Rice, Phiiieas, D.D., an eminent ^lethodist preach- er, was born in the State of Vermont in 1786. Having been converted when about sixteen years of age, he was soon called to publicl}' exercise his gifts. He was re- ceived on trial in the New York Conference in 1807, and was sent to labor as junior preacher on the (Jran- ville Circuit. The ministry of Dr. Rice extended over a period of tifty-four years, and each year during all that long jieriod he was returned effective, and received reg- ularly his appointment. He labored on circuits sixteen years, in stations eleven, and in the presiding elder's of- fice twenty-eight years, excepting the last year, which was not completed at the time of liis death. He was a member of every (ieneral Conference from l.s2() to 1856, inclusive. He received the degree of D.D. from Wes- leyaii University. Dr. Rice was a marked man in ev- ery res()ect. His piety was deeji. fervent, and abiding, and he was eminently a man of prayer. Scrupulously punctual, industrious, and self-sacriticing, he was a wise counsellor and a true friend. He bad a natural vein of ])leasanlry, ami his conceptions were not uufreipieiilly (|uaint,aud (piainlly expressed. I^ven when in the pul- pit, at times a faceliiuis remark, evidently nu])reme(li- tated, would cause his hearers to smile. These smiles were not seldom suddenly followed by' tears as the preacher passed from one pliase of his subject to anoth- er. His pathos and tenderness were strangely blended with his wit and humor; and if one could have wished that there had been less of the latter <|ualities, it was
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nevertheless evident that there was in them no bitter- ness, no harshness, no undue severity. As an expound- er of ecclesiastical law and an administrator of the dis- cipline Dr. Kice had few equals. During the last months of his life he suffered greatly but patiently, and calm- ly contemplated the approach of death, which came Dec. 4, 1861. See Mhmtes of the Conferences, Meth. Episc. Church, 1862, p. 70.
Rice, William H., a Presbyterian minister, was born in Shelby Countj', Ky., July 15, 1827. His early education was thorough ; his collegiate studies were pursued in Wabash College, Ind., and Hanover College, Ind. He spent one year in tlie theological seminary at New Albany, Ind., was licensed to preach in April, 1853, and ordained the same year by Vincennes Presbyter\', and preached as stated supplv for the Church at Kock- port, Ind. In 185-1 he removed to Texas, in the hope of restoring his health by a warmer climate. While there he preached for the churches at Palestine and Mound Prairie, in the bounds of the Eastern Texas Presbytery. In 1858 he resigned his charge, went to Alabama, and tinally, in 1859, returned to Indiana, where he died, Sept. 27, 1859. Mr. Rice had a mind that was clear and pen- etrating, and his preaching powers were excellent. See Wilson, Presh. Hist. A hmtimc, 1861 , p. 106. (J. L. S.)
Rich, Claudiu.s James, an Oriental traveller, was born March 28, 1787. His researches as a pioneer ex- plorer of Oriental countries were patient and protracted, and, though not able to sink his shafts as deep as Lay- ard and other modern explorers, his labors are equallj^ worthy of regard. Even as scientists have been sup- jilanted bj' after-discoveries, so the time may come when Wilkinson and Layard, and Schliemann and Cesnola, may be outdone bj^ future explorers. The works of Rich are entitled, il/emoiVe^ sur les Rubies de Bahylun (1812) : — Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan (1836). He died Oct, 5, 1821. (W. P. S.)
Rich, Edmund, St. ( French Saint-Edme ), arch- bishop of Canterbury, was born in Abingdon, Berkshire, about 1190. Haying studied at Oxford, he graduated in theology at the University of Paris, and lectured there for some time on Scripture. He taught philosophy at Oxford from 1219 to 1226, enjoying also a prebend in Salisbury. On April 2, 1234, he was consecrated arch- bishop of Canterbury, enforcing discipline, by authority given bj' the king, in spite of the opposition of clergy and others. Pope Gregory IX appointing Italians to vacancies, Edmund deemed this an abuse of the papal power, and, about 1239, retired to the Cistercian abbey of Pontigny, in BVance. Being in feeble health, he went to Soissy, in Champagne, where he died. He was canonized in 1246 by Innocent IV. Among his works are. Constitutions, in thirty-six canons, found in Labbe's edition of the Councils: — Speculum Ecclesiw, in vol. iii of BiUiotheca Patrinn. A manuscript Life of St. Ed- mund, by his brother Robert, is preserved in the Bod- leian library; another by Bertrand, his secretary, was published in Martene's Thesaurus Anecdotorum. See Apptet07is' Ci/clopcedia, s. v.
Rich, John, a minister of the IMcthodist Episcopal Church, South, was born in Davie County, N. C, Oct, 10, 1815. His conversion took place in 1837, he was licensed to preach in 1830, and was received into the North Carolina Conference in 1840. During the suc- ceeding ten years of his laborious and usefid life he filled many of the most important appointments in the con- ference with great acceptability. At the conference of 18.50 he was superannuated, and on Oct. 25, 1851, he died. His distinguishing traits were clearness and pen- etration of thought, childlike simplicity, and unaffected pietv. — Minutes (f Annual Conf. M. E. Church, South, 1851, p. 345.