The Committee to whom was assigned the duty of preparing a minute in relation to the death of Revs. Davis, Burrow, and others, present the following:
. . .
4. Reuben Burrow, D.D., was at his death one of the oldest, and had been one of the most useful ministers in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He had been in the ministry more than forty years, and for a number of years was Professor of Theology in Bethel College. He was a great and good man. The Church laments his loss and honors his memory; but he had made full proof of his ministry.

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1868, page 38]

ALL the facts in the following sketch up to 1852 are derived from a manuscript autobiography, prepared at the request of the Heurethelian Society of Cumberland University, and preserved by them to the present time. The sources of the remaining material are indicated in the customary manner. The autobiographical sketch is preceded by the following letter, which explains itself:

"APRIL 12, 1852.

"To the Heurethelian Society:

"DEAR BRETHREN:--I have penned this sketch rather in compliance with your request than with a view of furnishing any means of perpetuating my name to posterity. Although I have labored hard to do good, regardless of ease and worldly comfort, and always with cheerful resignation, I could now wish my name, and any record of my life, which I feel to have been too unprofitable, might be dropped out of view, and given to oblivion, as soon as I shall have passed from the stage of action. If, however, any thing likely to be profitable in the future can be gleaned from my checkered life, the following sketch is hereby cheerfully submitted. In relation to my opportunities in early life I have said but little, yet as much as I have intended to say. Touching the means of my support, I have drawn a veil over the subject. I do not wish to leave the impression behind that I place a high estimate upon unrequited labors. Certainly I will not waste my time and strength in complaints. I am very sure the Church ought to do her duty; yet I am by no means certain that those for whom she does most are the men who do most for her prosperity, and for the honor of God. In a word, we ought to do our duty at all hazards, and at whatever sacrifice, committing results into the hands of God. Pursuing this course, we may be certain that he cares for us, in whatever manner that care may develop itself

"Yours, most fraternally, REUBEN BURROW."

"I was born A.D. 1798, in the State of North Carolina, Guilford county. My parents, Ishmael and Catharine Burrow, were industrious persons, and moved in the humble walks of life. My father, by religious training, was a Methodist, but did not profess to be an experimental Christian until about the age of forty-five, at which time he connected himself with that Church. My mother was a Lutheran, and had been in connection with that Church from her infancy, and lived in its communion until our removal to Tennessee, but never claimed to know any thing of experimental religion until many years after my father became a member of the Methodist Church. When she became satisfied on that subject, she joined that Church with her husband, and they both continued in its fellowship until their death.

"In 1806, my father, with his family, moved to Tennessee, and spent one year in Smith county. He then moved to Bedford county, and settled near the Three Forks of Duck River. This occurred in 1807. The country was new, and covered with a thick and heavy forest. I was trained to industry, but was surrounded on all sides by dissipation, irreligion, and the desecration of the Sabbath, and for several years the state of society seemed, instead of growing better, to grow worse. There were schools of the common kind, conducted by incompetent teachers, but very little, if any, improvement was made for some time. Consequently, the opportunities afforded for an education were very indifferent.

"We had preaching at an early day by the Methodists and Baptists, but none by either of the Presbyterian Churches until the settlement of Revs. William McGee and Samuel King, near the Three Forks of Duck River, between the years 1810 and 1812. Not long after they settled there, the state of society began to improve. The Lord revived his work through their instrumentality, and a large Church was organized at that place, and others in different parts of the adjoining country. I frequently heard these men preach when a careless and wicked boy, but was never moved by the preaching of any one until after I professed religion. In a tender age I was frequently visited by remorse of conscience, but the first powerful alarm which I ever experienced I experienced at home, when, in the darkness of night, God shook terribly the earth, in 1812. I then prayed and vowed to the mighty God of Jacob, and continued to be thoughtful for a time, but finally my serious feelings subsided, and I became harder and worse than before. I continued in this condition about eight years, when I was nearly grown. About that time a revival of religion occurred in the neighborhood in my absence, and a number of my acquaintances shared in its blessings. On my return home I witnessed the change. I saw some, who had been my associates in sin but a short time before, actively engaged in the service of the Lord. This caused me to think of changing my course. One evening I visited a pious little family. The man and his wife were my relations, and had been subjects of the late revival. The woman, in passing to and fro, attending to the affairs of her household, inquired after the welfare of my soul. Her words were few, but God directed them to my heart. They were like arrows there, and remained until he who inflicted the wound employed his healing power. That dear woman died soon after this occurrence, went to her reward, and never knew what God had done through her instrumentality that evening at her own quiet fireside. From that moment I vowed to God to seek his grace. In a few days I left that country, and went to what was then called the Western District of Tennessee, with the intention of settling there, but prayed as I went, and after my arrival at my destination, until I found peace with God in the dreary forest of what is now Carroll county, about twelve miles from what is at present McLemoresville. This occurred in the spring of 1821. That summer I returned to Middle Tennessee, and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The congregation to which I attached myself was under the care of Rev. Samuel King.

"In the fall of the same year I was received as a candidate for the ministry by the Elk Presbytery, at Mars' Hill, in Giles county. The next spring I was sent, with R. D. King, * [*Rev. R. D. King, now of Texas.] to the State of Missouri, to travel there while Mr. Ewing was writing his lectures. I was not yet licensed in form, nor was I licensed until twelve months afterward, when I received license in the spring of 1823, in Missouri. The circumstances were the following: It was thought expedient that an intermediate Presbyterial meeting should be held in Arkansas, for the purpose of receiving some young men under the care of the Presbytery. With a view to that end, it was decided to ordain King, and license myself. Consequently, I went with Carnahan, * [*Rev. John T. Carnahan, a pioneer Cumberland Presbyterian minister of Arkansas. He laid the foundation of the Church in that State.] Long, and King, to White River, where they met, and held their Presbyterial sessions. Several young men were received as candidates for the ministry, some of whom have been long in the field, and have been greatly blessed of God.

"After the close of the sessions of the Presbytery, and the camp-meeting which was in progress at the same time, Long returned to his field of labor in Missouri; Carnahan and King went to the settlements on Arkansas River, and left me on White River, where I formed a circuit, and preached until some time in July, when I joined them near Fort Smith, in the upper settlements of Arkansas. We were to hold a series of camp-meetings and sacramental-meetings, extending from that point back to White River. Shortly after I joined them, our first camp-meeting came on. Our pulpit was supported by logs on one side, and Judge Billingsly's fence on the other. Some bushes were spread over our heads to protect us from the heart of the sun. The other accommodations corresponded. There were but three camps, and these were made of rails and covered with bushes. God, however, came down into his broad temple, and lighted it up with his presence; and the little meeting closed with thirty-five rejoicing converts.

"At the close of the meeting I was attacked with chills and fevers, but went with the brethren to the next appointment. The meeting was held on the bank of Arkansas River. There was great excitement, but being sick during the meeting, I cannot remember much of the result, except that it was good.

"The next appointment was in the neighborhood of Crystal Hill, a distance of near a hundred miles from the point where we then were. I was unable to travel on horseback, and Brothers Carnahan and King bought a tan-trough, took the leather out of it, and converted it into a sort of canoe. They put me into it, in charge of two of the young men who were going to the next meeting, and in that way I was borne upon the surface of the stream, in the heat of summer, under a burning sun, unprotected from its rays, and suffering from a scorching fever, to the next appointment, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles by water. This meeting was owned of the Lord as one of his own; there were many converts.

"I soon recovered from my illness, but Brother King was taken sick, and I waited on him as well as I could, until it was necessary for us to set out for the camp-meeting on White River. Brother Carnahan and I left King sick on the bank of Arkansas River, and went to the meeting, a distance of a hundred miles, accompanied by eighteen young persons, some of whom were professors of religion, and the most of those who were not, obtained a hope at the meeting. At the close of this meeting I set out alone, on Tuesday morning, for St. Michael, in the State of Missouri, through a dreary country, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles. The most of this journey I traveled on foot, as the day I left White River my horse was taken sick, and after my leading him and driving him alternately for some time, he died. By perseverance, however, I reached my destination the day on which our meeting was to commence. Here I met with, and embraced, Brother Long, with tears of joy. Here, also, we realized a refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

"From this place Brother Long and I packed our baggage on his horse, girded on our sandals, and set out on foot for the next appointment; but from weakness and great fatigue I became unable to travel after the first day, and the next morning Brother Long left me sick, as he thought, unto death. The impression was that we should meet no more on this side of the resting-place of the pilgrims. But in the course of two weeks I had so far recovered as to be able to walk about. A dear friend loaned me a horse, and I set out for Presbytery, which was to meet near Father Ewing's, south of Boonville. On the first day I relapsed, but persevered at the rate of thirty or forty miles a day, with a burning fever on me all the way, except a few hours just before and after daylight. When I reached Presbytery, I made a brief report, and went to bed in the house a Father Ewing, a very sick mortal. I remained there some two or three weeks, in the course of which time Brother King, whom I left sick on the bank of Arkansas River, came up with me. After my recovery, we set out for home, after an absence of eighteen months."

The reader will observe that at this point the progress of the narrative is arrested, and the autobiography goes back to the point of time at which the writer reached Missouri, in the spring of 1822. In this intermediate chapter we have the narrative from the spring of 1822 to the spring of 1823, when he was licensed, and set off with others for Arkansas, where he spent six months, of which we have just had the particulars. The writer says:

"At this point I shall take up this unfinished narrative, and continue it, after narrating what occurred of moment in the State of Missouri from the time of my arrival to that of my licensure and departure for Arkansas.

"The first place at which we* [*Himself and Rev. R. D. King.] called to rest for more than a Sabbath, after we left Tennessee, was at the house of Father Ewing, who directed us to make our way to a camp-meeting which was to be held, in the course of a week, on Chariton River. He proposed to meet with us at this meeting. The meeting came on, and I thought it one of the most divinely sweet seasons in which I had ever participated; and a great many who came to the place in their sins were delivered from the power of sin, and returned to their homes full of hope. From some cause, however, my mind became enveloped in a cloud which covered me with darkness, and filled me with an unusual kind of feeling which I have no words to express. I was aware of the probable cause, but forbear to mention it, thinking such a course to be best. I will satisfy the curious, however, so far as to say that my state of mind did not arise from any feeling of rebellion in my heart against God, nor from any known sin which I had committed; but beyond this I say nothing. My darkness and distress continued several days and nights without any abatement. Indeed, they only grew worse, until the heavens seemed to be brass, and I feared that God had forgotten to be gracious.

"In the mean time, I was directed to the western part of the State, to ride and preach on the same circuit with Brother John Morrow. King and myself left the camp-ground together. We had to cross the Missouri River, and while crossing, I became so overwhelmed by my feelings, that I should have fallen in the boat, had I not been supported by a circumstance not necessary to be mentioned here. Finally, we fell in with Morrow, at an appointment at which King preached, and the next morning left us and went on to his destination. Morrow and myself went in company to the next appointment, which was in a settlement on the Missouri River. The service was held in the house of Captain William Jack, who was at that time a captain in the army of Satan. The congregation was composed of sinners, with the exception of two formal professors of religion, Jack's wife and a colored man. Brother Morrow preached, and called on me to conclude. I was still in darkness, and do not know that I had thought once of attempting to preach, but when Morrow sat down, I rose up, took a text, and commenced talking, and very soon, in my manner, reached the top of my voice. Morrow became alarmed, and trembled for the ark. I had forgotten all but Christ, and the salvation of souls. My darkness was gone, and the place was as awful and sweet to me as the gate of heaven. All in the house were in a state of high excitement, and entered into a solemn covenant to pray in secret night and morning, and seek the Lord, until the camp-meeting at Tabbo, about two weeks from that time. The most of them professed religion before the time, and came to the meeting happy in the love of God, but Captain Jack was yet groaning under an intolerable burden; but he continued to agonize, as he had done before, until Monday morning, when, as the day dawned, and while he was in his camp lifting up his soul to God in prayer, peace was spoken to his heart, and he came out of his camp praising God, while a heavenly light seemed to be beaming from his countenance. The people collected, and the work of the Lord went on so triumphantly that the people could not be collected that day for preaching at the stand, but fell in all directions, and cried to God for mercy; and many experienced his saving power that day. From the time of my deliverance from my darkness and trouble in the house of Captain Jack, I was happy in the love of God night and day, with scarcely any intermission, for twelve months. The number of converts reported from that circuit at the close of the year was over three hundred.

"There is one more incident which I will mention in this connection. I went some eighty miles down the river, and that distance from my circuit, to attend a camp-meeting. It proved to be one of the Lord's own meetings, as nearly all camp-meetings were in that day, and many were born of the Spirit on the occasion. At the close of the meeting on Tuesday morning, some brethren, in getting their horses, let mine out, and he ran off. I hunted him for several days, but failed to find him. I then set out in the heart of summer, with my saddle-bags upon my back, for my circuit. The country through which I had to travel was mostly an open prairie, with only two or three houses on the way. The first day, hungry and thirsty, I traveled on till night, when I came to a small cabin where I was permitted to spend the night; but I was in so much pain, from weary limbs and blistered feet, that I could neither eat nor sleep. The next morning I started again, and traveled until late breakfast-time, when I came to another shanty, where I got some refreshment. There were then thirty-five miles before me to the next house, which was on the border of my circuit. About the middle of the afternoon I reached the edge of a prairie said to be twenty-two miles wide. Forward I went. Night came on; my feet were skinned; but about midnight, I reached the house of a friend. Next morning the good sister applied some soothing plasters to my feet; a message in relation to my distress was sent to Brother Jack, who came with a horse for me, and one for himself. He said to me, 'Take this horse and go on your circuit, and give yourself no uneasiness; I will find yours, if I have to follow him to Tennessee.' So we parted--I to my circuit, and he in pursuit of my horse. In eight or ten days he returned with him.

"I have mentioned this incident as a memorial of Brother Jack, hoping that others, when they see a poor preacher bending under his burden, will extend a hand of relief; and, also that young men called of God may be stimulated not to flinch from their work, though it should give them pain in the flesh, and sometimes cost them the skin of their feet, but to go, and preach Christ."

The reader will observe that the intermediate chapter here closes. The writer takes up his narrative at the point which he had reached previous to its introduction. That point was the termination of his work in Missouri and Arkansas. He had been in the country eighteen months, having spent a year in Missouri, and six months in Arkansas. He proceeds with his narrative, and says:

"The aid which I received in eighteen months amounted to about fifty dollars in cash, and some articles of clothing."

Let the money-lovers of the present time observe this; fifty dollars for eighteen months of hard service, and a horse, also, had died. Yet the young preacher held on.

"I shall now return," says the autobiographer, "and continue my narrative from the time when King and I set out from the house of Father Ewing for Tennessee. My horse having died on my way from Arkansas to Missouri, I bought another with what means I had, without any farther aid from brethren, and borrowed money from King to enable me to pay my way home.

"After my return to Tennessee, I was directed to a circuit which extended through Giles, Maury, Bedford, and Lincoln counties. There I labored for twelve months, though my health was very feeble. Camp-meetings were common in those days, and signally owned by the great Head of the Church. The number of conversions varied from twenty to one hundred, and it was the custom to close on Tuesday morning, whatever the prospects might be. The circuits were all supplied with preachers, and young brethren were willing to labor as poor circuit-riders. There was no difficulty in finding laborers. While this was the state of things we had gracious outpourings of the Spirit, revivals were common, and the cause of Christ was triumphant. But when the circuits began to be neglected, and the young preachers too refined, and think themselves too talented to travel as circuit-preachers, camp-meetings began to decrease in numbers and usefulness, and worldly-mindedness and pride to seize upon both ministers and people. Camp-meetings are almost numbered with things of the past, and circuits have been given up to be trodden down of the Gentiles. There can be no sound objection to an increase of riches and knowledge in the Church of Jesus Christ; but worldly-mindedness and pride are to be watched as the mantle in which Satan will clothe himself when he approaches the temple of God. I am inclined, however, to wander from my narrative, and will return.

"In the fall of 1824,* [*I derive the following from the records of the Elk Presbytery: "Reuben Burrow was received as a candidate for the ministry at Mars' Hill, Giles county, Tennessee, October 3, 1821. The first text assigned him was John viii. 36. At the same presbytery, an order was passed, directing him to travel with Rev. Robert D. King, on a Missionary tour in Missouri. He was ordained at Shiloh, Bedford county, Tennessee, April 24, 1824. The text of his trial-sermon, from 2 Tim. iv. 2; Rev. Samuel King presided and gave the 'charge.'" The reader will remember that he was licensed in Missouri.] as well as I recollect, I was ordained by the Elk Presbytery, where I continued to labor until directed by the old Synod* [*Cumberland Synod, before the organization of a General Assembly.] to another field. In the fall of 1825, the Synod resolved upon the establishment of the first College of the Church. The College was organized in the spring of 1826, and in the fall of that year it was decided by the Synod to send out agents for the purpose of collecting funds for its benefit. Brother Albert G. Gibson* [*Rev. Albert G. Gibson commenced the ministry some time about the year 1820, or 1821. He attended the meeting of Cumberland Synod for the first time in 1822. He was raised, and spent his life chiefly, in Tennessee. His labors were chiefly confined to Lincoln county, in which he lived.] and myself were directed to the Carolinas. We started the same year of 1826, and traveled through East Tennessee, preaching as we went. The ministers traveling in East Tennessee at that time were, George Donnell, Abner W. Landsden, William Smith, Samuel Aston, and the two Tates. They met with much opposition, but were much aided by the Lord. On our way we made an appointment for a camp-meeting east of Greeneville, to be held ten months from that time, on our return to the West, and also an appointment for a two-days' meeting in Abingdon, Virginia, to be held the week before the camp-meeting. We then proceeded on our way over the mountains to North Carolina. This was a new field for Cumberland Presbyterians, and they were a new people without congregations, or houses of worship. Of course we found in impossible to collect much for the College, and we concluded to give ourselves to the ministry of the word. We sent forward appointments, as well as we could, through the State, and went on until we reached the Atlantic. In the city of Raleigh, while we preached, the Lord came down in great power, and the large assembly appeared to be excited throughout. A gracious revival was the result, as we heard after our departure for Newbern and Wilmington. In Wilmington nothing special appeared, but in Newbern and in Fayetteville the Lord was present in a remarkable manner; but being in the midst of strangers, and occupying houses of worship belonging to others, we did not call the awakened to the anxious seat. From Fayetteville we went into South Carolina, and spent several weeks, chiefly in York District. Passing from thence, we spent our time, to the latter part of the summer, in North Carolina and Virginia, confining our labors mostly to Guilford, Orange, Caswell, and Rockingham counties in North Carolina, and to Patrick and Henry counties in Virginia. Here the field appeared white unto harvest, and many found peace in the Son of God. We were often and warmly urged to organize congregations, but declined doing so.

"On our way to the West we attended the appointment at Abingdon, where we met with Brother Aston. The bell was ringing for worship when we arrived. The first day's service closed with a good degree of interest. On Sabbath there were clear and manifest displays of the Divine presence and power, which continued to increase until many hearts found peace. Brother Sparks,* [*Rev. Samuel Sparks, after his ordination, went to Pennsylvania, and labored there for some years, but becoming dissatisfied with his Church relations from some cause, he determined to change them; and the disruption in the Presbyterian Church taking place about that time, he united himself with the New School division of that Church. The understanding is, that the change was perhaps unfortunate for his happiness as well as for his usefulness.] who left our Church, and connected himself with the New School Presbyterians in Pennsylvania, was awakened at this meeting, and professed religion at the camp-meeting near Greeneville, the week following. On Sabbath-evening of the meeting at Abingdon, when we went into the pulpit to commence the service, we found a letter in the Bible, directed to C.P., with a request, 'Read it before you preach.' The writer stated that he was a great sinner, and that he had been awakened in the course of the service that day. He requested us to pray for him, adding that at a suitable time he would make himself known. At the close of the service many of the people remained in the house, as if unwilling to leave. This young man, Sparks, approached us, and said that he was the man who wrote the letter. We gave him some counsel, and parted with him. Shortly after, being seated at the house of the friend with whom we lodged, a messenger came for us to go into town. When we reached the place to which we were called we found a house filled with people crying to God for mercy. We remained with them until a late hour of the night, when we left, promising to meet them at the same house early next morning. We met them in the morning, and after much exhortation and prayer, we left them for the camp-meeting near Greeneville, seventy-five miles distant. On Friday, at the first public service, Sparks, from Abingdon, and another young man who came with him, were present. They had walked all the way. They both found peace at the camp-meeting, and returned to Abingdon, and went to work for the promotion of the good work at home.

"The meeting in Greene county was very interesting. Forty or forty-five persons professed religion up to Tuesday morning, and a great many afterward. From this place we traveled westward, and attended several sacramental and camp-meetings on our way, which were mostly precious seasons. The funds collected for College were paid over. The sum was small, and we were released from that agency with a reprimand, and without any compensation for services, although we had each expended in the trip about seventy-five dollars.

"In the spring of 1827, I returned alone, and labored in East Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia until fall. On my return through Abingdon I had Brother Sparks for a traveling companion to the West.

"On the 5th day of February, 1828, I was married to Elizabeth Bell, of Franklin county, Tennessee, and lived in Giles county near Pulaski, until the fall of the same year, when I moved, and settled in Madison county, where I now live.

"After the old Cumberland Synod was superseded by the General Assembly, and Cumberland College had been in operation some years, a correspondence was opened between Rev. F. R. Cossitt, President of the College, and some persons in Western Pennsylvania, on the subject of the Assembly's sending some missionaries to that country. The correspondence was commenced by an application on the part of those persons for a visit of some Cumberland Presbyterian preachers. These communications were brought before the General Assembly of 1831, and urged upon its consideration. The result was, that five ministers were directed to go to that country as soon an practicable. The five selected were, Robert Donnell, Alexander Chapman, A. M. Bryan, John Morgan, and Reuben Burrow. Chapman, Bryan, and Morgan went through Ohio; Brother Donnell and myself went through East Tennessee and North Carolina, and thence to Pennsylvania. The first point at which we halted to preach was Greensboro, the county-seat of Guilford county. Here we held a meeting in the old Academy and surrounding yard. The congregation was large, attentive, and serious. We closed on Sabbath-evening with twelve converts, leaving between eighty and ninety penitent mourners. The interest was followed up, however, by the Methodists and Presbyterians, and resulted, as we were afterward informed, in four hundred or five hundred converts. At some other places our meetings were of nearly equal interest, and such was the urgency of the people in many places that we should organize congregations and remain with them, that we at one time concluded to separate, one remaining, and the other going on to Pennsylvania. But when the time for separation came we changed our minds, determining to remain another week, and then to go, both of us, to the North. From that point to Washington, Pennsylvania, near which we held our first camp-meeting, the distance was between four hundred and five hundred miles. The brethren who went through Ohio had been laboring for some time in the field to which we were all directed, and the camp-meeting at which we had agreed to meet was in progress when we arrived. The congregations were very large and attentive, and hundreds came forward at each call for mourners. The meeting closed on Tuesday morning, giving two hundred and fifty as the number of conversions, as well as now recollected. We held another camp-meeting, which closed with one hundred conversions. The other meetings were of two and three days' continuance, and mostly very interesting. Congregations were organized, and Brothers Morgan and Bryan remained, and Brothers Donnell, Chapman, and myself returned to the West. This was the introduction of our branch of the Church into Pennsylvania and Ohio. Two * [*The others are now also gone. Dr. Burrow himself was the last. Donnell, Morgan, and Bryan are noticed in the preceding series of Sketches; the others, Chapman and Burrow, in this.] of these dear brethren, Chapman and Morgan, have long since gone to their rest and reward. Brother Donnell and I attended the meeting of the Franklin Synod at Lebanon on our way homeward. A gracious revival followed the meeting of the Synod, and some of those who are now the old members of the congregation professed religion on that occasion.

"At the time Father King visited the Churches in the South, in the years 1834 and 1835, Brother William H. Bigham and myself made an excursion to the State of Missouri, and spent four or five months in preaching there. This was about twelve years after my first visit to that country. We spent most of the time in the congregations where I had devoted the morning of my life. Nothing of special interest occurred in this tour, except that some of the camp-meetings and sacramental-meetings were favored with the Divine blessing.

"In the spring of 1847, I went again to the State of North Carolina, visiting some portions of that country where I had labored before. This tour was undertaken at the solicitation of some of the old ministers of the Church, and in compliance with a pressing call from brethren in that country who had united with our Church, through the agency of some young men who had left them in a state of destitution after organizing them into congregations. I found the state of things greatly changed. The converts of 1831, and of former days, having despaired of any permanent organization and supply from our branch of the Church, had united with others, whose leaders had not failed to instill prejudice into their minds against those whom God had honored as the instruments of their conversion. I became fully satisfied, however, that all this might have been easily overcome, if we could have had faithful men permanently in that field. But men who had been raised in the West cannot be easily induced to locate in a country so old, while the field is both large and white unto harvest in the West, North-west, and South-west.

"Brothers Carson P. Reed* [*Rev. Carson P. Reed entered the ministry more than fifty years ago. He attended the Cumberland Synod for the first time in 1822. He lived a long and useful life, greatly beloved and honored, and died but a few months ago. He was born October 28, 1798, and died December 2, 1872. He was one of the representative men of the denomination which he served so long and so faithfully.] and J. Kirkland came on when I had been in North Carolina four or five weeks, and we were all urged to remain there. We all left, however, for the West about the same time. Brother Kirkland and I spent some time in East Tennessee, where we found many flourishing congregations and faithful ministers of our denomination, who were doing well.

"In the course of my labors in North Carolina, I found, from first to last, that our doctrines were more popular with the members of the Presbyterian Church than their own, and in many instances they so expressed themselves freely. On one occasion a Church-session urged us to organize, and proposed that they and the congregation would unite with use in a body. We, however, declined taking such a step.

"Since my return home, in 1847, my labors have been mostly confined to Tennessee and Mississippi, in visiting and preaching to the more destitute, and in some cases visiting remote destitutions. During the course of my ministry my labors have been chiefly itinerant, and in no one place have I been stationary long; and now, while I am penning these lines, and thinking upon the past, I feel no disposition to wish that the circumstances which have surrounded me had been materially different from what they have been. Though I have done but little, I have done what I could."

I offer no apology for introducing this sketch substantially in the words of the subject himself. Dr. Burrow described his own life and labors better than they could have been described by another. Many of his friends, too, who will read this work, will prefer that he should have spoken for himself.

It will be observed that the sketch comes up to 1852. In February of this year a Theological Department was established in connection with Bethel College, at McLemoresville, Tennessee, and Mr. Burrow was appointed Professor of Systematic Theology. He commenced his labors in that department immediately after his appointment. In the fall of 1852, having moved to McLemoresville, he took charge of the congregation there as its pastor, and continued his labors in that capacity until 1864.

Some time in 1853, or 1854, he received the Degree of Doctor of Divinity from Bethel College.

From 1853 to 1864, by a special arrangement, he preached one Sabbath in each month to Shiloh Congregation, which was in the meantime under the pastoral care of Rev. A. E. Cooper. I have said that this was a "special arrangement." It was also mutual.

In 1863, he lost his wife, after a union of more than thirty-five years. Some time in 1867 he began to be afflicted with inflammatory rheumatism. The immediate cause of the disease was, most probably, his severe ministerial labors in the latter years of his life. During a few of those years, it was said by his friends that he preached with more spirituality and power than had been usual with him for years before. He was always spiritual and powerful, but he seemed to have received a new baptism of the Spirit for the closing out of his work. His disease ultimately assumed a dropsical form, and after great suffering, and confinement to his room for five months, his active and useful life came to a close, on the 13th of May, 1868. He died at the house of his son-in-law, Mr. McGowen, in Shelby county.

Dr. Burrow lost three sons in the course of the late cruel war. The oldest of the three was Rev. Aaron Burrow, a highly educated and very promising young man. His loss was deplored as a public calamity. I felt it very deeply myself. Of the others th writer knew nothing. A daughter has died since the death of her father. Five children still survive--two sons, and three daughters. One of the sons is a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

In 1845, Dr. Burrow published a small volume on the subject of Baptism. He also had several public discussions with Baptist ministers on the vexed question. At Denmark, in Madison county, he had a discussion with the redoubtable Rev. J. R. Graves, now Rev. Dr. Graves, of Memphis; at McLemoresville, with Rev. J. M. Hurt, and in Mississippi, with Rev. Mr. Latimore. The account of my informant is, that "he vindicated Pedobaptist principles triumphantly." I suppose candid Baptists would have allowed that he was very strong upon the question of Baptism.

He was also an extensive contributor of the Theological Medium. He write largely for that work, upon the subject of Sanctification; also, upon other subjects of general doctrinal interest. Upon the doctrine of Sanctification he was understood to hold views slightly variant from the views of many of his brethren, and from the general Presbyterian view of the subject. No one, however, doubted his fidelity to what he regarded as the truth.

Dr Burrow and myself belonged to what I have been in the habit of regarding the third generation of Cumberland Presbyterian ministers. He was somewhat my senior in age, and about as much my junior in the great work of our lives. I saw him for the first time at the meeting of the old Cumberland Synod at Princeton, Kentucky, in 1825. We were for a year or two members of Hopewell Presbytery, in Western Tennessee, previous to my going to Kentucky in 1830. We were never intimately associated, yet I heard him preach often. He was unquestionably one of the strongest men in the pulpit that the Church ever produced. He was both intellectually and physically a powerful man. The reader will be able to form some idea of his capacity of physical endurance from his own account of his labors and trials in the preceding sketch. Nor did he spare that strength. Evidently it was always at the service of the Church. Through good report and evil report, he was always at his post.

Dr. Burrow and myself did not always agree in our views of Church polity, nor exactly in our modes or interpreting one or two points in theology. After the years 1852, we were placed, too, in unhappy relations to each other. Feelings which should never exist between Christian men laboring for a common great end may have sometimes grown out of these relations. If it were so, all such feelings are buried now, and I take the highest pleasure, here in my place, in bearing my unequivocal testimony to his great ministerial and personal worth.

Dr. Burrow was on three occasions Moderator of the General Assembly--in 1836, at Nashville, Tennessee; in 1840, at Elkton, Kentucky; and in 1850, at Clarksville, Tennessee. And on four several occasions he opened the Assembly with the customary sermon--at Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1838; at Owensboro, Kentucky, in 1841; at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1851; and at Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1855. He has left a noble record. The young men of the Church may well profit by his example.

[Source: Beard, Richard. Brief Biographical Sketches of Some of the Early Ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Second Series. Nashville, Tenn.: Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1874, pages 240-265]

I have consented to give these sketches by the request of some of my friends, who felt a wish to know something of my life and conflicts. I can well and truly say, in the language of one of old times, that few and evil have been the days of my pilgrimage.

I was born June 26, 1798, in Guilford county, North Carolina. My parents were poor, but industrious and of good character. They moved to Middle Tennessee, and settled in Bedford county in 1806 or 1807. The country was new, the advantages were few, and my opportunities of getting an education were very much embarrassed. We had preaching occasionally, but the morals of the community were not good. My early life was spent in sin and folly until I was about twenty-one or twenty-two years old. I had often been deeply concerned about my eternal welfare, and often made solemn vows, but as often broke them, until the year 1821. In the spring of 1821 I came to the Western District of Tennessee with the intention of making it my home, and pitched my tent on Clear creek, Carroll county, where I professed religion. When I left my father's house in Bedford county, for the West, I left under a solemn vow to change my life and serve God the balance of my days. This vow I never broke; and, although I had no opportunity of attending church, or of any religious conversation with any one, I found peace in the forest, and there commenced my new life. In the summer of the same year I went back to Bedford county, and there joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church by the agency of Father King.

That fall I was received under the care of Elk Presbytery, which met at Mars Hill, near Cornersville. The next spring I was sent to the State of Missouri in company with Robert D. King. We were sent there to preach as circuit-riders, while the Rev. Finis Ewing was writing his course of lectures. I was placed on a circuit with John Morrow. The circuit was in Western Missouri, including the country where Lexington and Independence have since risen up. While on my way to the circuit from near Boonville, I fell into a state of gloom and despondency, and for about four days and nights I had no ray of light nor hope of heaven. I even doubted the reality of all things, and was for a time a miserable infidel; yet I prayed all the time and believed nothing. About the fourth day, after brother Morrow had preached rather a dull sermon, I was invited to conclude the services; and while trying to talk, ere I was aware of my own condition, God had raised me higher and filled my soul fuller of heaven than ever I had realized before. The congregation was stirred to its very depths by the Almighty; they were all moved,and at a call given, they all covenanted to seek God's mercy, and in the course of about two weeks the most of them made profession of religion. This was not only a bright day to me, but the days and nights were all bright to me for twelve months. Indeed, this was an ordeal which has done me good fromt hat day to this time.

Captain William Jack, who became awakened on this occasion and covenanted with the others to seek life, did not find peace until about two weeks after this time of awakening. He came to a camp-meeting with his family, and after a struggle for life through the meeting up to Monday morning, he found peace--God blessed him. The people collected from the camps, and the excitement became so great that no congregation could be convened until night. This was a day of the Lord's power. During that year we reported over three hundred conversions from that circuit. The people were king to us and gave us some clothing, such as they could make, and I received in money eight dollars for the year, and felt very well contented and thankful for that.

It was some time the same year I went to a camp-meeting near Boonville, and at the close of the meeting, Tuesday morning, my horse, through the neglect of some brethren, got out of the stable and ran away. After hunting him for two or three days with no success, I shouldered my saddle-bags and set out for my circuit afoot. The distance was about eighty miles; the weather being warm, and the whole way being through extended prairies, my feet became very sore from travel. The second day, about 3 o'clock P.M., I entered the last stretch of my journey; it was a prairie of more than twenty miles. Here I toiled in weariness and pain until midnight before I reached a house on the other side where I could quench my thirst and rest my weary limbs. Here I was met by Captain Jack with a horse for me to ride on the circuit, and he went in pursuit of my horse, which he brought back in eight or ten days. Peace be to his memory, for he is at home with the Lord!

About this time it was contemplated by the McGee Presbytery to hold an intermediate session in Arkansas, and in the spring of 1823 the arrangement was made. The Rev. John Carnahan was the only minister we had in that country, and it being necessary to make out a quorum by the addition of two others from Missouri, the Rev. William Long, from Kentucky, who was at that time a missionary in Missouri, was sent to assist in holding that Presbytery; and to make out a third member, the McGee Presbytery decided to ordain Robert D. King, who was a licentiate from the Elk Presbytery. Consequently, King was ordained, and I was licensed by the McGee Presbytery in the spring of 1823, and I went with Long and King to Arkansas. We met Carnahan at the house of a brother Craig, near Batesville, on White river, and organized the intermediate Presbytery, at which there were five young men received under its care. Among them I remember the names of Black and Buchanan, who afterward became very useful and quite distinguished ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in that country. We held a camp-meeting at that place the same spring, and another in the latter part of the summer, which resulted in great good. After the business of Presbytery was closed Long returned to Missouri, where he remained for a time; Carnahan and King went to Arkansas river, and I remained in that section of country and formed a circuit, including the country about Batesville, where I continued to labor for several months, and then went to join Carnahan and King. This was the first circuit formed by our people in that State, and such was the commencement of our Church there.

When I reached Arkansas river, I found that Carnahan and King had gone up the river as far as Fort Smith. I continued my pursuit, with the aid of some young men for guides, until I fell in with them near Fort Smith. Here we held a camp-meeting, which was attended with great good--many persons made profession of religion. From this place we went down the river about a day's ride to the next appointment, where we held a meeting of some three days' continuance, which was attended with divine favor. Here I was attacked with chills and fever, and became so ill that I was not able to travel on horseback, and the brethren being unwilling to leave me, bought a canoe to convey me down the river to the next appointment, which by the river was over one hundred miles. Carnahan and some others took the horses, and King and two young men with him navigated the stream. I suffered on this voyage, the weather being very hot, and having to sit and lie in the canoe under the heat of a hot sun. But we made a safe landing at Crystal Hill, about twenty miles above Little Rock. Here I obtained some relief by the use of suitable means, and was soon able to labor again. Here we held a camp-meeting, at the close of which King had an attack of fever, and I waited on him eight or ten days, when he began to recover, and I left him and went with Carnahan to a camp-meeting on White river, the same place where we held one in the spring. This was also attended with great favor. At the close of this meeting I set out for Missouri, as the time for the fall meeting of McGee Presbytery was drawing near. The distance to the nearest part of the State was one hundred and fifty miles, through a dreary country. My horse was taken sick the first day, and after walking and driving him over one hundred miles he died. I then got a friend to aid me the remainder of the way to the neighborhood of St. Michael, where I met with brother Long at a camp-meeting. This was in the old French mining country. At the close of this truly interesting meeting, brother Long packed his baggage and mine on his horse and we both walked. In this manner we went on our way to upper Missouri, where the McGee Presbytery was to convene, in the neighborhood of Boonville. I was taken sick the evening of the first day, and it became necessary for Long to leave me, as there was an appointment for a camp-meeting on the way to Presbytery, which he was obliged to attend. I remained several days after brother Long left me before I was able to travel, and even before I was clear of fever, I started on a borrowed horse to go the balance of the way to Presbytery, which was yet over one hundred and fifty miles. My fever returned, and I became very sick and feeble, yet I imprudently continued my journey until I reached Presbytery, which was on the first day of the meeting. Here I remained until I thought myself able to travel, when I bought a cheap horse with what money I had brought with me from Tennessee, and what had been given me in my tours, and King and I started for Tennessee, where we arrived in due time. Having had to buy a horse, I was necessitated to borrow money to pay my way home, which I obtained from brother King. These were my first labors in the cause of the Lord.

After my return from Missouri to Tennessee, I was ordained by the Elk Presbytery, and directed to travel and preach as a circuit-preacher for one year. My bounds were the counties of Maury, Bedford, Giles, and Lincoln. In those days camp-meetings were very common, and a vast number of people throughout the land professed religion. There was in the midst of the excitement an exercise called the jerks. It was not confined to persons claiming to be religious, but irreligious people were as often the subjects of it as any others; consequently, it was not taken to be an evidence of true piety in any case by considerate persons; it was manifestly a very strange and mysterious exercise. When my time closed on this circuit, I was permitted to travel more extensively, without being restricted to any designated bounds or field of labor. This continued till the year 1826, as well as I now remember. About this time our highest Church judicature devised the plan of a manual-labor college, which was located at Princeton, Ky., and a number of agents were appointed and sent to collect means for this purpose--the Rev. Albert G. Gibson and I were directed to the Carolinas. Accordingly we started and made our way through East Tennessee and West Virginia into North Carolina.

At this time, our ministers actively engaged in the ministry in this part of Tennessee were George Donnell, Samuel Aston, Abner Lansden, Wm. Smith, and two of the brothers Tate. In concert with these brethren we labored in East Tennessee, and apparently with good success; but in collecting means for the college, we had very little success. East of the mountains we could do but very little for it, as we had no organized churches there; consequently, we ceased our efforts for the college, and set our minds wholly on preaching the gospel. Our course was eastward through North Carolina to the sea-coast, and thence into South Carolina by the way of Newbern, Wilmington, and Fayetteville. After spending some time in South Carolina, we went through North Carolina into Virginia, where we spent some time, and then returned to North Carolina again. Having been out over ten months, we set out for the West. On our way East, we had left an appointment for a two days' meeting at Abingdon, Va., and an appointment for a camp-meeting near Greeneville, East Tennessee, to be attended to on our return home. On reaching Abingdon, we met with brother Aston. The services commenced Saturday and continued till Sabbath evening; the attendance was good and the excitement very great.

I will mention one circumstance which occurred at this time. There was a note placed in the Bible directed to us, which we found at the evening service. The writer requested us to pray for him, and stated that he would make himself known in due time. After service closed this young man met us near the pulpit, and informed us that he wrote the note above named, and said his name was Samuel Sparks. We gave him some words of counsel and went to our lodgings. We had just seated ourselves, however, when we heard a rap at the door, and an elderly man entered and requestd us to go to his house. When we reached the house, we found it filled with penitent sinners, pleading with God for mercy, and our young man, Sparks, was one of the number. We continued with them until a late hour in the night, and then left them with a promise to meet them early next morning. Next morning we met them, and after some time spent in prayer and exhortation, we left for the purpose of going to our camp-meeting near Greeneville, seventy-five miles distant. Early in the meeting the young man Sparks and another young man came to the meeting; they had come afoot. They both professed religion, went back to Abingdon, and promoted the revival in that place with good success, and many professed faith in Christ. Our meeting in Greene county was surely attended with the blessing of the Lord, and many found peace.

From this we made our way through East Tennessee homeward, attending camp and sacramental meetings on our way.

When the old Synod met we made our report, paid over what money we had collected for the college, received some reprimands because the sum was so small, but received no money to pay expenses--no, none; and we received but very little at the meetings which we attended.

After a short stay in the West, I went back through East Tennessee to North Carolina and Virginia. As I cannot give anything like a minute detail of events, I will briefly say that this visit to that old country was attended with great and good results, so far as I could see and know. I, however, never made any effort to organize congregations east of the mountains, though often solicited to do so.

On my way home from this tour, I called to see my young brother Sparks, of Abingdon, and found him ready to come westward with me; but having no horse, we put our baggage on my horse until we reached East Tennessee, where we got some assistance from one meeting to another until we reached West Tennessee, where he joined Presbytery, and was educated by the Winchester church. He was in due time licensed and ordained, and became a man of fine promise; and some time after our return from Pennsylvania he went to that country, and finally joined the Presbyterian Church--under what circumstances I will not say.

I continued to travel as a king of missionary until the winter of 1828, when I was married to Elizabeth Bell, near Salem, Franklin county, Tennessee. After this change in life, I was more local for about two years, only preaching on Sabbaths, except on camp-meeting occasions.

In the fall of 1829 we moved to West Tennessee, then known as the Western District, and settled near Denmark, Madison county.

Between this time and 1831 there was a correspondence commenced and carried on for some time, between some Presbyterians of Western Pennsylvania and Dr. Cossitt of our Church, at that time President of Princeton College. They requested that some of our ministers should be sent to that country to preach our doctrines, and, if thought proper, to organize churches there. Accordingly, our General Assembly, which had in the meantime been organized, sent five ministers to spend some time in that country. Rev. Messrs. Alexander Chapman, Alfred Bryan, John Morgan, Robert Donnell, and myself were sent in the spring of 1831. A. Chapman, A. Bryan, and J. Morgan went on through Kentucky and Ohio, and I fell in with brother Donnell in Northern Alabama, and we went through East Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. Our journey was not hurried, as we preached often on the way. In North Carolina we spent some time, in Guilford and Rockingham counties mainly; and now, while I pen these lines, I feel constrained to say the power and goodness of the Lord were graciously manifested in the awakening and conversion of many souls. This was my third visit to that country, and I have made one more.

When we started for Pennsylvania, some friends followed us with an urgent request to attend a camp-meeting in Caswell, which we consented to do, and then departed for Pennsylvania, where we arrived the first week in September, this being the time agreed on for holding a camp-meeting when we were all together. The meeting was in progress when brother Donnell and I arrived on Saturday. The congregation was large, and a great many families tented on the ground; the excitement was very general, and somewhere near three hundred professed religion at this meeting. The second camp-meeting was attended with similar results; as indeed were all the services we attended in that country. Here we organized churches and have a large membership at this day. Toward the latter part of October, brothers Chapman, Donnell, and myself set out for home, leavning brothers Morgan and Bryan there. These are all now dead.

Brother Donnell and I attended the Middle Tennessee Synod on our way home, which met in Lebanon. There was during the session a very interesting revival gotten up, which resulted well and many of the old citizens of that place professed religion, and joined our Church. This was the commencement of our Church in that place, with the exception of a few members previously collected. After Synod, brother Donnell and I parted, each for his home, after a long tour. In those days ministers in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church were not sustained by Church patronage, and the contributions from the people were very lean.

Somewhere about the year 1835 Father King made a tour, by the request of the General Assembly, to visit the churches generally; and it was thought best that some ministerial aid should be sent to Missouri to minister in his absence; consequently, W. H. Bigham and myself were sent out there by the Assembly. We continued our labors there until fall. We made the best use of our time and opportunities we could; and now I feel grateful to God for his manifold mercies on this occasion.

After our return home--in what year I do not remember, as I enver intended to give any written statement of these matters and kept no diary or journal, and have consented only at this time to give this brief account by special request--the Board of Missions requestd me to visit North Carolina to ascertain the prospects for organizing churches and of promoting the cause of Christ in that old State. I made the tour and reported to the Board at Lebanon, and they gave me one hundred dollars, which was the first money I had ever received from the Church for any of my tours and labors.

My report from North Carolina was that we had let the time pass by; and, moreover, that there were more inviting fields for us in the new countries of the West, where sectarian prejudice, though it may exist, is not organized as it is in older sections.

It only remains for me to narrate a few facts in relation to my connection with Bethel College as Professor of Theology. After the General Assembly gave up and despaired of success with the College at Princeton, Kentucky, they established a college at Lebanon, Tennessee, and created a Theological Department there, and the whole was placed under the patronage of the General Assembly. Bethel College was gotten up by West Tennessee Synod, and two Synods of Mississippi agreed to give their patronage to it. I was requested and appointed to take charge of the Theological Department, which I consented to, and delivered lectures to the students of divinity until the war.

I have endeavored to do all I could for the cause of Christ through the whole of my ministerial life; and although I have done but little, I do not know that I could make much improvement if I had the time to go over again, and do not see any important changes I would make.

[Source: Burrow, A. G., ed. Medium Theology. Lectures of Rev. Reuben Burrow, D.D., Professor of Theology in Bethel College from 1851 to 1860. With Autobiographical Sketch and Short Account of Funeral. Nashville, Tenn.: Printed at the Cumberland Presbyterian Publishing House, 1881, pages 9-18]

Last Thursday morning, May 14, 1868, the sad tidings reached me at this place (Humboldt, Tenn.,) that the venerable man of God, whose name is at the head of this article, was dead; that his body would, in a few minutes, be at the depot on its way to McLemoresville, Tenn., for interment. Though we had been expecting, for several weeks, to hear of his death, yet language could not express the feelings of my heart on the reception of such unwelcome news. I met the body on its arrival, and accompanied it, in connection with four of the children of the deceased--Capt. John Burrow, Rev. A. G. Burrow, and the two youngest daughters. We arrived in a few hours at the point of destination, but, owing to the absence of some of the leading citizens to whom the dispatch had been sent, requesting preparations to be made for interment by the arrival of the corpse, the grave had not been dug, and, hence the funeral and burial-services were deferred till next morning, 10 o'clock, when a goodly number of brethren, friends and neighbors of Father Burrow, assembled in the Cumberland Presbyterian church. The corpse was placed in front of that pulpit where it had so often stood as a mouth-piece for God. The funeral-services were conducted by Rev. A. E. Cooper, in accordance with the request of the deceased. These two old brethren had lived for several years at McLemoresville in the most intimate and fraternal relations. The sermon was preached from 2 Timothy IV. 6, 7, 8. There was an impressive allusion made to the giant intellect of Dr. Burrow, its vast stores of useful information, his unblemished character, his ardent piety, and extraordinary skillfulness in the word of righteousness; the masterly and successful manner in which he always met and opposed error, coming from any quarter, taking off its false mask and discovering its fallacy to the comprehension of the simplest mind; to the many and wearisome preaching tours he had taken, at one time and another, in the States of North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and his own adopted State, breaking the bread of life unto thousands as he went. He was in the ministry about forty years, with a success that has no parallel in his own or any other Church in his day. Dr. Burrow was a man of the simplest and most unostentatious habits; in his spirit, gentle and tender. The writer enjoyed the extraordinary privilege of being associated with this great and good man in 1866 in quite a number of protracted meetings in various counties of West Tennessee, that were attended with wonderful results in building up the Church and in the conversion of sinners. He was the most able doctrinal preacher I ever heard. I can truly say that I have never seen or read of any minister who had a higher regard for Christ, or a greater solicitude for the prosperity of his cause. When with him, I was always impressed that I was in the presence of one filled with the Spirit of Christ; hence, was always encouraged and strengthened. After the funeral-services were over, which were very interesting and impressive, the coffin was opened and we looked for the last time upon that face upon which we had so often seen the cheerful smile, but now cold and unmoved in death. We then followed the remains to the grave, where they were deposited by the side of his wife and two sons. While gazing upon this solemn scene, I thought of the blessedness he must be realizing, having been already recognized by his wife and three sons in heaven, as well as the multiplied thousands he had been instrumental in saving that were there also. For a time my soul was absorbed in deep thought about the precious reward of a faithful servant of God. I felt that I wanted to start with new zeal, increased vigor, and fresh courage in my Master's work and labor as I had never done before. To the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church I would say, Let us imitate this illustrious example and the Church will have a bright future, while her faithful ministers shall have a precious reward. We will go up to enjoy the associations of "Old Uncle Reuben," with all the happy millions who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, and sing the song of sorrows ended forever, where we shall forever contemplate the profound depths, the infinite heights, the constantly unfolding glories of the system of human redemption.                J. W. MORROW.

Dr. Burrow was one of the founders of the Church, as he has always been one of its lights. Strong in physique and mind, deep in voice, bright in the twinkle of his keen eye, warm in the grasp of his great hand, he was a man to conquer and to hold! Without pretensions to graceful oratory, he was full of the truth, and it made him free indeed! He had studied it long--by the fire-light in early days; by the roadside as he traveled from meeting to meeting; in his official chair of Theology; and in the judicatories of his Church. His mind was quick, analytical, and clear. His conception of the Cross and the remedial scheme for man was grand and wide; and when his soul and mind were warmed and fully expanded with the great theme, conviction came to sinners, high and low, and tears ran down the faces of strong men; the feeblest women became mighty in faith, and the hope of the Christian swayed every breast. With the drill of the gospel and the hammer of truth he went out into this world's great quarry; he tore from their foundations in sin the old sinners and great sinners--the bowlders of sin--he broke them, he polished them, and placed them in the walls of Zion. For fifty years he has been building on this wall. Well done, faithful old man of God! From labor to refreshment you go! And the sweet memories of thousand upon thousands of hearts in the Church you loved and served so well will enshrine your name.        W. E. W.

[Source: Burrow, Reuben. Medium Theology. Lectures of Rev. Reuben Burrow, D.D., Professor of Theology in Bethel College from 1851 to 1860. With Autobiographical Sketch and Short Account of Funeral. Arranged and prepared by his son, Rev. A. G. Burrow. Nashville, Tenn.: Printed at the Cumberland Presbyterian Publishing House, 1881 pages 19-21]

1821
Fall meeting, October 3, 1821
Elk Presbytery
Received as a Candidate
[source: Brief Biographical Sketches of Some of the Early Ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Second Series. By Richard Beard. Pages 244 & 253.]

1822
Elk Presbytery
Cumberland Synod

1823
Spring Meeting
McGee Presbytery
Reuben Burrow-Licensed
[source: Brief Biographical Sketches of Some of the Early Ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Second Series. By Richard Beard. Page 244.]

1824
Spring Meeting, April 24, 1824
Elk Presbytery
Ordained
[source: Brief Biographical Sketches of Some of the Early Ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Second Series. By Richard Beard. Page 253.]

1824
Reuben Burrow-present
Cumberland Synod Meeting
October 1824 at Cane Creek Meetinghouse in Lincoln County, Tennessee
Elk Presbytery
Cumberland Synod
Served on Committee to examine the minutes of Logan Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of Cumberland Synod]

1825
Reuben Burrow--present
Cumberland Synod meeting
October 1825 at Princeton, Kentucky
Elk Presbytery
Cumberland Synod
Served on Committee to examine the minutes of Tennessee Presbytery
"Reuben Burrow, ... to proceed as missionaries through the United States to preach and organize societies, if deemed prudent, and solicit donations for the Cumberland Presbyterian College, and that they keep a journal of their tour, and report to the next Synod."
[Source: Minutes of Cumberland Synod]

1826
No minutes were recorded for Cumberland Synod

1827
Reuben Burrow-present
Cumberland Synod Meeting
November 20, 1827 at Russellville, Kentucky
Elk Presbytery
Cumberland Synod
Appointed "to a committee to examine the unfinished system of bylaws of the college; to suggest to the trustees amendments, corrections, additions, etc.; to examine the reports of the treasurer and Clerk; to recommend measures to be adopted by the trustees for the future management of the institution."

Appointed to "a committee to receive communications from a similar committee appointed by the Synod of Tennessee, to carry on a friendly correspondence with them."
[Source: Minutes of Cumberland Synod]

1828
Reuben Burrow-present
Cumberland Synod Meeting
October 21, 1828 at Franklin, Tennessee
Elk Presbytery
Cumberland Synod
Served on Committee to examine the minutes of Arkansas Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of Cumberland Synod]

1829
Rev. Reuben Burrow received from Elk Presbytery
January-October member of: Elk Presbytery
Cumberland Synod and Franklin Synod after General Assembly
October-December member of: Hopewell Presbytery
Franklin Synod
[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery. October 6, 1829, page 34]

1830
Hopewell Presbytery
Franklin Synod
[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery, Spring 1830, page 40 & Fall 1830, page 46]

1831
Rev. Reuben Burrow
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 17, 1831 at Princeton, Kentucky
Hopewell Presbytery
Franklin Synod

Appointed to Committee to examine into the finances and general condition of the press of the "Religious and Literary Intelligencer."

Appointed to Committee to suggest the best arrangements for the literary department in Cumberland College.

Appointed to Committee to select missionaries for an eastern tour.

"Resolved, that the Rev. ... Reuben Burrow, ... act as the missionaries of the General Assembly to the east,..."

Appointed to Committee of Arrangements for Cumberland College.

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1831, pages 27, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34]

1832
"... be appointed a committee to confer with Rev. Reuben Burrow ...and other efficient men in the Western District..."
[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery, March 1, 1832, page 63]

"By a resolution of Franklin Synod at the last session. The Rev. Reuben Burrow ..., formerly members of this Presbytery, were stricken off and constituted into two Presbyteries."

Forked Deer Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1832, page 41]

1834
Rev. R. Burrow, agent of Cumberland Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1834, page 71]

1835
Rev. Reuben Burrow
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 19, 1835 at Princeton, Kentucky
Forked Deer Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod

Appointed to Committee to make suitable arrangements for preaching during the present session of this Assembly.

Appointed to Committee to draft a synopsis of the business that will probably come before this Assembly

Served on Committee to examine the minutes of Green River Synod

Appointed to Committee on the Press

Appointed to Committee to examine the manuscript - new and enlarged edition of Rev. Finis Ewing's Lectures.

Appointed to Committee on Missions

Appointed to Committee to Examine Church History

Appointed missionary to travel through the bounds of Missouri and Arkansas Territory.
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1835, pages 75, 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 88, 100]

1836
Rev. Reuben Burrow
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 17, 1836 at Nashville, Tennessee
Forked Deer Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
Elected Moderator of General Assembly

Appointed to Committee on the Press

Appointed to Special Committee on memorial from Richland Presbytery

Appointed to Committee on the College

[pp. 512, 514, Reuben Burrow, Manager of Cumberland Presbyterian Education Society]

[p. 520, Reuben Burrow, financial report of Foreign Missionary Society]
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1836, pages 103, 104, 108, 109, 110, 111, 119, 121]

1838
Rev. Reuben Burrow
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 15, 1838 at Lebanon, Tennessee
Forked Deer Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod

Preached the introductory sermon

Served on Committee to examine the minutes of Green River Synod

Appointed to Committee on Cumberland Association
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1836, pages 153, 155, 157]

1839
Convention of 1839
Meeting the Ministers and Elders of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, May 21, 1839 in Nashville, Tennessee
Rev. Reuben Burrow
Forked Deer Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
Appointed to Committee on Book of Discipline
Appointed to Committee to confer with some suitable person of the subject of editing the paper
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1839, pages 169, 171, 174, 177]

1840
Rev. Reuben Burrow
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 19, 1840 in Elkton, Kentucky
Union Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
Elected Moderator
Appointed to Committee to prepare materials for a volume on theology
Appointed agent in West Tennessee to solicit donations for endowing Cumberland College
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1840, pages 181, 182, 199, 209, 211]

1841
preached the introductory sermon
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 18, 1841, in Owensboro, Kentucky
Memphis Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
Appointed to Committee to draft a synopsis of the business that will come before this Assembly
Appointed to Committee on Education
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1841, pages 213, 214, 215, 216, 224, 232]

1842
Rev. Reuben Burrow
Agent of Cumberland College
Appointed to receive propositions from all the different towns or places for relocating the college
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1842, pages 247, 248, 249, 259]

1843
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 16, 1843 in Owensboro, Kentucky
Rev. R. Burrow
Memphis Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
Appointed to Committee to examine the minutes of Indiana Synod
Appointed to Committee on Education
Appointed alternate to preach funeral sermon for Rev. Samuel King
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1843, pages 267, 268, 270, 274, 275, 281, 283]

1845
Rev. Reuben Burrow
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 20, 1845, in Lebanon, Tennessee
Memphis Presbytery
Synod of West Tennessee
Appointed to Committee on Correspondence
Appointed to Committee on the Book Concern
Appointed to Committee to investigate the relationship between Rev. John Barnett and Cumberland College
Appointed Rev. Milton Bird's alternate to preach a sermon on missionary enterprise at the next General Assembly
Appointed to Committee to collect materials, preparatory to the publication of memoirs of deceased ministers of our Church
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1845, pages 292, 294, 295, 300, 310, 312, 321, 326, 333, 334]

1846
Rev. Reuben Burrow
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 19, 1846, in Owensboro, Kentucky
Madison Presbytery
Synod of West Tennessee
Appointed to Committee on Correspondence
Appointed alternate to Rev. A. M. Bryan to preach sermon on Christian Union
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1846, pages 338, 341, 346, 357, 358, 359]

1848
R. Burrow
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 16, 1848 at Memphis, Tennessee
Madison Presbytery
Synod of West Tennessee
Served on Committee on the Minutes of Green River Synod, Chairman
Served on Committee On Ways and Means, Chairman
Appointed to the Committee to inquire into, and report the expediency or inexpediency of establishing and theological department
Served on the Committee On Publication
Appointed to Committee to co-operate with the Session, in arranging religious exercises
"Since the last Annual Report, the Board of Missions has aided the Middle Tennessee Synod in sending Brethren Burrow and Kirkland on a mission to North Carolina, where they labored for some time; but failing in the prospect of organizing a Presbytery, they returned."
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1848, pages 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 33]

1849
R. Burrow
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 15, 1849 at Princeton, Kentucky
Madison Presbytery
Synod of West Tennessee
Served on Committee On the State of Religion and Statistics, Chairman
Served on Committee on Records of Columbia Synod
Appointed to Committee on the establishment of a Theological Seminary
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1849, pages 5, 8, 10, 15, 16, 17, 30]

1850
R. Burrow, Sen.
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 21, 1850 at Clarksville, Tennessee
Madison Presbytery
Synod of West Tennessee
"Bro. R. Burrow was chosen Moderator."
No Ministerial Directory
"Rev. R. Burrows' Response to Rev. E. McMillan."
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1850, pages 5, 6, 18, 20, 21]

1851
R. Burrow, Sen.
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 20, 1851 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Madison Presbytery
Synod of West Tennessee
"The introductory sermon was preached by the Rev. Reuben Burrow, Moderator of the last General Assembly, from Isaiah lxi. 1, 2."
Served on Committee on the State of Religion
Served on Committee on Records of Cumberland Synod
"Concluded with prayer, by Brother Burrow."-Wednesday evening
"Concluded with prayer, by Brother Burrow."-Friday evening
"Spent one-half hour in religious services, conducted by Brother Burrow."-Tuesday morning
No Ministerial Directory
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1851, pages 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 14, 20, 25, 32]

1852
R. Burrow, Sr.
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 18, 1852 in Nashville, Tennessee
Madison Presbytery
Synod of West Tennessee
Served on Committee on Board of Publication
Served on Committee on the Book Concern
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1852, pages 7, 8, 22, 28, 30, 55]

1853
No Ministerial Directory
Reuben Burrow
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 17, 1853, Princeton, Kentucky
Madison Presbytery
Synod of West Tennessee
May 17-"The constituting prayer was offered by Rev. Reuben Burrow."
"Spent half an hour in religious exercises, conducted by Rev. R. Burrow."
Served on Committee on Overtures
Served on Committee on Education
Served on Committee to take into consideration the propriety of revising the Confession of Faith and Book of Discipline
Chosen as alternate Corresponding Delegate to the Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (N.S.)
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1853, pages 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 17, 22, 25, 27]

1854
R. Burrow
McLemoresville, Tennessee
Hopewell Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
[This listing may be a mistake as he is not listed as a member of Hopewell Presbytery in 1854 minutes]
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1854, page 88]

1855
R. Burrow, D.D.
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 15, 1855, Lebanon, Tennessee
Madison Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
"The Moderator of the last Assembly being absent, the introductory sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Burrow, from the fourth verse of the ninth chapter of John."
May 15-"Recess having expired, the Assembly resumed business--Rev. Dr. Burrow, acting Moderator."
"On motion of rev. Dr. Burrow, it was ordered that the Assembly spend one half hour each morning, in religious exercises before entering upon business."
Served on Committee on the Board of Publication
Served on the Committee on the Minutes of the Middle Tennessee Synod, Chairman
Served on Committee to answer letter from Rev. Robert Donnell
Burrow, absent at Tuesday morning, May 22 roll call
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1855, pages 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18, 19, 28, 30, 48, 60]

1856
R. Burrow, D.D.
McLemoresville, Tennessee
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 15, 1856 in Louisville, Kentucky
Monday, May 19, 1856 - Dr. R. Burrow closed the evening session with prayer
one place says Madison Presbytery, another says Hopewell Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1856, pages 5, 17, 22, 59]

1856
Rev. R. Burrow, Sen., was received from Madison Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery, October 1856, page 224]

1857
R. Burrow, sen., D.D.
McLemoresville, Tennessee
Hopewell Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 21, 1857 in Lexington, Missouri
Served on Committee on Board of Publication
Served on Committee on Education
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1857, pages 5, 7, 16, 56, 68]

1858
Reuben Burrow, D.D.
McLemoresville, Tennessee
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 20, 1858 in Huntsville, Alabama
Served on Committee on Overtures
Served on Special Committee on Publication
The religious exercises were conducted by Rev. R. Burrow, Saturday morning, May 22, 1858
Tuesday evening, May 25, 1858-due to the absence of the Moderator, The Rev. Reuben Burrow was called to preside
Thursday morning, May 27, 1858-Rev. Reuben Burrow opened the General Assembly with prayer
Hopewell Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1858, pages 5, 7, 11, 12, 24, 28, 29, 39, 41, 46, 80]

1859
R. Burrow, D.D.
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 19, 1859 in Evansville, Indiana
Due to the absence of the Moderator, the introductory sermon was preached by Rev. Reuben Burrow, D.D.
Served as chairman of the Committee on Overtures
Appointed to committee to attend the examination of the Theological classes in the Cumberland University for the year 1860
Hopewell Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1859, pages 3, 6, 8, 12, 15, 19, 31, 32, 35, 36, 38, 46, 48]

1860
R. Burrow, D.D.
Commissioner to General Assembly
May 17, 1860 in Nashville, Tennessee
Served on Committee on Education
Served on Special Committee to deal with resolution on the subject of defraying the expenses of commissioners to the General Assembly of the United Synod of the Presbyterian church
Roll call on May 22, R. Burrow, D.D., sick
R. Burrow, D.D. was called to take the chair due to the absence of the Moderator
Hopewell Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1860, pages 5, 7, 9, 20, 28, 68]

[Hopewell Presbytery not listed in Ministerial Registry]
[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery]

1861
Hopewell Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery, Spring 1861, page 312 & Fall 1861, page 325]

1862
No ministerial directory
Hopewell Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery, Spring 1862, page 332 & Fall 1862, page 339]

1863
No ministerial directory
Hopewell Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery, Spring 1863, page 345 & Fall 1863, page 1]

1864
No ministerial directory
Hopewell Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery, Spring 1864, page 9 & Fall 1864, page 13]

1865
Not in limited Presbyterial and Ministerial Directory
No listing for Hopewell Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1865]

Hopewell Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery, Spring 1865, page 18 & Fall 1865, page 24]

1866
No ministerial directory

Hopewell Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery, Spring 1866, page 32 & Fall 1866, page 46]

1867
No ministerial directory

Rev. Reuben Burrow, D.D. offered prayer May 22, 1867 at the meeting of General Assembly in Memphis, Tennessee
Reuben Burrow, D.D., appointed to Committee of Conference
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1867, pages 25, 34]

Hopewell Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery, Spring 1867, page 56 & Fall 1867, page 67]

1868
"Reuben Burrow, D.D., was at his death one of the oldest, and had been one of the most useful ministers in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He had been in the ministry more than forty years, and for a number of years was Professor of Theology in Bethel College. He was a great and good man. The Church laments his loss and honors his memory; but he had made full proof of his ministry."
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1868, pages 26, 38]

Hopewell Presbytery
West Tennessee Synod
"The Committee on Tribute of respect for the memory of R. Burrow D.D. and J. M. B. Roach made the following report which was on motion received. Your com. on tribute and respect to the memory of Revs. R. Burrow D.D. and J. M. B. Roach would submit the following report. The com. have had the subject under consideration and recommend the adoption of the following resolution.
Resolution 1st That in the death of Rev. R. Burrow a member of this Presbytery who departed this life May 13th 1868 the church has lost one of her most exemplary and efficient ministers. One unsurpassed by any through the whole course of his ministry and notwithstanding his universal success if your com is correctly informed more persons embraced religion under his ministry the last year than any other of his ministerial life.

2nd That we as a Presbytery deeply mourn and realize his loss in our Church and her judicatories.

3rd That we hereby sincerely and affectionately recommend the ____ aged of his success--- the youth and the rising ministry to follow the example of Dr. Burrow in piety, in_______, and perseverance.
[Source: Minutes of Hopewell Presbytery, Fall 1868, page 100]

1852-1864
McLemoresville Cumberland Presbyterian Church
McLemoresville, Tennessee
[Source: Brief Biographical Sketches of Some of the Early Ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Second Series. By Richard Beard. Page 262.]

1853-1864
(once a month)
Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church
McKenzie, Tennessee

[Source: Brief Biographical Sketches of Some of the Early Ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Second Series. By Richard Beard, page 262]

Burrow, Reuben. A Discourse of Christian Baptism, Embracing Discourses, on the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and Christian Communion; To Which is Added an Essay Entitled the Kingdom of Christ not of this World. Lebanon, Tennessee: Office of the Banner of Peace, 1845.

Burrow, Reuben. Familiar Discourses on Christian Baptism, the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and Christian Communion. To Which is Added an Essay Entitled The Kingdom of Christ Not of This World. Louisville: R. Burrow and M. Bird, 1847.

Burrow, Reuben. Medium Theology. Lectures of Rev. Reuben Burrow, D.D., Professor of Theology in Bethel College from 1851 to 1860. With Autobiographical Sketch and Short Account of Funeral. Arranged and prepared by his son, Rev. A. G. Burrow. Nashville, Tenn.: Printed at the Cumberland Presbyterian Publishing House, 1881.

Burrow, Reuben. The Scriptural Doctrine of Predestination and Election: Addressed to the Common Sense of the Reader. Louisville: Bird and Burrow, 1848.

Irby, Joe Ben. The Life and Thought of Reuben Burrow, DD: An Advocate of Cumberland Presbyterian Theology. Memphis, Tennessee: By the author, 2001.