USA > Georgia > Bibb County > Macon > Georgia Baptists: historical and biographical > Part 28
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Jesse Mercer.
JESSE MERCER.
Notwithstanding an extended and most interesting memoir of Mr. Mercer has been extensively circulated in the State, from the pen of Rev. C. D. Mallary, the author of this work supposes his name, at least, ought to appear among those of his brethren. It is believed, however, that a very brief notice of him is all that is needed here.
He was the son of Silas Mercer, one of the pioneers of the gospel in Georgia, and was born in Halifax county, North Car- olina, December 16, 1769. He was the eldest of a family of eight children, consisting of five sons and three daughters. He was a most amiable and moral youth, having never been known to be overcome by passion, or to have used a profane oath. His conversion took place when he was about fifteen years of age, he was baptized in his eighteenth year, and soon after began to preach the gospel. His marriage to Miss Sabrina Chivers oc- curred in his nineteenth year, January 31, 1788, with whom he lived till the period of her death, in 1826. Mr. Mercer's oppor- tunities for education in early life were very poor, and his sub- sequent improvement and usefulness seem to have been greatly promoted by his first wife. He was ordained before he was twenty years old, by Silas Mercer and Sanders Walker. Though so very young, he was called to the pastoral care of Hutton's Fork, (now Sardis,) in Wilkes county, which relation he sus- tained for more than twenty years.
Such was his desire for education that, even after his marri- age and ordination, he sold out his little farm and went to school two years to Mr. Springer, a Presbyterian clergyman, under whom he obtained some knowledge of the learned languages. From this time, the field of his labors was much enlarged, and we find him not only preaching to the churches at Powelton and Eatonton, (then the most important in the interior of the State,) but traveling far and near, and being well received every- where. He was the most influential minister of his day, and perhaps the most distinguished minister of the denomination ever reared up in the State. Yet many others were more suc- cessful in gathering members into the church, and, indeed, of promoting revivals of religion.
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In 1798, Mr. Mercer was a member of the Convention which was appointed to amend the State Constitution. His services in that body were highly valuable. A lawyer moved that min- isters of the gospel be ineligible to the office of legislator, which was warmly advocated by both doctors and lawyers. Mr. Mer- cer offered an amendment, to the effect that both these profes- sions be included in the contemplated Act. The motion was speedily withdrawn. He offered once for Senator in the county where he then resided, but was not elected. Afterwards, he was urged to allow his name to be used for the office of Governor, but positively declined the honor.
On several occasions did he represent his brethren in the ses- sions of the Triennial Convention of the United States, always with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Brown University, though the title was seldom applied to him among his immediate friends, knowing it would not be agreea- ble to him. For many years he was moderator of the Georgia Association, of the Baptist State Convention, and, indeed, of all the general meetings of the denomination when he was present, and where it was meet he should act in that capacity. His second marriage was to Mrs. Simons.
His approach to the tomb was gradual, he having experienced a low state of health for years before his death. This event, deeply lamented by thousands, took place at the residence of Rev. James Carter, Butts county, September 6, 1841. His re- mains were taken to Penfield, and buried near the site of Mer- cer University, named in honor of him. His estate, which was large for a Georgia minister, was bequeathed to the above Uni- versity, and other benevolent objects. Seldom has the world been blessed with such a man as Jesse Mercer.
Since the foregoing was published, Mr. Mercer has been gross- ly misrepresented in a work by W. H. Sparks-" Memories of Fifty Years." It is charged that he took advantage of an invi- tation from the Legislature to preach a funeral sermon in mem- ory of Governor Rabun, and instead thereof, delivered a bitter political harangue, aimed at Governor Clarke, Rabun's succes- sor. The Journals of the Legislature show, on the contrary, that he preached, on that occasion, "a pathetic and appropriate
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Billington M. Sanders.
sermon," which was published by that body, a majority of which were political friends of Clarke, and who had but recently elec- ted him to office.
BILLINGTON M. SANDERS.
Rev. B. M. Sanders was the eldest child of Ephraim and Nancy Sanders, who were natives of Virginia, and shortly after their marriage removed to Georgia and settled in Columbia county. He was born in that county December 2d, 1789. But little can now be ascertained respecting the days of his child- hood and early youth. It appears, however, that his father died in 1796 and his mother in 1798, so that he was left an or- phan at a tender and helpless age. The Lord, however, gra- ciously provided for the lad. He found a home in the family of a Mr. Ambrose Jones, where, it is believed, he was treated with kindness. It further appears that in 1802 he was a pupil in the Kiokee Seminary, sometimes known as McNeil's Sem- inary, then under the care of a Mr. Bush. At this institution he probably commenced and completed his preparation for col- lege. The following interesting reminiscence was kindly fur- nished me by a distinguished citizen of this State, (Major Joel Crawford, of Early county,) who, it seems, was a class-mate and a very intimate friend of young Sanders at the Kiokee Seminary: "As a school-boy, Sanders was apt to learn, high tempered, a little proud, and quite spirited, but always truth- ful, kind-hearted and generous, with strong development of reverence. I never loved a class-mate better, though, being & stouter boy, I sometimes fretted him for my own amusement, and besides the laugh which I probably enjoyed, received from him many of his severest blows, which I made it a point never to return, having in every case been myself the aggressor."
He entered Franklin College probably in 1806, where he re- mained, it is supposed, about two years. He then left Athens and entered the South Carolina College, April 8th, 1808, at which institution he graduated December 4th, 1809, and, it is believed, reputably to himself, though compelled to be absent from his class a portion of the time in consequence of feeble health. Among his class-mates at Columbia were several young
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men who, like himself, subsequently became quite distinguished : James L. Pettigrew, an eminent lawyer of Charleston ; William J. Grayson, member of Congress from South Carolina, and Wil- liam Capers, Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His room-mate was a wild youth, but, out of respect to Sanders, he never brought his rude companions to his room, and thus the diligent student and the irregular youth roomed together in much harmony. It was a uniform rule with him never to allow any intrusion upon his studies. If a fellow-student called, he would kindly invite him to a seat, and then turn to his books and prosecute his literary task. And yet some of his col- lege habits were not the most commendable. He was a great
e slave to tobacco ; but the day he graduated he broke off from this habit and never afterwards resumed it.
Upon leaving college he returned to his native county, where he resided until the latter part of 1832. In January, 1810, he was baptized into the Kiokee church by Rev. Abram Marshall. He was rector of the Columbia County Academy two years. and on March 17th, 1812, was united in marriage with Miss Martha Lamar, of Applington, by whom he had nine children. all of whom, except two, died in infancy and childhood. His first wife having died in 1822, he was married to Miss Cynthia Holliday, (the pious and estimable lady who survives him,) of Lincoln county, February 25th, 1824. Thirteen children were the fruit of his second marriage, several of whom are still living
Immediately upon the close of his labors as a teacher at Ap. plington, he settled upon a plantation in Columbia county where he pursued the business of farming with great energy and success, which he found congenial to his taste and highly ve favorable to his health, which had been seriously threateneddie g by a predisposition to pulmonary disease. Once, and only once, he consented to represent his county in the State Legis
and lature. It is presumed he became disgusted with the obliqui fisc ties and follies of his colleagues and others at the capitol, as heond would never consent to have his name used for that purposed again. God had more important work for him to do. It is befors lieved to have been in 1823 that Rev. Jabez P. Marshall, pastomily of Union church, Warren county, of which Mr. Sanders ward i then a member, asked permission at one of the regular Confer y.
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ences to offer a resolution which he had drawn up. Being ig- norant of its purport, Sanders, with others, encouraged the pastor to submit his resolution. When it was read, however, he dropped his head and burst into tears, as it's object was to urge him forward to the work of the ministry, to which his brethren believed God had called him, and from which he had for many years drawn back. Now, however, he felt he could forbear no longer, and we soon find him proclaiming the glorious gospel to his fellow-men. At the special request of the Williams Creek church, he was ordained at Union church, in January, 1825, by Jesse Mercer, Malachi Reeves, Joseph Rob- berts, John H. Walker, J. P. Marshall and Elisha Perryman. His ministry was devoted to the churches in that region until his removal to Penfield in 1832.
e The Georgia Baptist Convention, having determined, at their e annual meeting in 1831, to establish a classical and theological I.jeminary, the main object of which was the improvement of he rising ministry, an object dear to the heart of Sanders, he sg vas invited to take charge of the infant enterprise. December f 1832, finds him at his post, and the second Monday in Jan- is ary following, (1833) what is now Mercer University began ia perations as follows: " Two double log-cabins, with a garret ffo each, for dwelling, for dining-room, and for study, for both achers and students." In those two log-cabins, with only ng ne assistant and thirty-nine pupils, (seven having in view the Ip-hinistry) did the indefatigable and energetic Sanders lay the ty gy aly undations of Mercer Institute, in a few years to be known as ercer University. (It was commenced and continued for veral years as a manual labor school.) He was not merely nedhie general superintendent of the seminary, but he was teacher, nlyjeward and farmer. He had accounts to keep, buildings to erect, risInds to clear and fence and cultivate, financial plans to evolve, uiscipline to administer, studies to review, an extensive corres- hebndence to keep up, besides preaching to the churches around osend attending to his own private and agricultural interests. bebor several years he allowed himself only five or six hours sleep tonily. He proved himself to be the very man for the position, rased in all his various duties, he sustained himself most success- erlly. God smiled upon his self-denying endeavors, public favor
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was conciliated to the institution, the number of students i creased, pecuniary aid flowed in, and precious revivals of religi( were enjoyed from year to year. When the institution w elevated to the rank of a college, Sanders was elected as j first president, which position he accepted only on the conc tion that the trustees would procure a successor at their earlic opportunity. A successor having been secured, he resigned the close of 1839, having conducted the institution successful through the first seven years of its existence. Though no long the president, he continued in other relations his untiring effor for its prosperity. He was about five years its treasurer, wit out compensation, a member of the board of trustees and sı retary of that board up to the time of his decease. He c more to establish the University than any other individual.
Let none suppose that he found an excuse for neglecting ] duties as a minister of the gospel, in the fact of his being the head of an important literary and theological instituti Far from it, for during his residence at Penfield, he managed preach more than many younger men who had nothing to but to preach. He was four years pastoral supply at Shil ten years at Greensborough, and one year at Griffin. For m than quarter of a century, he was a burning and a shining lig in the Georgia Association, was its clerk for several years a for nine years its moderator. For many years he was m fully identified with all the important measures of the Geor Baptist Convention, at least as to their practical execution, tl any other man in the State. Was six years its moderator was chairman of its executive committee for a series of yea He was also for a time editor of the Christian Index, was g erally a delegate to the Baptist Triennial Convention, u: Southern Baptists withdrew from that body, and was the! delegate to the Southern Baptist Convention. But why I ticularize further ? It is sufficient to say there was no mc ment within his sphere, having in view the welfare of man the glory of God, with which he did not identify himself bring to its support all his influence and energy.
From the foregoing imperfect outline, one would natur: infer that B. M. Sanders was no ordinary man. Without ( ceding to him the attributes of genius, or extensive and j
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Billington M. Sanders.
found scholarship, or the exactest refinement of manners, or a high reputation for remarkable sayings and striking isolated deeds, or even that nicely shaded perfection of christian char- acter which, in some rare instances, have adorned the history of Zion, he was nevertheless worthy of being regarded one of the most remarkable men that has ever lived and died in Geor- gia. His life exhibited a uniform and unbroken round of sacred devotion to principle-of self-sacrificing, useful deeds-of sin- cere, fervent, and ungestioned piety. Those who knew him ongest and best generally valued him most. Some shine in the distance, but grow dim as you approach them : This was hot the case with Sanders. A slight acquaintance would sig- hally fail to reveal his true worth. It was necessary to know im long and intimately in order to form a correct idea of his 'eal character and of his great excellence. He possessed a trong, clear and active intellect, a large share of good com- non sense, and a remarkable capacity for business. A christian rother who knew him well, said of him many years ago: "He s good at everything ; he is a good preacher, a good pastor, a rood teacher, a good farmer, a good carpenter, a good brick- nason-good at whatever he undertakes." He was a man of reat punctuality in all his private and public duties ; of much ecision and of indomitable energy ; and was distinguished for reat moral courage. He and Mercer were intimate personal friends, and there was no man for whose opinions he had a igher respect. Yet, on one memorable occasion he differed ven with Mercer. It was in regard to the location of Mercer University. Mercer was in favor of Washington-Sanders of benfield. The views of the latter at length prevailed, when Tercer, true to the instincts of his unselfish soul, finding his arling scheme overruled by his brethren, yielded with meek- ess and dignity, saying, "I cannot work alone; I must go rith my brethren ; you may put me down for $5,000." And nally, as is well known, he gave the institution at Penfield he larger portion of his estate.
Sanders was a man of pure and lofty aims. Says his friend, Lajor Joel Crawford, " Very few men have brought to the ser- ice of his day and generation better intents. and purposes than [r. Sanders ; very few more efficiency, and, I may add, very
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few have had better success." He had no sinister and selfish purposes to hide beneath the cloak of fair pretensions. He was not a man of a double face and a double tongue. Uprightness and integrity walked with him arm in arm. He was emphati- cally an honest man-honest in his dealings, honest in his opin- ions, honest in his rebukes and commendations. True, he had his faults; the faultless live in heaven. His, however, were not the faults of a sordid, groveling nature. They were such as we often see connected with ardent feelings and great energy and decision of character, and are by no means inconsistent with purity of aim and nobility of soul. He was sometimes irritable and impatient; sometimes he used expressions of need less severity ; and sometimes he urged his views with a zea bordering on pertinacity. But who would undertake to im peach his integrity ? Whatever his faults may have been, how light they all appear when contrasted with his honesty, his piety, his energy, and his abundant labors. The sick, the widow, the fatherless, engaged his active sympathies. During his whole christian life, especially the last twenty years of it he seemed to make, as it were, but one contribution to the cause of human happiness-and that was himself.
Let us pass on to the closing scene. On the 19th of June. 1851, he had an attack of vertigo, which was followed by a general and permanent prostration of his system. He had been feeble previous to this, but it was now evident that the brisk. elastic energy of his system which had borne him through so many toils and held in eheck for many years his constitutional tendency to consumption had given way, never effectually to react. For four months before his death he was confined to his
pra bed, and for several weeks was unable to turn himself. In the all meantime he was reduced to a state of great emaciation. But ecd his mind retained to the last its usual clearness. He was uni- The formly composed and cheerful, but had no raptures. To visit- ing ing friends he expressed great confidence in God, quoting pas- for sages like this : "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." sho Shortly before he expired, fearing he had been too anxious to part depart, he said to his friends : "I have sinned-pray that I day may be pardoned." Among his last expressions was: "Though irst I walk through the valley," etc. He died on the 12th of March, Tho
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James Reeves.
1852, in the sixty-fifth year of his age, and was buried in the grave-yard at Penfield.
JAMES REEVES.
The subject of this imperfect sketch, was the son of a Bap- tist minister, Jeremiah Reeves, of North Carolina, who'removed to Georgia and settled in Wilkes county. He had four sons, all of whom became Baptist preachers, Malachi, Jeremiah, (whose history also occurs in this volume,) John and James. The oldest, Malachi, was an eminently useful man in his day, and was contemporary with Jesse Mercer, Thomas Rhodes, and other distinguished characters. John was still living at last accounts, a very old man. He has been quite useful in his day.
James Reeves was born in Wilkes county, where he was brought up, and lived successively in Jasper, Butts, and Troup. His last move was to Carrol county, where he died, April 6th, 1858, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. When converted, and by whom baptized, the writer has not been able to ascer- tain. It is believed he was about thirty when he commenced preaching, which was probably in Jasper county. He was twice married-first, to a Miss McElroy, and next to a Mrs. Phillips. He raised a large family of children, some of whom sk, passed away to the better country in advance of their father. 30 The characters of those who remain do no discredit to their al parentage.
to He was a praying man. He was never known to omit family bis prayer, when it was possible to attend to it; and if practicable, the all his family must participate. The writer remembers an an- ecdote told of him in the early settlement of Troup county. The neighbors were accustomed to assist one another in build- Fit- ing their log cabins, rolling logs, etc. Boards being in demand for covering a house, it was agreed that one party of men should meet at Mr. Reeves' for early breakfast, and another to I party at one of his neighbors, and thence sally forth for the day's work. Whichever party should find a suitable board-tree first, was to commence operations, not waiting for the other. Those who met at Mr. Reeves' were there by daylight, and
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were in a a great hurry to get to work early. But no matter what the hurry was, family worship must be attended to first. The good man produced his Bible, and went through this ser- vice with due solemnity. Breakfast over, he and his party were not long in finding several first rate board-trees, on which they went to work with a will. It was growing late when the other party made their appearance, rather crest-fallen. "They had started out very early, (they said,) had felled several trees, but they had labored in vain, not having succeeded in making a single good board." Mr. Reeves kindly replied, "I fear you did not take time to pray before starting." Which was true, though some of them were professors of religion.
From his entrance into the ministry, he was ardently devo- ted to its sacred duties, and eminently successful in wining souls to Christ. He gloried in being a pioneer preacher, in search- ing out destitute fields, and in establishing and building up churches therein. It was this spirit that prompted him to leave his pleasant home in Jasper county, and settle for a time in Butts, which was then newly acquired territory. And then, when the tide of emigration swept still further westward, into Troup and adjoining counties, Mr. Reeves went forward with the emigrants, and with John Wood and other zealous and de- voted servants of Christ, planted the cross in what was then comparatively a wilderness. They preached in the log cabins of the new settlers, and under temporary arbors constructed for the purpose, supplied the people with Bibles and tracts, and established Sabbath schools and temperance societies. Some of the most flourshing churches now in Troup and adjoining coun- ties were organized by Reeves and his coadjutors. And all this work was done as a labor of love, for they had no hope or prospect of earthly reward. Their families were maintained by the labor of their own hands, or that of their servants, and they went forth, sowing the good seed of the kingdom, without cost to those who reaped the benefits thereof. It was the un- requited labors of such men that gave the Baptists the vantage ground in all that region. Let none imagine that this work was accomplished without opposition. The "anti-mission war" was raged in those days with a bitterness of which the present generation have but a faint conception. Mr. Reeves was as
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James Reeves.
firm as a rock and as bold as a lion in favor of the truth on this subject. Hence, he came in for his full share of persecu- tion and reproach. Though excedingly mild in spirit, and affa- ble in manner, his adversaries found him ever ready to "con- tend earnestly for the faith.once delivered to the saints."
Mr. Reeves was a Bible preacher. He was frequently called a living concordance. His familiarity with the sacred oracles was doubtless the result of a habit which prevailed among the fathers of our Baptist Israel in Georgia, much more generally than among the preachers of this generation-the habit of daily reading and studying the Word. They read the Bible more than any other book. Indeed, many of them read scarce anything else. The consequences were, that their sermons abounded with scripture quotations and illustrations, they were more fully es- tablished in the doctrines of grace, and they preached with an unction which nothing but the word and spirit of God can impart.
Our brother was remarkable for punctuality in all his engage- ments, whether secular or religious. No man enjoyed in a higher degree the confidence of those with whom he had deal- ings. When the time arrived for him to start off to his preach- ing appointments, neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet prevented his going. His benevolence knew no bounds. The poor he never turned away empty. If they had money to pay for pro- visions, they got them. If not, they got them any how. If there was not sufficient for the rich and poor, he invariably gave the preference to the latter.
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