Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-04-09
From the North Carolina Presbyterian
A Brief Autobiography.
BY REV. ROBERT TATE.-No. IL

Soon utter my ordination began to administer the
ordinances of the Gospel in the churches with which
was connected. From the small number OF persons
whom found willing to into Christs fold, that
day of the Lord might truly be called day of small
things. But some good people thought they symp-
toms of better days and they not deceived "The
hand of the Lord not shortened his heavy.
The windows of Heaven were shortly opened and the
legvng light began to shine upon this spiritually dark
and the heavenly dew to descend upon this waste
and barren wilderness. It was great satisfaction to
that the first fruits ingatherng of souls into
Chrsts garner, and women of the first stand
ing in society, of whom remain to this day bright
ornaments to the which they have long cspOused
These circumstances, combined with others, doubt
had powerful influence in recommending the pure and
undefled rel gon of the Cross to others out of the ark
1t cheering to me to know, that during my min
istry, there generally sacramento occasions
addition to the church In the year 1874 all the church
eS with which was connected numbered 1874 Shortly
after this there falling off in the number of pro-
fesSOrs. few by apOstacy from the faith, and
by accommodation but the greater part by the
al of many families to other States, and by death
ID the claims of the several benevolent institutions of
the day. the people of my charge were always found
willing to contribute, in proportion to the merit of the
cause and their abundance.
In Justice to these churches say it, that masters and
mstresses cared for their domestcs and with consdera
BILE expense provided places for their hearing the gospel
preached large number of the coored people, for
many years. have been connected with the Presbyterian
church at Black River Chapel.
Previous to my teaching the classics few years after
my arrival parents who wished to give their lib
eral education compelled to send them to Whining
ton to the Grove Academy, which went think, into
operation about the year 1890 and of which the lament
ed Judge Francis Locke, of Rowan county, was the
Principal and with whom believe the Hon. Thomas
Kenan and Andrew Mcintyre commenced their course
of education.
Several years before the commencement of the rezo-
lutionary war the Rev. James Tate relative of the
n g. and opened classical school, the first taught
in the lower country, if not in the State. He was pat
ronzed teacher and preacher of the Presbyterian
order by many of the people in town. After the war
commenced be in the habit of travelling through a
considerable portion of the State preaching the Gospel
and administering the ordinapce of Baptism. have
been informed by authority indispuable that in some
of his excursions during the war; he has been seen per-
forming the ordinance of baptism to adults and children
with hand, and holding his gun in the other.
This gentleman saw at my father house (Hawfelds)
think A. ID. 1894, when he examined me on portions
of the Latin and Greek languages aud of the SCI
ences He on his way from Tennessee to Whining
ton and died shortly after his arrival in that town. He
was in my opinion profound scholar. He wore wig
and well dressed.
| cannot close this hastily written outline without re-
turning my sincere thanks to Almighty God for pro-
racted life, and apparently his smiles upon my poor e
forts to promote his blessed upon the earth and
also to my clerical brethren who may occasionally have
labored with me in this wide extended field.