The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-05-29

\
. The call ito preach the Gospel came
early in the life of Rev. Mr.. John
sou. Born in Robeson county, N. c.,
i'll 1909, he received little education
up to his fifteenth year, having been
apprcnticed to tailor. At that age,
however, he moved with his parents
to the historic Cheraw District, liv-
ing just outside of the old town.
Here he was able to commence his
education for the ministry and the
gentle words of the elder Thornwell,
who at that time assisted in the in
struction of the men in that district,
had much to do with the decision he
formed to enter the ministry. He
joined Il small church., now in Har-
mony Presbytery, and in 1889 attend
ed the Columbia Seminary for year
His previous instruction served him
well and he obtained his license to
preach year later. Going back to
Cheraw he served short time, but
his first direct charge was the New
Hanover church in Newbern, N. C.
He relieved the venerable John B.
Tate of much of the arduous labor
the latter had performed among the
people of that district for several
years. Later he took charge Of the
Philadelphia church, near Charlotte,
and in 1916 he went to Mississippi
where he had heard there was great
need for Presbyterian workers. He
organized church at Water Valley,
Miss, and several others in the i'm
mediate territory, and, after leaving
them in trusty hands, went to Ger
mantown, Tenn, the Presbyterians OF
that city being very anxious for this
man who had made such reputation
not only for eloquent appeals to those
outside of the church, but for hard
work that brought results and re-
.;ulted in much good for the religious
community wherever he labored.
Called to Dallas.
It was necessary short time after
ward for him to go to Florida, but
while there for his health he insisted
on work and when completely recov-
cred church at Dallas, then a vii
lage, called him. Here he has work
ed for the remainder of his life, low
ed by not only the members of his
own denomination, but by every one.
lie is still able to engage in active
pastoral duties and there is little of
the detail of church work that es-
capes him and he is able to tell en-
actly how the business of the church
| is conducted as he was when in years
back hc made a Southern reputation
as an organizer and one who would
| get results where others failed.
See before you now a man of me-
dium height, with broad shoulders
and a carriage that would be erect
were it not for the failing eyesight
that has made the stoop and the cane
necessary. His voice has not that
cracked sound so common in very old
people and his laugh is as cherry and
| hearty as ever. Do not think that he
will be sensitive about his age. ga
plain and simple life did it, he says.
| And yet the old man who has so
long stood as testimony for all
:!:at is gcdly knows that it cannot be
much longer. And the sweet-faced
old lady by his side only hopes that
| The summons will also call for her
when the time comes. They know
! that it is set and fixed and as lon" az
they are allowed they will set them
! selves for the tasks appointed, no
matter how hard.
His present wife was Miss Sue
Jett Thomas Of Elberta, Ga, to whom
he was married in 1885; his first
wife, Miss Mary Susan Ann Means
of Concord, N. c., having died two
years previously. BY the first wife
there are eight children, nearly all
settled in the Southwest and all sue
cessful.
He has visited several general as
semblies Of his church and was
member Of those Of 1862 and 1864,
just after the organization Of the
South hern Presbyterian church. The
congregation of the church in Dallas,
where he has been so long, sent him
to the assembly just closed as a deli
cate compliment to their aged minis