"Whalley, Richard Chapple, D.D., a Church of England divine, was born in 1749. He received a su- perior education; displayed a passionate love for the fine arts in his youth; travelled extensively in Italy; and finally returned home, given much to scepticism. He became converted, however, soon after, and took or- ders. He travelled in Europe in 1786; and on return- ing, in 1787, was ordained to the ministerial office at Horsington, where he continued to reside and officiate for thirteen years. Through the school of affliction, in the loss of his wife and child, his religious knowl- edge and character were deepened and perfected. He died Nov. 17, 181G. See Christian Gitardian, 1847, p. 1,49.
Wharton, Charles H., D.D., a Protestant Epis- copal clergyman, was born in Maryland, May 25, 1748. At the age of twelve he was sent to the English College of St. Omer's, where he was educated a Roman Catholic. Little is known from this till his ordination in 1772, except that he was a teacher of mathematics for some time at Liege. In 1783 he returned to America; and in 1785 was rector of Immanuel Church, Newcastle, Del. Subsequently he was connected with the Swedish Church at Wilmington. In 1798 he served St. Mary's, Burling- ton, where he continued for upwards of thirty-five years, with great usefulness; and in 1801 he became president of Columbia College, N. Y. He died July 23, 1833. See Sprague, .4 nnals of the A mer. Pulpit, v, 335.
"Whatcoat, Riciiard, a bishop of the Metliodist Episcopal Church, was born in Quinton, Gloucestershire, England, B'eb. 23, 173C. He enjoj-ed the infiuences of an early religious education; was converted Sept, 3, 1758; and was immediately placed in official positions by the society at Wednesbury, where he resided. In 17G9 he entered as a probationer into the itinerant con- nection of Wesleyan IMethodist preachers, then under the superintendence of JNIr. Wesley. He preached ex- tensively through England, Ireland, and the principality of Wales; and was selected by Mr. Wesley to aid in tlie
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organization of tlio Methodist Episcopal Church in Amer- ica. He was ordained in .September, 1784, hy John Wes- ley, assisted by Dr. Coke and iMr. Crei^hton, as deacon and eliler; and, accompanying Dr. Coke, landed in Amer- ica Nov. 3, 1784. From the organization of our Church at the Christmas Conference until his election to the olHce of a bishop, he discharged, with the exception of tlirce years, the duties of presiding elder, "which, in those days especially, reijuired labors and privations of no ordinary cliaracler, as both the districts and circuits were large, the people in general poor, and the calls for preaching numerous and often far apart." At the Gen- eral Conference in iMay, 1800, such was the health of bishop Asbury that he thought of resigning; but the Conference, in order to relieve him, elected bishop What- coat, lie having a majority of four votes over Jesse Lee. Hoehm, in his ReMiiii.'^ceiices, says, '• I witnessed the ex- citement attending the different ballotings. The first, no election ; tlie second, a tie ; the third, Richard What- coat was elected." The same authority gives a mo- mentary view of the ordination Sabbath. " Sunday, I he 18th, was a great day in Baltimore among the .Methodists. The ordination sermon was preached by IJev. Thomas Coke, LL.D., in Light Street Church. Crowds at an early hour thronged tiie temple. The doctor preached from IJev. ii, 8: 'And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things saith the lirst and the last, which was dead, and is alive,' etc. After the sermon, which was adapted to the occasion, liichard Whatcoat was ordained a bishop in the Church of (iod by the imposition of the bauds of Dr. Coke and bishop Asbury, assisted by several elders. Never were holier hands laid u|)on a holier head. In those days we went 'out into the highways and hedges and com- pelled them to come in.' That afternoon Jesse Lee preached in the market-house, on Howard's Hill, from John xvii, 3: 'And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.' The Lord was there in a powerful manner; several were converted." From the time of his election as bisliop until he was disabled by sickness and debility, he travelled regularly through his vast di- ocese, which extended over the entire continent, preach- ing almost every day to the people, visiting the annual conferences, sometimes in company with his venerable colleague, bishop Asbury, and sometimes alone, discharg- ing his responsible duties with marked satisfaction to all concerned. In 180(5 he met the Baltimore Confer- ence in company with bishop Asbury, and at the ad- journment of (Conference travelled through the eastern shore of JMaryland towards Pliiladelphia. His last ser- mon was preached in Alilford, Del., on April 8. He had "finished his sixth episcopal tour through the work af- ter his consecration," says Dr. Phtcbus, his biographer; " or near tiiat ; and, after great suffering, he got an hon- orable discharge from the Captain of his salvation, and by his permission came in from his post which he had faithfully kept for fifty years." He took refuge at the home of senator Bassett, Dover, Del., where he died, " in the full assurance of faith," .luly 5, 180(5. He was bur- ied under the altar of Wesley Chapel, in the outskirts of Dover. Bishop Asbury, some time after his death, visiting tlie place of iiis sepulture, preached his funeral sermon from 2 Tim. iii, 10. In the course of his sermon he declared that such was his unabated charity, his ar- dent love to God and man, his patience and resignation amid the unavoidable ills of life, that he always exem- jilitied the tempers and conduct of a most devoted ser- vant of (iod and of an exemidary Christian minister. Bishop Whatcoat was not a man of deep erudition nor extensive science; but he was thoroughly acquainted witii Wesleyan theology, and well versed in all the va- rying systems of divinity. As a preacher his discourses were plain, instructive, and highly spiritual. His dis- tinguishing trait of character was a meekness and mod- esty <if spirit which, united witli a simplicity of inten- tion and gravity of deportment, commended him to all