EV. BURWELL N. HOPKINS was a minister in the Lutheran Church. He began his work in the Christian Church, after having preached in the morning at what is now Frieden's, by preaching in the afternoon at Shallow Ford (Huffines') church. He was a man of fine appearance and an excellent preacher. He first attended the North Carolina and Virginia Conference in 1853, at Mt. Pleasant in Randolph county, and was assigned by the committee on itinerancy to the following churches: Liberty Grove, Reece's chapel, Mountain Hill, Fork Meeting House, Concord, and Yates' church. But he was not regularly received till 1854, at the Conference at O'Kelly's chapel in Wake county, at which time the monument to the Rev. James O'Kelly was unveiled. In 1855, at the Conference at New Providence he served on the committee on examination and ordination of candidates. At the Conference at Hanks' chapel in Chatham county, in 1856, he delivered the opening address and served as chairman of the committee on ordination and education. He manifested great interest in the Graham [295] Institute, and was appointed agent for it. The committee on education recommended abolishing free tuition to young men preparing for the ministry and to the sons of ministers which was adopted. He was also chosen as a delegate from this Conference to the Southern Christian Association and also messenger to the Eastern Virginia Conference. In 1857, reverses had come to the Graham Institute, and he laments the prospects of an educated ministry.

      He was pastor of the churches at Mt. Bethel, Hines' chapel, Union Stand, and Salem chapel, in 1859, and attended the Conference at Union in Alamance county. Salem chapel and Hines' chapel were both received into the Conference this year, the petitions being presented by Rev. B. N. Hopkins. He served on the committee on education. His ministerial report states that he had "preached 162 sermons, 11 funerals, baptized 12, received into the Church 73, organized 5 new churches and one Sabbath school, received $163.85." He was located at Walnut Cove, in Stokes county, North Carolina. In 1860, at the Conference at Pleasant Hill in Chatham county, he was appointed on the committee on ordination and on home missions, and on a special committee to examine the church letters. The following churches organized by Elder Hopkins were received into the Conference: Brown's chapel (Guilford), Gant's chapel, and Pine Ridge. The committee on Home Missions states, "If we can secure a sufficient missionary fund to continue missionaries constantly in the field, our cause must and will prosper." He preached at Mt. Bethel, Salem chapel, Union Stand, Brown's chapel (Guilford), Gant's chapel, Pine Ridge, and Hines' chapel.

      In 1864, at the Conference at Antioch in Chatham county, he was suspended "from the exercise of all ministerial functions." But in 1865, at the Conference at Oak Level in Franklin county, he was restored to his [296] position as an Elder. He presented the following resolution which was adopted: "Resolved, That we as an Ecclesiastical body pledge a faithful obedience to, and cordial compliance with the Federal Government, and that we will strive to promote peace and harmony in our beloved country." In 1866, at O'Kelly's chapel in Wake county, he was again suspended, and his case referred to the Executive committee. He surrendered his credentials to the committee, and at the Conference at Union in Alamance county, in 1867, his name was dropped from the list of ministers.

      He married Sallie Holt, daughter of Gen. Joseph Holt, but her father separated them, as they had married without his consent. This separation blighted not only the hopes of both parties but caused the wreck of a most useful minister and the seclusion of an attractive, refined woman.

[LCM 295-297]