Ministering In This Age

To which generation would I like to live and minister? Would it be during the early to mid-1800s, my great-great-great granddad Col. Sameul Doak McMahan's time? At that time Protestants began moving into Texas, which belonged to Mexico with the approved religion being Catholicism. In the Spring of 1832, Neeham Alford, a local Methodist preacher, and Sumner Bacon, a Cumberland Presbyterian, held a two days' meeting in Sabine County near Milam, Texas.

There was opposition from a Mexican officer Gaines and others about their meeting. An hour prior to the time of preaching, a Mr. Johnson appeared with a huge whip shouting that he would horsewhip the first preacher who entered the stand. Rev. Alford arrived during the midst of the disturbance and repeated Johnson's threat to Alford. "Well," he said, "I am as able to take a whipping as any man on this ground." Alford was a muscular and strong man who was nicknamed bulldog preacher in Louisiana. Johnson looked at the brawny arm of the preacher and quietly backed down.

During the service, someone told Col. Piedras, the Mexican commander at Nacogdoches, Texas, about the Protestant gathering. He asked, "Are they stealing horses?" "No." "Are they killing anybody?" "No." "Are they doing anything bad?" "No." "Then let them alone."

Later, in July, 1833, Rev. James P. Stevenson held a camp-meeting in the neighborhood of Col. Samuel Doak McMahan near San Augustine, Texas, some 20 miles from Milam. In September of that year, another camp meeting was held, which resulted in the organization of a church with 48 members, with Col. McMahan selected as class leader. The church we know as McMahan's Chapel United Methodist Church.

Col. McMahan was converted to the Christian faith on the bank of the local Aish Bayou in 1832 during a time of private prayer. He was licensed to preach in 1837. Therefore, he often preached at McMahan's Chapel, named after him.

I might have liked to live and minister during this day with its adventures and challenges, with its horses and buggies...I wouldn't choose to live and minister during that generation though.

It was said of Col. McMahan that no one lived in his family without being converted. I am thankful that he was instrumental in the conversion of my great-great grandfather, James Thomas Patton Irvine, who married his daughter Susan.

To which generation would I like to live and minister? Would it be during the last half of the 19th century, when J.T.P. Irvine lived, 1815-1871?

It was during a time when there was unrest for many reasons. Texas was wanting independence from Mexico. Texas' independence came in 1836 with the Battle of San Jacinto, where J.T.P. Irvine served as chaplain. It was during this time that United States was split on the slavery issue. The whole nation divided, including most denominations. In 1844, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South began.

J.T.P. Irvine was admitted on trial for ordination in 1842 with his first appointment being Shelbyville, Texas. He had a full career serving in churches in this area. He was both a reserve delegate and a regular delegate to two or three General Conferences. He was the presiding elder (what we now call District Superintendent) of Palestine and Marshall Districts.

There is a fascinating story surrounding his life and times involving the East Texas Vendetta. It was a war between the Regulators, who professed to punish thieves; the Moderators, who sought to hold the Regulators in check; and the Conservatives, who belonged to the law-and-order party. It has been estimated that 100 persons lost their lives over this rift.

In the Fall of 1844, some 3,000 people were armed, and it appeared that a civil war was imminent. President Sam Houston ordered out the militia and things quieted down. During this time, J.T.P. Irvine came close to being killed one night by mistake. At a certain house, a party of Moderators were expecting an attack. As a precautionary measure, they had attached a bell to the gate, so that if anyone opened it, it would be an alarm. Rev. Irvine, who was on the Shelbyville circuit, rode up to the Moderators' house to spend the night. The bell rang, and he was fortunately recognized, and his life was spared.

Through the work and ministry of J.T.P. Irvine and others and with God's help, the feuding began to subside. It was not uncommon that men, loaded with arms to kill each other, were struck under conviction, and knelt side by side, and experienced God's grace and forgiveness.\

I might have liked to live and minister during this day with its unique adventures and challenges, with its horses and buggies...I wouldn't choose to live and minister during that generation though.

To which generation would I like to live and minister? Would I want to live during the time of my great grandfather, Benjamin Irvine from 1848-1890?