The following obituary of Sion Bass is taken from The Gospel Messenger, Vol. 7, No. 6, June
1885 (Butler, Ga., pp. 320-322). Also, a biography of Sion Bass
can be found in The Gospel Messenger
HERE.[iii]
ELDER SION BASS.
Elder Sion Bass was born August 11th, 1802, in
Sumner county, Tenn. and died September 27th, 1884; aged 82 years, 1 month and
16 days. In his second year his father moved to Wilson county, then a
wilderness. At the age of 21 he was married to Miss Sallie Philips, who now
survives him at the age of 82 years. In about 18 months after his marriage he
became concerned about his salvation, and remained in that condition about 18
months, which was about the year 1825, in which the Lord revealed himself as
his Saviour. He joined the Baptist Church at Spring Creek, Wilson county, in
the year 1827, and commenced preaching in the year 1830. After hearing him and
proving him about 18 months, the church was satisfied with his gift, and called
for his ordination. A presbytery was called, consisting of the following named
elders: James Bond, Levi Durham and John Jones. He was shortly afterward called
to the care of Round Lick Church, and served her as pastor for 45 years. He
also served Brush Church near 40 years. When the innovation began to creep in
the churches, and Associations caused by the Fuller doctrine, he was among the
first to oppose them, taking a bold stand against the State Convention; in a
word, opposing the institutions of men being connected with the church. He was
among the first to withdraw from Salem Association on the account of those
institutions. He was in the organization of the Round Lick Association of the
Primitive Baptists, and served as Clerk of the Association 28 years; and after
he resigned the clerkship he was elected Moderator several times. He was a good
disciplinarian, as long as he could hear well (he became deaf in his last
days). He attended as messenger from his church (Round Lick, having joined by
letter from Spring Creek) forty sessions without missing one. He was greatly
afflicted with a cough the last 35 years of his life, but, strange to say, it
never interfered with his speaking except about twice, in his last efforts. His
last discourse was on the fifth Sunday in August, 1884, near his home. In
preaching he referred to the doctrine he had contended for during his ministry.
He said he was not afraid to risk it. He preached about thirty minutes, with
great effect. In June, the first Sunday, 1883, he preached the next to the last
sermon he ever preached, which was able.
In
his last sickness he said the end was near. He bore his sickness with patience,
waiting patiently for the summons. About midnight on Friday night he had a
spell of coughing which lasted near an hour, after which he lay easy on his
side; then he turned on his back and put his hands across his breast and lay
that way near half an hour, and breathed his last, dying like one going to
sleep.
Brother
Bass was a gifted man, mighty in the scriptures, an able defender, a good
speaker, and a mighty reasoner. There were but few that were his equals; sound
in the faith, contending for the salvation alone of God’s people by grace, they
having no qualification in nature to do good works. The doctrine of election
and predestination of God’s people were great themes with him. He was a man
with untiring energy. It was several years he was nearly alone in the Round
Lick Association—only one other old minister, and he was not able to travel;
yet he traveled, and done all he could to keep the churches together until the
Lord raised up more preachers. When the Parker two-seed heresy sprung up he
opposed it, contending for the salvation of the Adam sinner. He has left his
dear old companion, a Primitive Baptist, who is blind, to grieve at the present
parting, but to soon meet again, to be with Jesus forever; also, eight children
to mourn his death—some entertaining a hope to meet him, while others have not
expressed a hope. Children, how do you feel on the subject, some not having discharged
their duty? Will you not follow Christ, as your father has done, who could say
when his departure was at hand, I have fought the good fight I have kept the
faith, and hence there is a crown of righteousness laid up for me the Lord, the
righteous Judge, shall give me in that day, etc.?
Commerce, Wilson Co., Tenn. P. M. LANCASTER
The biography of Archamac Bass is taken from History
of Middle Tennessee Baptists: with special reference to Salem, New Salem, Enon
and Wiseman Associations by John Harvey Grime (Nashville, TN, Baptist
and Reflector, 1902).
ELDER ARCHAMAC BASS.
Elder Bass was born
December 29, 1800, one mile north of where Watertown now stands, in Wilson County,
Tennessee. He was the son of Ezekiel Bass and an elder brother of Elder Henry
Bass. His education was limited—only such as he could secure at the common
schools of his day.
He
gave his heart to God and was received into the fellowship of Round Lick
Baptist Church November, 1820, and was most probably baptized by Elder Thos. Durham,
the pastor. From the very start he became an efficient worker in the church,
and in June, 1822, he was chosen clerk to fill the vacancy occasioned by the
death of John Gill, which position he held till July, 1833.
In
August, 1836, he was ordained to the ministry by Round Lick Church, the
following acting as Presbytery, viz.: Elders Cantrel Bethel, Joshua Lester, William
Dale, H. W. Pickett, John Borum, Thomas P. Moore, John Bond and Sion Bass.
The
next year after his ordination the division over the mission question came, in
which he took a very active part. He was a member of the Association at New
Hope when the matter culminated.
His ministerial life was
short, a little less than ten years. He did very little pastoral work,
preferring to give his time to destitute sections. He traveled considerably as
missionary. He was called to the care of Round Lick Church a short time before
his death, but soon resigned to return to his missionary work. He did much of
which we can secure no data. He was a great evangelist and witnessed many
conversions. Among those he baptized I note Deacon J. S. Womack and Elder
William Borum.
A short time before he
died he moved his family to DeKalb County and settled on Smith’s Fork Creek. He
purchased a fine farm here, which he thought would secure his family a living
while he broke the bread of life to others. He was giving himself wholly to the
work, when the Master said, “It’s enough, come up higher.” He died as he had
lived, full of faith in him whom he served. On an unpretentious slab in the old
Salem Cemetery at Liberty, DeKalb County, I find the following:
“Elder A.
M. Bass, born December 29, 1800; died September 19, 1845.
“‘For
he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and faith, and much people were
added unto the Lord.’”
The
little we have been able to gather concerning this dear brother creates a
thirst for more.
His
death in the prime of life and the very zenith of his ministerial work was like
the withering of a full-blown rose by an early autumn frost. The light was
blown out when it shone the brightest. He went from labor to refreshments at
high noon.
Baptist and Reflector, Thursday, August 31, 1899, page 8
[i] Also spelled Archamack and
Archimac.
[ii] Phillips Family History: a Brief History of
the Phillips Family, beginning with the Emigration from Wales, and a Detailed
Genealogy of the descendants of John and Benjamin Philips, Pioneer Citizens of
Wilson County, Tenn., Harry Phillips, Lebanon, TN: The Lebanon
Democrat, 1935.
[iii] I could not determine
the place of interment of Sion Bass.
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