Reily, James Ross

Reily, James Ross a minister of the German Reformed Church, was born in Meyerstown, Lebanon Co., Pa., Oct. 31, 1788. He began his theological studies with Dr. Becker, of Baltimore, Md., in 1809, was licensed in 1812, and became pastor of churches in Lyken's Valley, Dauphin Co., Pa. In 1813 he was sent as an exploring missionary to North Carolina, after which he returned to his charge. He was called to Hagerstown, Md., in 1819; resigned in 1825, to accept the appointment of agent to go to Europe with a view of securing aid from the Reformed churches there for the endowment of the Theological Seminary ofthe German Reformed Church and collecting books for its library. In this he was successful, returning in November, 1826. He became pastor in York, Pa., in 1827. His health failing, he resigned in July, 1831. He now supported himself in a secular calling amid continued ill-health, and died March 18,1844. Mr. Reily was a man of great energy and originality, and withal somewhat eccentric; in the pulpit he was grave, earnest, and more than ordinarily eloquent. He preached in German and English.