Life of Patrick Hues Mell

THE LIBRARIES Bequest of Frederic Bancroft 1860-1945 (:^^/tccc^ LIFE OF Patrick Hues Mell BY HIS SON P. H. MELL, JR BAPTIST BOOK CON;gE^. Kntered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1895, hy . P. H. MELL, Jr., In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. ^ 2 9 y^ ^ Electrotyped BY ROBERT ROWELL, LOUISVILLE, KY. RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE BAPTISTS OF THE SOUTH IN MEMORY OF DR. P. H. MELL, WHO WAS FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS AN EARNEST DEFENDER OF THEIR FAITH, CONTENTS. PAGE. Preface 7 CHAPTER I. Struggles and Trials of Early Life 9 CHAPTER II. College Days 16 CHAPTER III. The Return to Georgia 27 CHAPTER IV. Called to Preach the Gospel 32 CHAPTER V. Marriage. Election to Professorship in Mercer Uni- versity. Ordination 45 CHAPTER VI. Pastoral Work 54 CHAPTER VII. Difficulties in Mercer University, Followed by His Resignation 75 CHAPTER VIII. Honors 103 CHAPTER IX. Controversies 108 CHAPTER X. Amusing Incidents 125 Tl CONTENTS. CHAPTER XL page. The War 1 35 CHAPTER XII. Abilities as a Presiding Officer 149 CHAPTER XIII. Removal of Mercer University 170 CHAPTER XIV. Illness 178 CHAPTER XV. Publications 184 CHAPTER XVI. Election as Chancellor of the University of Georgia . .187 CHAPTER XVII. Dormitory System 191 CHAPTER XVIII. Election as Professor of Theology in Mercer Uni- versity 207 CHAPTER XIX. Efforts Towards Completing the Technological School as a Department of the University of Georgia 215 CHAPTER XX. College Government 218 CHAPTER XXI. Last Illness and Death 244 .CHAPTER XXII. Memorials 252 PREFACE. The work of compiling this biography has been one of peculiar pleasure to the writer. His own affection and veneration for his noble father have been greatly intensified by the close study of this admirable character. There was a certain degree of hesitation in undertaking the work, and considerable embar- rassment during its progress, for fear that the partiality of the son would overdraw the admirable traits of the father. Because of this em- barrassment the author has, in many instances, simply incorporated documents and opinions from others without comment, feeling satisfied that this evidence would speak in su£ficiently forcible language. Dr. Mell was so often thrown into controversy with his brethren in discussing great questions of religious and secular importance that it has been difficult to avoid personal allusions. It is hoped these may not be misconstrued and open anew long buried unpleasant differences which time and circumstances have healed and recon- ciled. Viii PREFACE Another difficulty in the way of the writer has been the proper selection of what should go into the book among so much that is interesting and valuable. The life portrayed in these pages was varied and active. This man was distinguished as a preacher of the Gospel, an educator, an author and a parliamentarian, and much of interest could be written of him in each of these fields of labor. This book is now given to the public with the hope that it may receive the approval of the friends and admirers of Dr. Mell. And perhaps some young man struggling with poverty, and endeavoring to rise in spite of adverse surround- ings, may derive lasting encouragement from these pages; and be stimulated to follow the example of this noble Christian. He died in the evening of his days and his last strength was given to his Father's work; like Paul, he could say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. ^' P. H. MELL, Jr. CHAPTER I. STRUGGLES AND TRIALS OF EARLY LIFE. Patrick Hues Mell was born July l&th, 1814, in Walthourville, Liberty county, Georgia. His father. Major Benjamin Mell, was raised at Laurel Hill, one mile from Midway Church; and his mother, Cynthia Sumner Mell, was the grand- daughter of Edward Sumner, who moved from South Carolina to Liberty county with the early settlers of that portion of Georgia. Cynthia Sumner was married to Major Benjamin Mell on the 19th of February, 1807, and by this union were born four sons and four daughters. P. H. Mell was the second in age, and the eldest son. Major Mell, upon the death of his father, suc- ceeded to a large and valuable property that enabled him to supply his family with many of the comforts of life. He was a very liberal man, sympathetic by nature, and generous to a fault. This disposition induced him to stand security in an evil hour for one who commanded his sym- pathy. The sum involved was a large one, and the party failing to meet the obligations when the note fell due. Major Mell was compelled to 10 LIFE OF PATRICK HUES MELL. pay the security, and his property was so much involved that he was unable to extricate himself. The greater part of his estate was swept away and his family was placed in straitened circumstances. This financial reversal produced such an effect upon his mind that his health gave way and within two years he died. His wife followed him two or three years later. P. H. Mell, being the eldest son, the support and care of the family fell upon his shoulders. When his father died he was only fourteen years of age, and but sixteen or seventeen at the time of his mothers death. He was thus deprived of his greatest source of comfort and strength. A mere youth without experience, he was forced to rely solely upon his native genius to provide a means of support for himself and dependent brothers and sisters. He gave up the small remnant of his share of the property, saved by his father from the wreck, to the support of his brothers and sisters, and started out with the determination to obtain an education, and as far as possible recover the social position and property that had been lost by his father's misfortune. During the life of his parents he was given the ad- vantages of good schooling and a thorough foundation was laid upon which to build the excellent education that in after years he successfully acquired. With this preparatory STRUGGLES AND TRIALS OF EARLY LIFE. 11 training to start with, at seventeen years of age he taught, for a time, a primary school in a log hut with a dirt floor and thus secured the funds required to supply the absolute necessities of life, and was enabled also to add a small sum to the income for the benefit of his brothers and sisters. In Walthourville, his native place, there was an excellent English and Classical Academy in which he soon obtained entrance as a scholar where he paid for his instruction by teaching some of the primary classes. Among his schoolmates in boyhood was Dr. John Jones, the eminent Presbyterian minister. Dr. Jones, in writing to a friend since Dr. Mell's death, and speaking of this early time, says: "His becoming a Baptist minister may be attributed to the fact that a few members of old Midway church, (the Sumners among them,) joined a Baptist church which was organized at Sunbury, Liberty county, Georgia, in the early part of this century. My impression is that Dr. Mell's father was not a church member.* His mother was a woman of marked individuality of character, intel- lectual and a truly Godly woman, brought up in the strict- est mode of old Congregationalism, and, no doubt, per- fectly familiar with the Westminster Shorter Catechism, which was thoroughly taught in old Midway church in ancient and in modern times. Dr. Mell was all Sumner, a perfect reproduction of his mother, in form, in features, in character and in mind, proving the old saying: 'that men of mark are chiefly indebted to their mothers for * It is true, as Dr. Jones states, that Major Mell was not a member of the church, but he professed conversion and was a regular attendant on divine services of the Baptist church at Sunbury. I suppose his ancestors were members of the Episcopal Denomina- tion because his father descended from the English Cavalier stock. 12 LIFE OF PATRICK HUES MELL. their superiority.' Dr. Mell manifested in early life an unusual love for knowledge, with great ability in acquir- ing all the branches of learning. But the distinguishing characteristic of the man was self reliance, autonomy; he was ever brave and hopeful, I never saw him depressed, although surrounded in early life by great dojnestic pressure caused by financial losses and changed circumstances. Dr. Mell was indeed a remarkable man." In conversation with Dr. Jones he said that Mell was a leader among the school boys; and although of slender frame he was vigorous, active and high spirited, and ever ready and prompt not only to resent an insult to himself but also to defend his friends, especially those who were weaker than the oppressor. He had a strong sense of justice and was frequently the referee for school boy differences. Besides this his intelligence, vivacity and ready wit made him a most agreeable companion. When he made a promise he fulfilled it; he was true to his friends, and his integrity won the love and con- fidence of his schoolmates. After remaining at the Walthourville school for a short time, P. H. Mell was offered a good position in the Academy at the Ridge near Darien. This Academy was under the direction of Col. Bradwell, and Mr. Mell continued his studies under him and paid for the tuition by acting as Assistant in the school.

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