EV. JOSIAH McCULLOCH was born in Orange (now Alamance) county, North Carolina, and died in Mecklenburg county, Virginia, in 1864.

      He early became interested in his soul's salvation, and ceased not to seek until he had found the pearl of great price. Finding the Saviour so precious to his own soul, he soon became anxious to declare the "unsearchable riches" of Christ to his fellow men. Acting under these impulses and impressions, he sought and obtained, in the year 1851, at the Conference at Apple's chapel, in Guilford county, North Carolina, license to preach the gospel.

      He married, in 1862, Martha D. Faucett of Graham, North Carolina, and to them one daughter was born, named Flora.

      In 1863, the committee on itinerancy assigned him to [288] Pope's chapel, Good Hope, Ridgeway, Wilson's, and Flint Hill. He attended the Eastern Virginia Conference at Cypress chapel as a fraternal messenger from the North Carolina and Virginia Conference, and with others was invited to a seat in the body as a licentiate. In 1854, he labored in Randolph county, north of Deep river, now in the bounds of the Western North Carolina Conference. He attended the Conference at New Providence in 1855. In 1856, he was a member of the Southern Christian Convention at Union chapel, Alamance county, North Carolina, from his Conference. He advocated with others the "Preamble and Declaration," setting forth the cause which led to the calling of the Convention and its organization. At this Convention he was appointed on a committee to confer with the building committee and trustees of the Graham Institute and report to the next Convention. At the Conference at Hanks' chapel, in 1856, which followed immediately after the adjournment of the Convention, the educational report recommended that A. Iseley and J. McCulloch be appointed to wait on the building committee and trustees of the Graham Institute and ascertain the amount donated, the names of the donors, the amount expended and present indebtedness of the Institution. The object of this recommendation was to put the Conference control under that of the Convention. The result of the action was the formation of a joint stock company, and Rev. Josiah McCulloch was appointed one of the soliciting agents to increase the stock to $4000.00. At this Conference he was on the committee to formulate rules for the government of the Conference in conformity to the acts and resolutions adopted by the Southern Christian Convention. The committee on itinerancy assigned him to Graham circuit to preach at New Providence, Union, Zion Hill, Mt. Zion, Mt. Bethel, Vest's School-house, and Holt's Factory the next conference year. He [289] was treasurer of the home missionary society of the North Carolina and Virginia Conference. The following year, 1857, the Conference met at Bethlehem, in Alamance county, and he served as chairman of the committee on temperance. He favored also the resolution to recommend a course of study for those wishing to enter the Christian ministry. And likewise he was appointed on a committee on statistics to ascertain the number of delegates the conference was entitled to in the Southern Christian Convention, which number was found to be nine ministerial and nine lay delegates. Of this number Rev. Josiah McCulloch was elected one. He was also chosen to deliver the opening address before the next Conference, at Pope's chapel, and was appointed to correspond with Elder J. M. Minnis of Tennessee and supply him with the minutes of this Conference.

      In 1859, the Conference met at Union chapel, in Alamance county, and was opened with prayer by Rev. J. McCulloch. He was chairman of the committee on temperance, and served on the committee on church letters and on memoirs. And he was chosen also a fraternal messenger to the Eastern Virginia Conference. At this time he resided in Chatham county. At the Conference at Pleasant Hill in Chatham county, in 1860, he was chairman of the committee to nominate officers for the Conference. He was appointed on the committee on unfinished business and to examine candidates for the ministry. He was still treasurer of the Home Missionary Society. In 1862, at the Conference at Damascus, in Orange county, he was chairman of the committees on Sunday schools and on ministerial supply, and served on the committee on character and standing of ministers and on other committees. The report on Sunday schools represents the man, and pleads for what the country now needs more than ever possibly. [290]

      Rev. J. McCulloch labored faithfully and well. His conduct was such as became a follower of the meek and lowly lamb and of the pious, faithful and exemplary Christian minister. His industry was untiring; and few have more faithfully obeyed the injunction of Scripture: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." His efforts in behalf of the Home Missionary Society and of Graham College were especially worthy of commendation. In the midst of his exertions for the good of his race, he was seized with that fatal disease, consumption, which has so often brought to an untimely end the noblest and best of our land. He removed from his former place of residence in Chatham county, North Carolina, to Mecklenburg county, where he hoped to derive benefit from the influence of a milder climate. But alas! the hand of affliction was upon him. He took his bed to rise no more. "Having received the sacrament of the Lord's Supper at the hands of Elder Thos. J. Fowler, he fell asleep in the arms of Jesus." At the Conference at Antioch in Chatham county, his funeral was preached by Rev. John R. Holt.

      The following is the report on Sabbath Schools alluded to above: "The committee to whom was referred the subject of Sabbath Schools beg leave to report. We feel deeply impressed with the worth of Sabbath Schools, and the only question, it seems to us, for our consideration, is, what course shall we pursue to induce our ministers and brethren to go to work actively in showing our congregations the importance of bringing up their children to reverence the Sabbath. It seems to have escaped the minds of many that there is one day out of seven that God has set apart for his own use. Six days he allows us to engage in our various occupations, the seventh he has commanded us to keep holy. If we look to the plain teachings of our Bible, we can have no excuse for not obeying this holy injunction. There is [291] every reason why we should meet the children, that are soon to take our places as men and women, on the Sabbath, to train their young and tender minds in the way of godliness, and to reverence the day which God has commanded us to keep holy. We know that one of the reasons why Sabbath Schools are so much neglected is, persons do not wish to deprive themselves of any fancied enjoyment that they may secure to themselves by spending this day according to their own notions; forgetting that if, from regard to God's Sabbath, we deny ourselves, he will more than pay us. Surely in keeping God's statutes there is great reward. Therefore,

      "Resolved, That we do most earnestly recommend all our ministers to endeavor to establish a Sabbath school in each of our churches. Respectfully submitted,"

J. McCulloch, Chairman .

[LCM 288-292]