Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1895-07-19
FOUR MEN OF GOD.
REUNION OF A oUARTETTE OF VENEER
ABLE MINISTER'S.
Interesting Services at Pleasant Hill Church
Monday-Anniversary of an Ordination
July %, Is46-sketches.

preachers licensed by Pleasant HIlL
Baptist church half century ago,
was most successful affair last Mon
day. Fully thousand people at
tended and dinner was on hand for
all. The day was occupied with
speeches by all of the guests of the
day and the event was one never to
be forgotten by the members of the
little church Nesting among the hills
of Pond River, in what is known as
the Bluff Spring district.
The exercises were held in the
beautiful grove surrounding the
church.
Rev. Nicholas Lacy spoke first and
his address lasted about forty min
utas.
Rev. Calvin Meacham followed and
after speech of about twenty min
utes, an adjournment was had for
dinner.
In the afternoon Rev. A, W. Meach-
am took the stand and made a speech
of thirty minutes.
He was followed by Rev. Jas. U.
Spurlin, who spoke for forty five,
minutes and closed the days exer-
cises.
The Pleasant Hill church was es-
tablished about 1888 and within the
first few years of its existence turned
out the four young men who have
since grown gray in the service of
God. Of the one hundred members
of the church in 1916, only one now,
lives-Mrs. Philip West-and yet the ,
four venerable men of God are still.
actively engaged in the holy calling
they have followed for a period ag- -
gregating more than 2l5 years.
Rev. Mr.. Goodman is the present
pastor of the church, which has in
times past been under the pastoral
care of all of the subjects of this ar
ticle, with the exception of Rev. A.
W. Meacham.
The quartette had their photo
graphs taken by two artists who were,
present, and the old gentlemen re-
manned in the vicinity day or two.
to visit the homes of their boyhood
days and visit the descendants of
those who were present when they en-
tered upon their ministerial work
generations ago.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,
Rev. Nicholas Lacy was born in the
northern portion of Christian county,
Nov. 5, 1916. He was converted in,
November 1888 and baptized the.
same month by Rev. r. T. Anderson.
He was licensed to preach May IL,
1889 and ordained Sept ii, 1910, by
Revs. Robt. Rutherford, E. Vaughan
and A. W. Meacham. He has been
actively engaged in the ministry until
recently, having been pastor of
churches at Elkton, Cadiz, South
Union, Locust Grove and other
points in Christian and adjoining
counties. He has during his ministry
married 348 couples. He is still hale
and hearty in his 10Th year and lives.
at Madisonville, KY. His family con-
sists of only wife, as he mas no
children.
Rev. A. w. Meacham was born in
the same neighborhood Feb. ID, 1918.
When about twenty years old he
joined the church Nov. "a, 1888 and
was baptized by Rev. R. Williams on.
Dec. 10, 1888. He was licensed to.
preach on May IL, 1889 and ordained
on the anniversary of his baptism,
Dec. 10, 1889, by Revs. O. Il. Nor
row, W. S. Badly and R. Williams.
His first pastoral work was at Paul
cab, Ky. Subsequently he went to-
Shelbyville, Tenn, and later to Leba-
non, Tenn, where he had churches
and also made considerable reputa-
ton as an evangelist His health
failed and he returned home, it was
thought to die of consumption. But
his work was hardly begun. He re-
gained his strength and after serving
various churches in Christian county
married and settled at Belleyiew, now
Gracey, where he has since resided.
He has preached to many churches
within radius of 20 miles. For 81
years he was pastor at West Union
and for 3S years he has been pastor
of Little River church, for which he
still breaches twice month. He has.
been Moderator of Little River Asso-
citation for q years, which position he
still fills. de was also Moderator of
a Tennessee Association two years
and of the General Association of
Tennessee and Alabama two years.
During the 81 years of his ministry
he has baptized 4l55 persons, mostly
into his own churches, and has
preached S34 funerals and married
Sl4 couples. He is still engaged in
ministerial work and is in good
health. He has a family of grown
children, the editor of this paper be-
ing one of his sons.
Rev. Calvin Meacham, cousin of
the first named, was born Oct. Z, 1919,
converted Jan. 1888 and baptized the
Gama month He xy.o l;oa,,saJ 70