REV. OWEN M. WALLER.

Rev. Owen Meredith Waller, rector of St. Luke's P. E.
Church, Washington, D. C.; Associate of Arts of Oxford
University, England; Graduate of the General Theological
Seminary, New York, was born in Eastville, Va., in 1868.
When but five years old his parents settled in Baltimore,
where he was sent at an early age to the St. Mary's Academy.
In 1881 he went to Oxford, England, where he entered St.
John's Classical School, pursuing studies there until 1889,
when he returned to New York city. He graduated from the
General Episcopal Theological Seminary in 1892, and was
ordained to the Deaconate by Bishop Potter, after which he
accepted a call as assistant rector to St. Phillip's Church,
New York.

He declined the principalship of Hoffman Hall of Fisk
University, Nashville, Tenn., to accept a call to St.
Thomas' Church, Philadelphia. Having passed all examinations
before reaching the required age to enter the priesthood, it
was only after his election to St. Thomas' that he became
eligible for advancement.

Bishop Potter arranged for the ordination to take place in
the Colonial Church of St. John, Washington, D. C. Here in
the presence of the Chief Justice, Cabinet Officers,
Senators and other men of national note, Mr. Waller was
formally elevated to the priesthood. After a rectorship of
three years' successful work in this historic parish, during
which its centennial was celebrated, Mr. Waller was elected
rector of St. Luke's Church, Washington, D. C., in
succession to the Rev. Dr. Crumwell.

In size he is above the medium and of athletic build. He is
a perfect type of the physical manhood of his race, graceful
in manner and address and is clear and eloquent in his style
of oratory.

Success has crowned his work from the beginning. Mr. Waller
combines all the essentials necessary of a leader of men
along religious lines. He understands humanity. His methods
inspire the confidence of men, and they reverence his
gospel. He appeals to the intelligence and reason, never to
passion and prejudice. He has the faculty of saying much in
little, and saying it with directness and force.

Mr. Waller was married in 1893 to Miss Lillian M. Ray, of
Brooklyn, N. Y. Three bright boys have blessed this un