PRUAIINENT PERSONS
169
church. During the civil war he was pastor
ot the Broad Street Church in Richmond,
and throughout this period preserved a con-
servative attitude, never permitting politics
to enter into his religious discussions, and
eiideavoring in every way, after the strug-
gle, to promote good feeling between the
stctions. From 1868 until his death he was
president of Randolph-AIacon College. Dr.
Duncan was a leader in the councils of his
church. For many years he was editor of
the "Richmond Christian Advocate."
Dickinson, Alfred Elijah, born in Decem- ber, 1830, in Orange county, Virginia, and came of a strong and sturdy stock. At an early age he entered Richmond College, from which he was graduated. He then at- tended the University of V^irginia for spe- cial courses, and while there, became inter- ested in the Baptist church at Charlottes- ville, and at the conclusion of his course of study became its pastor. In this work he was eminently successful, reaching many of the university students, and building up the church in every department of its work. L.ater he became superintendent of the Sun- day school and colportage work of the Bap- tist General Association of Virginia, and in his nine years in this position, he organized many new Sunday schools, strengthened those already in existence, enlarged their libraries, and improved their facilities for work. During this period he was especially active and useful in colportage and mission- ary work in the Army of Northern Vir- ginia. Dr. Dickinson finally resigned to ac- cept the pastorate of the Leigh Street Bap- tist Church in Richmond, which grew rapidly and steadily under his ministry. In 1865 he formed a co-partnership with the
late Dr. J. B. Jeter, for the purchase of the
"Religious Herald." This paper, founded in
1S27, had been published continuously ex-
cept for occasional interruptions during the
war. The close of the war found it greatly
crippled and the labor of re-establishment
was a discouraging task, but under the guid-
ance of these strong men it soon entered
upon a prosperous career. Dr. Dickinson's
editorial connection with it has continued
since 1865 until the present writing, making
him, in period of service, the dean of Bap-
tist editors in the whole world. Alore than
half of his long life has been spent in this
work, and his editorial career extends over
more than one-half of the life of the
paper itself. Dr. Dickinson's work on the
paper was only one form of his activities.
He was frequently engaged in special meet-
ings ; churches all over the state, seeking to
rebuild their houses of worship and to
gather their scattered membership, had his
help. His success in regathering members,
in collecting money, in enlisting the sym-
pathy and securing the help of generous
persons outside of the state, made him a
notable and useful figure in those trying
days. After the death of Dr. Jeter, it was
decided to erect a building on the grounds
of Richmond College to his memory. Dr.
Dickinson was the active agent, and speed-
ily brought the movement to a successful
issue. In his earlier years he visited the
slate meetings of his denomination through-
out the South and a great many in the
North. In physical proportions Dr. Dickin-
son was notable. Of unusual height, broad
shouldered, deep chested, with a massive
head, he would command attention in any
assembly. As a speaker, his style was col-
loquial and familiar. A keen sense of humor
