REV. EDMUND SHACKLEFORD, OF GEORGIA.
Rev. Edmund Shackleford was born in Orange county, Va.,
June, 1781, but his father, soon after, removed to Elbert county, Ga. He first
united with Falling Creek Church, and, probably, began to exercise his gifts in
that region, and thence removed to Greene, and was some time member in County
Line Church. While pastor of Ridgeland, he taught a school, as many pastors
were compelled to do in that day, and even in the more enlightened age. In
November, 1811, he was chosen pastor of Milledgeville, which he supplied till 1822,
but did not remove his family to town till 1817. Here, also, he was compelled
to teach to sustain the heavy expenses of a large family.
Mr. S. was a natural orator and good English scholar. I do
not affirm that “the bees were at his
mouth” in the cradle, as runneth the fable concerning an ancient orator of
most persuasive speaking powers; but, so popular a preacher was he, when first
settled in Milledgeville, that his congregations were always the largest in
town.
About 1822, Mr. S.
removed to Morgan county, settled on a small plantation, and served the
churches at Antioch, Fellowship, Indian Creek, and Monticello. Here he
continued till 1829, and was, a few years, moderator of the Ocmulgee
Association—wrote a valuable circular in 1829, the year of the great revival.
While in Milledgeville, drinking spirits was fashionable with
both ministers and lay members, and Mr. S. was carried away with the flood. He
indulged in it so much as to bring the cause of religion into disrepute. His
congregation, which was the largest in town, dwindled to a mere handful, and
the church was well nigh extinction! He did not, to be sure, become dead drunk; but was every day excited by
alcohol. What a sad picture! yet it is a faithful one, and over which piety yet
weeps, and even then expostulated with the fallen yet infatuated man, but to no
purpose!
While residing in Morgan
the temperance cause began to make some impression on a few minds. Like most drinkers he was mad at it at first, and
resolved that no such shackles as subscribing a pledge should be put upon his
freedom. But, upon more sober thought, he determined to abstain privately, though the temperance society
was the object of his perfect scorn. In April, 1828, when the State Temperance
Society was organized, he was chosen its first Secretary. In 1830, at its
anniversary, Bethesda, Greene county, he delivered an address with much feeling
and great effect. He spoke on the evils of alcohol from experience, and his
immense congregation were in tears. When he first began to refrain he had the
agonies and horrors of a man getting
sober—his health seemed to fail. But said he, “I’ll die a martyr to the
cause, rather than drink again.”
While in Milledgeville he
was admonished by his brethren, and cautioned against the dangerous road he was
traveling—perhaps, however, not with all that kindness that wins and breaks a
heart. But said he, “I was offended that a suspicion
even existed that I should some day be overpowered
by liquor—and I drank sometimes when I did not thirst for the poison, to show I
would drink when I pleased—that I was an independent man, and would not be
controlled by officious interference!” But over this unwise, head-strong
course, he often wept “tears of blood.” Had he lived till the origin of the
Washingtonian Society in Baltimore in 1840, he would, no doubt, have entered
into their cause with a zeal and energy which would have resisted opposition.
Yes, methinks his noble spirit would have more calmly yielded to the summons of
the monster death, if, in prophetic vision, like old Simeon, he could have
viewed the “salvation” that was to rescue so many of his species from a
drunkard’s grave.
About 1829 he married his
second wife, and removed to Hancock county, where he died in the summer of
1830. His constitution had been injured by ardent spirits, and for his wayward
course he exercised deep repentance. He did all he could to efface the
impression and neutralize the influence which his bad habits had occasioned.
Like most of his
ministering brethren, he accumulated but little property. His orphan children were
left, in a great measure, destitute of the means of sustenance. Some of them,
however, have found a treasure since his departure, in the good hope through
grace of the forgiveness of sins. That must be a disinterested philanthropist
who is so forgetful of self, and all that is dear to self, as to spend his time
and expend his earnings in the service of the public, and leave his children to
the charity of a cold world! Such was Edmund Shackleford, and such were many
who have gone up to their reward on high. Many of those now laboring, have
talents and education to shine in any of the learned professions, and amass
immense wealth; but as they devote themselves to the churches and the public
wholly, ought not those who enjoy their services to provide for their present
wants, and, in prospect, for their weeping, needy orphans? The subject of ministerial
support has received a new impulse since Mr. S.’s death, and, it is hoped, will
continue to bear on the public mind, till the apostolic direction shall be
faithfully regarded.
From The Christian Repository and Family
Visitant, Volume VII, S. H. & Mrs. S. R. Ford, editors,
Louisville, KY: Bradley & Gilbert, pp. 288-290
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