by Ancil Jenkins

During the cholera epidemic of 1873, Lipscomb used his horse and buggy to reach the sick. The trustees of the Fanning Orphan School pose for a photo- graph in 1906. Lipscomb is in the middle of the front row.

n 1976, the bicentennial year A Tender Heart open to their nieces and nephews, of the Declaration of Indepen- A benevolent spirit begins with a many living with them for years. dence, the Nashville Banner tender heart that feels the hurts of oth- With the help of Tolbert and Char- asked the Historical ers, bears with the failings of others lotte Fanning, was ISociety to select the most influen- and patiently allows them to change. able to show how deeply he cared for tial Tennesseans in history. The list Lipscomb’s deep emotions were shown orphans as well. The Fannings shared included three presidents of the United after the death of his son, an only child. a desire to provide a home and school States, numerous statesmen, educa- In 1862, while the war raged in Tennes- for orphan girls. Tragically, Tolbert Itors and extraordinary citizens. The see, David married Margaret Zellner of died in 1874. Ten years later, Charlotte man selected as number 14 was David Maury County, and in 1863 their son, moved to fulfill the couple’s dream. Lipscomb. Doubtless many wondered Zellner, was born. Their happiness was She selected 13 men, including Lip- why he was selected over so many short lived, for the boy died at the age scomb, to serve as a board of directors, prominent people. of nine months. deeding them 160 acres. These men His sterling qualities were not The heartbroken couple determined raised the necessary money and began those of many on the list. His per- to bury their son in Margaret’s fam- the Fanning Orphan School. sonal choice in life would have been ily cemetery. This decision required After a few years, Lipscomb was to be a farmer. Although a successful them to pass through both Union and selected chairman and remained so preacher, he was not eloquent as was Confederate battle lines. They arrived until his death in 1917. He cared deeply and others. In fact, he safely, and the funeral was the next for the girls and their welfare, visiting did not even look like a preacher and day. Lipscomb dealt with his loss like the school regularly. Few things could wore homemade clothes. many deeply emotional people. The keep him from his regular visits and An overlooked quality of this man day after the funeral he said, “I’ll just board meetings. was his great benevolent spirit. Al- have to work hard and try to forget.” though Lipscomb was often sharp and Tolbert Fanning recalled Lipscomb A Benevolent Heart cutting in his writings, he had deep saying, “I hoped to raise him up to Only a tender heart can feel others’ feelings for the poor, the needy and the work for the Lord; I shall have to work needs and seek to relieve them. After lost. His other great qualities are worthy all the harder myself.” the war ended in 1865, the South was of further study, but his caring spirit is Sadly, the Lipscombs had no more in terrible condition. The majority of exemplary and worthy of our imitation. children. However, their home was the battles had been fought on southern

26 • July 2010 soil, and much of the area lay in ruins. am prepared to sell at a great sacrifice. such success was a leader with a kind, The majority of workers were farmers, … Yours truly, Nathan W. Smith. Six benevolent and compassionate heart. but they had little with which to work miles of Ringgold, Ga., Aug. 16, 1878.” because one third of their livestock In the Gospel Advocate, J.M. Barnes Cholera Epidemic of 1873 had been killed or stolen. The spring made an appeal on behalf of Bro. Smith Cholera was a brutal disease of 1866 found them without seed, tools that resulted in $119.50 in contributions common in the 19th and early 20th and animals to work the fields. coming in to the Gospel Advocate of- centuries. It was caused by the inges- A letter from the Rocky Springs fices (equal to more than $1,700 today). tion of human waste, either from water church in pointed out that the Lipscomb sent part of the cash to Smith or food. The severity of the diarrhea congregation had 10 widows with 35 and with the remainder bought a good and associated vomiting led to rapid children, and they were destitute. In the Morgan horse that was five or six years dehydration and electrolyte loss. winter of 1864, the church building had old. Because the railroad agreed to take Nashville, like many other large been burned by the Union Army, and the horse to Chattanooga for half the cities, had a sanitation problem. It was most of the members were scattered. usual cost, Lipscomb sent Smith the built on a large limestone rock, and a A severe drought in the South in plow animal to enable him to plant a large part of the population lived along 1865-1866 compounded the problem. crop for the coming spring. several sluggish creeks. Raw sewage The crop failure for these years made As a result of Lipscomb’s constant ran into these and flowed into several the need for food and clothing more appeals, help flowed in from all parts springs that provided drinking water for desperate than ever. One man wrote of the country. He made arrangements the city. Several experts concluded that that he had heard his children cry for for Metcalfe Bros. & Co. in Nashville to this water acted like poison. The major- bread when he was not able to satisfy handle all boxes marked “For the Desti- ity of those dying lived in these lower their hunger. Another admitted, “I tute South.” Meanwhile, he traveled ex- areas and were mostly poor blacks. with my family, have set down to our tensively, asking brethren to come to the In one of the black sections of meals with only potatoes and syrup aid of these people. Lipscomb did not the city, more than 200 deaths were (sorghum molasses) to eat.” limit his appeals to Southern churches reported, and likely many others were Many preachers abandoned their but also reached out to the victors. On simply buried without records being evangelistic work in attempts to survive. the first Sunday in June 1866, he read kept. In all, more than 800 people died Lipscomb himself was not exempt from Smith’s letter before the brethren of the throughout Nashville. The disease loss. Union soldiers twice confiscated Second Church in Louisville, Ky. Then reached epidemic strength on June 7, It never occurred to Lipscomb to be offended with someone’s disagreeing with him or to limit the other’s freedom of expression. his horses and other farm animals while Lipscomb delivered a sermon on “fel- 1873, when 27 cholera deaths occurred. he was attempting to farm. lowship.” T.P. Haley, the local preacher, While the alarm was at its height, These conditions prompted Lip- joined in the plea, and $500 was raised about 1,500 people left the city. Not scomb to spearhead relief efforts (equal to more than $7,200 today). all the citizens fled; all the preachers, among . In January This effort developed into an op- save one, remained to as they 1866, the Gospel Advocate resumed portunity for estranged Northern and could. Young men from churches of publication with Lipscomb and Tol- Southern churches to cooperate and Christ remained in the city and worked bert Fanning as co-editors. Lipscomb have fellowship. James Challen of Ohio among the poor blacks. sent letters to a number of preachers wrote of the need in Lard’s Quarterly. Lipscomb wrote that any per- asking about their work. One reply W.K. Pendleton echoed Lipscomb’s ap- son, white or black, who died from from a dear friend, Nathan W. Smith, peal in the . Even the want of nursing and food was a touched him deeply: churches in England joined in, asking reproach on those who claimed to be “My Dear Bro. Lipscomb: You have their members to pray for the destitute . He did more than encour- done me many favors, for which I trust South and help as they could. age; he involved himself in caring I am still very grateful. I am in trouble When the crisis had passed, Lip- for the sick. He joined those working and greatly distressed. Will you say to scomb and his colleagues had raised in the black community on Granny your readers that if any of them want $100,000 to help the Southern needy White Pike. Going into their homes, a good farm, good improvements, (about $1.5 million in today’s cur- he cleaned and fed the sick. When the good water, good land, healthy, and a rency). Never before had churches of Catholic nuns needed transportation beautiful situation, within ten miles of Christ raised such large sums of money to work among the sick, Lipscomb Chattanooga, six miles of Ringgold, in such a short time for such a worthy shared his buggy with them. with many conveniences not named, I cause. Doubtless, one of the reasons for As a result of the epidemic,

July 2010 • Gospel advocate 27 Nashville planned a new sewage Kindness in Dealing direct competition with the Gospel Ad- system, changing an exceedingly filthy With Others vocate in Kentucky. When Lipscomb city into a clean one. Partially because In October 1864, Lipscomb asked announced the new publication, he said of Lipscomb’s leadership, example and J.W. McGarvey to consider the editor- it did not make him happy. McGarvey encouragement, the church of Christ ship of the Gospel Advocate when chided Lipscomb, and the gulf between grew in both numbers and prestige. it resumed publication. At that time, the two men grew wider. In the biography Crying in the Wil- McGarvey was the eminent Bible On another occasion, McGarvey derness, Robert Hooper summarized, scholar among wrote that the quality of Bible teach- “[Lipscomb’s] attitudes toward the churches. Although McGarvey was ing at the Nashville Bible School was needs of others during the crisis shows not interested, Lipscomb felt he had inferior to that offered at the College more clearly his concept of secured other preachers in Kentucky of the Bible, where McGarvey was than any other event of his life. It was to write for the paper. president. Again, Lipscomb disagreed the conviction of Mr. Lipscomb that McGarvey, along with Moses Lard, but did it in a spirit of love. the theory of Christianity cannot be Robert Graham and I.B. Grubbs, This conflict continued for years, separated from its practice” (154). started the Apostolic Times, a paper in expressing itself in different ways. When McGarvey visited Nashville in 1886, he enjoyed the hospitality of DO YOU HAVE A the Lipscombs. Although Lipscomb did not agree with McGarvey’s posi- CHOICE? tion on the missionary society and despite their clashes, he held McGar- You do when you choose us. vey in high regard. Lipscomb stated, “We have none other than the kindest feeling toward Bro. McGarvey, regard- ing him in error on this and some other points, we esteem him still one of the truest men we know, to the Bible and to his convictions of right” (Hooper 170). Lipscomb’s kindly, tolerant spirit prevailed. Toward the end of his life, McGarvey stated similar feelings for Lipscomb, saying that Lipscomb was one of the truest men he knew. Part of Lipscomb’s makeup was to Lakeshore Estates, established in May of 1952, has grown into state his own convictions positively at 2 individual facilities meeting the social, spiritual and physical all times and allow the widest margin needs of its residents. From independent and assisted living of freedom to those who disagreed to skilled nursing care, Lakeshore provides a caring, Christian with him. It never occurred to Lip- community with a dedicated staff. scomb to be offended with someone’s disagreeing with him or to limit the Lakeshore The Meadows Lakeshore Heartland other’s freedom of expression. 8044 Coley Davis Rd., Nashville 3025 Fernbrook Ln., Nashville Although Lipscomb is better known 615-646-4466 615-885-2320 for other achievements, his quiet, kind • State-of-the-art single level, private pay • 4-story high rise with Medicaid acceptance and benevolent spirit needs to be stud- nursing community • Nestled against a hillside with scenic • 2600 sq. ft. Dementia Activity Center view of Stones River Valley ied. His life is admirable, but it is not • 2 & 3 bedroom duplex homes for • 2 & 3 bedroom single family homes for so much to be admired as imitated. o independent living independent living Ancil Jenkins lives in Bellevue, Tenn., Call today to schedule a and may be reached by e-mail at ancilj@ bellsouth.net. complimentary lunch and personal tour! Bibliography Hooper, Robert E. Crying in the Wil- derness. Nashville, Tenn.: David Lip- scomb College, 1979. West, Earl I. The Life and Times of David Lipscomb. Delight, Ark.: Gospel EQUAL HOUSING Light, 1987. Quality people, quality care. For your quality of life. OPPORTUNITY

28 Gospel advocate • July 2010