REV. RICHARD CLAIRBORN TUCK.

EV. RICHARD CLAIRBORN TUCK was born in Halifax county, Virginia, and died in Norfolk county, in 1892. He was about forty years of age or a little more.

      In 1867, he was a delegate from Union in Halifax county, to the North Carolina and Virginia Conference at Union in Alamance county, North Carolina. He was recommended for licensure by the Educational committee at this Conference, with D. A. Long and W. T. Walker. Sunday morning, at 10 o'clock, was set apart for the licensing of the candidates, and Rev. W. B. Wellons was requested to officiate. At the Conference at Salem chapel in Forsyth county, in 1868, Rev. R. C. Tack, with Revs. D. A. Long, W. T. Walker, and J. W. Hatch, was [356] recommended by the committee on education for ordination, and Revs. T. J. Fowler, A. Iseley, J. N. Manning, and W. B. Wellons were appointed the ordaining presbytery. The next day, November 18th, at 10:30 o'clock A. M., Rev. W. B. Wellons preached the ordination sermon, after which the ordination services followed. At this Conference, Rev. R. C. Tuck was appointed a fraternal messenger from the North Carolina and Virginia Conference to the Valley Virginia Conference. At the Conference held at Wake chapel in 1869, he served on the committee on church records, and was elected a fraternal messenger to the Georgia and Alabama Conference. At this time he resided at Pacific, North Carolina, but removed the following year to the state of Texas. Having returned from Texas, he reported to the Conference at Mt. Zion, Orange county, North Carolina, in 1871, that for a part of the year he had had three appointments, that the Lord had blessed his labors, and that he was more determined than ever to enter fully into the work of the ministry. In 1872, he preached at Good Hope and Oak Level. For 1873, he accepted work in the bounds of the Eastern Virginia Conference. He was invited to an honorary seat in that body, and was announced by the committee on religious exercises to preach before the Conference, October 80, 1873. He preached from Psa. 1:1, 2. He had the pastoral charge of the churches at Providence, Berea (Norfolk county), and Sharon, and had experienced a glorious revival at each of his charges; seventy-five persons had united with the churches under his pastoral care. He had also labored in the Sunday school and in the temperance work.

      In 1874, he attended the Eastern Virginia Conference at Holy Neck, and was invited to a seat in the body as a deliberative member. He still had charge of Providence, Berea, and Sharon, in which he had forty-six [357] conversions and into which he received twenty-five persons as members. At this time he resided at Great Bridge, Virginia. In 1875, he was at the Conference at Berea (Nansemond county), having served the same churches as the preceding year; and in 1876, he attended the Conference at Suffolk. At Mt. Carmel in 1877, the committee on home missions reported, "In the absence of delegates, we presume that the churches at Providence, Berea (Norfolk), and Sharon, have employed their former pastor, Rev. R. C. Tuck." He likewise served these churches as pastor in 1878. He now lived at Norfolk, and in 1881, was pastor of Sharon.

      In early life Rev. R. C. Tuck gave his heart to the service of the Saviour, and in early manhood entered the work of the gospel ministry in which calling he remained faithful till death. In his death the church lost an efficient and devoted minister.

[LCM 356-358]