REV. STEPHEN SMITH BARRETT.

EV. STEPHEN SMITH BARRETT was born April 16, 1812, and died September 25, 1893, being in his eighty-second year. He was the son of Rev. Mills Barrett, a Christian minister, and the grandson of Rev. Burwell Barrett, one of the early pioneers of the Christian Church and co-laborer with Rev. James O'Kelly. [242]

      Rev. S. S. Barrett was twice married. His first marriage with Sarah A. Middleton took place April 24, 1834; and his first wife died February 14,1837. On August 31, 1838, he married Martha A. Carson, and these two walked the journey of life together fifty years. She died November 16, 1888, leaving a devoted husband old and infirm. They had reared three children, Rebecca, William, and Thomas,--all of whom had preceded their father to the spirit world.

      Rev. S. S. Barrett began his ministry in the Christian Church, being received as an unordained preacher at the Conference at Holy Neck, in 1843. The Eastern Virginia Christian Conference was held at Union church in Southampton county, the first of August, 1846, and the meeting was protracted seven days. It seems that he took part in this meeting as well as in the meetings held at Antioch, Holy Neck, Cypress chapel and Providence the same year. He was duly set apart to the gospel ministry, by being ordained August 30, 1846. And whilst he made occasional visits to all the churches then composing the Eastern Virginia Conference, and preached as opportunity offered, his labors were somewhat circumscribed and confined principally to Norfolk county.

      On October 6, 1847, he organized the Berkley Christian church (or Jerusalem as it was then called, and known later as Ferry Point), and served it as pastor twenty-two years, and remained a member of it to the day of his death, always feeling a deep and abiding interest in its welfare.

      At the Conference at Providence chapel, in Norfolk county, in 1852, Rev. S. S. Barrett acted on the committee on the ministry and ordination, which recommended the ordination of Rev. Robert H. Holland, in accordance with the wishes of the churches at Holy Neck, Barrett's and Spring Hill. And the following resolution was at this time passed by the Conference: "Resolved, That [243] we approbate the course heretofore pursued by Elder S. S. Barrett in preaching in various places in the county around the city of Norfolk and elsewhere, and advise him to continue his labors; and hereby recommend him to the confidence of all with whom he may associate.' He was also appointed a fraternal messenger to the North Carolina and Virginia Christian Conference, and chosen as one of the board of managers for the Virginia Christian Educational Society organized in 1852, the object of which was to aid young men called of God to the work of the ministry to obtain an education. He was instrumental in the organization of two new churches which were reported to and received by the Conference at Cypress chapel in 1858. These were Pleasant Ridge in Princess Anne county, and Goose Creek in Craven county, North Carolina.

      In 1856, he was one of the delegates from the Eastern Virginia Conference to the Southern Christian Convention organized at Union chapel, Alamance county, North Carolina, and served as chairman of the committee on church organization. He also presented "preamble and declarations," setting forth reasons for calling the Convention, which in the development of the government of the Church deserve special attention by the church historian. This year his Conference met at Bethlehem church, in Nansemond county. He had organized Liberty two miles from Norfolk, which was received by the Conference with Thomas Smith, Andrew Meir, and Edwin W. Beale as delegates. He was now pastor of Jerusalem, Pleasant Ridge and Liberty churches; and he was appointed to preach the introductory sermon at next Conference to be held at Antioch, in Isle of Wight county, in 1857.

      At the Convention in 1858, Rev. S. S. Barrett was on the committee that reported a plan for the organization of the Southern Home Missionary Society. This was [244] the first missionary society ever connected with the Southern Christian Convention. He was on the committee to devise a plan for the publication of the Christian Sun, and was appointed one of the Editorial Council and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Book Concern established at this Convention.

      In 1869, at the Conference at Providence, in Norfolk county, Rev. S. S. Barrett was chairman of the committee on periodicals, which recommended "the enlargement of the paper," and that at as early day as possible "the cash system" be adopted. This was doubtless meant as a memorial to the committee of the Convention. In 1860, he reported to the Conference at Cypress chapel, in Nansemond county, by letter. The Conference of 1861 was held at Hebron church, in Isle of Wight county, and about this time his health failed, being attacked by a serious bronchial infection; but while he was elected at Holy Neck, at the Conference in 1865, was delegate to the Southern Christian Convention to meet at Mt. Auburn, in North Carolina, in May, 1866, he did not fully recover his health till in 1872. At the Conference this year at Hebron, he reported himself sufficiently improved to enter upon the work of the ministry again, and he was assigned to the churches at Berkley, and Liberty, in Norfolk county. At the Conference at Berea, in Nansemond county, in 1875, his ministerial report states, "Had charge of no church, but preached at Providence, Liberty, Cypress, Liberty Spring, Mt. Carmel, Ivor, Bethlehem and other places as opportunity offered. Married eleven couples, and preached three funerals." He called the attention of the Conference which met in Suffolk, in 1876, to the condition of the property in Berkley and asked that Conference take steps to secure it, which matter was referred to the committee on home missions. He had no charge. At the [245] close of Conference, he was announced "to preach in the Christian church to-night."

      Elder Barrett's preaching was of the old fashion, practical Holy Ghost style. He greatly loved his Church and had much of the self-sacrificing missionary spirit. He was not only much esteemed for his work's sake, but for his consistent and holy life.

      His last illness was more the effects of old age than otherwise. He lingered for many weeks and finally passed peacefully away, surrounded by his grand-children and friends. His funeral services were conducted by his pastor in the presence of a large congregation. "Asleep in Jesus" was sung, and his body was laid to rest in the cemetery in Berkley, Virginia.

[LCM 242-246]