USA > Georgia > Bibb County > Macon > Georgia Baptists: historical and biographical > Part 18
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ple, which he often lamented. He twice resolved to give up his charge of the church; but his brethren did not appear wil- ling to give him up, as long as there was a prospect of his being restored. His beloved wife says, she has seen him bowed down and in great distress, and upon inquiring into the cause, fear- ing he was in great pain from his eye, his answer would be, " Oh, poor, perishing souls ! my heart bleeds to think how many are going to the chambers of woe and despair; and even here, in this little place, many are in the road to eternal misery." Thus did this devoted servant of God show, that though he had bodily pain enough to engross all his feelings, yet he had a soul that could and did weep over perishing men. He would frequently say, "I think my work is done in Sunbury ; I must go to some other place, and give way to some one more useful ; but how can I leave these brethren? They are dear to me." He was indeed bound to the church by tender ties ; for although he has repeatedly said, that he did not know if one soul was converted by the means of his preaching, yet he had baptized them, and the church had grown up under his care. He has been known to come home from church after having excommu- nicated some of the colored members, and weep in his room for the remainder of the afternoon, and be in great heaviness. Such seasons always caused him much bodily pain, for it always increased the inflammation of his eye, and deprived him of sleep at night; but he seldom spared himself. He was an af- fectionate husband and fond father, and he manifested his pa- rental affection in the deep, heart-felt interest he took in the spiritual interest of his children. Though he was a most af- fectionate father, yet when his Lord was pleased to call from his bosom those whom he tenderly loved, he was submissive ; and when three of his dear children were taken away from him in one week, he was more than submissive-he seemed to give them up cheerfully to the call of his Master. We now ap- proach the period when he took his last leave of his dear church, no more to behold them on this side the grave.
When he was advised to visit New York, he said he would go because his friends wished it, and he valued their advice ; and he also said, he should leave home without the least expec- tation of ever returning to it. The evening before he left, his
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Charles O. Screven, D. D.
black people came to bid him farewell. It was a truly affect- ing scene. They appeared overwhelmed with grief. He was in an agony of distress; he said he felt as though he were part- ing with his own dear children. The next morning he and his beloved partner bade farewell to their dear friends. He suffered much on his way to Savannah, and, for several days while there, he was not able to speak without great pain. But whenever he did speak, it was to bless the Lord for all his mer- cies to him. He bore his passage to the north with the greatest submission, and even cheerfulness at times. His temple, which had also become diseased, bled twice on the voyage, so much as to alarm his wife. On discovering her distress, he said to her: "You must not be distressed or alarmed, for I am in the hands of the Lord, who has ever watched over me with loving kindness and tender mercies, and all he lays upon me is for my good." They arrived in New York the twelfth day after they sailed. When he took leave of the captain of the ship, he said : "Farewell, captain ; I shall never meet you on earth again, but we shall meet in another world. May my heavenly Father draw you to his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and give you a place in his kingdom!" When they arrived at their lodgings, which had been previously provided for them by a kind christian friend, he appeared to get more comfortable in a day or two than he had been since he left home.
The doctor, who was to attend him, called the same day he arrived, but declined making the application of his salve until the inflammation in his eye had subsided. He, however, made an emollient application for several days, which was of very great service to him ; so much so as to excite in Mrs. Screven ยท very great hopes of his recovery. When the first severe plas- ter was applied, he said it was much less painful than he ex- pected ; and when, after six days, it was taken off, the effect produced by the plaster made the prospect of his recovery still more encouraging. The doctor said that his constitution was so much broken down by his long affliction, that he did not wish to make an application of the drawing salve to his eye, and therefore thought the poultices should be continued. He would often entreat his wife not to indulge any sanguine hopes of his recovery, for he did not expect to reach his home again.
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He said, if it were his Lord's will, he was willing and satisfied to die even among strangers. He was able to speak but very little, for his teeth were almost closed. He could take no nour- ishment but soup, or something of that kind. His appetite left him and his strength began to fail. His bowels became the seat of his disorder, and his throat became so sore that he swallowed with difficulty. Everything was done for him that could be done. He had two physicians attending him besides the cancer doctor. They all treated him with great kindness, and they observed that they had never witnessed before so much christian patience and resignation. Whenever he could speak, it was to praise God for his mercies, and he would some- times break forth into an ecstacy and speak of the love of God to a perishing and rebellious world. He would thank God for the gift of his dear Son Jesus Christ, and that he had been brought, through grace, to take refuge in the Saviour of sin- ners. He would say to his wife, "Oh, my dear ! how good is the Lord! You do not know how much mercy is displayed to- ward me in all my affliction; you do not know how much sin and corruption there is in my heart to be subdued. My right- eous Lord doth all things well. Put your trust in the Lord, and he will support you under every trial." Mrs. Screven says the day before his departure for a better world she was sitting by his bedside while he appeared to be in a profound sleep, but she thought his sleep did not appear natural, and it occurred to her that he might be nearer his end than she had supposed. She was very much overcome with the apprehension, and when he roused up he saw that she was distressed, and said to her, " My dearest love, do not afflict yourself; I feel better now, much better ; perhaps I may live some days yet; but you will be called upon to pass through this trial; stay your soul on God, lean on the arm of Jesus ; he is a sure support in every time of need. I am fixed on the rock, Christ Jesus." She ob- served, " I know you will be happy, I know that Christ will re- ceive you." He answered, " His righteousness is all my trust ; my only hope of salvation is in the merits of his blood." Mrs. Screven regrets much her having discouraged his talking, inas- much as it was painful to him, but she could not believe that he was so near his end, nor did he think the parting hour was
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Charles O. Screven, D. D.
so near. The Sabbath previous to this time he was very weak and drowsy all day, for he had taken a great deal of the "black drop" the evening before. He roused up quite late in the evening and asked, "Is this Tuesday, my dear ?" She told him, "No; that it was the Lord's day." He raised himself up and said, "Is it pos- sible I have spent all this precious Sabbath on my back-the day which saw my Lord rise from the tomb ?" But he would soon relapse into a sound sleep, to all appearances. He began about this time to be a little wandering in his mind, and would fre- quently speak of home, of the church, of the servants, of the children, and of his wife. When she would ask him what he said, he would reply that it was only in his wanderings that he could think he was at home. Mrs. Screven states, in the afternoon of the last day he was with her upon earth, she went to apply a poultice to his eye ; he had always, previous to this time, assisted her in making the applications, but on this occasion he lay per- fectly helpless. She could not refrain from weeping, and when she had finished making the application she sobbed aloud, not supposing that it could disturb him. Her sobs, however, did arouse him, and he began immediately to praise God and entreat her not to be afflicted, but to make Christ her refuge, and to re- member their dear children and bring them up for God. He again become very drowsy, and spoke but little through the night, though he had his senses to his very last breath. The lady with whom they lodged watched with Mrs. Screven a part of this night .. When she came in, Mrs. Screven, knowing his dislike to having strangers in his room, and fearing that he might wake up and see her suddenly, spoke to him and told him that Mrs. M. had come in to sit awhile with her. He spoke affectionately to her, and inquired after her health and her family. She asked him how he felt ? He replied, "Quite easy, much better than I deserve ; but God is very good to me." He observed further to her, very calmly, " The tabernacle is nearly dissolved, but we are assured from the word of truth that we have a building of God, an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens." His affectionate wife sat by his bed all night, giving him his nourishment and medicine. Whenever she would awake him for the purpose, he would entreat her in the most affectionate manner to go to bed, telling her that she
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would be entirely worn out, and would feel her fatigue when it was all over. He said the Lord was with him. Of this she had consoling evidence from his frequently calling upon the Lord as his righteousness, his precious Saviour, and his speaking of him as his strength and Redeemer. There never was the least indication of a fear of death, or even of a wish to remain on earth. He would shed tears when he saw his fond wife dis- tressed, or when his dear children would come around him, particularly his youngest, his little Benjamin ; he would press him to his bosom and kiss him, and say, "My God ! thy will be done !" The night preceding the morning of his departure, he complained of numbness in his feet and legs. Just at the dawn- ing of the day on Friday morning, Mrs. Screven heard him sigh ; she approached his bed and asked him how he felt. He replied, if it were not for excessive weakness, he could say he felt very well, for he had no pain at all. She saw very plainly that there was a great change in him, and that he was rapidly approaching his end. She called to Mrs. M. in the next room, and the family very soon assembled. He fixed his dying eyes upon his dear partner and said, " My dear, I am going ; all will soon be over." She asked him if he felt Christ precious ; he replied, " Oh yes," and breathed his last, without the least struggle or apparent pain, in about three minutes after. His emancipated spirit took its flight about six o'clock Friday morning, 2d of July, 1830-aged fifty-seven years. " Oh ! how precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints !" The sainted Screven now "rests from his labors, and his works do follow him"-works that shall endure when the proudest monuments of earthly greatness shall have passed away- works that shall remain before the throne of the eternal, as fruits of his untiring zeal in the cause of his Saviour. The au- thor was baptized by this good man.
JACOB H. DUNHAM
Is mentioned in the preceding sketch as having been the first white person ever baptized in Liberty county. His grand- father, Mr. William Dunham, came to that county among the first settlers, and located on Newport river, where he died in
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Jacob H. Dunham.
1756, leaving behind several daughters and three sons, James, Charles and John.
Mr. John Dunham removed to McIntosh county, where his son Jacob, the subject of this notice was born, February 26, 1774. Little is known of his youth, only that his opportuni- ties for education were very limited, his father being very poor and the country newly settled. He is known to have exhibited a manly disposition and daring spirit quite uncommon for one of his years. He was foremost in everything that required either activity, strength, or the most undaunted courage. His marriage with Miss Mary Baisden took place September 12th, 1799. Having settled in Liberty county, he made a public pro- fession of religion the 20th of September, 1806. Two years thereafter he entered upon the work of the ministry, which he prosecuted with energy and zeal for twenty-four years, until his Master called him to enjoy the reward of his labors.
His field of labor was among a class of people who were un- able to pay for his services as he deserved and needed. Conse- quently the whole amount he received during his whole course must have been very small. Yet this in nowise abated his zeal; for while he toiled most laboriously to sustain a large family, he did not spare himself from heat nor cold, from hard- ships nor privations, that he might carry the glad tidings into the highways and hedges of the surrounding country. The backwoods of Liberty, the settlements of poor people along the Altamaha river, the blacks about Darien and on the sea islands, (St. Catherine's, Sapelo, etc .; ) these were the fields of his la- bors-these the people who joyfully received the Word from his lips. Year after year, until late in life, would he hold his plough handles up to the very hour when he should set out upon his mission, and then, throwing his saddle upon his plough horse, he would press forward, with a heart burning with love to God and man; or, launch his canoe, and help to work his own passage from ten to fifteen miles, to carry the lamp of life to the hundreds of poor blacks whose lots were cast on the islands adjacent. The writer has never known a more devoted, self- sacrificing minister, nor, according to his talents, a more useful one. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, were converted under his ministry and baptized by his hands. No missionary in Bur-
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mah, in China, or Africa, was ever more willing to sacrifice all for Christ and his cause.
It is matter of sincere regret that so little can now be col- lected of the labors and usefulness of such a man. But his record is on high. His death occurred the 25th of September, 1832. A large family were left behind, nearly all of whom have become "heirs of the grace of life." One lovely daughter, Louisa, was snatched away in the morning of life to join her sainted father in heaven. Though her demise was sudden, (oh, how sudden !) yet she was prepared for it, as is confidently believed by her friends. Only three of his children are now living.
THOMAS RHODES
Was an extraordinary man, born in North Carolina, and bap- tized at County Line church, Oglethorpe county, about 1802. He soon began to exercise in public, and though he had been a green, awkward boy, sprung from a family whose opportuni- ties for refinement had not been great, yet he astonished his acquaintances. Very soon he became a persuasive speaker, ac- quired a considerable knowledge of books, quoted the Bible correctly and fluently, and exerted for a dozen years great in- fluence throughout the State. Few men, with his limited op- portunities for education and general improvement in early life, have risen up so rapidly to high reputation as a pulpit orator and theologian. His memory was very retentive, his imagina- tion creative, and his powers of description unsurpassed. His person was tall and commanding, his address easy and persua- sive, and his tears would flow whenever he touched a pathetic subject. Crowds were attracted by his reputation, which were often deeply affected under his masterly efforts. How beauti- ful is this side of the picture! What young man, desirous to be useful, does not burn to imitate and surpass in shining quali- ties the example before him ?
But we must look at the other side. If Mr. Rhodes' mind had been improved in youth by a sound education, which might have served as ballast and kept the vessel steady, the sails of his popularity might not have overturned his vessel and de- stroyed all. Because he was popular as a preacher and acquit-
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Samuel Cartledge.
ted himself well in this department, he was so blinded and bedizened by the indiscreet praises of some, that he supposed he would succeed in anything. He entered with his sons into mercantile business ; issued change bills, and became involved. He took his sons' part-prevaricated-became deeply involved himself, and was finally excluded for his incontinency. Oh, how many tears were shed over his defection, and how much his brethren Mercer, Matthews, Davis and others labored that he might see and turn from his errors, before his sad overthrow ! But he, giddy with popularity, supposed they were jealous of his reputation and wished to impede his progress, lest he should outshine them. Oh what sobs of anguish have been heard at meetings, designed to bring him to see the obliquity of his course and the injury he was inflicting on the cause of Christ ; while he would sometimes acknowledge himself in fault, but soon give his confessions such a version as to lead his brethren to question his sincerity.
After several trials to be restored to the ministry, (for his ambition to preach was insatiable,) and not succeeding, with a portion of the Williams' creek church he declared himself no longer of the denomination, supposing he could raise up a party who would sustain him as their leader. But in this he was mistaken-he kept sinking lower and lower, till there was none so mean as to do him reverence. He was afterwards re- stored to membership at Shiloh, and soon removed to Jasper, where he was restored to his ministerial functions; but he never regained his former standing. Many churches would not hear him preach. Through the influence of his friends, as he was in reduced circumstances, he was elected one of the commis- sioners for the sale of fractions in the Cherokee purchase. He died suddenly in Milledgeville of pleurisy, in the discharge of his duty in the office to which he was then elected, in Decem- ber, 1832, over fifty years of age.
SAMUEL CARTLEDGE
Was born in North Carolina, on the Pedee, in June, 1750. His father removed to Columbia county (or rather to that portion now so called,) about 1763. He was deeply convicted under the
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exhortation given by Mrs. Marshall (wife of Daniel Marshall,) in 1771, when her husband was arrested for preaching in St. Paul's parish, and was baptized by him in 1777. He was dea- con of Kiokee church some years, and was present at the con- stitution of Fishing creek church in 1783, and of the Georgia Association in 1785. He commenced preaching about 1789- was ordained by A. Marshall and S. Walker, and soon removed to South Carolina, where he was pastor of Plumb Branch church about half a century. Mr. Cartledge visited Columbia county in 1843 on horse-back, and preached as usual; but in starting for home was thrown from his horse and so much in- jured as to survive but a short time. He was ninety-three years of age and had been in the ministry over fifty years.
Dr. Cartledge, who arrested Daniel Marshall and took him to Augusta for trial, was afterwards baptized by Mr. Marshall and lived many years with him in church relations. How will grace subdue our enmity., and make friends of the bitterest enemies! This is the province of the glorious gospel. Sin separates the strongest friendships ; but grace unites in bonds of affection that nothing can sunder. What a pleasing sight it must have been to the spectators on the banks of the Kiokee, when he who had formerly laid his hands on the minister of salvation, saying, "You are my prisoner," was now led gently into the baptismal waters by that same minister, and buried in the name of the Trinity, in the hope of a blessed resurrection ! Many a tear no doubt fell on that occasion, when the meek preacher was repaying his persecutor with good will, and try- ing to help him on towards heaven.
WILLIAM T. BRANTLY, SR., D. D.
For forty years he was known as one of the most laborious, gifted and successful ministers of the gospel connected with the Baptist denomination. Monuments of his usefulness, incal- culably more durable than brass, are found in various parts of our Union. The hundreds who have been converted to God through his instrumentality, the numerous saints who have grown in grace under his ministry, the large numbers who have been trained by his instructions for the important stations
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William T. Brantly, Sr., D. D.
which they are now filling in life, call upon us to preserve from oblivion the memory of one who was so dear to them and such a blessing to the world.
Dr. Brantly was born in January, 1787, in Chatham county, in the State of North Carolina. Being one of a numerous family of children but scantily provided with this world's goods, he was deprived of the benefits of liberal instruction at that age when the mind is most docile, and when the most permanent impressions are produced. This deficiency was in part com- pensated by the tuition of his mother-a lady who, though of very imperfect education, was remarkable for her piety and decision of character. Under her care, he conceived at the tenderest age an unusual fondness for reading, and though compelled to daily labor upon a farm, many a volume was di- gested, and much valuable information acquired in those mo- ments when he was relieved from more urgent avocations.
When he had about completed his fourteenth year, it pleased God to make him a new creature. He was brought to a knowl- edge of the truth during a very powerful and extensive revival of religion which was enjoyed for several years in the States south and west of Virginia, about the commencement of the present century. The peculiar characteristics of his mental exercises in conversion were pungent convictions of his sinful- ness and danger. Before finding peace in Christ, he was the subject of most distressing apprehensions of the wrath of God. Pardon for such a sinner as he was, he thought impossible-his perdition seemed inevitable. His faith at first very feebly ap- rehended the Saviour, and if he rejoiced at all, it was with great trembling. Nor was it until he was baptized in obedi- nce to Christ's command, that he was entirely delivered. It vas during his baptism, as he has been heard to say, that every oubt was dispelled, and that he was favored with a most lu- inous manifestation of the divine presence. He came up out f the water and went on his way rejoicing. The mental ag- ny which he suffered in the period just referred to, seems to . ave been permitted as one qualification for the important work ) which he was subsequently called. It prepared him to ap- reciate the distress of souls burdened with sin. In his inter- urse with such persons, we have never known one more sym-
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pathizing and tender. When he saw the anguish of the con- victed sinner, it seemed to revive afresh the recollection of his own sorrows. With many tears of sympathy, we have seen him pointing hundreds of distressed ones to the Saviour, who had delivered his "feet from falling and his soul from death."
After his conversion, Dr. Brantly seemed to have no other thought or desire but that of devoting his life to the service of God. A profession of religion had hardly been made, before, with a zeal which some might deem indiscreet, but which in him was irrepressible, he commenced, publicly and privately, wherever a hearing could be secured, exhorting sinners to re- pentance. At this period, in the exuberance of his youthful zeal, when excited by the presence of a congregation, he would become so anxious to do good, that he has been frequently known to rise after the regular services were concluded, and ask permission to exhort the people further. This he did in the most affecting manner. More than one sinner has dated his convictions to the appeals made by " that boy who spoke after the minister had done."
Shortly after professing Christ, a wealthy friend, impressed with his talents, tendered him such assistance as might be re- quisite for him to prosecute his studies to the extent of prepa- ration for college. The proposition was cheerfully accepted, and he became at once a very diligent student-not unmindful, at the same time, of the work which he had proposed as the great business of life. In a few years he entered South Caro- lina College. At this time, the institution was enjoying the presidential labors of Jonathan Maxcy, whose valuable memoirs have recently been published, and who had previously been the distinguished President of Brown University and of Union College. Betwixt the pupil and the preceptor an intimacy fal stronger than is ordinarily found between those sustaining such a relationship soon grew up. The scholar was an enthusiastic admirer of the talents, learning and piety of the president The latter, looking upon the student as a companion and friend received him into a familiar intercourse which lasted through life. Dr. Brantly frequently reverted to the instructions and conversations of Maxcy as having been of inexpressible valuc to him. If the digression may be pardoned, we will quote from
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