EV. JESSE K. COLE was born in Chatham county, North Carolina, in the year 1801, and died in 1853. He was the son of Rev. Reuben Cole and Mary his wife. His father was a Methodist minister for thirty years before his death. He had three brothers that were Methodists, two of whom were preachers. His mother joined the Episcopal Methodists at the age of twelve years and lived and died a shouting Methodist. She said, "I had rather my sons would be good men than to be great men and wicked." His father moved to East Tennessee, when Jesse was quite young. [218]

      Elder Jesse K. Cole professed religion at the age of thirteen, joined the Episcopal Methodists at the age of eighteen, and lived in that Church more than eighteen years. He was a licensed exhorter and preacher the same length of time. Then he withdrew and joined the Methodist Protestant Church, but not finding the work any more congenial, he finally joined the Christian Church. Before he left the Methodist Protestant Church he published the following prospectus, but finding that he was not likely to be sustained and that he was not sufficiently "warm and popular," as he says, "to give a welding heat," he left them and took a stand on Bible ground:

      "Proposals of publishing in Richmond or Petersburg, Virginia, a new religious paper, to be entitled "The Christian Methodist Investigator and Earnest Inquirer after Truth." In issuing the "Investigator," the design is not to make an impression on the public mind that subjects have not heretofore been investigated by able men; not that the Episcopal and Protestant Methodists are not Christians, but to propose a plan upon which they can be consistently united, and to investigate those points of doctrines, etc., for which the Editor has been objected to in said churches. He thinks all Christians can become united in one body so as to live peaceable. He designs, first, proposing a creed for investigation, to see how near all Christians can come together. This can be done through religious papers. And then, secondly, Church Polity, etc."

      On the 22nd day of February, 1840, he united himself to the Christian Church at Mt. Zion meeting house in Orange county, North Carolina, from which church he received authority to preach. But in 1839, he had attended the Conference at Old Lebanon, and was invited to an honorary seat. On October 2, 1840, at the North Carolina and Virginia Conference at Union meeting [219] house, in Orange (now Alamance) county, North Carolina, he was a candidate for membership and was received into the Conference. He was appointed on the committee of correspondence, "on the subject of union between the Christian churches represented by this Conference and that in connection with the Palladium." He was an itinerant for the ensuing year and was appointed to the Neuse River circuit, in North Carolina. The circuit consisted of Hillsborough, O'Kelly's chapel, Pope's chapel, Union (Virginia), New Comfort, New Hope, Kedar, Sharon, Hepsibah, and Black Walnut.

      A Methodist lady on learning that he had become a member of a third church said she hoped he had gotten into the right church (?) at last. To this insinuation he replied, "Thank you, sister, I hope so myself." "We hear it said that three rounds in Jacob's ladder represent, 1st, Faith; 2ndly, Hope; 3rdly, Charity. I have lived in only three states: North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. I joined the Episcopal Methodists in Tennessee, the Protestant Methodists in Virginia, and the Christians, South, in the good old North State. With the M. E. I obtained faith in the one Mediator, but finding I was rather bound up by new created laws, I tried the M. P. hoping to have better times, but found they would not carry reformation far enough. I have taken my stand on the broad foundation of the Word of God, on which with love or charity I invite the pious of every church."

      In 1841, at the Conference at Apple's church, in Guilford county, North Carolina, the "previous ordination of Brother Jesse K. Cole was sanctioned and confirmed" by this body. He was appointed a delegate to the North Carolina Christian Conference. He also served as pastor of Good Hope, Pope's chapel, and other churches in that vicinity and accomplished much good. In 1842, he attended both the called Conference at Union, Alamance [220] county, when the "Christian Sun" was projected, and the regular Conference at Union, Halifax county, Virginia.

      In 1843, he attended the Conference at Pleasant Grove, Randolph county, North Carolina, and was still laboring in what was known as Neuse River circuit. He was also at the Conference at Hanks' chapel, in Chatham county, and by the committee on itinerancy was appointed to travel the ensuing year, being requested to act as a special agent for the "Sun" and to receive "20% of all moneys collected on new subscriptions." "Elder Cole was selected to attend the approaching session of the Bethel Conference in this State" as fraternal messenger.

      In 1845, at the Conference at Apple's chapel, he was appointed on the committee on itinerancy, and on that of education. The committee on education recommended "consent to the formation of an educational society" merely. The committee on itinerancy assigned him to "the Raleigh circuit." He was also on the presbytery to ordain Joseph Evans and James M. Minnis, and was appointed to attend the "Freewill Baptist Conference in this State;" and was also on the publishing committee in regard to printing and "what extent our Editor will be entitled to remuneration." At the Conference at Union, in Orange (Alamance) county, in 1846, he served on the committee on itinerancy and as chairman of the committee on duties of Elders, Deacons, and private members. He was at the Conference at Pope's chapel, in Granville county, in 1847, and at New Providence, in 1848. By the latter he was appointed a fraternal messenger to the North Carolina Conference.

      In 1850, at the Conference at Union, in Alamance county, he was on the committee on Sabbath schools, and was chosen an alternate to the Southern Christian Association. He is recorded present at Apple's chapel, in [221] 1851. In 1852, at the Conference at Union, Alamance, he was assigned to circuit with the following churches: New Hope, New Providence, Pleasant Hill, Smyrna, Hanks' chapel, O'Kelly's chapel, and Wilson's.

      At the Conference hold at Mt. Pleasant in Randolph county, in 1853, the body was called upon to record the death of Rev. Jesse K. Cole. The committee on memoirs presented the following resolution which was adopted: "Resolved, That although we submit to the righteous dispensation of Divine Providence, it is with heartfelt sorrow that we have heard of the death of our beloved Bro. J. K. Cole. That this Conference tender their heartfelt sympathy and sincere condolence to the bereaved widow and family of our deceased brother, and that in this dispensation of Divine Providence, we who are left behind are forcibly reminded of the uncertainty of all things earthly and also of being faithful in our several stations and to be prepared for our contest with the last enemy."

      Rev. W. B. Wellons, D. D., said: "I remember hearing Rev. Rufus Heflin, D. D., editor of the North Carolina 'Christian Advocate,' who was converted among the Christians, and under the efficient ministerial labors of Rev. Jesse K. Cole, say, on one occasion, that he should always thank God that he was ever permitted to hear the voice of Mr. Cole."

      He was the author of the book entitled "Principles of Christian Union," which was published, in 1842, at Raleigh, North Carolina. It contains a number of articles written by him. His articles show an acquaintance with the subjects discussed, and bear the headings "Serious Enquiries," "Infant Depravity," "Christian Union." He was likewise a liberal correspondent for the periodicals published in his day. [222]

[LCM 218-222]