Who Was C.H. Ryland?

[UnderTheRadar]

In the book Christ in the Camp, or Religion in Lee's Army, by William Jones, there is an entry from a CH Ryland on page 175

"For the want of a better place the services were held on the lawn, and in spite of the cold wind quite a good number attended. Their interest plainly told that they enjoyed the opportunity to hear the truth, and several told me it was the first sermon they had heard for several months. There should by all means be a regular chaplain here. I gave away several pocket-Testaments and all the "Hymns for camp" I had with me, and as I walked out about sunset I found the men gathered in squads for the delightful exercise. Many are very tender about their souls, and seek rather than avoid conversation. On Saturday night I went to a room in which there were five men, all just rallying from the fever, and while there read, sung and prayed with them. None of them were Christians, but all seemed deeply affected, and during prayer one man sobbed aloud.

These little incidents greatly encourage me, and give promise of speedy and lasting good. . . .

C. H. Ryland."

Who was he?

 

[Story]

Most likely Charles Hill Ryland (1836-1914)
See entry for such here

Robert Ryland | An Unfolding History

unfoldinghistory.richmond.edu

 

[UnderTheRadar]

Thank you. I tried Googling and there was too much unrelated there. The only thing is it is CH Ryland. Another mystery.

 

[Story]

Thank you. I tried Googling and there was too much unrelated there. The only thing is it is CH [Charles Hill] Ryland. Another mystery.

Dudes frequently abbreviated their first and middle names at the time, going by two first initials. Poke around and you'll see how common that was.

 

[Story]

It strikes me that you might not have gone down the page far enough, so here ya go. Pretty rock solid connection.


Charles Hill Ryland, the son of Samuel P. Ryland (1803-1886) and Catharine Hill Ryland (1804-1881) and nephew to Robert Ryland, was born on January 22, 1836 at Norwood, his father's plantation in King and Queen County.73 He matriculated at Richmond College in 1854 and during his two years as a student, founded the Philologian Literary Society.

After withdrawing from college and serving as a teacher until 1859, he joined the first class of students at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, then located in Greenville, South Carolina. His studies in Greenville were interrupted by the start of the Civil War.

During the next four years, Ryland was a missionary to the Confederate Army, served as Treasurer and Depository of the Army Colportage Board (distributor of Bibles and religious publications), and worked as the steward of the Engineer Bureau Hospital in Richmond, located at Cary and 19th Streets opposite Castle Thunder prison.74 Two of the former warehouse's upper floors had been converted to wards that held enslaved patients who had been forced to come to Richmond to build the city's fortifications. The hospital was severely overcrowded and the subject of strong critique by the Richmond Daily Examiner and an investigation commissioned by Samuel P. Moore, the Confederate Surgeon General, and undertaken by Dr. W.A. Carrington. Concerns included a lack of bedding, unsanitary conditions, and high mortality rates.75 Ryland publicly responded that the characterization was a "gross misrepresentation" arising from enslavers disgruntled that they were unable to retrieve those they enslaved from the hospital, though he acknowledged some shortcomings.76‍

Ministry & Baptist Service

Ryland's 1873 Christmas Sermon (Courtesy of Virginia Baptist Historical Society)
Ryland was ordained as a Baptist minister at Bruington Baptist Church on May 30, 1863. He subsequently served as the pastor of several Virginia congregations between 1865 and 1907: Carmel Baptist Church, Caroline County (1865-1866), First Baptist Church, Alexandria (1869-1874), Taylorsville Baptist Church (1879-c.1888), and Walnut Grove Baptist Church (1882-1907, a congregation also served by Robert Ryland following the Civil War).

Ryland's interest in the compilation and preservation of Baptist history led to his directorship of the American Baptist Historical Society and his founding of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society (VBHS), which was located at Richmond College and remains at the University of Richmond today. He served as the VBHS secretary between 1881 and 1914 and was described by Baptist historian G.W. Beale as having done more "for the discovery and preservation of the materials of our denominational history than any other man of his day."77 Many of Ryland's own sermons and notes are held by VBHS. He also undertook an extensive effort to collect the papers of Robert Ryland, now housed at VBHS, which provide essential information about Robert Ryland, Virginia Baptist Seminary, and the early years of Richmond College.

He also served in numerous other Baptist leadership roles, including as trustee of Columbian University (formerly Columbian College and later George Washington University), the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Richmond College.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Dudes frequently abbreviated their first and middle names at the time, going by two first initials. Poke around and you'll see how common that was.

And occasionally you have parents who give their kids initials for names. Most people know of Harry S Truman (the S didn't stand for anything). My research has also encountered a Coastguardsman whose first name was the letter J (but he did have a proper middle name) and a WW2 soldier who had no first or middle name, only the initials J C (stated as such on formal military orders). There's a local pioneer whom I can find no evidence he had a first or last name either, only the initials PD. At least all these men had last names.

 

[UnderTheRadar]

Dudes frequently abbreviated their first and middle names at the time, going by two first initials. Poke around and you'll see how common that was.

When I replied with "CH...mystery" I hadn't read down to Charles. Again, thanks so much for your research. You saved me a lot of time! I am so fascinated with the times and the war! But I grew up in WV and it (Civil War) gave birth to WV and our families fought both sides. Our culture is born in its history.

 

[UnderTheRadar]

And occasionally you have parents who give their kids initials for names. Most people know of Harry S Truman (the S didn't stand for anything). My research has also encountered a Coastguardsman whose first name was the letter J (but he did have a proper middle name) and a WW2 soldier who had no first or middle name, only the initials J C (stated as such on formal military orders). There's a local pioneer whom I can find no evidence he had a first or last name either, only the initials PD. At least all these men had last names.

And there was BJ Hunneycut

 

[UnderTheRadar]

I appreciate your patience. I hadn't read down the page. I focused on Robert.

 

[Fairfield]

Dudes frequently abbreviated their first and middle names at the time, going by two first initials. Poke around and you'll see how common that was.

Women do that also. For example, I have a friend called "P.A."--and heaven knows what would happen should you be mad enough to call her "Patience Anne"!

 

[R. Porter]

The first thing I thought of was Ryland Hall at U of R. I graduated there with honors in History, but they didn't give me a History degree.

 

[Story]

When I replied with "CH...mystery" I hadn't read down to Charles. Again, thanks so much for your research. You saved me a lot of time!

I appreciate your patience. I hadn't read down the page. I focused on Robert.

Then you are compelled to hit those little *LIKE* button social endorphins, not only my posts in this thread but anywhere you see my Avatar.

It's not my request, man.... it's the law. ​

 

[R. Porter]

Then you are compelled to hit those little *LIKE* button social endorphins, not only my posts in this thread but anywhere you see my Avatar.

It's not my request, man.... it's the law. ​

But I've been told "don't buy it because of the story…"

 

[UnderTheRadar]

The first thing I thought of was Ryland Hall at U of R. I graduated there with honors in History, but they didn't give me a History degree.

Perhaps they should have