USA > Georgia > Bibb County > Macon > Georgia Baptists: historical and biographical > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
1 e
1
1 I t
1 -
I 1
P
2
300
Georgia Baptists-Biographical.
his ordination, a great many more than the house could hold. The same thing happened when he was baptized, his conver- sion being a remarkable one, from so gay a man, caused the world to wonder and desire to know what manner of spirit he was of."
Mr. Sweet labored faithfully and successfully the few years allotted to him in his Master's vineyard; for, when he died, January 29, 1818, there were seven hundred and forty-seven members in his church. The most of these were colored per- sons. In August, 1817, he was brought very low by a violent attack of fever, from the effects of which he never recovered. He met his congregation for the last time the second Sabbath in January, 1818. Riding home in a rain produced cold and in- flammation of his lungs, which brought him speedily to the grave.
When his end approached, the friends present urged his wife to leave the room. He let go her hand, saying, "Yes, go to your children." His death was most triumphant. His friend and brother, Rev. C. O. Screven, was with him in his last mo- ments. He was taken away in the midst of life and usefulness, having only attained to his fortieth year.
in de a Ce
From the pen of Rev. Dr. Johnson, of South Carolina, we have the following testimonial: "It was my privilege to enjoy the intimacy and confidence of this dear man of God, and I re- garded it an honor to do so. For he was, indeed, a most devo- ted disciple and minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. There was something remarkable about the character of my friend. Be- fore our acquaintance, he had conceived a violent opposition to me, simply because I believed and preached the doctrine of God's electing love. And to such a height did that opposition rise, that he meditated, and took some incipient measures to in- flict bodily harm upon me; but God restrained him. After his conversion, no brother loved me more sincerely than he.
"As he rode, in the days of his impenitence, in company with a friend by the meeting-house, then in building, in which after- wards he so successfully labored, he said, ' That house is build- ing for me to preach in ;' and on another occasion, with a like prophetic spirit, uttered the following couplet :
'If ever I'm a preacher,
The Lord shall be my teacher.'
= F 5. 0 50 4 g r
h i 0 ת h
la
C a h
an T m i i a
B I
301
John Milner, Jr.
Both became true; for, during the absence of his family, the Lord arrested him at his retired country seat, renewed, forgave and justified him without the instrumentality of a living teacher. The Lord made him a preacher in the same way; and in that meeting-house, in which he afterwards so faithfully and effect- ively labored, he did indeed preach the gospel of that Lord."
The author recollects to have heard Mr. Sweet preach once in Sunbury, the only time he ever heard him. Never was a congregation more perfectly enchained in their attention. His control over the passions of his hearers was absolute. They rose and fell at the preacher's bidding. Occasionally he ex- cited a smile, but, almost throughout the entire discourse, the audience were bathed in tears. Men wept that day who were scarce ever known to weep before. This was near the close of his life.
JOHN MILNER, JR.
To write the biography of one who was more highly valued in all the relations of life by those who knew him best, or whose death was more lamented by a numerous circle of friends and acquaintances, rarely falls to the lot of man. The writer ex- ceedingly regrets that this worthy man has left so few mate- rials in writing to aid in making out this sketch of his life and labors.
He was born October 17th, 1775. His father was a licensed preacher of the Baptist denomination, his mother a member of the same church, and a most godly woman. Old Mr. Milner, who was a staunch whig in the revolution, suffered much from his tory neighbors. On one occasion, while his wife was absent in the neighborhood, two of them came into his field, took two of his best horses from the plough, gathered together all his negroes and drove them off before his face, threatening to shoot him down if he spoke a word. They had not proceeded far when they met Mrs. Milner returning home. The negroes cried out in great distress, "Oh, mistress, de tories takin' us all off. . Oh, mistress, what shall we do ?" She answered, " Why, go back, every one of you. You shall not go off a step. Go right back home." "Oh, mistress, dey'll kill us." "No, they
·
2 .
302
Georgia Baptists-Biographical.
shan't kill you. Go back." The tories hung down their heads, while the negroes turned back with their mistress. His sons, John and Pitt, once set off to market with a loaded wagon, very early one morning, without having waited for family prayer. They had not gone far before their well trained team stalled, and they had to return home for help. The father used the circumstance to impress their minds with the importance of punctuality to our religious duties, especially family prayer. And he was so successful that they seemed never to have for- gotten it. The subject of this notice took up the cross and prayed in his family long before he joined the church.
His education was limited to the ordinary branches of English. He was not one who could boast that he had finished his educa- tion. He believed, on the contrary, that a minister of the gos- pel should never feel that his education is completed, but should continue through life to "study to show himself ap- proved unto God." Woe to that minister, and to the people of his charge, who feels that he has no longer any occasion for improvement !
On the 24th of December, 1795, he was married to Miss Eunice Callaway. Some years after their marriage, his wife became anxiously concerned about the state of her soul. Though he made no pretentions to religion at that time, yet he kindly invited Rev. Jesse Mercer to visit and converse with his wife. Mr. Mercer complied, and soon after he had the happiness to baptize Mrs. Callaway upon a profession of her faith in Christ. Several years intervened before Mr. Milner himself became in- terested about the great salvation. In a distressed state of mind, he went some distance to hear Mr. Mercer preach. Under the sermon he found no relief. His trouble was greatly in- creased. He followed the preacher to his horse, filled with awful sensations. In deep agony he grasped Mr. Mercer's hand, saying, "What shall I do? I am lost! I am lost!" Mr. Mer- cer calmly replied, " I was once at the house of a man, (allud- ing to his visit to Mrs. Milner,) whose wife was in awful dis- tress, and when I tried to comfort her, her husband remarked, if he were in her place, he would believe in Christ. Now, I reckon the best way will be to go and believe in Christ." And so he left the poor man in deep waters. After a sore conflict,
fi
SU se to
a
d
hi ho
est to
er T A ne he
m p P p
d P b
C
G fo
303
John Milner, Jr.
God was pleased to reveal his Son in him, while reading the following lines of Dr. Young :
"The ransom was paid down; the fund of heaven, Heaven's inexaustible, exhausted fund, Amazing and amazed, poured forth the price, All price beyond-
And was the ransom paid ? It was, and paid (What can exalt the bounty more ?) for you !
He was baptized by Mr. Mercer at Sardis church, Wilkes county, February 22d, 1812. He was first appointed clerk of the church, then deacon, then exhorter. In these capacities did he serve several years before his ordination, which took place after his removal to Jones county, say in 1825. The pres- bytery consisted of Malachi Reeves, Benjamin Milner and Ive- son L. Brookes. His labors were not confined to his own im- mediate vicinity, but were extended into remote regions. His preaching was well received wherever he went. On one of his preaching tours he fell in with a gentleman (as he believed, providentially,) from whom he purchased the tract of land upon which Barnesville, in Pike county, now stands. His old- est son made a settlement upon it, in visiting whom, from time to time, Mr. Milner found a few sheep scattered about in the wilderness, the country being then quite new. These he gath- ered into the church now known as Sardis, at Barnesville. This little band at first consisted of less than a dozen members. At the period of Mr. Milner's death, 1841, it had increased to near one hundred and twenty members. It was in 1827 that he left Jones county and settled near this church. Here again his zeal impelled him to press into the surrounding neighbor- hood, holding forth the lamp of life. Other churches were soon gathered, to which he ministered. As his bodily strength declined, his sphere of usefulness continued to enlarge. And as his end drew near his way was " as the path of the just, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day." No ser- vice was too arduous, no sacrifice too great, " so that he might finish his course with joy, and the ministry he had received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." If such examples do not rouse us preachers of these days to a full sense of our responsibilities, it is feared we may be given over to blindness of mind and obduracy of heart. Oh, let us be fol-
I
·
· E
5
304
Georgia Baptists-Biographical.
lowers of those who, through faith and patience, have inherited the promises.
While Mr. Milner exerted a good influence in public, his social and private influence was still better. He was often heard to affirm, but not boastingly but with gratitude to God, that he had never sworn a profane oath, nor gambled to any amount, nor purchased a half pint of spirituous liquors. Such high toned morality is believed to be rarely found in the youth of this age of boasted improvement. He obeyed the injunction, " Husbands, love your wives." A more affectionate and atten- tive husband perhaps never lived. As a father, his examples, his counsels, and his prayers seem to have had a most happy effect upon his children, most of them being pious, and all of them persons of moral worth.
Mr. Milner lived to a good old age, having died in his sixty- sixth year, January 21, 1841. For twenty years he had been a faithful laborer in his Master's vineyard. On the Sabbath pre- ceding his decease he attended divine service at Sardis church and preached from Acts xiii. 38, 39. He had a slight attack (an affection of the heart,) on that day. On Monday evening it was renewed with such violence as to baffle all medical skill, and continued till Wednesday evening following, when death came to his relief. To a daughter he said, "I shall die, but I am not afraid of death." To his children he said, "Oh, my children, I have taught you in the way. I have kept the faith of the gospel."
His burial was attended - by a large and weeping assembly, and the church convened and expressed by resolution the esti- mation in which they held their late pastor. The limits of this work prevent us from enlarging this notice.
1
EDWARD P. POSTELL.
Mr. Postell is believed to have been a native of South Caro- lina. The date of his birth is not known. Mr. Law* says- " His life was not an eventful one. At an early age he entered the service of his country (as a midshipman in the navy) in which he remained three years. Returning home, he studied
*Rev. Josiah S. Law.
·
h
t
to
in
a
i
tł
la h fı h
r từ
305
Edward P. Postell.
the law and was admitted to the bar in South Carolina. He did not practice long, before he removed to this State, and devoted himself entirely to planting. Some four or five years ago he was brought by the power of divine truth to behold himself a condemned sinner in the sight of God, and to feel his need of pardon and salvation. He has often, with deep emotion, told me of that season of trial and bitter sorrow. He has pointed me to the spot where he often retired in anguish of soul and plead with his God for forgiveness through the merits of his Son. He at length found peace in believing, and connected himself with the South Newport Baptist church, McIntosh county. His soul seemed bent on doing good to others. For the salvation of the young, particularly, he always manifested a lively interest. I have known him win the respect, the con- fidence and the affection of young men, and converse freely with them on the subject of religion, who could not not be ap- proached by any other on that subject.
"If I mistake not, the first thing that turned his attention to the ministry, and kindled in his soul that zeal which soon consumed his body, was the condition of our colored people as regards moral instruction. It was to them he first preached the gospel, and it was for them he desired most earnestly to labor. In accordance with this feeling, he at one time removed to Savannah, intending to devote himself entirely to the reli- gious instruction of the colored population of that place. He had labored there but a very short time, when it became neces- sary for him to return to his residence in McIntosh county.
" He was called to ordination by the South Newport church, and soon afterwards to become their pastor. He was accord- ingly ordained, and entered upon his pastoral duties with zeal and diligence. In prosecuting the work of the ministry it was in vain that his body often complained ; it was in vain that the lassitude and debility experienced after preaching admonished him to restrain his ardor; it was in vain that the voice of friendship and love called upon him to spare himself, and pointed him to those symptoms as indications of the breaking down of nature. He did not spare himself, but taxed all his powers to their utmost capacity that he might be acceptable and useful as a minister of the gospel. He grew rapidly in knowledge and.
20
306
Georgia Baptists-Biographical.
usefulness. He had not labored long, after entering fully upon the work of the ministry, before his lungs gave fearful signs that they were giving way under the heavy tasks imposed upon them. But being possessed of a strong frame, an expan- sive chest, and naturally strong lungs, he heeded not these signs, but went onward in his work ; and, in all probability, had he not been called by the mysterious providence of God to res- cue his only son from a watery grave, he might have lived and labored longer." An account of this event is given in a letter to one of his brothers in Savannah, as follows :
" Your letter of the 22d reached me yesterday, and, thanks to Almighty God, it found me alive, and my house not one of mourning. On Friday afternoon last, the weather being fine and the tide suitable, I took Charles (his son) into the river and taught him to swim. On Saturday, during my absence at meeting, he obtained his mother's permission, and went into the river to improve himself in the art he had just entered his noviciate. In the afternoon, on my return home, he expressed himself not a little pleased at what he considered his improve- ment. On his return from school on Monday afternoon, he asked and obtained my permission to go again into the river. It was on the flood, nearly high water. You know that, in front of the house, on the flood, there is an eddy of considera- ble extent, outside of which the stream runs with great veloc- ity. The little canoe was at anchor in the eddy, with a long scope ,of cable. Charles had been amusing himself by swim- ming near the boat, and anon would rest himself by suspending to her. While he was thus amusing himself, the boat was sheer- ing towards the stream without his being aware of it, and upon his last quitting his hold, he was forcibly drawn into the cur- rent, and the boat simultaneously approached the shore. I was at the time reclining on the sofa, nervous and exhausted from the excitement of two days' meeting, my wife seated near me, when we were startled by his whoop from the water, which was immediately repeated. On springing to the window, the first thing that met my view was my only son, at least one- fourth the width of the river from the shore, and rapidly re- ceding. (The river is near half a mile wide.) It was but the work of a moment for me to throw off my jacket as I ran, and
307
Edward P. Postell.
plunge into the waves. I remembered that I had on a pair of large, heavy shoes, but as they were securely tied across my instep, I feared that in the time necessary for me to untie and throw them off, his strength would be exhausted, and he sink before I could reach him. They nearly proved fatal to us both. I succeeded in gaining him while he was yet above the water, and judging from his countenance that he was not very much alarmed, I thought it best not to take hold of him, but to turn my back and direct him to place his hands upon my shoulders. He did so, and while my strength lasted, all seemed well; but that failing, together with the weight of the shoes, which I now began to feel sensibly, I gradually sunk into the water. At that time, the pressure of the child upon me became insup- portable ; I endeavored to tell him so, but my mouth was under water, and I could not articulate. I then hoped by diving to reach the shore ; but the want of breath soon rendered it nec- essary that I should reach the surface ; but this I could not do with the child holding to me. I now thought that, by gaining the bottom, I might, by a desperate effort, propel myself to the top, but this I could not effect! Instinctive love of life, to- gether with the last view of my wife and five helpless little girls in agony, with clasped hands, standing in the piazza, de- termined me to break his hold. But the thought of throwing off my child, who was clinging to me for life, was a dagger to my heart. Then did I, as Jonah, cry unto the Lord out of the deep, and he heard me. In shoving Charles from me, I had forced him to the surface, and upon my rising, I beheld my faithful servant, Prince, up to his arm-pits in the water, in the act of springing into the boat. Again did my hope revive, and seeing my child beside me struggling for life, I took him by the arm with my left hand and swam with the other, until, once more exhausted, we again sank. On coming to the surface a second time, I found Charles already up and swimming. I called to him not to give up, that Prince would soon be to us. He re- plied with calmness, and I took comfort. We were within five feet of each other, and all that I could do was to watch the ap- proach of the boat and encourage him by words. I do not think, had I seen my child again sinking, that I could have made another effort for his salvation. Indeed, there is but little
308
Georgia Baptists-Biographical.
doubt but that I should have drowned first, for I was caught by Prince, as I was sinking the third time, probably to rise no more, and Charles swam to the boat. I thank my God that my pres- ence of mind remained with me to the last. Prince wished to draw me into the boat, but as she was small, in the attempt she would, no doubt, have upset. I directed him to let me hang by the gunwale and save Charles, to whom he immediately exten- ded his hand.
"I think (he further observes) I can distinctly see the hand of the Lord in our rescue from a watery grave. Had not the boat continued to sheer in from the time of Charles' leaving her, she would have been out of the servant's reach, and had he found a paddle in her, in his anxiety he may have passed over me in my exhausted state, or had he succeeded in securing me in his hold, had the boat been passing swiftly through the water, after saving me she would have shot beyond Charles But he was compelled to propel her with his hands, and the approach was therefore gradual, so that as soon as my weight was suspended to her she stopped and was approached by Charles." The preacher adds : "Thus was he delivered by his God from a watery grave, afterward to repose beneath the cold sods of the valley.
"From this time his health declined rapidly, baffling the skill of the physician. Many of you remember the last time he occupied this pulpit, when, in an earnest and solemn manner, be addressed you from the interesting passage, truly signifi- cant of what shortly awaited him, 'There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God.' He seemed at this time to feel that he should not survive long, that his end was rapidly ap- proaching, for on descending from the pulpit, being requested by me to preach a funeral sermon in memory of a deceased friend, he replied, 'His own would soon be preached.' Some little time after this, he was confined to his bed to rise no more. It was a bed of pain and suffering, yet not a murmur escaped his lips ; but he submitted patiently to him who doeth all things well. All who visited him bear testimony to the entire resigna- tion he manifested to the will of God. A ministering brother, who was with him the day before his decease, beholding his situation and observing that every moment was spent in strug-
309
Jack Lumpkin.
gling for breath, stated to brother Postell that ' his painful con- dition forced upon his mind the folly of putting off repentance to a deathbed,' he replied, 'I thank my God I did that four years ago.' The minister, having further remarked upon the preciousness of Christ as a Saviour, in sustaining his followers even in the dark valley and shadow of death, he lifted his hands and eyes towards heaven, exclaiming, 'It is but a shad- ow ! His rod and his staff, they comfort me.'"
Thus did this gifted man live and die. The author's ac- quaintance with Mr. Postell was quite limited ; yet he remem- bers that his personal appearance was fine, his countenance the very index of a magnanimous and noble spirit, and his voice possessed a richness and power rarely equaled. He took great delight in singing the songs of Zion, which uniformly produced a happy effect, owing to the power of his voice. His house was ever open to his numerous friends, where they met with a hospitality corresponding with his generous nature, and which was rendered doubly enticing by the agreeable manners and interesting conversation for which he was noted, and by the intelligence and amiable deportment of his pious wife. His talents, which were of a high order, were consecrated to the honor of the King of kings. "Whoso honoreth me, him shall my Father honor."
His death was about nine o'clock Wednesday night, the 7th of October, 1837, in the thirty-eighth year of his age.
JACK LUMPKIN,
A brother of Governor Wilson Lumpkin, was born in Vir- ginia, about 1784, joined the church at County Line, Oglethorpe county, and was ordained in July, 1812, by Jesse Mercer and Thomas Rhodes. His residence for'many years was near An- tioch, some seven miles west of Lexington, where he died in 1839. He had been to Mississippi, where he had settled a plantation some years previously, and returned, much fatigued with the journey, was soon taken sick and died of a fever.
Mr. Lumpkin was a laborious minister of Jesus Christ, and was pastor at Antioch some twenty-five years, also at Shiloh, Beard's meeting-house, Newhope and other places. He was
310
Georgia Baptists-Biographical.
active in raising up Mount Pleasant, and was pastor there some years. About 1818 he fell into a desponding frame of mind, his health was much impaired, so that he did not preach much in two years ; but when relieved of his despondency, he was even more active than ever in his Master's cause. He was a very conscientious man, and could not be persuaded or driven out of the path of rectitude. No pastor was more beloved. His affectionate manner and feeling preaching endeared him very much to all his congregations. .
· His opportunities for education were not favorable, but he had a good native mind and thoroughly studied the scriptures. About 1821 he procured a small but valuable library of stand- ard and theological works, which he studied with assiduity, and from which he derived much knowledge. Prior to this period, his membership was in a church in the Sarepta Association, by which he was chosen as one of a committee to meet our Pres- byterian brethren to devise some means to prevent Sabbath breaking and kindred vices. Mr. Lumpkin did not regard the Sabbath in the same light in which others regarded it, i. e., he did not attach such an an over-degree of sanctity to it as to place it above all other gospel requisitions. Nothing definite was accomplished in his conference with the Presbyterians. It should not be inferred that Mr. Lumpkin was a careless ob- server of the Sabbath. Nothing would be further from truth.
John Lumpkin, his father, when he came from Virginia, say 1785, settled some ten miles southeast of Lexington, Oglethorpe county, which was his unchanged residence until death removed him, about 1834. He was not a religious man. He was in the Convention to revise the State Constitution, and also in our Legislature. Mrs. Lumpkin was a devotedly pious woman.
Neville Lumpkin, one of the sons of the subject of this notice, was a young minister of much promise. He had charge of the same churches served by his father at the time of his death. He likewise died suddenly, in 1843.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.