Biographic etchings of ministers and laymen of the Georgia conferences, Part 8

Author: Scott, William J
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Atlanta, The Foote & Davies co.
Number of Pages: 650


USA > Georgia > Biographic etchings of ministers and laymen of the Georgia conferences > Part 8


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presidency of the college and moved to Alabama, intending to lead, for a time at least, a retired life on a farm.


But he was not permitted to remain long in re- . tirement. In the course of a year or two we find him president of a female college that had been established at Chunneenugge, Ala., under the aus- pices of the Alabama Conference, to which con- ference he had been transferred on his removal from Georgia. Here he remained four or five years, bringing the new institution up to a very high standard as a church school.


The next twenty years of his life he gave to the regular work of the ministry as a member of the Alabama Conference.


He was in demand for the best stations and dis- tricts of the conference, and continued to do effec- tive work until he had passed his three score years and ten. His old age was rich in the fruits of a wide range of study and observation, com- bined with long experience in the deep things of God.


He was just entering his eightieth year of age, after fifty-seven vears of faithful and efficient ser- vice in positions of highest trust and responsi- bility, when the Master said, "It is enough, come up higher."


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WILLIAM P. HARRISON, THE LEARNED SCRIBE.


For more than thirty years I was intimately as- sociated with this eminent divine, whose recent death has brought profound sorrow to thousands of friends who admired him for his rare ability, and loved him for his excellent social qualities. For two years, 1866-67, I was, by episcopal ap- pointment, his assistant at the First Methodist Church, of Atlanta. During the first year of his pastorate I supplied his pulpit for three months, while he went to a number of Northern and Western cities on a canvassing tour in behalf of a new church which he had projected, and which, after grave discouragements, he ultimately completed. From his own lips, during our frequent interviews, I gathered the story of his boyhood while a merry and ubiquitous sprite in his father's printing office in Savannah. He had few educational advantages in his youth except such as were afforded him at the compositor's case, where he acquired the rudi- ments of his mother tongue, which in after years he mastered to a degree scarcely equalled by his foremost pulpit contemporaries. As opportunity offered he became an insatiate reader of books, and as he phrased it, he "was not always discrimi- native" in his selection of them. He was excess-


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ively fond of folklore, and not less so of such writ- ings as "Robinson Crusoe," the "Arabian Nights" and DeFoe's "History of the Devil." But he soon developed better tastes and higher literary aspira- tions, becoming a voracious student of history and biography.


From the start he exhibited also the qualities of bibliophilist, commencing the accumulation of a library which in his lifetime resulted in a library of ten thousand volumes, very many of them rare and costly books which he purchased in Europe. If he had any weakness it lay in this direction.


I have sometimes suggested to him in a playful mood, as we sat and smoked in his study, that he had as great a craving for books as Jack Falstaff had for Dame Quickley's cup of sack. "Ah, me," he would reply, "these, Scott, are my working tools." When I rejoined, "But, Harrison, you forget what Wesley said of the Homo unius libri," and then, quick as a lightning flash would come the surrejoinder, "True enough, but then you seem to have forgotten that Wesley himself wrote a dozen different grammars of as many languages and sermons by the hundred. He was far himself from being a man of one book." And thus we spent hours in like pleasant interchange of views, uniformly conducted in the best of temper. Look- ing back to these ambrosial hours when we were both young, and then recalling his late interment at


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Linwood cemetery, we feel almost like saying with Hamlet, in the gravediggers' scene: "Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him well!" For although in many respects unlike the king's favorite jester, he, too, was a man of infinite jest and marvelous fancy when in companionship with congenial spirits at the fireside or the dinner table. But I fear I am indulging more than is seemly in this autobio- graphic vein.


But his chief literary aim was to become a lin- guist. Without a master he acquired Hebrew and its cognate dialects, in which he made great pro- ficiency. So likewise, with Greek and Latin he was only less familiar.


Several of the modern languages, especially German, French and Spanish, he was fairly ac- quainted with, reading Goethe and Schiller with considerable facility and Don Quixote and Racine with equal readiness. When it is remembered that he had comparatively little scholastic training, these were remarkable achievements.


This is, we believe, a just critical estimate of his philological attainments. He was neither a Max Muller nor a Mezzofanti, but with equal collegiate advantages, he would have been worthy of their fellowship.


Dr. Harrison was prone to burn the midnight oil and this, in part, accounts for his chronic invalid- ism through much of his life


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As early as the close of his first pastorate at First Methodist church he was well-nigh a physical wreck. The conference was in session at Atlanta, he being bedridden by nervous prostration. He sent for me two or three nights before the adjourn- ment.


I obeyed his summons, went to the parsonage and found him greatly dispirited. He told me he was anxious to remain in Atlanta, and he knew that his congregation desired it. I knew that fact quite as well, for he was a great favorite with all sorts and conditions of men throughout the city.


He then asked me, as a personal favor, to con- tinue my present relation to himself and the church, assisting him in the pulpit until his health was re-established. I replied that I wasnot ready to abandon my connection with the conference, nor to give up the publication of my magazine. Indeed I could not do the latter, as I was legally obligated to my partners to continue in the edi- torship. But that to assist him in the present emergency I was willing to give him occasional help in the pulpit without compensation, as I derived a fair income from the magazine. He thanked me heartily and said: "Scott, I want you to go at once and see Bishop Pierce and say to him what you have said to me, and I think the question will be settled." I did immediately as he requested and had a private interview with the bishop at his hotel on Alabama street. When I spoke to the


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bishop, he replied that he thought of sending me to Griffin. I rejoined : "Bishop, as you well know, I always obey orders, but I trust you will not make that appointment, as my business interests would greatly suffer." "Well," said the bishop, "First church cannot support both of you." "Well, bishop, I promised Harrison that if you would not remove him I would still assist him without charge as far as circumstances would pos- sibly allow." "I think," answered the bishop, "that I see light, and there is no good reason why it should not be done."


I think, however, that it was probably a fore- gone conclusion to remove him, not for any dis- satisfaction in thechurch, but for his own sake to transfer him to the milder climate of the South Georgia Conference. I believed when the transfer was made it was a mistake, and so it turned out. As for myself, I was appointed to a half station at Acworth, where I had a delightful three years' pas- torate that yielded me a half support for preaching two Sundays in the month. No pastoral work was required of me and I had ample time for pushing the interests of the magazine. Dr. Harrison, meanwhile, returned to North Georgia, and with the aid of several warm personal friends, located on a truck farm near Marietta, Ga., where hestrug- gled for two years with an agricultural experi- ment that yielded him very unsatisfactory re- turns.


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But while as a financial venture it was a failure, his health was greatly benefited, and for the next two years he was appointed to the Rome dis- trict, where he did some of his best work.


The next year he resumed his pulpit work in At- lanta to the evident gratification of his former charge. It is now in order to speak of him as a preacher, and yet so well-established was his repu- tation in that regard that I shall not enter into details.


His preaching was uniformly of a high order, but there were special topics upon which it was wonderful alike in force and eloquence.


Amongst these was his sermon on Christ's collo- quy with Peter at the sea of Tiberias. In that sermon he drew the distinction between the Greek verbs agapo and phileo which was at times unfavor- ably criticised. Another was his notable discourse on Paul's address on Mars Hill, in the course of which he spoke learnedly of the different schools of Athenian philosophy. Another, which Rev. Peter A. Heard esteemed his most masterly effort, was when the Saviour said to the seventy disciples : "Rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."


I have sometimes said to him that his plain gospel sermons were his best, when he occasionally rose to the high-water mark of Bishop Pierce. Sermonic literature, as I once said to Bishop Hay-


AU


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good, is not much in demand but a small collec- tion of Harrison's sermons could find ready sale.


As an author he merits no little fame. His first venture of this sort was the publication of "The- ophilus Walton," a reply to "Theodosia Earnest," a popular rather than learned treatise on the Bap- tist controversy which some years ago swept like a prairie fire throughout the South and West. This was the era of the Graves and Brownlow controversy. These athletes exhausted the vocab- ulary of slang and vituperation and left the question where they found it. His next publica- tion was "The Living Christ," which added but little to his former reputation. Indeed, neither of the books referred to form any considerable part of his literary inheritance. As a writer his endur- ing fame will rest on his splendid contributions to the "Editor's Table" of the Methodist Quarterly Review. This was always a favorite department with the best readers of that ponderous publica- tion. From it might be compiled a large volume that would outlive its century and rank its author with the best historical and theological writers of Methodism


We had purposed to enlarge on his social quali- ties. These might be compared to those of Oliver Wendell Holmes, the self-styled "Autocrat of the Breakfast Table," or Charles Lamb, the "gentle Elia," leaving out the broad churchism that charac- terized the latter years of the former and the


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ribald jests of the latter when he was saturated with gin or opium. He was best seen, however, in a circle of intimate friends-for, like Addison, he thought that conversation was impossible in - a promiscuous assemblage.


Less than a year ago I had a brief correspon- dence with him respecting my last contribution to his review. Of these there were several during the period of his editorship, for which he always compensated me liberally.


In that last correspondence he spoke meekly of his failing eyesight and his cancerous affliction.


It was a little singular that he was never elected a delegate to the General Conference until 1882, when a member of the Baltimore Conference and stationed at Winchester, Va. It was, however, due to no lack of appreciation by his ministerial brethren, but chiefly because that he evinced no liking for parliamentary proceedings. He was seldom even within the bar during the conference sessions and less frequently did he take part in the debates of the body. The General Conference, however, made amends for this seeming neglect by electing him to three terms of service as book editor and editor of the Quarterly Review, a position for which he was splendidly endowed. This place he would have retained for another quadrennium but for the rapid decline of his health, foreshadowing his death at an early date. Amidst all the mutations of worldly fortune-the death of several members


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of his household and his intense bodily suffering, he clung to his trust in God. The ministry of a faithful wife, and the sympathy of a host of friends illumined. his death chamber so that he passed away


"Gently as to a night's repose, Like flowers at set of sun."


'JOSIAH LEWIS.


When the Georgia Conference held its fifth an- nual session at Columbus in December, 1836, four voung ministers asked to be admitted into the itinerant ranks. They were duly received and be- gan a long career of marked usefulness which has deeply impressed the moral and religious history of the "Empire State of the South." They were alike in their devotion to the cause they espoused, but as different from each other in natural tem- perament as the crystals of the falling snow. Walter R. Branham was the "beloved disciple," delighting ever in the message, "little children love one another;" John P. Duncan was the Asaph of his day, singing his way to the hearts of men that he might bring them into harmony with God. Alfred T. Mann was the Apollos of his church,


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swaying by his matchless oratory and winning by his passionate appeals; Josiah Lewis was na- ture's masterpiece, stern but tender, grave but cheerful, humble but courageous, trustful but mighty. He was unique in his individuality, creating a suspicion of eccentricity, but a simpler stronger nature has seldom been known among men. A man of clear convictions, his opinions were well-grounded and boldly held. His mental cast was logical, arguing from premises, and reach- ing conclusions which he was prepared to defend. Hisintellectual character, like his religious life, was moulded by familiarity with the Bible. Hethought in the terse utterances of the word of God, and expressed himself with telling force. Those who frequently heard him in the pulpit have often been aroused into wonder at his power of state- ment compacted into discourse. The preachers of the "rifle, axe and saddle-bags" period were men of "one book." "They gave attendance to read- ing, to exhortation, to doctrine," and qualified themselves by the careful study of the "one book." Brother Lewis was no exception to the rule, and yet he had supplemented the limited educational advantages of his youth by adding to his mental store a liberal knowledge of the classics, both ancient and modern. Indeed, as opportunity offered, he delighted to make excursions into the tempting fields of general literature. Nevertheless the Bible was his chief study. It was a real fasci-


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nation to him-a charm that was never broken. It engaged him and all his powers. For hours each day I have seen him digging deep into the mines of truth, and like the miners of Cornwall, he found the ore richer and brighter, as with the light of God's spirit, he penetrated farther. Now and then he seemed to arouse from his absorbing search, and a positive glow would rest upon his stern features, and mellow light would sparkle in his dancing eyes. It was as if he had met his Lord in some divine vision of His will and word. Such preparation gave him the well-merited power of exegesis. Bishop Pierce was accustomed to consult him as he would a commentary on difficult passages, and prized his interpretations as those of a master. A story of the earlier days has come down, that on one occasion in the presence of Bishop Pierce and other ministers, Bro. Lewis undertook the elucidation of a much controverted text. Perhaps the doctrine had just been dis- cussed at the fireside, and deep interest had been awakened, our hero observing his usual reserve un- til called on to speak. The hour for preaching had come and abruptly broke off the discussion. The exegete was the preacher that day, and to the surprise and delight of the ministers he announced the passage whose mysteries they had been trying in vain to solve. Without unneces- sary delay he "launched into the deep." Sentence after sentence in tersest, strongest words fell like


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flashes of light through the lowering clouds, col- lation and comparison of related doctrines famil- iar as a song of childhood cleared the opening sky, until in briefer space than is often used in in- troductions to what are called "fine serm ons," the heavens rolled before the astonished company in azure blue, and the sun of truth was shining in wondrous revelation. His task done he cast his glance upon the preachers present, and quaintly said, "Now, if any of you can beat that, you may have a chance to try." Nobody tried, the contro- versy was ended.


A commentary on the Bible from his pen would have taken much time from his preferred field work, but such a book would have been a rare addition to "Helps in the study of God's word." The Arminian view of theology was his natural correspondence. His straightforward, manly, mental movement easily fell into this form of doctrinal truth. He believed it from his heart, and preached it with unwonted power. Calvin- ism had no place in his thoughts except to find arguments to destroy it. He felt that it was lit- tle less than sin, God was dishonored by it, and men should not believe it if he could helpit. Some- times he was severe in his denunciation of the "awful heresy." On occasion he would rise with the might of a conqueror, and upset every founda- tion on which it was built. When Calvinists were present in his congregation he seemed most on fire


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to speak the truth as he saw it. I remember one bright Sabbath when all the congregations of a little city crowded into his to enjoy a day with the Methodists. Baptists and Presbyterians were there in force. It was communion day, but no matter, Arminius must be supported and Calvin driven from the field. The argument began quietly with premises well laid. The building went up stone on stone. The corner columns stood together in clasped embrace. The great builder saw the completed structure, perfect and strong. His whole nature swelled and bounded with the tides of feeling and confidence and rising upon the highest billows of his impassioned soul, he knew no limitations, but boldly declared in a very outburst of fervor, "Arminianism is true, and John Calvin has done more harm than any six infidels that ever lived. If he was saved at all it was by the skin of his teeth." The Methodists had close communion that day.


Though he reveled in "forensic eloquence" it must not be inferred that he was confined to this form of pulpit power. In no sense was he a one-sided messenger of the truth. Devoting himself wholly to the work of the ministry, never turning aside from its demands upon him, never resting through the forty years of his itinerant life, he was a preacher in the completest sense, and nothing but a preacher of the whole gospel, in every phase of it. I have heard him discourse on Love, and his


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tones were as tender as a flute, while his words were as choice and pure as crystal streams. His sermon on "Charity never faileth," was a breaking of the alabaster box of precious ointment, mellow- ing the heart and leaving a long perfume. It was a matchless presentation of the high theme. His unfaltering courage and uncompromising fidelity were of the quality to stand any test. No mere circumstances affected him. He could say with the emphasis of the apostle to the Gentiles, "None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself." No form of evil escaped his denunciation. No fear of men restrained his rebukes. In a certain county in Georgia while slavery existed, his trusty old horse took fright at a group of half-clad ragged negro children on the road. He was going to camp-meeting, and got a message on the way. At the principal hour, in the presence of thousands, many of whom were large slave-owners, his the me was theduty of mas- ters to slaves. He toldthe incident of the neglected children, and the frightened horse, and cried aloud, sparing not the inhumanity of masters to their slaves, and demanding reform. There was no mincing of words, no cringing that "thrift might follow fawning."


He waxed warmer and grew bolder as he found he was denouncing an evil, alas, too common in that section. The sermon produced a sensation. The guilty were excited to the highest pitch, and


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they turned their wrath toward the preacher. Threats of violence were freely made, and reached his ears. Without a fear he moved among his ene- mies, and when the storm had passed, the daunt- less prophet lived to see a great reform. Nosketch of Josiah- Lewis would be at all lifelike that did not at least make mention of his love of humor. He had the keenest appreciation of the ludicrous, often finding it where the ordinary observer would fail to see it. I have seen him con- vulsed with laughter, and "when he laughed he laughed all over." Once, passing down the princi- pal street of a city, he had a vision of fun. It was too much for him. Hestopped still, and sup- porting himself on my shoulder, his great body shook with emotion, until tears poured down his glowing cheeks. His support soon failed him under the law of contagion. He once enjoyed a huge joke on the two weather prophets of a Georgia town. Itcameabout in this way. During a long, dry summer in the seventies, he was help- ing the pastor in a protracted meeting, spending a week among the brethren. One day four or five of the officials joined him and the pastor at a din- ing. After dinner, sitting on the veranda, the party naturally bewailed the heat of the weather, and the poor prospect for rain. One brother said the dry spell would continue for some time, as Maj. A. had announced that there would be no rain for six weeks, and Judge P. had agreed with


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his fellow-seer, except that he thought we might be refreshed with a shower in four weeks. There was no need of a weather bureau in that town when these oracles spoke. Their prognosti- cations were a law unto many. "Uncle Joe" heard what was said. He was weather-wise himself. With a curious twinkle in his black eyes, he looked up into the sky. A little to the southwest there was a cloud no bigger than a man's hand. He kept watch on it. At last under an excitement which he could not conceal, he said, "if the wind does not jump the corner, we will have rain in less than twelve hours." This was a bold prophecy in that town, but he made it, and now it was prophet against prophet. The company sat together an hour or more, now and then recurring to the weather. Meanwhile the cloud grew, and the wind played true. Uncle Joe's ex- citement became intense. The air was changing in temperature, and nature threw out her signal of the near approach of rain, and then in a few minutes more the great drops began to fall. With an air of triumph our old Elijah arose, and warned the company that "if they did not hurry home they would get a wetting." All bade adieu to the host and hastened down the street. On the way a heavy fall of rain ran the party into the stores for shelter. While standing in the door re- joicing in the refreshing from the clouds, some one pointed out to Uncle Joe, Maj. A. and Judge


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P., both big and fat, running for dear life to get out of the rain. That was joy enough for him. The false prophets had fallen.


There was no service that night on account of the rain. Next morning the sun arose bright and beautiful and every tree beamed with gems in raindrops on their leaves. The prayer-meeting was rich in songs of praise, and happy hearts were full of gratitude. Uncle Joe began his prayer in these words. "Oh Lord, we thank thee for thy goodness, remembering us when we forget thee. We especially thank thee for the refreshing showers that have fallen upon the earth, in spite of the prophecies of ungodly men, who cannot trust thee in thy providence."


In his latter life Bro. Lewis leaned upon a staff with a head of gold. It was a present to him from his friends who were attending the commence- ment exercises of Emory College. Inscribed on the precious metal were these words:


"REV. JOSIAH LEWIS, Our Model Patron."


One after another, seven noble sons have graduated, with the honors of the institution, and each one took a manly place among men. Two have joined their father on the other shore. Others of them are honoring his name on earth, perpetuating the work which he began. He lives in them and theirs, and "his works do follow him."


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W. C. BASS.


Often have I made eulogies on my deceased brethren; never have I responded more cheer- fully than on this occasion, sad as it is for many reasons. There is a strange juxtaposition here. The report which I have just read by request of the committee on memoirs was not from my pen; it was written by the late Dr. Clark, in expectation of an earlier departure of Dr. Bass, and it was printed before either of them passed into the beyond, Dr. Clark going first. The report is fully endorsed by me except as to two immaterial facts of date and place. Bishop Pierce's first sermon was delivered in Monticello, Ga., after announcement by that stentor, Wesley P. Arnold. So the bishop himself told me, remarking, "and everything that could get on a shoe came out." Let me say no wonder, for he was the son of Lovick Pierce, the prince of preachers.




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