“Personal: Dr. R. S. Pardington,” The Christian Advocate, Vol. 82, 10 Jan 1907 PP 61=2, transcribed with notes by Marshall Davies Lloyd, his 2nd great grandson.

Dr. R. S. Pardington
   Very suddenly did this successful and much-loved minister pass from earth to heaven. Though he had been unwell for some months, he had been much better for several weeks, was in attendance upon the dedication of the Administration Building of the Hospital, December 4th, and at the Preachers’ Meeting on December 12. Not only does the New York East Conference mourn its loss but a feeling of sadness will be general in the Detroit Conference, of which for so many years he was a member.
   Raynor [sic, mdl: note his carte de visit and his probate have it as Rayner not Raynor] Stevens Pardington was born in Cheltenham, England, May 6, 1836. His parents were devout Christians, and for several generations the families on both sides were Wesleyan Methodists. And among them on both sides there were clergymen. His education was attained chiefly in a private classical school in Cheltenham, a place long noted for beauty and intelligence. In 1850 [mdl: The family arrived NYC on May 14, 1850 aboard the barque Solway] the family emigrated to America, and at first settled in Detroit, then at Flat Rock, where his father [mdl: William Lloyd] purchases a large farm. He was converted about two years after he came to Michigan. Soon afterward he was engaged in teaching school, which occupation he gave up when called to preach. For some time he studied at Albion College. For a period more than one and less than two years he preached by appointment of the presiding elder, and was admitted to the Detroit Conference on trial in 1858. The venerable Bishop Morris who was the only connecting link between the Methodist Episcopal Church as it was before the separation of 1844, and as it now is, was still active, and Dr. Pardington was glad that by his hands he was ordained deacon. Bishop Scott, whose piety he trusted, and whose geniality had captured his affections, ordained him elder. His impressible spirit which, together with the churchly idea which he brought from England, caused him to reverse the orders and the ordinations more than many. His appointments in the Detroit Conference were Chelsea, Marine City, Saginaw City [where son Arthur was born], Lexington, Saint Clair [where son George was born], Bay City, Farmington, Grass Lake, Fort Street and Jefferson Avenue, [both] in Detroit, and Tecumseh.
   In 1883 he was transferred to the New York East Conference, and appointed to the Asylum Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Hartford, Conn. While he had done excellently in the West, the transfer to the East proved to be a powerful stimulant. The atmosphere of Hartford was and is distinctively literary and critical; his church was suffering from the change of population in the vicinity, consequent upon the enlargement of the city and the increased needs of the business section. His success there mad him desired and acceptable anywhere. His subsequent appointments until 1896 were Brooklyn: Fleet Street, Central Church and First Place. Besides these services he was for a time Superintendent of the Brooklyn Church Society. In this position he greatly widened his circle of lay acquaintances, and promoted the interests of the society, which is now undertaking great things with the prospects of complete success. Resuming the pastorate he was stationed at South Second Street, Brooklyn, and was then elected Conference Evangelist. In this capacity he was unusually successful. All his measures and sermons were on a high plane. There was nothing sensational; he favored no flamboyant advertisements, he sought no excitement dependent on crowds or dramatic effect; but earnest, warm, sensible, he led and guided, encouraged and won souls to Christ, united the Church, and on departing left a blessing and received a blessing. Any church would have been glad to have him return in the same capacity.
   The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him in 1887. He was graduated by the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, and was President of the Brooklyn Chautauqua Assembly.
   In the deaconess work he was much absorbed, and was active in securing the Brooklyn Deaconess House and Training School of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was also a member of the Clerical Union of the city of Brooklyn.
   It would be difficult to mention any important case with which he did not sympathize enthusiastically. His hand was never slack toward the poor; hi powerful voice in the sick room was softened to tenderness, and the same instrument was attuned to the salutation with which he pronounced a trusting and hopeful couple husband and wife. Such never forgot his hearty hand-shake.
   He was married on the fourth of September, 1861, to Miss Eliza Corey, of Detroit, Mich., who at times might well have been expected to precede him to the heavenly home. In this hour of mingled darkness and light she derives consolation, not only from the God who said, "Let thy widows trust in Me," but from her sons, Arthur R. Pardington, a businessman of this city, and the Rev. George P. Pardington, who is Professor of Homiletics and Church History in a missionary institute.
   The funeral services were held in the Hanson Place Methodist Episcopal church, Brooklyn, where congregated a large number of ministers and prominent laymen. Many women also braved the inclement weather to participate in the tribute to their pastor and friend. Dr. C. S. Wing presided.
Those who spoke representing the Methodist Episcopal Church were J. M. Buckley, A. B. Sanford, George Adams, and D. W. Couch. The last named emphasized with great feeling the devotion of Dr. Pardington to his family, especially to Mrs. Pardington who had long sicknesses, and to his second son, who also had at various times been afflicted by illness. A prayer was offered by D. G. Downey. All recognized the gifts, the spotless character and the steady usefulness of the subject of their remarks. What made the occasion especially memorable was the presence of Dr. John Humpstone, pastor of one of the leading Baptist churches, who gave so chaste and tender, yet eulogistic a tribute as to unite more strongly the hearers in a true fraternal spirit. Dr. James M. Farrar, pastor of the First Reformed Church, who knew Dr. Pardington intimately, read a paper which was a true word portrait of the subject. The Rev. Charles J. Allen, pastor of the Beecher Memorial Church, who was in the congregation, indicated a desire to be heard a moment, and added much to the occasion, he being an immediate neighbor of his deceased friend. Dr. A. J. Lyman, now the senior Congregational pastor in Brooklyn, being unable to be present, sent the following letter to the Rev. J. E. Holmes, president of the Brooklyn Clerical Union and pastor of Summerfield Church. The letter was read in connection with the services.
          225 PRESIDENT STREET, BROOKLN, }
           December 13, 1906 }
   MY DEAR DR. HOLMES:
   It is with extreme regret that I must acknowledge my inability, by reason of a previous and peremptory engagement, which I cannot in justice to others set aside, to comply with your suggestion that as a former neighbor and longtime friend of our beloved Dr. Pardington, I should be present at his public obsequies and offer my simple word in tribute to his memory.
   It would be impossible for me, however, by any spoken word, adequately to express my sense of the noble quality of this honored servant of Christ. During a number of years, while he was pastor of the First Place Methodist Episcopal Church, he was my immediate neighbor, and I came to know him well and honor him much. Subsequent acquaintance, as I have followed him in the more general field of his later ministerial service, has only deepened the affectionate esteem in which I held him. His labors were incessant, his devotion absolute, his practical wisdom unfailing, his faith buoyant and triumphant. I used to love to hear his voice, for nature had given him a voice which for weight and reach and a certain musical majesty has rarely been equaled. I believe it to be true that he has addressed ten thousand persons at once, making every one to hear him. His sense of comradeship was most genuine, and you felt the brother in every grasp of his hand. He was gentle, brave and loyal. The cause of Christ had his whole heart. Modest in manner, he was tireless in service. He had enjoyed a wide range of ministerial acquaintance and experience, and his conversation was full of picturesque and illuminating reminiscence. Of how many an act of unobtrusive kindness to the poor and afflicted in my region of the town have I heard said, "This was just what was to be expected from Dr. Pardington: he is always doing such things."
   He leaves the beautiful and fragrant memory of a life consecrated to the highest tasks of a ministry devoted to the purest Christian ideals, and to the best interests of the Master's kingdom. Not only his brother ministers in his own communion, but we all, of every church affiliation, unite in the sentiment of personal sorrow at his departure, of respectful sympathy for his beloved family, and of unqualified and affectionate honor to his name.
          Most Faithfully yours,
          A. J. Lyman.