Mead, William Cooper D. D., LL. D. 1795 – 1879

MEAD

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 1/6/2014 at 09:56:36

Iowa Plain Dealer November 14, 1879, P2 C3

WILLIAM COOPER MEAD, D. D., LL. D.

On Thursday, July 17, 1879, near the hour of sunset, on the veranda of the parsonage, at Norwalk, Conn., surrounded by members of his household, Rev. Dr. Mead breathed his last. He had been in the enjoyment of his usual health until a moment before his departure. After an early dinner that day he went, in company with his daughter, to ride. While driving along East avenue the horse took fright, and the Doctor made unusual exertions to check him. After he had done so his daughter observed that his face was paler than usual, and asked him if she should take the reins. He replied, “No, but you may take the whip.” While passing the whip to her it dropped from his hand, and she picked it up. The remainder of the ride was without incident. Arriving at the parsonage the Doctor spring lightly from his carriage, as if nothing had happened, his daughter following. As was his custom on pleasant summer afternoons, he walked into the garden. Presently the Doctor called his attendant, and leaning upon his shoulder, returned to the house. As he stepped upon the veranda he looked strangely white in the face and said, “I Think I must leave you now,” and sat down in his accustomed chair. These words are believed to be his last. He remained seated but a moment, then arose and walked into his study. The attendant soon after heard him coughing, and going in, assisted the Doctor back to his chair on the veranda. His daughter sent hurriedly for a physician, who, on his arrival, saw that nothing could be done. In the meantime Dr. Mead had coughed much and raised blood. He remained in the chair while a mattress was being brought, and almost instantly after being laid upon it his spirit passed away. His death removes a landmark of the church, the town and of this generation. He was born in Greenwich, Conn., Oct. 26, 1795, his parents having temporarily left their residence in New York city on account of the prevalence of yellow fever, and was consequently in his eighty-fourth year. He was given a thorough education, choosing the ministry, which he entered in his twenty-ninth year, as his profession. Previous to this he had engaged in mercantile pursuits. In company with Rev. Dr. Bayard and Rev. Dr. Rosevelt Johnson he was on January 5, 1824, ordained to the deaconate by Right Rev. Croes, Bishop of New Jersy {sp}, at New Brunswick, and subsequently was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Hobart, in Trinity Church, New York city. His first work as a clergyman was to found the parish of Grace Church, at White Plains, N. Y., where a church was built under his direction, he at the same time officiating in Tarrytown, Sing Sing and Greenburg. From this field he accepted a call from Christ Church, Reading, Pa., and after a residence of seven months there accepted a call to the rectorship of Trinity Church, Philadelphia, where he spent ten years of an active life. Becoming tired of the city and longing for rural scenes, in June, 1836, he accepted a call to St. Paul’s Church, Norwalk, as the successor of the late Bishop Kemper, assuming his duties the first Sunday in July following. This parish he faithfully served until the day of his death—a period of more than forty-three years. During a ministry of over fifty-five years he filled many positions of honor and trust, always performing his duties with an energy that even in his latter years was remarkable. He was a leading spirit in the diocesan conventions of his own State and very prominent in the general conventions of the Church in the United States. He was a member of the General Convention longer than any bishop, and was senior member thereof longer ago than 1862. He had been offered the bishopric of Connecticut, and was once urged to accept that of a Southern Diocese. He was a Free Mason of high degree, having at different times served as Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodges of Connecticut and Pennsylvania and of the Grand Chapter of Connecticut. He was made a Mason in 1824—fifty-five years ago—in Westchester Lodge No. 46, of White Plains N. Y., and was elected an honorary member St. John’s Lodge, No. 6, of Norwalk, in 1849, and was chaplain and trustee thereof for many years. He was a man of great learning and a polished and eloquent speaker. In 1865 he delivered the historical address at the centennial of St. John’s Lodge, and in 1872 delivered the oration of the dedication of “Old Well Lodge,” of South Norwalk. He was one of the four Episcopal clergymen in the United States who have been rector of one parish for a period of forty years, and the cane which he held at the time of his death, on account of his having been longest in a parish of any rector in the State, now goes to Rev. B. M. Yarrington, of Greenwich. Dr. Mead received the degree of LL.D., from Trinity College, some years since, and at the trustees of that institution and for many years held the same office in the General Theological Seminary of New York. His opinions regarding canon law were profound and much sought, not only by the churches in the United States but by those of England. His name was distinguished in the Episcopal Churches as the one whose head, more than that of any other man, moulded her canon law through the past half century. But he is known to his people and more endeared to them than the canonist, however learned. He was the true man, the core of whose life was honesty and honor—a teacher of righteousness, whose eye never quailed nor the messaged of truth never faltered on his tongue because of a human presence or a mortal’s frown. While strong and unswerving in his convictions, his heart was full of kindness. Who that ever gained his friendship did not find him true as steel! Death but enclosed such a life as his in the setting of immortality.

The funeral will take place Wednesday afternoon, July 23, in the church, which will be draped for the occasion. Large numbers of the clergy from this and other dioceses have been invited and are expected to be present or take part in the ceremonies. Right Rev. John Williams, Bishop of Connecticut, will conduct the services. The body will lie in state in the church Wednesday morning, and after the funeral rites be buried in the family tomb, beneath the elms the Doctor loved and in shadow of the church in which he ministered so long and well.—N. Y. Herald.