The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-09-19
The Famous Founder of the
"Church Of the Strangers"

The following is copied (condensed) by
request from Goldsboro Bulletin =
EDITOR BULLETIN II have Just read
an article in kInston Free Press headed.
REV. G. + DEEMS" in which occurs
some mistake. The writer says six
teen years ago DR.. Deems left his native
State and came to this city New York
poor and unknown. They say the Doc,
tor is between SIS and 60 years old, but
one would hardly think it to look at
him." DR.. Deems is SO years of age,
and is not a native OF North Carolina.
This l have learned both from himself.
and from a biography published by the
Rev. DIR. Robt. S. Moran, in the Chapel
| Hill Magazine of 1850, in which he saws.
DR.. Deems was born in Baltimore, in the
year 1920. Now as to the statement
that he went to New York poor and un-
known" 1t is well known that Or.
Deems came to this State 10 the wear
1889 or 40 In the 10Th or 10th year of
his age, a regular ordained minister of the
gospel. and as agent of the American
Tract Society, and when only Fl years
old we find him holding a very IMPORT
ant Professorship in the University, and
tefore he was 20 he was pastor of the
Edenton Street Church, Raleigh, and
then we find him holding a Professor
ship in Randolph Macon College, Va,
and the President Of Greensboro Female
College. of N. c., and after this a regu-
lar member of the N, c.. Conference,
filing for years the most important dis
tricts in said Conference as Presiding FL
der, among the number the Wilmington
and Newberu, and holding the most i'm
portant appointments as paasst9F Of tte
Conference.
During his stay 10 our State, he wro,.
and compiled and had published the fol-
lowing books: Twelve College Ser.
mons preached while a young Preacher
under % years of age, while Professor 4,
Chapel Hill, to the young gentleman of
that college THE Home Altar
What Now" and "Annals Of South.
ern M~ethodism." For several year, we
find him engaged in a bitter quarrel
with Rev. DIR. VIM. A. Smith. President
of Randolph Macon College, concerning
the authorship of the famous Christie
pher Duncan letter, written while be was
pastor of the Edenton Street Church
which drove all the Rufin fucker family
beyond the pale of M~ethodism forever,
except the old gentleman and his wife.
Before he was 81 years OF age he was
made a ID. ID. by the University. He
was sent every four years as a delegate to
general conference of the NJ. E
Church South.
Now in view of these simple facts
which must have given him wide snread
as a gifted author. as a preacher
profound and eloquent-not ONLY in
North Carolina and Virginia. but
this great country, | cannot
zee how the writer could say thar he THE
Dr. went to New York in 1866. I'M
lnown." unless it be On the sunpos;tion
hat the people of New York CITY did NOT
,eep posted as to the great preachers of
his section.
The n. G. Conference for wears was
lever slow in comforting her best Gifts
Ter highest honors-upon the Rev Dr.
and thus gave him all the onnor.
unity he might desire to make for him.
elf a name Of fame, as high as that Of
ny other man in this. or any country az
minister of the gospel. and the best in.
of learning came to his aid
The DR.. l think is as much indebted