Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – The Life of Elder James S. Coleman – Part NINE of NINE

THOMAS E KRESAL ADMIN ·AUGUST 9, 2020

Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – The Life of Elder James S. Coleman – Part NINE of NINE

A Methodist class leader by the name of Yeaman was converted to the faith of the Baptists by this debate, and he has since become one of the leading preachers of the West. That class leader is now Elder Pope Yeaman, D.D., LL.D., Ph.D., twenty years Moderator of the General Association of Missouri, and he has been pastor of some of the greatest churches in the West.Dr. Coleman has for thirty-seven years served the Daviess County Association as Moderator, and for nineteen years he has been Moderator of the General Association of Kentucky. He is getting old, and as his picture, published in connection with this sketch, will show, he is feeble, but his energy will not let him rest. He is serving two weak, struggling churches, Grand Rivers and Morgantown, Ky., and when he falls it will be with the harness on.He can truly say: “I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith,” and with equal truth we can say for him that a crown of righteousness awaits him. 2 Tim. 4:7, 8.Bethel College conferred on him the title of D.D., and Hartford College that of Ph.D. He edited and published the Green River Baptist during the civil war, and he was at one time connected with the Western Recorder.It was Dr. Coleman who introduced the first resolution in the Southern Baptist Convention suggesting that the Whitsitt matter be looked into, and he was made chairman of the investigating committee. It was he who offered in the General Association of Kentucky that memorable resolution which brought on that great discussion, on the floor of the Association, that gave Whitsitt his death blow, and in a few days thereafter the notorious Professor resigned. Dr. Coleman was dreaded by Dr. Whitsitt and his followers as but few men were.Brethren, while we sojourn here,Fight we must, but should not fear;Foes we have, but we’ve a friend,One that loves us to the end.Forward, then, with courage go,Long we shall not dwell below;Soon the joyful news will come,Child, your Father calls, – come home.Presented by Thomas E. Kresal from: Pillars of Orthodoxy by Ben Bogard, 1900 pg. 343-45