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| Bishop Jesse T. Peck |
The
Cortland News, Friday,
May 25, 1883.
Death
of Bishop Peck.
Bishop Jesse T.
Peck, who had been in feeble health for several months and who about two weeks
previous was attacked with pneumonia, died at Syracuse on Thursday, May 17,
aged 72 years. The following biographical sketch of Bishop Peck's life and
labors we take from the New York Tribune:
"Bishop Peck was born in
Middlefield, Otsego county, N.Y., April 4, 1811. He was licensed to preach in 1829; two years after he joined the
Methodist Church. In taking this step he followed three elder brothers. In 1812
he joined the Oneida Conference and continued in pastoral work until 1837. He
was then elected principal of the high school afterward known as the Gouverneur
Wesleyan Seminary. In 1841 he became principal of the Troy Conference Academy
at Poultney, Vt. In 1848 he was elected president of Dickinson College at
Carlisle, Penn. Four years later he became pastor of the Foundry Church at
Washington, and in 1854 he was made secretary and elder of the Tract Society.
In 1856 he became the pastor of the Greene Street Church in this city, and two
or three years later he was transferred to California, where he remained for
eight years as pastor of churches in San Francisco, Santa Clara and Sacramento,
serving for a time also as president of the Board of Trustees of the University
of the Pacific and as president of the California Bible Society. Returning to
the East he was stationed at Peekskill, Albany and Syracuse, being sent to the latter city to aid in founding
the Syracuse University. He held the office of president of the Board of
Trustees of this university until 1872, when he was elected bishop.
"Bishop Peck was a member
of all the General Conferences held since 1844, and was one of the best known bishops
of his church. As a pulpit and platform speaker he was attractive and at times
powerful. He was always unceasing in his labors, which were of practical
advantage to his denomination. He was all his life interested in education and
in the cause of missions. In the midst of other work he found time to write
several books, including the following: "The Central Idea of
Christianity," "The True Women," "What Must I Do to be
Saved?" and "The History of the Great Republic."
"When Syracuse
University was founded Bishop Peck promised a subscription of $25,000 to its
funds, and a few days ago he told a friend that the day of his death would find
this promise fulfilled. "I have an ambition," he said, "to die
without anything, for I am going where I shall have infinite riches of a kind
that will suit me better than any of these material things." Bishop Peck
was married forty-seven years ago, and his wife survives him."
The funeral of Bishop Peck was
held at Syracuse Monday afternoon, and was largely attended by people from all
sections of the country. Rev. Andrew Peck, of Cortland, the Bishop's eldest and
only surviving brother, was present among the relatives. Remarks were made by
Rev. Dr. Wilbor, Chancellor Sims, and Bishops Hurst and Simpson. A large procession
followed the remains to Oakwood cemetery, where they were buried in a plot of
ground overlooking the University campus.
Jesse T. Peck: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Truesdell_Peck
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