George Francis Nelson

Canon George Francis Nelson was a familiar figure at the Century lunch-table; where as a rule he arrived late and indulged in little conversation. Those who occasionally talked with him, however, quickly learned that, in his quiet way, he was a man of wide information and unostentatious learning. The Canon had, indeed, an experience to look back upon, rare to the church. Having nearly reached his ninetieth year, that reminiscence would have embraced active service in the ranks during the Civil War and a spell as regular army soldier after 1865. He had studied law as well as divinity before he came to New York, nearly fifty-six years ago, to take up his uninterrupted work with the bishop and prospective bishop of this diocese. In summarizing the qualities of this gentle personality, his intimates have described him as a man of the highest culture without parade, a gentleman of the old school with exquisite manners but self-effacing habit and an accomplished scholar.

Alexander Dana Noyes
1933 Century Association Yearbook