The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-11-03
Memorial Exercises in New Orleans
Bishop Keener's Address on the Lat
Judge Edward McGehee, of Mississippi.

memorial hA0rClS0S III NOW O14O1Ao'
Bishop Keener's Address on the Late
Judge Edward McGehee, of Mississippi.
n. O. Picayune, November 1st,]
| Yesterday morning Bishop Keener preach
ed sermon in the Carondelet street NJ. h.
Church South upon the occasion OF the death
of Judge Edward McGehee, of Mississippi,
who departed this life few days ago.
| The Rev. DIR. Walker, pastor of this
church. assisted in the service. After an
eloquent Introductory from the text, Him
that overcometh will | make a pillar N the
temple of my God and ne shall go no more
out''-Rev. Sd, 12th-Bishop Keener gave
the following history of the life and ser
vices in the church and the world of one OF
the worthiest characters this country has
ever produced:
JUDGE EDWARD M'GEHEE,
an old man, full of years and good works,
has passed away; whose life was full of
success and of high endeavor as man, a
citizen and a Christian; and whose death
was full of hope; and l come this day to
honor him and pay tribute to his memory
in behalf of this church and the Methodlsts
of this city.
A character so singularly grand and beau
tiful "a his is worthy of study, as well as of
our ADMIRATION. w nat were IIIe Allu uelICSS
which originally shaped and developed it,
to its nobIest maturity? As a citizen OF
Mississippi he was universally known and
honored from its Senators in Congress to the
laborers in its fields He had moved into
the State in his early manhood some sew
enty-two years ago. But he had then al
ready received in his heart from the Holy
Spirit the impress of new nature, whose
divine principles and holy affections formed
alor and fbannp forth SbOna
spicuously in his life. In Georgia, his ma
tive State, he was identified with the Meth
odists the two Pierces and Bishop Capers,
then about his own age, were his personal
friends Hope Hull and those older preach
ers who laid the foundation of Methodism
so broadly in that State, were the men who
represented to his mind all that was veneer
able and holy in the Christian Ministry.
Inasmuch as the doctrines of our church
were not merely feature in his life, but the
soul of his faith, and were at the sources of
his history, therefore call your most prayer
full attention to those scriptures which his
Christian career suggests, and which doubt
less were often the theme of his noblest
meditations and the lifelong object of his
imprisoned prayer. In Revelations, the
third chapter and at the Goth vese will be
found the text:
"Him that overcometh will l make a
pillar in the temple of m AGod, and he
shall go no more out"
THE SERMON.
Judge McGehee's connection with Meth
odism in New Orleans began in 1919. In
that year DR.. Winans, Mark Moore and Judge
McGehee came to this city, and preaching
place was secured in the loft of a -four in
spector's Office, at the corner of Poydras and
Carondelet street; the Judge gave the bag
ging which was used to cover the rafters
and to form the sides of the room. Those
were the daysiof Sisters Skinner, Canu and
Coleman, ard Mark Moore was the preacher
in charge.
Out Of this beginning grew the church, a
frame building on Gravier street, between
Baronne and Carondelet. 1t was mainly
built by him. Afterward, in the year 1888,
a very imposing brick church was built on
the original site of the loft, at the corner of
Poydras and Carondelet streets. To this he
contributed largely, and it remained indebt-
ed to him over and above his gifts some
$4,000 This debt he offered to cancel if
the church would pay him $4,000 in cash.
In 1852 this money was raised, and in
company with the Hon. J. w. Crockett, |
waited upon Judge McGehee at the st.
Charles Hotel to make the pavement. He
received US in his own atfectionately polite
way, and listened to our proposition. But
in manner and with a grace quite indie
scribable he said, Il have ALWAYS considered
this as given to the Lord, and cannot con-
sent to accept anything from my brethren of
the Poydras Church. We explained to him
that large amount had been raised to ac-
complish this and other purposes for the
placing Methodism upon better footing in
the city. But he was firm, and upon our
still pressing him to accept something, he
consented to take $1,000 toward building a
church in Wilkinson county, Miss. There
was tremulous emotion and modesty in
the manner of his making this gift that inn
pressed the benehcence of the gift itself, for
he seemed to be the obliged party in the
| transaction. 1t was directly after this
event, that by the unanimous action of the
board of its trustees the corporate title of
this church was changed to "the McGehee
NJ. Z. Church, South" To all the great en-
terprises of the Christian church he gave
strong and hearty support. Year after year
he gave largely to the American Bible So
ciety, and the American Colonization So
ciety. He took an early interest in Meth
odist schools, especially in the Woodville
Female Seminary, and in the Centenary
College. He originally purchased the build
ing of the latter from the State of Louisiana
and subsequently gave to its buildings and
endowment some $4,000. He supported
his own church in all its departments
Some years ago when the annual confer
preacher blanket and horses to several of
them.
Had he been charged by his Lord with
special care of the poor, and of widows and
orphans, he could scarcely have been more
attentive to their interests He accepted
the care of estates and watched over the ed
ucation of youth with fatherly sympathy.
He was patriarchal in his breadth, sim
plicity, courteous integrity, and in the
grace of hospitality. He he lived in the
days of Abram he would have been of the
number of these great ones who were per-
mltted to entertain the angels. His person
al manner was remarkable for its delicacy
and refinement; whether in his own house
or on public occasions, for it was always |
the same; it was rarely equaled and never
to be surpassed In its engaging sincerity, its |
extreme confidence and courtIy proprietv: |
towards his guests, or the workmen sitting
at his table, or to his servants at log rails
ing, his courtesy was uniform no matter 4
how much occupied he might be, if child /
entered the room it was always received /
with a smile and an extended hand. On
the occasion of introducing Gen. TAYLOR. /
then President elect, to a reception given /
hmm at Woodviile, this noble and inimita-
bic bearing of self-oblivion was most con-
spicuous. On the return home one of his
servants exclaimed, "others may have seen
Gen. Taylor, but | only saw master-he
was 50 polite and grand"
He served for several years in the I4eeis
iature of Mississippi and was asked by Presi-
dent Taylor to accept the Secretaryship of
the Treasury, but he had no fancy for pub.
lie life. dined with Gen. Taylor lust before
he left Baton Rouge for Washington. He
spoke of Judge McGehee in the highest
terms, as the best man he ever knew that
he had known him lift drunkard from the
road into the buggy, and carry him home.
he was staunch Wing, was opposed to Sc
cessIon but when il was resolved upon by
nas state ne entered heartily into the support
Of the war and at one time was reDreaznted
by some thirteen children and erandchiI-
dren In the Confederate army. Yet from the
beginning of the war he saw the end with