Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-16

At this time the Missionary Board OF
Brackin Association at Mays Lick appointed
him missionary for the State, providing lib
orally for the support OF his family 1t Is
wonderful how God blessed his work
while his family remained at Flemings-
burg he travelled through sections Of the
State destitute of the gospel, holding pro
tracted meetings. The first year he preached
1896 sermons and baptized a great many con
verts. He preached twice q day for two
weeks at Shelbyville in April 1910, assisting
Rev. Curry, pastor, where l49 converts were
added TO the church. Then at BuTk's Branch
two weeks, where he baptized sixty-six con
verts His success and fame as revivalist
spread throughout the State and applications
for his services came from all quarters. The
first Baptist church OF Louisville sent
pressing invitation, and he commenced
protracted meeting there in July, 1892, which
continued eight weeks, resulting in 1875 con-
verts added to the church. This seems to
have ended his evangelical mission, for al
the close OF this meeting he accepted call
rs pastor of that church, after being in the
ministry two years. He continued in the
service of this church as pastor seven years,
and baptized over 300 converts duting the
time. He was then called by the General
Association of Kentucky to take the State
agency In 1919. He spent one year in this
work, travelling, preaching and building up
the Baptist cause In different parts OF the
state, holding four protracted meetings, re-
sulting in over $50 converts. One of these
meetings was held with the church in Hop
kinsville, then one of the strongest Baptist
churches in Kentucky, and he was after
wards called to Its pastorate, which was ac-
cepted In July, 1850. He continued here
twelve years, preaching and building up the
cause, during which time he baptized ABOUT
300 persons. While at Hopkinsville he be-
came power among the Baptlsts of Ken
lucky. He took leading part in establish
ing Bethel College at Russelville and Bethel
Female College at HOpkinsville' 1t was not
at the time intended to establish but the one
DR.. Sears desired to locate the male college
at Hopkinsville, but owing to certain finan-
cial influences which Russellville brought
TO bear, and in which HOpkinsville was slow
to act, 1t was deemed wise to locate Ii at Rus
sellvlle, 10 which Dr. Sears had to yield
But he was not to be out done. Hu stirred
up Hopk insvile to a lively spirit and at the
next meeting of Bethel Association carried
his motion to build female college at Hep
kinsville.
The war came up and ended his ministerial
career in Kentucky. DR.. Sears was intensely
southern in sentiment, and did not conceal
the fact, The church was divided on the ques
ton, the town divided, the feeling intensely
bitter and the Federal authorities being in
the ascendancy, he resigned the care of his
church and had to abandon his home and
seek freedom and safety in the South, where
he spent four years, preaching at Macon, Ga,
Columbus, Miss, and serving as missionary
of the Southern Baptist Board, preaching to
the soldiers. There are many interest
Ing incidents connected with his paste rate
during the war; but space will not per
init enlargng in details. lie was forbid
den by Gen. Burbrldge to return to Hopkins
vile at the close of the war, and consequent
y stopped in Clarksville, where he was
shown every protection and kindness by
Col. Bruce, the Federal commander OF this
post. This resulted in his location in Clark
ville whore he has been such great blessing
to christianity and society, There were then
70 Baptist people in this city. The little old
church had gone to rack and the spirit of
christianity had died away. He called these
few together recognized the church and
held a protracted meeting, adding quite a
number of converts to the membership and
In January, 1866, he accepted the pastoral
charge of the church, which rea
tionship has continued since, growing
stronger and happier day by day as the time
passed, for over twenty-five years, and now
there is not member in the church who
does not feel the loss, as If one of the dearest
members of the family had been taken.
DIR. Sears set on foot at once a move to
build the present church edifice, Mt a cost OF
$4,000. This was a wonderful undertaking fol
so small and weak a congregation, all
poverty stricken and depressed by the
ravages of the war, but somehow he had II
way of inspiring his people with courage
and faith in everything he undertook, and
the result of this success and his ministry
here for twenty-five years and six months Is
familiar to every one who knows anything
of this remarkable servant of the Most
High the building of n splendid church,
raising up a large, strong and thoroughly In
doctrinated congregation, cultivatlng good
viii and Christian fellowship with all de-
nominations, growing all the while in the
affections of his congregation and all people
of the city, who honored him as a father in
Israel.
DR.. Sears was perhaps the oldest active
minister in the u. S. The annals of re-
ligious history give no account of another
such man. He was six months past his S7tb
year, walked upright without the use of n
stafl, stood erect In the pulpit, read Bible
lessons without the use of glasses, preached
without notes or written sermons, always
had something bright and new fc% his ser
mons that made people leave talking about
II and discussing his strong points, and still
more astonishing than all was how he could
hold the attention of the children, thrilling
them with the sweetness of his gospel elo-
quence and then his power of drawing So
many children into his congregation. Withal
he never spared an occasion TO reproye the
sins that are constantly creeping into the
churches, and did II in IA way to have telling
effect. His great ministry extends over nifty
one years ana his sermons of the last years
the brightest. During this period he has
doubtless baptized 1000 people into the Dap
list fellowship, and has never served but
three churches as paStOr-sev years with
the first, twelve years with the second and
twenty-five years and SIX months with the
last, the balance of his time given to evan
gelizing. No minister has solemnl2ed more
marriages, preached more funerals, delivered
more commencement sermons or more
masonic orations. In addition to his won-
derful ministerial career, he took a lively
interest, but no active part in the political
welfare OF the country and freely spoke his
sentiments. lie was very active in the
masonic fraternity, and serving in
every station from Worshipful Master
to Grand Commander of Knights