Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-01-27
MiSSOuri'S Greatest Preacher.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE NOTED
BISHOP ENocH n. MARVIN
AND BIS FAMILY.
Brief Biography of Missouri's Famous
and Beloved Methodist Hin Son
Pastor of the II. E. Church,
South, in This City.
From the ST. Louis Repuhlic.

From the st. Lou Republic.
One of the best loved OF Missourians
was Bishop Enoch Marvin Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Though Bishop Marvin died more than
90 years ago, his name liz yet afamiliar
one In the homes Of Methodists
throughout this great State. He has
been called "Missouri's greatest
preacher" He was her most beloved
Bishop.
Bishop Marvin was the child OF
pioneer parents. Hit old home was
near the present Wright City, In War
rem County. There the greatest Meth
odist grew up, and near there he was
educated. There we're few schools In
that part of Missouri in the Bishops
boyhood, and yet no one could say
that Enoch Mather Marvin was un-
educated.
Born in 1923, the Bishop knew the
hardships of border life. He knew Its
advantages. He developed under
them. He also felt it's disadvantag es
and resolved to over come them. How
well he did so the world and his own
church know.
The various events in the Bishops
life have often been discussed by his
friends. Perhaps none has been the
subject of more controversy than the
story of his first sermon and the, din
ner which followed.
The first sermon was preached when
Marvin was q boy of IS. The Rev. D.
T. Sherman, pastor Of Bethlehem
church, near where Wentzville, Mo-,
is now, sen the young exhorter to ill
an appointment. He was an entire
stranger to the Bethlehem people. He
left his home, near Wrighs City, start
ing before breakfast, and found the
usual congregation waiting.
Writing of this episode, the Rev. J.
W. Cunningham quotes the Bishops
own words; The Bishop said:
"For a year I had grown rapidly and
had outgrown a welI-worn suit Of
c%lothes-the best l had. The coat was
blue jeans, whose sleeves had become
too short for my growing arms. My
vest was of like character, my pants
had been blue twilled cotton, but by
long wear and frequent washing had
lost the indigo color. My mother had
patched the ragged knees with pieces
of the original blue. The blue was
blue and the pale was very pale.
"Then and there I preached my
first sermon. I was hungry, but no
one invited me to dinner. I went to
my horse, mounted him and turned
mis- head homeward. Just then q man
rode up by me. said: Brother, do
you live on this road?' He replied:
Yes, about two miles from here.' I
[ said: well, 1 Am going to eat dinner
with you for 1 have had NO breakfast
and am very hungry He replied:
Certainly, l will be glad to have you
DO so.' And with him I dined.' The
man was Warren Walker, q substan-
,ial farmer and Methodist.
1t was in reply to the statement
published shortly before that Mar
vim had been compelled to dine
with a negro sexton that day. This
story has been revived from time to
lime in the PAST 20 years. Like other
Of it's kind, it Is always coming
life when everyone thought it quite
The story told above is
he true one. 1t has been substantiated
,y members of the Marvin family,
who often heard the Bishop laugh
about the occurrence. The story of
hat day is well known in the neigh
,orhood of the Bethlehem church, In
st. Charles county.
Mr.. Cunningham says: "That first
dinner, SO often credited to
"a negro SEXTON" was the beginning
If a lifelong friendship between
Warren Walker and Enoch NJ. Marvin
Ind their families.
at is related that one of the con-
yregation of that morning was q we'll
Known Missouri Legislator and pol
shed orator. He remarks to q friend
Ifter the service was concluded:
"'That fellow ought to stop trying to
,reach. 1t would be better for him to
% back to the farm and stay there.'"
In after years this man was one of
he Bishops firmest friends.
The Bishop was q homely man. He
ften told this amusing story at his
wn expense:
1t appears that the Bishop was rid
lg along a country road alone. Pres
ntly he caught up with q solitary
orseman who, in response to the
ishop's courteous question, said that
9 was going to o certain church,
here q week day service was to be
ED. He also volunteered the in
that he was going because
ishop Marvin was to be there.
"Have you never seen Bishop Mar
inquired the Bishop.
"No," said the man. 81 am very
to see him. They tell me that
3 is the ugliest man In the state Of
Iissouri. My neignbors around hero
ave always said that I was the ugliest
an. I want to 0 q man who is
glier than I am" |,
"You will not have to 90 far to
70 the ugliest man In the state,n
'sponded the Bishop.
The man looked at him wondering
81 am Bishop Marvin" said the : !.
/.
1t is said that Mr.. Ben Pierce, OF st. :
narles county, was the only member !. !.
the congregation ut Marvin's first !. .
rmon who remembered anything Of , /,
The sentence he recalled VISA this: !.
"When man came from the plastic !,
md OF his Creator" y
After he was made Bishop Mr.. Mar !,
- 1890 k~xL NJ ns~-.- -- Y