Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-11
IN MEMORIAM.
The Late BishOn Early.

An interesting memorial service was held
at Mckendree church Sunday afternoon, in
consequence of the death. on the 9Th inst,
of the late Bishop John Early, of the Meth
odist Church South. The following exer-
ciseS was observed:
Reading Of the 18th hymn, DR.. DR..
Maddin; Prayer, DR.. Summers; Scripture
lesson, Psalms &c, DR.. Green; Scripture
lesson, |. Cor, XIV, DR.. HaygoOd; 739th
hymn, DR.. Kelley; Sermon, bishop Nc
Tyeire; 731st hymn, DIR. Hargroye; Prayer,
Dr. RedfOrd.
THE SERMON
of Bishop McTyeire was made I'D of per-
S0nal "reminiscences and other interesting
facts concerning the distinguished dead, who
after long life of usefulness has entered
into his rest. He said that the late Bishop
was born in Bedford county, Va, Jan. /,
1856, and was born again April %, 1904.
His parents were Baptists, and were MEM
bers Of what is known as the Primitive
Baptist Church, but he united with the
people among whom he had been converted,
and was a labOrer in the ministry from
that time.
He was licensed to preach in 1906, and
among those who received the benefit OF
his first labors were the plantation slaves
of President Jefferson. In 1909 he was ad-
mitted into full connection and was or
dained deacon, and two years after his
probation he was ordained elder. In 1913
and 1914 he was presiding elder, and was
preaching in a territory so large that it is
now occupied by three districts. In 1915
he located, a step not uncommon in that
1aHr xrl1o Of
to press heavily upon preacher.
At that time there were no Christian
AdUOcdtes but the Methodist Magazine.
published monthly in New \ Ork, was fire.
quently enriched by revival notes from all
parts Of the country, and in the volume foi
1922, John Early describes the great work
which was being carried on at Lynchburg,
Va, where upwards of one hundred souls
were converted. In the Greeneville cir
cult he received five hundred members.
and at another time one thousand
members joined his church. In
standing up in a conference held
in New Orleans, to take a superannuated
position, he said: Il have taken more mem
bers into the Methodist Church, than any
other man in it," He was presiding elder
of the Lynchburg district and afterwards of
Petersburg district. He appeared in New
I Ork in 1912 in the first delegated general
conference as one of eleven delegates from
his annual conference, and the last act OF
that Conference was moved by John Early.
He was member of the general conference
of 1923, 1882, 1886, 1874, and 1S4S.
The General Conference of 1S46reSOlved.
while waiting for our share of the Book
Concern Of New York, to organize a book
agency to furnish the Southern Connection
with hymn books and other publications,
and John Early was elected Agent. He
opened his office in Richmond, Va. and
carried on the work successfully, holding
this position until he was elected Bishop,
in 1854.
Bishop Early resisted being placed on
the retired list. He could not realize that
he was an infirm man. Some men delight
in the enjoyment of its immunities, but he
did not. In 1867 he was present with us
in this city for the last time for the trans
action of business. At the close of the
Conference he was taken i'll. Physicians
were summoned, and it was feared he
would not be able to reach home again. AT
each annual Conference held since that
time. it has been the pleasing duty of the
Secretary to forward to him the kind re-
membrance Of his brethren and to inform
him, in advance Of publication, of the work
accomplished.
He was twice happily married, his first
wife dying about twenty years ago.
Through all his cares and weary wander
ings she had been with him. In his com
Portable home mansion in Lynchburg,
where his children and his children's chill
dren have gathered around HMM that
quiet retreat this servant of God departed
this life Nov. ), 1873
So lived and died Bishop Early. His
life was an eventful and successful one.
The links connecting the Heroic age OF
MethOdism with the present are few, and
his life was one of them. As for learning,
he read men rather than books. Beyond
the Bible suppose he had not gone. RO-
bust common sense was his quality. Des-
titute of Imagination, he was the creature
of facts and reality.
A man of such positive convictions and
intensity of purpose would sometimes pro-
woke antagOnism. 1t must needs be so.
Yet he was peace-maker. He loved TO
compose the contentious of others, and was
apt at the work. Who that has seen the
man can forget him, or hope TO see his like
again? His face was Of a type and his
form commanding. In any assembly he
would attract attention. His address was
the best of the old school, and his manner
courteous. His whole life was the farthest
remove from anything low, or sOrdid, or
vulgar. His business qualities did not eS-
cape the notice of men of the world. He
had many tempting offers to leave the min
istry, but having put his hand to the pillow
he did not look back
At the time of his entering the ministry
there were 10000 MethOdists in the
United States and Canadas; now there are
!, 100000.