The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-02-25
REH. j B. LETER. d. d.

REV j. B. JETER, d. ID.
The secular papers have already car
ried grief over the land, and into homes
of every creed, by the announcement that
this venerable servant of God died at his
residence in this city at o'clock on We'd
nesday morning, the 18th of February,
1880, after an illness of some two weeks.
Full of years, and of honors, widely
known and as widely beloved, he has
closed a career of great usefulness, passed
from the scene of busy labors left behind
him an example worthy of earnest study
and close imitation, and has gone to re-
ceive from the Master the plaudit, We'll
done good and faithful servant, enter
thou into the JOY of thy Lord
JEREMIAH BELL JETER was born on
the 2lst day of July, 1902, in Bedford
county, Va.-that prolific soil for distin-
guished preachers Or John H. Rice, DR..
Conrad Specie, DR.. B. Witt, DR.. Benjamin
II. Rice, Rev. James Turner and Rev. DR..
James T. Leftwich of Baltimore, were
born in Bedford). His parents were
highly respectable, but humble people,
his early educational advantages were
very poor, and the days of his boyhood
and ripening manhood were spent chiefly
between the plough handles.
In his Goth year he protested CONVEX
sion, was baptized by Father Harris
of blessed memory, and made his first
public address as he came from the stream
and stood on its banks.
Beginning at once to speak for Christ
In social meetings, he preached his first
sermon to small congregation of noun
tanners In the gorge between the Flat
Top and Luck Mountains in his native
county. On the 4th of May, 1924, he
was ordained to the full work of the min
istry. In 1923 he and his devoted friend
the late Rev DR.. D. Witt were appointed
as the first missionaries of the Virginia
Baptist General Association, which had
just then been organized, and from the
seaboard to the mountains these boy
preachers attracted and delighted large
crowds of people. In 1896 he was pastor
of churches in Campbell county, Va, and
from 1927 to 1885 he served with great
acceptance and wonderful success two
churches in Lancaster and 'Northumber
land counties. In these eight years he
baptized over one thousand into the fell
lowship Of his churches, and laid broad
and deep the foundations Of the subse-
quent prosperity of his denomination in
that region of the State
The first Sunday in January, 1886, he
was installed as pastor of the First Bap-
fist church in Richmond, and during the
thirteen and half years he served them
he baptized nearly one thousand persons,
and did grand work towards establish
ing the cause Of his Master in Richmond
1t was during his pastorate that the First
Church built the splendid ediice which
they now occupy.
In October, l849, Dr. Jeter removed
10 Ot. LOUIS to take charge of the Second
Baptist church there, and during his
three years pastorate he baptized one
hundred and fifty persons, and was in
strumental in organizing two other
churches in that city In 1852 he re-
turned to Richmond to become pastor Of
the Grace Street Baptist church, and
succeeded in doubling its membership,
and making it in every respect one of
the most influential and efficient churches
in the whole country.
In 1866, in connection with Rev. DR..
A. p. Dickinson, he bought the Re6giooss
Herald, and entered upon one Of the most
successful editorial careers ever known in
the South.
Dr. Jeter was, at the time of his death.
President of the Board of Trustees of
the Southern Baptist Theological Semi
nary; President Of the Board Of Trustees