Baptist Church History – Published by Jim Curran – Facebook

  Daily Baptist Encyclopedia Post by Jim Curran

Butler, Rev. David E., who has deservedly been greatly honored by the Baptists of Georgia with places of trust, was born in Wilkes County. When a young man and a practicing lawyer, in Washington, Wilkes County, he was the personal friend of Jesse Mercer, whose will he wrote, and whose executor he was. Mr. Butler is a graduate of Mercer. It was not until after his marriage that he felt constrained to enter the ministry; while living on his farm in the country he was unable to restrain his inclinations to point sinners to the Lamb slain for us; he gradually became convinced that it was his duty to preach, and he submitted to ordination, and entered upon the ministry. He has been an eloquent pleader for Jesus and a good preacher. He has had charge of various churches, while his home has generally been at Madison. Before the war he was a wealthy planter, and never sought remuneration for pulpit services. Since the return of peace he has maintained his farming interests, not being dependent on the ministry. In the Central Association he has been a ruling spirit, and frequently has been its moderator, by election. For five years, from 1872 to 1876, in- clusive, he was president of the Georgia Baptist Convention ; for many years he has been the president of the board of trustees of Mercer University; and for several years he was the efficient editor of the Christian Index. Since the war his influence in the denomination has been great and beneficial, and he has almost been the central figure around which Georgia Baptist interests have gravitated. Mr, Butler is an eloquent speaker and an exceedingly ready man, possessing a fine command of language. He is universally held in the highest esteem, and amid many diversified employments has never ceased eloquently to proclaim the gospel. As the friend of education and missions, the fiend and supporter of Mercer and the Convention, he stands out in bold relief in the denomination. He is exceedingly popular all over the State, among all classes and denominations; his name has been freely spoken of in connection with the gubernatorial office of Georgia.

From the Baptist Encyclopedia by William Cathcart photo from findagrave