The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-03-24
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
REV. JOHN RICE KERR.

mission, to add few statements, which may
shed some light, upon the religious history
of Mr.. Kelly, and Mr.. Kerr, referred to
in these sketches.
"Senex" says, ''about this time, THAT is,
when Mrs. Kelly and Mrs. Kellys sister,
Mrs. Jameson, united with the Cove church,
Mr.. Kerr, piOus young elder, from the
Valley of the Shenandoah, took up his resi-
dence in Charlottesville, and dopened school.
Mr.. Kelly was frequently induced to accom-
pany his wife and daughter to those social
visits: aud he found himself interested in
listening to the voice of prayer in private
house in Charlottesville. Mr.. Kerr in a
short time removed to the West, entered the
ministry, and is still living"
The Mr.. Kerr referred to, is the late Rev.
John Rice Kerr, who died of cholera in
Danville, KY, on the 28th of June, 1888, in
the triumphs of Christian faith. Mr.. Kerr's
youngest son is the Rev. DIR. Andrew Hart
Kerr, who presided as Moderator over the
Memphis Assembly. Mr.. Kerr was not, as
"Senex" supposes, from the Shenandoah
Valley, but was born in Albemarle on the
1st day of August, 177O-the very year in
which Mr.. Kelly was born, ard remained in
Albemarle until the fall of 1911, when with
his family and his venerable father, James
Kerr, an old Presbyterian, he moved to
Kentucky.
When quite young man, Mr.. Kerr de-
termined to become lawyer, and sought the
guidance and tuition of Mr.. Jefferson. Dur
ing this period he became thoroughly i'm
bued with Mr.. Jefferson's infdel opinions,
and remained quite fixed in his views for
about six years, when the great argument of
Lord Lyttleton, founded on the conversion
and life of the Apostle Paul, fell into his
hands. This little volume, under God, re-
suited in the conversion of Mr.. Kerr, and
thereupon, in grateful remembrance of the
learning and piety of its author, he named
his oldest son, (nOw Judge Kerr, of Mem
phis, Tennessee B. Lyttleton Kerr.
Soon after Mr.. Kerr's conversion, he
united with either the D. S. or the Cove
church, it is not now remembered certainly
which. But he was soon after chosen and
ordained ruling elder by one or the other
of these churches. Having had his resi-
dence at different times in the bounds of each
of these congregations, he became an active
CO. worker with Mr.. Hart and Mr.. Robinson
in everything that pertained to the interest
of Christs kingdom. A lifelong attach
ment and devotion sprang up between these
two elders, and hence, as has already been
intimated, Mr.. Kerr gave to his youngest
son, who was born after his removal to Ken
tucky, the name of Andrew Hart. Mr..
Kerr, very soon after he was chosen to
the eldership, commenced holding prayer
meetings at his own house, and occasionally
at other private houses, and on these occa-
sions was in the habit of exhorting the peo-
pie with great affection, tenderness, and
power. These meetings were kept up until
1903 or '09, when Mr.. Kerr left the country
and moved into Charlottesville. Here he re-
sumed his prayer meetings in his own house,
and it is believed that at these meetings Mr..
and Mrs. Kelly received their deepest and
most lasting religious impressions. The
writer of this sketch remembers very well,
that when the General Assembly met in
Louisville, KY, twenty-four or five years
ago, Mrs. Kelly was there on visit to at
tend on the meetings of the Assembly, to
hear preaching, and to meet the numerous
friends she expected to be there. Hearing
that there was young minister present by
the name of Kerr, she sought, through Rev.
Mr.. Thornton, an introduction to the young
clergyman. "Sir," said she, with much
lady-like modesty, ''you will, trust, excuse
me for the liberty have taken, but having
heard that your name was Kerr, | at once
became anxious to inform myself whether
you were related to very dear friend of
mine, and of my husband Allow me there
fore to inquire, sir, whether you are in any
way connected with the Rev. John Rice
Kerr" ''That, madam, said the young
preacher, ''was the name of my father. "
"Was your father, sir, born and brought up
near Charlottesville? said she. On being
answered afirmatively, she proceeded to in
ouire whether his father had died of cholera
in Danville, Kentucky? And in this way
having satisfied herself fully that she could
not be mistaken, she embraced the young man,
kissing him with motherly affection, and with
tearsstreaming down her face. ''Sir, she said,
my husband and owe more to your father
for our Christian hopes and joys, than to
any man on earth" 80 sir, said she,
"you don't know how We loved him, and
how l now love you for his sake
When, therefore, "Senex' says, ''under
whose ministratiOns of the Gospel Mr.. Kelly
had been impressed cannot be farther told
than has already been stated" alluding to
the fact of his having heard such men as
Robinson, Calhoun, and Waddell, the doubt
removed when Mrs. Kelly so tenderly
tell of his gratitude and indebtedness to the
powerful exhorter Besides, there existed
between Mr.. Kerr and Mr., Kelly the most
intimate, private, social, and Christian rela-
tions; and between them there existed the
warmest personal and Christian love; te