Blitch, Joseph Luke, D.D., was born March 3, 1839, in Duval Co., Fla

Baptist Church History Daily Baptist Encyclopedia Post by Jim Curran

Blitch, Joseph Luke, D.D., was born March 3, 1839, in Duval Co., Fla.; is the son of Rev. Benj. Blitch, an eminent Baptist preacher. Hewas converted at fifteen, but ‘‘ boy conversions’ being then unpopular, he was baptized two years later. He began talking for Jesus as soon as con- verted, and the Sunday after his baptism he went fifty miles to hear a great preacher. Crowds had gathered at Ready Creek; the preacher failed, and young Brother Blitch took charge of the meeting, and almost unconsciously began preaching from the words, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’? From that day till now he has preached every Sunday save one from one to four sermons. He graduated at Mercer University in 1863, the only graduate that year, preaching to three churches while in college, having been ordained by the Macedonia church in 1860. He was pastor at Aberlare, near Augusta, several years. At one time he im- mersed 99 converts before leaving the water. He next served Shiloh, Macedonia, and Lafayette churches; thence to Macon, Ga., where he estab- lished the Second church, and at the close of a two years’ pastorate left it with a good house and over one hundred members. He was pastor one year at Little Rock, Ark.; two years at Marshall, Texas; Boenville, one year; Lee Summit, Mo., three years. In 1873 he went to California: was pastor at Dixon six years, taking an active part, officially, in education and mission interests. In 1879 he located at Walla Walla, Washington Terri- tory, and has already organized a vigorous church. About 2000 have been converted under his minis- try, of whom he has baptized 1636. La Grange University, Mo., conferred upon him the degree of D.D. Several of his sermons have been published, one of which, “Thy kingdom come,” so delighted Spurgeon, of London, that he said of it, “ Every sentence carries the sound of a glorious victory. I love it.” From the Baptist Encyclopedia by William Cathcart