Rev. Joseph Brown
Tribute of Respect
(The
following minute was adopted by Harmony Presbytery at its last session in
reference to the death of Rev. Joseph Brown.)
Rev. Joseph
Brown was born in Robeson County, NC on the 7th of August 1795, and
died on the 19th day of May 1859. He was, therefore, nearly
sixty-four years of age when he died. His parents were William and Mary Brown;
his mother was the daughter of Archibald Campbell and his father was an Elder
in the Presbyterian Church for about forty years. One of his father's brothers
is Rev. Duncan Brown, DD of Tennessee, yet living. He had a nephew, Whitfield
Brice, now deceased, who was also a minister of the Gospel. He received a good
academic education at Philadelphus Academy, Robeson County, NC and, without
having graduated in any literary institution, he entered the Union Theological
Seminary, and passed through the curriculum of studies at the same time with
our late Brother P.E. Bishop. The Presbytery of Fayetteville licensed him to
preach the Gospel at its session at Ashpole Church on the 15th of
May 1830, and in the thirty-fifth of his age.
On the 13th
of January 1831, he was married to Miss Eliza Graham, who lived thirteen years
of matrimonial life, and died on the 6th day of November 1844. Two
sons survive their mother, of whom the elder graduated in Oglethorpe University
in July last, and has lately entered the Theological Seminary in Columbia, S.
C., and the younger son, Graham, is now a student in Davis College.
Mr. Brown
was united in marriage the second time to Miss Amanda C. Patterson, on the 15th
of June 1847, and one son, William T., of tender years, survives.
He preached
first to the churches of Laurel and Center, now two very large and important
congregations. His next pastoral charge was the Church of Philadelphus,
Ashpole, and Little Pee Dee. While he served these churches, he preached on
stated Saturdays at a station on Reedy Creek, Marion District; and afterwards
organized at that point what is now called Reedy Creek Church. In the year 1838
he was called to the church of Hopewell, of which he was pastor 'till his
death, a term of twenty-one years.
The subject
of our notice was, in person, somewhat above the ordinary stature of men, of
full and regular features, of gentle and benignant expression, and, in his
intercourse, affable, soft and respectful. He always won the confidence of
those with whom he conversed. Great tenderness and amiability characterized his
nature, so that his deep sympathies, as a man of God and minister of the Gospel,
were always ready to follow in unison with the sorrows of the afflicted.
He had a
mind well instructed in Divine things, sound, well balanced, conservative,
little speculative. His opinions were safe, his judgement not adventurous, and
his attachment to the tried and known policy firm; but with a timorous and
cautious step he advanced upon new and untried paths.
In the
councils of the church he learned in all debates to the side of known and
established practice, substantiating his opinions with mild and generous
argument. He had too much good sense and good nature ever to wound his brethren
with a caustic word or a poisoned insinuation. Yet would he bear a faithful
testimony against sin and the sinner. His sermons were always full, connected,
and culminating, abounding in tenderness of thought, fair argument, sound
speech, which could not be condemned. The attentive hearer never failed to be
rewarded with thought, which both enlightened the understanding and wanned the
heart. Though he always used a manuscript sermon in preaching, yet his earnest
manner and his solemn and affectionate intonations, so commended his regular
and instinctive sermons as to render it indescribable to many that he should
preach without his manuscript, for a period of twenty-nine years, in the very
prime of his physical and intellectual life.
Our deceased
fellow laborer served his generation in the ministry of the Gospel of Christ,
going in and out before the people of God in uprightness and fidelity, and
escaping the corruption of this wicked world with as few spots upon his
garments as is common to our fallen humanity. How faithfully, how blamelessly,
how earnestly, how efficiently, he discharged the duties of his holy office in
the pulpit, in his daily walk, in pastoral care, many now living can testify.
Many, who by his gentle hand, have been assisted to walk in the paths of
righteousness.
But he has
passed before us "The way of all flesh." His seat in our
ecclesiastical meetings is vacant and we are warned by his departure to increase
our diligence because the time is short.
After an
illness of more than six months, in which our brother was led by a way of sore
bodily pain and great chastening of spirit; but in every increasing
steadfastness of faith and hope, he at last sleeps in peace to wait the
resurrection of the Just.
In view of
this sad dispensation, RESOKVED: First, that this Presbytery recognize the
sovereign hand of God in removing from our body an able, experienced,
affectionate and godly minister. Second that the fidelity, long labors and
great usefulness, blameless life and peaceful death of our deceased brother,
shall be tenderly cherished. Third, that this Presbytery deeply sympathizes
with the family of the deceased, and pray that they may experience all the
faithfulness of God in fulfillment of his promises to the afflicted.
Original:
Emma Davis Collection, Bradley M. Buie
Transcribed
by Bradley M. Buie January 2000