DAVID PURVIANCE.

      David Purviance was born November, 14, 1766, in Iredell county, North Carolina. His father was a colonel in the Revolutionary War. The family moved, in 1791, to Sumner county, Tennessee. Here Col. Purviance had his second son, John, killed by the Indians, while in the field at work. Because of the frequent inroads of the savages Col. Purviance moved with his family to Cane Ridge, Bourbon county, Ky.

      About 1800 a very remarkable religious awakening took place in Kentucky and Tennessee. Hundreds were converted; many [430] believed they could hear the call of God to preach the gospel. The Purviances were all of the Presbyterian stock. One Presbytery dared against the rules of the old Blue Stocking church, to license many uneducated men to preach. This made a rupture which resulted in the formation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Quite a strong body of Christians in many parts of Kentucky and Tennessee. The Purviances espoused with zeal the tenets of the new sect. David was early instructed in Greek, Latin, and the higher branches of learning by a most excellent minister, Dr. John Hall. He married and settled on a small farm near old Caneridge Church. In his youth while he was pious he was not a preacher. His ambition rather ran to lead men as a statesman. Frequently he was elected to the legislature from Bourbon county, and though he had the rough exterior of the backwoodsman, he was a leader among men; for he loved humanity. Where there was suffering there was David Purviance to sympathize and help. The people loved him--idolized him. He vanquished in debate such men as John Breckinridge, of Lexington, and Felix Grundy, of Springfield. His power that made him Master of Assemblies was: Right and Light. He was enthusiastic in all he undertook. He was, a man of faith--he believed. Purviance was in emancipationist, like Clay and others. In the election for framing the new constitution, he was defeated, but elected to the legislature. He saw, with disgust, slavery fastened on the state, with no prospects for gradual emancipation. It was at this time he abandoned politics, and began to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. He united with Stone and others to be Christians only. In 1807 he moved to Ohio. He was one of the drafters and witnesses of that magnificent document, "The Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery." He was a brave man. Some of those who were with him in his work as a minister, went back to their old faith; but he was as true as steel to his convictions, and steadied by his wisdom and faith, many a wavering soul was encouraged and strengthened. In his backwoods home he was called to serve his state both in the Legislature and Senate. He was a great power for good in the Ohio Legislature as he had been in Kentucky. The defenseless and oppressed could always find a friend and benefactor in David Purviance. He opposed the Black boar of his state, and was at last defeated for the Legislature because he was true to the interests of the oppressed. He did not permit his service to the state to be anything less than service to God. He walked with God. His service was as true in the Senate Chamber of his state as in the church at Shiloh or New Paris. We have had no man in our ranks who could serve Cæsar and God so evenly and justly as David Purviance. John T. Johnson gave up political life because he could not face the corruptions even in his time. If Garfield, the grand man, becomes a politician, he fades out as a preacher; not so with Purviance. He was always known as a mighty prophet of God--a Samuel for God and truth. The last time Stone and Purviance met on earth was at New Paris, 1843. The whole congregation was moved to tears as these heroes embraced each other. Two men that had more to do in establishing the cause of primitive Christianity in Kentucky and Ohio than any others. On the 19th of August, 1847, David Purviance went away from this world of toil to meet his God. There were truly giants in those days.

[COC 430-431]