The Brookhaven leader., 1886-10-14
IN MEMORIAM.
REV. II. =. JOHNSON, u. ID.

!
/ list preacher and educator was born ~
| Buucou,he county. North Carolina, Jan
uary Z, 1891, and died at Brook haven,
Miss, August 4, 1856. In those tfty-five
years were crowded an amount OflabOr and
of success accorded to hut few persons IN
this life. Endowed with vigorous phys
zeal constitution and equipped with men
tai and moral qualities of 10 ordinary
character, he combined all the elements
necessary TO great achievements.
lie was literally educated; attending
first Newton Academy, near -Ashvllc,
y. G., and afterwards HnlstOn College,
III East Tennessee, and Emory and Henry
College. From this last famed and tav-
Ored institution of the church he received
the honorary degree of A. NJ. His care
full collegiate training developed tastes
aud habits that in later lie cmimcntly
fitted him for the work of an educator.
During the California gold excitement
OF lS49 he joined a company of friends
intending to cross the Rocky Mountains
and traverse the Wild plains of the West
in quest of fortune. But the purpose of
the young adventurer was changed by
could not bear such wide separation
from her noble boy. Shortly afterwards
he removed to Mississippi, and before
attaining his majority was licensed to
practice law. His aspiring spirit was
nursed into daring Dy the grand scenery
and stormy grandeur of his native mouu
tains. And To the close of life he most
of all delighted to rest and roam amid
those 'cluud- hammered battlemcnts' of
Western North Carolina.
Entering the legal profession in this
State at Il time when many men of ma
tional reputation were leaders at th" bar,
the prospects were by no means rrassur-
ing. But he rose rapidly, and soon won
distinction. Energy, industry, study
and sObricty achieved success over the
intcmpcrancc, gaming and rowdyisin so
characteristic of that early day. The
young attorney proved hmself worthy 10
measure lanccs with the ablest knight of
his profession. lii $3.50 he was elected
to the Legislature from Simpson county,
but res gned!in. 500 to become II candidate
FIR district attorney, to which Office he
was elected, receiving majority of the
votes in every county of the district over
three competitors. a reelection he de
clined, having determined to enter the
ministry. While serving as district attOr-
ney he would plead his causes during
the week i'll the COURTROOM and preach
the gospel on the Sabbath to the multi
tudes who gathered ut the country town.
His cOnNe rsiOn was clear and his divine
call to the ministry unmistakable.
Though to human seeming the sacrifice
was great, he doubted not the voice OF
God and never regretted his cheerful
obedience. lie joined the Mississippi
Conference i'll 1889, and at once took
rank as a successful pastor and popular
preacher. The energy that marked his
career as lawyer seemed to be redonbled
under the call of God to preach his
word He was in labols abundant, aud
fruits abounded. Ia 1906 while serving
rs presiding elder of the jackson district,
he was elected president of Madison
College, located at Sharon, an institution
which had enjoyed large prosperity. In
1867, he was asked to accept he presiden-
cy OF Whitworth Female College, at
okhaveI, Miss, where he remained
until summoned to his coronation in
the skies
DR.. Johnson achieved great aud deserv-
ed distinction as All educator. He came
to Whitwurth College when its walls were
empty and its prospects paralNZed by
debt. By wise administration and the
cordial support of the Conference, who
regarded him us the man above all others
for the place, lie soon crowded the
College with students and gave it nation
alfame. During the twenty year she con-
Quoted the affairs of the institution,
nearly two hundred were added to its
roll of alnmnR, while instruction WAS
given to q thousand or more who. were I'M
able to complete tine course. Such an
achievement will never want for Il
memorial while the influence of tho .
cultured Christian women shall abide.
Out of the earnings OF the college lie
made Improvements and enlargementS
to the amount OF over fifty thousand
dollars. He erected first large chapel,
and subsequently two massive brick bull
diugS, thai will be monument to his
executive ability, distinguished genor-
osity and Christly conservation for all
the years to come. He we'll deserved 20
be honored as the Nehemiah of MISSISSIPPI
pi MethOdlsm.
As u preacher, DR.. Johnson was expos
itory, instructive and practical. He
abounded in Scripture illustrations and
had marked facility i'll making the word
its own Interpreter. He had also ali I'M
usual magnetism of voice and at times
scared into the..realm of real eloqucnce.
Dr. Johnson had taste, If not genius,
for ecclesiastical craftsmanship. In all
the Conferences, from the lowest to the
highest, he was wise in counsel and full
of practical suggestion. He was fine
parliamentarian and an authority in his
Conference on questions of law. In the
General Conferences he was held in high
esteem and commanded generous atten
ton when he arose in debate.
In his home our brother was loved
to alteration, and there he found perfect
happiness. He leaves widow and a
large family of children to treasure his
precious memory and emulate his many
virtues. To them and to the church he
bequeathed the legacy ola good name
and noble, generous life.
AS patriotic, public-spirited citizen,
philanthropist, educator and divine, his
death has entailed sad loss upon Church
and State. We mourn his early tail, for
n prince and leader III Israel is gone.
His life was Il Succession of brilliant
achievements, and his memory will he
perpetual inspiration. He died in the
triumphs of the gospel he had so loving
ly faithfully preached. Without cloud
in his sky or "a tremor of fear in his faith,
he passed into the realms OF unfailing
light.
CHAs. d. GALLOWAY.