The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-01-22
REV. }. c. MlTGHELL, D. D.
An Able Divine, A Finished SchOlOr,
A Christian Man,
Has Fought a Good Fight and Lain
Down to Rest.

Has Fought GOOO right anu Lain
Down TO Rest.
zone dieth in his full strength, being
wholly at ease and quiet"
Our city was deeply overcast with
sorrow by the sudden death of Rev.
J. G.. Mitchell, d. d. He departed
this life at o'clock Saturday morn
ing January 10th, 1892, in the - year
of his age. Called of God to y each
his word, he devoted his whole life
from glorious youth to his peaceful
end, to this sacred and beneficent
work.
Virginia, the mother Of great minds
and of great hearts, was the land of
his nativity. Born at Norfork with
in her halIowed confines, breathing
the air of patriotism, of devotion, OF
conservation, virtues which that State
had so often produced and so wonder
fully nourished. he grew to the full
measure of greatness in mind, in
heart, in soul.
God gave him a great mind in
dustry gave him polished education;
nature gave him commanding pres
ence, his nobility of soul added the
charm of grace, and his heart and
mind and soul flowed in eloquence,
rich and classical.
His logic was rigid and unanswer-
able; his pathos would move the
stone, his tenderness would win the
hardest heart; his sIlvery voice was
sweeter than the notes of music.
He entered Princeton College and
remained eight years carving and
polishing a noble monument out of
the rich materials which nature had
furnished him. He graduated both
in the College and in the Seminary.
Thus fuIl-armed aud equipped he ell
tered upon his life work-the work OF
l. ,ve-of raising man to God and
bringing God to man.
While yet a young man he was
licensed TO preach by the East Ham
over Presbytery, Va. His first charge
was under the West Hanover Presby-
terry a small church near Loonberg
Court House, Va. While there he
married Mamie Crenshaw Stokes, a
niece of VIM. y. GOOde. She was his
Joy and comfort, and now survives to
mourn her crushing loss.
From Loonberg Court House he
was called to Greensboro, Ala,
During these years at Greensboro his
work was laborious aud unceaslng.
His stately presence was familiar 10
every pulpit throughout Alabama.
The Church and state recognized
him as a power and an or namens. AT
ter serving eigh. faithful aud diligent
wears at Greensboro, he was called to
The Second Church of Mobile, Ala.
These years at Mobile were ever
bright in his memory. He won the
hearts of his people and they won
his. His Church f1Ourished and pros
pered, 1t grew and waxed great, until
war laid its devastating hand upon II.
1t suffered the common fortune OF
the South. With It's members scat
tered and wrecked in fortune, it was
entirely broken up.
After this he moved to Tennessee,
and. although not installed, he
preached about two years at Pulaski
From there he was called to the
First Church of this city. His work
here we know, we feel; 1T is written
upon the hearts of our people and no
man can speak it. For doubts he had
reason, for sorrow comfor', for des-
pair hope. Tender and gentle, strong
and nobla. Tue disturbed soul rested
upon him and was not afraid; With
| him the distressed found the oil OF
ioy for mourning. Religion to him
was q deep conviction. The hopes
and promises of Jesus Christ were q
reality. In these hopes and promises
he lived and worked and died. Ab-
horring the sensational and eschew-
/ inc cant his words were the pure
words of love and reason. He sought
TO elevate man to see what he saw
| and feel what he felt. He appealed
| to the understanding and to the heart.
| Man was noble creation to be loved
and elevated. From God came man,
and to God would he return him.
About three years ago he resigned
the Passionate of the First Church of
this city, aud since that time has had
no regular charge. After his resig-
nation he spent several months III st.
| Louis on visit to his daughter, ana
during that time was invited to
preach in the Grand Avenue Church,
one of the largest and handsOmesG
churches in that city. During his
entire visit they enjoyed the charm
of his pure elcquence. He was urged
to accept a call from the Lafayette
Park Church of that city, but he felt
that his declining age was unequal TO
the work.
! After he returned from st. Louis,
upon invitation, he preached awhile
at Admission, Ala, enjoying while
there the hospitalities OF Mr.. w. Ii
Williams.
His last work was in the Second
Church of this city: About two
wears ago he lost his voice and could
not speak above a whisper. This was
to him the greatest of misfo tunes
To think that he could no more uttel
audibIy the words of Love and TIutt
which it had beeu his mission tC
preach TO every creature, was crue
sorrow. But his voice was partially
restored and for sometime ht
preached at the Second Church. A
rich blessing to himself he counted Il
10 have his voice restored aud be able
to proclaim the word once more. A
rich blessing it Was 4indeed to tat
church and TO those who heard him
The congregations of the First aAC
Second churches, this whole com
munity, the church at la ge, mourn
his loss.
Every service that could be rem
dered, was rendered. Everything
that could be done, was done. Tn
kindness and attention of the ladie
of the First ChurcI and OF friend
generally was uubounded. Thel
sympathies and services was balm
to the sore hearts of the afflicted
family. The floral tributes wer
numerous and OF exquifi.e design
The fun, raj services were beid q
the residence, Monday afternoon 9
O'Clock, conducted by Rev. X: N
Kennedy, of Zion, and assisted b
Rev. Mr.. Arbuthnot of Nashville, tn
: life long friend of DIR. Mitchell Tn
FIRST Church was offered for thi
occasion, but since he was engaged i
no regular work at his death, tn
family felt that he belonged to then
land it was their wish that he b
taken from their arms aud laid
rest.