5i° KICK. RICE. the active ministry in 1S57, and removed to Springfield, where he has since resided. He was elected to the general conference of the church in 1856, and took an active part in the great controversy then going on concerning slavery in the church. He was again elected in 1876, and was a lead- ing member of the committee appointed for the revisal of the hymn-book, and be- came the editor under whose supervision the "Methodist Hymnal" was published. Among other literary works, Mr. Rice published a few years ago, " Moral and Religious Quotations from the Poets," a " Pastor's Manual," and an excellent cata- logue of the Springfield city library, which is still in use. In 1853 the Wesleyan University, Mid- dletown, Conn., conferred upon him the degree of A. M., and in 1S76 the degree of D. I ). lor many years he has been a trustee of the university, and president of the board of trustees of the Wesleyan Academy. For eighteen years he was a member of the state board of education and of the school board of Springfield. During this period he devoted much time and attention to the work of popular edu- cation. He has also been closely identi- fied with the history of the City Library Association of Springfield. He has been its secretary and librarian since 1861, and in this capacity the selection and classifi- cation of the books have devolved entirely upon him. His wide range of reading, liberal views, cultivated taste, and sound judgment eminently fitted him for this work, and have given the Springfield city library in a great degree its present high position among the libraries of the country. In 1S43 Mr. Rice was married to Caro- line L., daughter of William North, of Lowell. Their children are : Rev. William North Rice, Ph. D., LL. D., professor in the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.; Edward H. Rice, Ph. I)., a well- known teacher in our public schools ; Rev. Charles F. Rice, A. M., a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church ; and Caroline L., A. M., wife of Prof. Morris B. Craw- ford of the Wesleyan University. RICE, WILLIAM W., son of Rev. Ben- jamin and Lucy (Whitney) Rice, was born in the old historic town of Deerfield, Frank- lin county, March 7, 1826. His collegiate education was acquired at Howdoin, from which he was graduated in the class of 1846. The degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him by his alma mater in 1886. After graduating he spent four years as a preceptor in the far-famed Leicester Academy, and in 185 1 commenced the study of law in the office of Emory Wash- burn, then in full practice in Worcester. After the usual course of three years' study he was admitted to the bar, and from the first year of his professional life to the present time he has been a diligent and conscientious practitioner. His courtesy of manner, deference to the court, ami fairness in judicial practice have contrib- uted not a little to his success as an advocate. He has been constantly called by his fellow-citizens to fill positions of honor, trust and responsibility. In the municipal administration of Worcester he has served in various capacities, particularly in those connected with educational interests. In i860 he was mayor of Worcester. In the capacity of special justice of the police court, and as an occupant of the bench of the county court of insolvency, his course met with marked approval. In 1868 he was elected district attorney for the Worcester district, which position he held five years, and his record is that of one who, always acting with fidelity to the State, showed a manly regard for the rights of those whom it became his duty to prosecute.
