The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-03-20
Preacher and Statesman.
Decatur News

Decatur News
In the year 1888 a young Metho
dist itinerant preached at camp
meeting near Columbia in Tennes
see, from the text: 'tBlessed be tn,
God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ" In the congregation was
a young lawyer rapidly coming into
prominence as politician, having
already been elected to the state
legislature and the national con.
gress.
AS time rolled on one became a
noted preacher and an able connec
tional officer, known and honored
throughout the bounds of his
church, the other advanced in a
political career till his name was
not only familiar in the remotest
corners of this land. but he was re-
spected in all hetlands of Chris
tendon.
Sixteen years had elapsed since
the campmeeting, when Elias, the
body-servant of the statesman, was
sent to request the preacher to call
ON his master, who was at home
quite i'll. Doctor" said Elias "do
you know why my master thinks so
much of you?"
The doctor replied: "We have
been good friends for a number of
years; we are both democrats; but
1 do not know any special reason
why he is attached to me-"
''It is" said Elias, "because of the
sermon at the campmeeting."
When the preacher reached the
house he found the pastor of his
friends wife. who was, and is now,
a member of the Presbyterian
church-going into the sick-room.
He learned that they had been call
ed for the purpose of religious con
versation. In the course of the
visit the dying man expressed the
following sentiment: 81 believe in
Jesus Christ; trust in Him alone
for salvation; I wish to acknowl-
edge Him my Savior. 1 am a Meth
odist, but owing to the pressure of
public duties, 1 have neglected to
join the church; do not wish to
die out of the church.
81 would prefer acknowledging
Him in the public congregation; in
view of what He has done for me
that is little enough for Inc to do for
Him. 1t may seem a little coward
ly to unite with Christ in private.
1 wouldrather do it publicly, but /
may not recover" He was assur-
ed that his desire for membership
in the church and for its ordinan-
ces should be granted,
A few days the symptoms became
more alarming, and but faint hopes
of his recovery were entertained.
The Methodist preacher was again
summoned. Among the persons
present were the pastors of the
mans mother and wife, both Pres
his mother, a brother
and colored nurse, yet living at
an advanced age. In the presence
of these friends that eminent man
his dependency on
CuIlSI dIOue lOT SdlNaGlOu, Wdft Ddp-
tized by the Methodist minister,
was received into the church, and
partook of the holy communion.
Not many days after the same
minister was called on to attend to
the last solemn rites of the funeral.
The body was laid to rest in the
beautiful lawn of his spacious man
sion, near the capitol of his adopt
ed state. Over the tomb has been
erected a stone canopy under which |
is block of gray marble. The fol |
lowing is part of the epitaph:
JAMES KNOX Polk,
10th President of the u. S. Born
Nov. End, 1892; died June
18th, 1S49.
The Methodist preacher was J.B.
D. D., the venerable and
efficient agent of the Book Concern
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, from whose lips the above
facts were gathered.