The Recent Past FROM A SOUTHERN STANDPOINT. Reminiscences of a Grandfather. “FORSAN ET HÆC OLIM MEMINISSE JUVABIT.” BY RICHARD H. WILMER, BISHOP OF ALABAMA. ____________________________________________ NEW YORK: THOMAS WHITTAKER, 2 AND 3 BIBLE HOUSE. 1887. THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED TO The Cause of Truth, Right, and Peace, IN LOVING MEMORY OF ALL WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR ITS MAINTENANCE; AND IN BROTHERLY RECOGNITION OF ALL WHO LIVE TO VINDICATE AND DEFEND IT. “ The wisdom which cometh from above is first pure, then peaceable.”
Page 167. REV. WILLIAM H. WILMER, D. D., President of the University of William and Mary. Departed this life 1827. THE following is a sketch of Dr. Wilmer in Mr. Slaughter’s speech at the late jubilee of the Theological Seminary. The subject is comparatively new, and is exhibited from new points of view with new illustrations. The Episcopal Church in Virginia is so much indebted to this clergyman, that we are sure Dr. Slaughter’s brief history of him will be read with deep interest, and, we trust, with profit. Some of our younger readers may need to be told that Dr. Wilmer was the father of Bishop Wilmer of Alabama, and of Rev. Dr. George Wilmer of Williamsburg,— at this writing, Professor of Divinity at Sewanee,— and the uncle of Bishop Wilmer of Louisiana, and that he was also one of three brothers, all of whom were clergymen of the Church. William H. Wilmer was born 1782, in Kent County, Md. In his boyhood he received deep religious impressions from a pious aunt, which were confirmed during a severe illness, when, he says, he felt himself to be lying in the arms of a loving Father, Who looked upon him with a reconciled countenance, and he felt the “peace that passeth all understanding.” Page 168. He was educated at Washington College, Kent County, Md.; and his religious principles and demeanor became subjects of mockery to the boys, who reproached him with a want of manliness in not joining them in swearing and gambling. He was overcome by the pressure for a time, and joined the boys in their wicked sports. But his conscience became so clamorous that he could not silence its voice, and he concluded it was better to endure the mockery of the boys than “to be in hell amid everlasting burnings.” He resolutely refused to go again to a mill which was the scene of their sports. So they turned him over, as they said, to the Methodists, as serious people were called in those days. But (as he told one of his parishioners afterwards) he did not care what they caned him, since the best man that ever lived deserved no better monument than this, “A sinner saved by grace.” He told a daughter of Professor Campbell that he was about seventeen years old when “he took hold of the covenant for himself.” “I felt that the precious gift of faith was given to me, that I was justified freely for Jesus’ sake, and, being born again, the love of God was shed abroad in my soul by the Holy Ghost given to me.” “As soon,” he continued, “as I felt that I was accepted by God as His son, the thought flashed upon me, What church shall I join? My heart responded, The dear old neglected Episcopal Church; and under her banner will I fight the good fight against the world, the flesh, and the Devil.” Page 169. He was ordained by Bishop Claggett in 1808, and for several years had charge of his native parish of Chestertown, Md. In 1812 he came to Virginia (Dr. Henshaw says, “at the instance of Mr. Meade ”), and as rector of St. Paul’s Church, Alexandria. Previous Chapters, “ Uncle Tom’s Cabin ” *RECONSTRUCTION. Book Library: Excellent ! scanned Book copy.* At A Georgia Camp Meeting At The Cotton Picker’s Ball “If the South had only wanted to protect slavery . . .” “Southern States were not interested in returning and paying unfair tariffs . . . .” TaxJudas.com Proposed 13th Amendment Marching Through Georgia!

The Recent Past
FROM A SOUTHERN STANDPOINT.
Reminiscences of a Grandfather.

“FORSAN ET HÆC OLIM MEMINISSE JUVABIT.”

BY RICHARD H. WILMER, BISHOP OF ALABAMA.

____________________________________________

NEW YORK: THOMAS WHITTAKER,
2 AND 3 BIBLE HOUSE. 1887.

THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED TO

The Cause of Truth, Right, and Peace,

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ALL WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR ITS MAINTENANCE;
AND IN BROTHERLY RECOGNITION OF ALL
WHO LIVE TO VINDICATE AND DEFEND IT.

“ The wisdom which cometh from above
is first pure, then peaceable.”

Page 167. REV. WILLIAM H. WILMER, D. D.,

President of the University of William and Mary.
Departed this life 1827.

THE following is a sketch of Dr. Wilmer in Mr. Slaughter’s speech at the late jubilee of the Theological Seminary. The subject is comparatively new, and is exhibited from new points of view with new illustrations. The Episcopal Church in Virginia is so much indebted to this clergyman, that we are sure Dr. Slaughter’s brief history of him will be read with deep interest, and, we trust, with profit. Some of our younger readers may need to be told that Dr. Wilmer was the father of Bishop Wilmer of Alabama, and of Rev. Dr. George Wilmer of Williamsburg,— at this writing, Professor of Divinity at Sewanee,— and the uncle of Bishop Wilmer of Louisiana, and that he was also one of three brothers, all of whom were clergymen of the Church.
William H. Wilmer was born 1782, in Kent County, Md. In his boyhood he received deep religious impressions from a pious aunt, which were confirmed during a severe illness, when, he says, he felt himself to be lying in the arms of a loving Father, Who looked upon him with a reconciled countenance, and he felt the “peace that passeth all understanding.”

Page 168.
He was educated at Washington College, Kent County, Md.; and his religious principles and demeanor became subjects of mockery to the boys, who reproached him with a want of manliness in not joining them in swearing and gambling. He was overcome by the pressure for a time, and joined the boys in their wicked sports. But his conscience became so clamorous that he could not silence its voice, and he concluded it was better to endure the mockery of the boys than “to be in hell amid everlasting burnings.”
He resolutely refused to go again to a mill which was the scene of their sports. So they turned him over, as they said, to the Methodists, as serious people were called in those days.
But (as he told one of his parishioners afterwards) he did not care what they caned him, since the best man that ever lived deserved no better monument than this, “A sinner saved by grace.” He told a daughter of Professor Campbell that he was about seventeen years old when “he took hold of the covenant for himself.” “I felt that the precious gift of faith was given to me, that I was justified freely for Jesus’ sake, and, being born again, the love of God was shed abroad in my soul by the Holy Ghost given to me.” “As soon,” he continued, “as I felt that I was accepted by God as His son, the thought flashed upon me, What church shall I join? My heart responded, The dear old neglected Episcopal Church; and under her banner will I fight the good fight against the world, the flesh, and the Devil.”

Page 169.
He was ordained by Bishop Claggett in 1808, and for several years had charge of his native parish of Chestertown, Md. In 1812 he came to Virginia (Dr. Henshaw says, “at the instance of Mr. Meade ”), and as rector of St. Paul’s Church, Alexandria.

Previous Chapters,
“ Uncle Tom’s Cabin ”
RECONSTRUCTION.
Book Library: Excellent ! scanned Book copy.

At A Georgia Camp Meeting

At The Cotton Picker’s Ball

“If the South had only wanted to protect slavery . . .”
“Southern States were not interested in returning and paying unfair tariffs . . . .”
TaxJudas.com

Proposed 13th Amendment

Marching Through Georgia!

The Cause of Truth, Right, and Peace,

“ The wisdom which cometh from above is first pure, then peaceable.”

President of the University of William and Mary. Departed this life 1827.

“ The wisdom which cometh from above
is first pure, then peaceable.”

President of the University of William and Mary.
Departed this life 1827.