Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-02-19
LIFE AND TIMES OF ELDER REU-
REN ROSS.

We have been permitted, through the
courtesy Of its accomplished author, Mr..
James Ross, of Montgomery county, to
look over the manuscript of forthcom-
ing work which be has in preparation
Upon the life and.timcs of his father.
The scenes and incidents which he repro
huces of the early settlements on the Cum
berlapd are as vivid as life, and carry US
back in imagination to the time immedi-
ately succeeding that which was charac-
terized by the tomahawk and war-whoop
Of the Indian.
Few men have left more indelible
impress upon Middle Tennessee and
Southern Kentucky than the subject OF
This memoir. Born in North Carolina
during the trying scenes of the Revolu-
ton, his youth was passed upon farm
where be was distinguished for his brawny
muscle and daring adventure. Bold and
almost reckless in every object of his pur-
suit, the came zeal that afterwards distin.
Suished him in his chosen work was
shown in every under aking of his youth.
Decision of character then as afterwards
was his predominant trait. Protesting
religion, very much to the surprise of his
friends, he soon entered the ministry, and
to widen the field of his influence re-
moved with his family, about the year
1905, to the then almost unsettled State
Of Tennessee. After undergoing many
privations, perils and hardships, both by
flood and by land, he finally reached the
county of Stewart, where he purchased
few hundred acres of land and settled
his family. Scarcely had he made the
necessary improvements for sheltering his
family and gathered some of the com
forts of civilization about him, when
prior and adverse claim was set up against
his land, which was sustained by the
courts, and be found that all the time,
labor and money he had expended in i'm
proving was lost. Removing from thence
he settled in Montgomery county, on
Spring Creek, where he continued to re-
side for nearly half century, and died
at an advanced sge beloved and deeply
regretted by the whole country.
1t is no easy matter at the present day,
| when TO be connected with some religious
denomination is the rule, and not the ex-
cep;ion, and when respect for ministers
of the Gospel is 6 part of the education of
our children, to appreciate the difficulties
and dangers which these pioneer preach
ers encountered. Enduring every species
of hardship; riding for days and weeks
through regions almost uninh1bited, and
carrying in their ssddle-bags provisions
! for their Journeys, trusting 10 the chart
table covering of trees for shelter. against
rain and storms and dews of the night, re-
ceiying but little sympathy from the rude
settlers who thought more of hunting,
fishing and drinking than of religion;
| without pay from their churches, and
often without property; with families de-
pendent on them for support, which had
to be made by cultivating the earth at in
tervsls snatched from the visits to their
different churches; sometimes tainted
and cursed by the populace for the ''faith
thst was in them tie objects Of ingrat-
tude, prejudice and perseoutions-trl ly
those pioneers in the cause of Christ
must have had much liyelier faith in the
| promises Of their Master than is shown
al the present day. Father Ross passed
unscathcd through all these trials, not
/ only without rcpinjIg, but with cheer
| fitness. Nay more, he even gloricd in
his Gufferings and priVation. His zeal
was un1agging. In the performance of
his Masters duty there was with him no
languor, no inaction. To him the COM
maDd had been given, Go, preach the
Gospel to every creature" With this
| imperiOus mandate no secular duties
were allowed 10 interfere. He accepted
as q literal truth, ''Take up the Cross. p"
Neither burning suns nor winters cold, nor
hurricanes, nor foods, nor threats, 'tnOr
| prinCipalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things 70 come, were able,
for enc moment to deter him from what
he considered to be his duty. He acted
in thebelief "that duties are ours events
are Gods"
rs q thinker, Father Ross was distin-
cuishod for his boldness and originality.
His a}legorical interpretations of many of
the passages in the Bible were IS beauti-
ful as they were original and plausible.
Earnestness, however, was his marked
excellence. His delivery was deeply i'm
pressive, and the writer distinctly remem-
bers the awe ard silence which pervaded
and overshad0wed all assembly when he
arose 10 preach. Venerable in mien and
majestic in his utterances, his audience
was always dismissed soIemnly i'm
pressed with the power of Divine truth.
His sermons were usually brimful of
thought, and no one who heart him once
ever failed, when an opportunity pre-
scented, of hearing him q second time.
It is not our intention, however, st
present, to enter into an elaborate esti-
mate Of bis character as exemplifed
either in the purity of his life, his sim
plcncss Of purpose, or the splendor of his
success in the ministry. Our object is
merely to direct attention to the fact that
truthful and appreciative record of his
life and services as q minister of the
Baptist Church will soon be given to the
world by one who brings as qualifications
for his task an intimate acquaintance with
the men and things Of which he
writes; a happy memory for details; q
| thorough education; 8 high appreciation
Of the humorous and The pathetic, blend
cd with q filiaI ycnerat;on and love for