The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-12-23
A VENERABLE PATRIARCH
DIR. MGEHEE FOR FIFTY YEARS
4 SOLDIER OF THE CROSS.
A Pioneer in Georgia Methodism and
Has Been a Power in the COun-
ellis of the Church.

A Pioneer in Georgia MethOdism and
Has Been a Power in the Coun-
ellis of the Church.
Hundreds of friends throughout
this section will read with interest
the following from the Dublin Cou-
rier-Dispatch about Rev. DR.. John B.
McGehee, for fifty years a soldier
of the cross.
Half century ago, when he en-
tered the ministry as a young man
and this whole country was almost
one vast wilderness, he was a cir
cult rider in this section. He has
since served this district as presid-
ing elder, and on many OCCASIONS has
visited Dawson, where he has a great
number of friends and admirers.
1t will be gratifying to them to
know that DR.. McGehee has not quit
active work altogether, but at the
recent session of conference was sent
to the church at Talbotton, where he
owns a home.
AC al ClOlG IlOII TIC DuOlIh Jd-
per, which was written on the eve
of the assembling of the recent SEES
sion of conference, is as follows:
zone of the surprises of the year
is the announcement of Rev John
B. McGehee, D. D., that he desires
to be relieved of active work.
For fifty-five years this great
preacher has been a power in the
South Georgia Conference and in the
pulpit. He has been the strongest
man Intellectually that the conference
ever had. BY the sheer force of his
intellect and his indomitable will he
has been a figure in conference af-
fairs that could not be disturbed.
His first appointment was to
Dublin when this city was hardly a
village. From that humble appoint
ment he went to the top, and has
remained there ever since. He has
been presiding elder longer than any
other man in the conference. He has
decided Of his own vOlition to quit
active work. He may decide to
locate, which means withdrawal from
the conference, or he may superan-
nuate. Whatever he does he will
leave the conference with the love
and esteem of all his brethren.
The board of stewards of the
Waycross Methodist church. learn
,ng OF his desire to cease active work,
adopted a strong set of resolutions.
OF which the following is a part:
Like Moses, he has ever been
leader; like Jonathan, he has ever
loved his fellOW-men; like Enoch. he
mas walked with God; like jeremiah.
ne has hurled denunciations against
the shams and denominations of his
time; like Paul, he has preached and
planted; like ApollOs, he has wa
tered, and now standing at the sum-
nit OF most glorious career he NAV
well pride himself upon the fact that
through all the years of his long
ministry God has given the increase,
Tall and of commanding figure
suggestive in appearance of the ma
trlarchs OF old, gifted with stvle
broad IN its sweep and powerful in
us expression, endowed with a mind
we'll stored with the treasures of lit-
erature and philosophy, but stronger
and richer still in It's grasD of thn
philosophy of life and of religion he
mas been for years one of tie most
foremost pulpit orators of his dav
whist the influence which his strong
ana beautiful life has had in the re-
hglous and spiritual uplift of his peo-
pie is beyond all the powers of com
putation'
1t will be a source of great re-
greet to thousands of people when
they learn that DR.. McGehee has de-
ctded to quit active service. He has
however, earned the right to rest
from his labors. He mas accom-
plished his Iife's work.
May the good doctors future life
be strewn with roses, and NAV he
be spared many years yet to his rel
atiyes and friends"