti"l l'lJI • il I \, 'il-1 ! \''f)j l .

1J111ing h1•: ·1!111•d Jwlf <'CllilllY 1r May, ISi:J, v•lor11 'Ir l •Ii•' I 1 °! Pl<''1d1mi.; '111'1 •oi•ll!-l(1·1 ini.:· 11J ''•I tlw "' s•dfl•l "' tlr. <'!Lo-

i t•:1"luni:, ti ''·'1'' J\11·. I r•l'l•·'c; 1111.i F·1ptist. A' ;u( 1ali<;l' , •t;1C'11 ! , I· I'<' t 1 <'11111<' 111 l >•rt:J< t ,·,-ith ,, ·11 \\'in•t··nr, Jw f• 'lll'<l 1Jt :ti ~~ .lntr:!l~ l:t·ow pc 1. 011;1 lly 11 numbt· J of t I . ,., " l.IJI" 1 DI'. lt. T. V:rn:;, - ~If'-·:.. It 1d11 111 ,I;• 1111111.;tiy in tl1P J iLJ prr·idr•nl (lf Mt·l'Pditl• ('ol ltt·n1·ul1' .·<·c·tion. 1 n :•nrl SL't.!I Luy of lite Stale

J{new This !-'crion j •i l Dll;cational I::<•· rd, ( '. 'I. It was th1·ough i.1~ bzottt:r-in- 1 'i\'Y· Jack Mills, Cnlumhur Dur­

!~w, Rev. \V. L. Fit(hcr, wbc a~a, _ ai' 1; wrll :is hi!-l old friends J. n.e~ his sister, and who sen·ed th.., ! '' 1111.""111:1!1 and John N. Hoggard. Smloh field in Ce:rnuu1 Cou:.. . 1 111.,og· !Ji,; friends was Hev. J. W. !-hat many of the~e contact~ we.~· I>o ·1i1'J-. f01mer pastor at Sawyers orought about. As eariy as tl:.:'- C1 •·ck naptist Church and fo ther 1o·s l\Ir. Peele visited in an·.' 01 !{1 v. Pcudteton Downey, studrnt arour..ct Elizabeth Ci;:y. Thi!: wa. the reconstruction era ami , learned much of the tri:;.Js. sttu.?"­ g:le~ and triumphs of the people ~· • tne1r effort to wiu bsck a m1::asm J of tl:eir pre-war pro.si:eri''•. , Quinton Trotman \v:i-; one c~ tne strong leaders in tie r:'!'' ,., at the time ::-.rr. Peele Yis!ted ter1 _ -a large man in e·:ery sense o. the \VOrd, with brain and l:ea;·t a· big as his giant and we!!-nuscle•" frame, and a great orator withv.l, He was what is gener<:.lly terrr.eu a self-made man. brave, fearles.;. and commanded t.be unbounded rt · • spect and _admir<:.tion or the gre·i.t mass of the people. j

. Some _time later ::.rr. Pe·'ie 1e­ ~1.ted tnis section and spe:1t th" I mgnt with Rev. 0. C Horton, v·i1"' 1 had had httle or no educati0:-i but was a strong pn:acher and an in· fluent'.al ma:-1. :1Ir. Pech:· :-:s~bteJ him in conducting- a revivo.l at S.!::J• Joh as 2. result oi v:hich 75 weIE' baptized into tte feliowsi1ip of tht: 1 church. Then tnere •vas Dr. R f:.. :.:) tr• I

NOi. "'{Jl •< '1" -::;~f. ii-<: ....L"lo. 1 i L~ \..,. ..a-1 1

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--:::-:=-=--===...- -·

this city; Joseph Peele editor of I · t J ·t Of Th Ed l ' acquam ct wr h new om•s

e en on Daily News of · · Edenton; Miss Rennie Peele of Although he was nlrnost 8C• Wilson; Manly Peele of Washing- Y~1:rs of ag,.., a vacation wiu'n he t~n, Wilfrt,d Peele of New York v1s1tcd in r;Jizaheth City alw;1ys City, Mrs. J. J. McCullen of Flor- meant a scheuulr like this: Tuef!­ ence, South Carolina, Robert clay, un ived, visits fin old fellow Peele of Clarksville, Mrs. Lauch- pastor, attC'nds revival services Ile Jin McNeill of .Amarillo, Texas, Is conducting llrnt PvPning-; Wcd­ and Ed.ward Peele of Rhode Isl- nesday, attended men's federation and. (never missed a mo1 ning after

The Golden Wedding that) nnd prayer meeting-; Friday, On December 23 last year ~poke bnfore n Rotary Club mPct­

Clarksville glistened in a beautiful mg; 8· urday, Jed men's fedcrn­ snow mantle as Mr. and Mrs. Peele tion, attended a· Rotary-Kiwanis cele:->rated their. golden wedding bnll gam~; Sundn.y, preachl'd in anmversary lllllld their children the mornmg, dtltvered a se1mou­ and scores of friends. ette In the afternoon and attended Perhaps the oecret of his life services in the evening.

was ember!ded in the fact that he "\Ve prcaehers mu~t kl·Cp close lived in a rouml of continued nc- to the folks," he would r1lwny!I ,iay tivity. He w;rn' i;evcr so happy as chucklin~, "and t~1l' only w1.1y to when he bad a full day ahead of do Uml is hy Ln ll rng to lhPm and him and when there wus no walking with tbt'm '' preaching or prayer service to at- -------- tend or ccnduct he lilt d nothing RJCIJl\IONn HUG J\r,\Uhl l' better than to ~xchange views and Good £orr1-ft'd holrs l'l!i to anecdotes :villi old friends ond ac- lbs. u.verngc lOc; 150 to JGU quaintanees and to meet and get aVPrage 91-2<'; 110 to 160 11.J

<'r!lgP 8 3-1c; ~ows R celll8.

.,, .. .:;-aocy co',.>r l ~pr:r:....~~ .t • _ 3n:.n-1! color~J ~~~J::::6· !'.:- .. •). . :. -1 ~gh1):-t.! ~:1!'.1'!2" ~r3, iJ. ---··· .:)-:... 1

Co!C! ea !:er. , , '1 ..... ·- .. -· _ •. '... ,-:.5J Leghor'1 hl n3, tb .. _ ... --·· l ':>. Eggs, frP .~, dozen c .. · c "'e L"l:r..V.3, tesH:, li.J. Sheep, best, lb. I.' ea! cu! 1•es, be:>~ lb. -· ~g-;;;. ~live. lb.

at the Th"ological Seminary at Louisville, Kentucky. And on and on one might go adding this narrte :rnd that until the list includes a ho_st of high and humble men altke, for. Mr. Peele had not only the capacity for making friends but also for holding them. He once re~narked that he had never lost a friend. Colonel R. B. Creecy, F. F. Cohoon and Rev. I. N. Loftlh a fol'mer pastor of Blackwell Mer:io­ rml Church, all of whom have passed to their reward were also great friends of his. '

On_ December 23, 1879, Mr. Peele marned Miss Addie Whitehead at her home n_ear Scotland Neck, Dr. J. D. Huffman pronouncing the ceremony which made them man nnd wife. Ten children were born I<;> this union, nine of whom sur­ vive. They are sca.ttered from Tex­ as to _New England, but their memories of life together in Bap­ l1si parsonages, lnrge and small, and of the loyalty nnd love of f~ther and mother through hard times anti Jess hltrcl times, througn poverty and a lesser measure of poverty, keep them united as the -=-==== years go by. r----------------~------------~----.:..::.:.:.:..:~----..:;:--~,_::

Tho chilctl'en are: Herbert Peele editor of The Daily Advance of

"'<~7 f] [~ ~l:JG:Jt~.,srt£e

~,,.,. .. fl '9 '

,, 111rv11tJiJ&11u9~ (E:'ll .

W. PERRY CROUCH

GENERAL SECRETARY-TREASURER 301 HILLSBOROUGH STREET

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27611

ROBERT H. BRUHN

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

March 18, 1974

Mr. John Woodard Wake Forest University Reynolda Station Winston-Salem, NC

Dear Mr. Woodard:

The enclosed items may be useful to you. Mrs. Renn needs your help. I have included her letter, and our response to her request.

The old newspaper was brought to the office by a gentle­ man who thought it might have historical value. He pointed out that the Reverend R. E. Peele was the brother of W. J. Peele of Raleigh, for whom Peele Hall at State University was named. The article also refers to Dr. Van who was president of Meredith College at one time. I believe the gentleman who brought this by our office was Mr. Henry M. Shaw.

Sincerely, .. ;J • f#W ~ua~__;

(Miss) Ruth Williams Secretary to Dr. Crouch

/rw

RonE1iT E. PEELE.

Brother Peele was born of godly parents, December 22nd, 1852. Received his primary education at borne, and his academic education at Jackson and Buckhorn Academy. He studied one year at Richmond College, working his way all the way, but, his health having failed, he was forced to leave college.

Previous to going to school he worked on the farm, drove a mail and express hack and clerked in a store, until he was twenty-one and then undertook to get some education as be- fore stated. .

He was born again and called to preach in August, 1869, but conditions were such that he could not enter at once upon the active work of the ministry. After leaving col­ lege he went to Scotland N eek in Halifax County, in the summer of 1877, and taught school until the spring of 1882. During this period he was married to Miss Addie E. Whit­ hend. The marriage took place December 23rd, 1879.

· In November, 1882, he was called to ordination· by the · church at Crowell in Halifax County. Dr. R. T. Vann and Rev. W. T. Blake formed the ordaining presbytery. He

supplied at Crowe11 for a few months and was then as­ signed to the Pantego Mission, where he remained five years doing pioneer work on a hard field. These were doubtless five of the happiest years of his life. From Pan­ tego he returned to the Crowell field, where he remained as pastor three years, and then became pastor of a church in Wil­ mington for two years, Leaving Wilmington he labored two years on the Burgaw field, and then went back to his same charge in Wilmington, and after serving there two more years, he accepted a call to the )fount Elon field in South Carolina, where he remained seven years. Then he served as pastor in ~Iullins, South Carolina, two years. Returning to the Welsh Xeck Association in South Carolina, he was pastor at Ebenezer, for five years. Leaving South Caro­ lina he returned to this State and was pastor of Bear Swamp in the Robeson Association for one year, after which be was agnin pastor of Burgaw and Wallace field four years. He then went to Clarksville, Virginia, where- he is stil1 (1921) pastor of the church. All the years of bis ministerial life he has been· doing

the work of a pastor evangelist and has been eminently suc­ cessful in both fields. During the past twelve years he has done more preaching than at any other period of his life. averaging a sermon every day in the year.

from A 1-h s+or~ ot' +he Ta.v- 'R' ve..1 ~p+is+ Asso(!..1lL-hOfl 1f?3o- J<'.i;).I b1

lhomas J. Tu.'/lor 1 pp· 3DO·- 3C> J

R. E. PEELE

We deeply regret to hear of the very serious illness at a

Richmond hospital of our old calssmate and lifelong friend, Rev.

Robert E. Peele. He is one of the best and truest of men. Most

of his active ministry has been spent in North Carolina, but in

recent years his home has been at Clarksville, Va. We hope that

the shadows which now seem to be falling about him may yet be

lifted and that he may be spared to us for years to come.

RELIGIOUS HERALD, Oct. 2, 1930, p. 6:2

Rev. E. H. Puryear, Arlington, Va.: "Brother R. E. Peele,

who passed away September 29th, was the only pastor I ever had. I

have heard great preachers and I have had my name on other church

rolls, but I have always felt that he was my pastor all the while.

I have lost a friend second only to my father. Truly he was my

father in Christ and my father in the ministry. I count it an honor

to be reckoned with one of his 'sons in the ministry' along with

such men as Dr. Walt Johnson. Brother Peele was not a Seminary man

and he had to drop out of college on account of his health, but he

was a learned man not only in theology but in every field of human

thought and activity. He was a constant and voracious reader. His

writings were clear, thoughtful and original. His style was in­

imitable. Not long ago I picked up the Herald and started reading

an article, the signature to which was on another page, before I

had read three lines I knew that it was Brother Peele's writing.

A great man has fallen and many are the sad hearts in Virginia and

Carolinas where he spent his life for his Master ..... "

RELIGIOUS HERALD, October 9, 1930, p. 6:1

After a lingering illness of several months Rev. Robert E.

Peele, of Clarksville, Va., died on September 29th at Johnson-Willis

Hospital and was buried at Clarksville.

This man of God was honored and loved by all who knew him.

Kind and unselfish, always ready to contribute his last dollar to

one in need, his life was a benediction to those who knew him.

H. H. SEAY

RELIGIOUS HERALD, October 16, 1984, P· 9:2

Married

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Ancestry

b, Cl.

Ancestry

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