Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-11-10
REV. SAMUEL D0AK
And His Success In Tennessee Presby-
teTlaniSm.
An Interesting Historical Address Delivered
by Dr. j. W. Bachman In Nashville


by Dr. j. W. Bachman In Nashville
Thursday, October 26, was Preshy
terrain day at the Tennessee Centennial.
The most prominent iivines and mem
bers OF the laity OF the State were pres
ent to celebrate the rise and progress
OF Presbyterianism in Tennessee.
Among the leading addresses delivered
was that OF DR.. j. W. Bachman of Chat
tanooga on REV. Samuel Doak and His
Successors" The address abounds in
the tender, earnest, soulful sentiment
characteristic of DR. Bachman, and its
delivery created profound impression
onthe auditors. Following is the full
text Of DR.. Bachn.aus address:
Theie are periods and places which
should never be forgotten. They make
the foci OF elipses which encompass in.
finite benedictions. There are times
when the faculties of mind and heart
and soul glow with q strange brilliancy; I;
and these, gathering up all the good of
the past and the hopes of the future,
pour along mans pathway a flood Of
truth, principle and righteousness that
honors God and blesses all succeeding
ages.
There are times when the world en-.
Joys moods OF genius and piety. 1t
may last for decade or cover hun.
dred years. During this period, men
move out on the stage, act their part,
die, aud many of them lie In unmarked
graves; but through them-their la
bors, their prayers and tears, the world
has had an uplfit that has made the
angels sing for joy.
10 the days of Pericles, philosophy,
oratory, poetry, culture, art and safes
manship, eliminated in a glory and
excellence, which have given models
that still hold sway in every field. Af-
ter more than two thousand years,
when you speak Of oratory, you think
OF Demosthenes; OF poetry, Homer
rises before you; or art and architec
ture, you remember Phidias, a model
of whose Parthenon we find among US,
the masterpiece of our Exposition.
We do we'll not to forget the work
and the workers of the past. Here are
the fountains whose streams have made
glad and beautiful the earth.
One hundred and twenty years ago
young man was moved by a divine
impulse to pass the borders of civiliza-
ton and build his cabin in the great
valley of tho Mississippi
In that early day, it was known as
the Holston settlement, part OF North
Carolina, which afterwards became
East Tennessee.
1t was wild but good land then.
The words oi an old history describing
a Land of Promise tells US of this coun
try: "A land of brooks of ater, of
fountains and depths that spring out
OF valleys and hills-a land of wheat
and barley and corn and honey-a land
whose stones are iron and out of hose
hills one may dig brass"
1t was then an unbroken forest from
Virginia to the fartherest west, save
here and there the cabin of the pioneer
or the wigwam of the savage.
Into this wilderness rode a young
man il 1910. He was separating him
self by choice and being separated by
divine purpose for great things.
History teaches that when God would
put great forces in the field, He, first
of all, separates the leaders to Himself.
Moses and Elijah were with Him in
the quiet and loneliness of the desert.
John the Baptist and Paul were with
Him in the wilderness. The busy, hur
rying, troddipg world were shut out
and they were shut in with infinite
wisdom, infinite power and infinite
love. What school One man for a
scholar and God for a teacher. Here
they learned of Him and with Him
held converse as man with his friends.
1t made life serious, earnest and
strong to be alone with God. and gave
to the world the most benefcieut char
actcrs found in the annals Of history.
CHARACTER OF SAMUEL DoAK.
Samuel Doak was separated from
kith and kin and put In the wilderness
of mountains and hills and savages, to
be the forerunner of great people and
the founder of institutions which have
been benediction to more than three
generations.
Obeying an impulse, like the apostle
of old, he must go into regions beyond,
and hither be came into this land where
now we dwell, as the "apostle Of learn.
ing and religion"
He was born in Augusta County,
Virginia, in August, l749, of Scotch.
Irish parentage. His early life was
one of struggle for self development,
that he might be q man as God in ntend-
ed. Working his way in the academic
course and then teaching to secure
means for further progresss, he is soon
found at Princeton. where he graduated