--The sad intelligence of the death of the Rev. J. T. A. Henderson was received too late for insertion in our last week's issue. He passed away at Sedalia, Mo., at midnight Tuesday, September 30. He was recognized throughout the church as a man of marked ability, an earnest Christian, an able preacher, and a writer of recognized power. He was greatly loved in the churches in Pennsylvania and elsewhere where he labored so successfully as pastor. We hope to print an extended notice of his life and services soon.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, October 9, 1890, page 5]

The death of this beloved minister and leader has already been announced in the CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN. After more than eighty-five years of struggle and triumph, the strong and noble spirit took its flight to the unseen land on the last night of September, 1890. He died at Sedalia, Mo. Until within the last few months he retained almost unimpaired his mental and physical powers and continued at his post as pastor of a congregation in Pennsylvania. While Missouri was yet a Territory his family settled in what is now Callaway county. Dr. B. W. McDonnold, in his Church History, makes this reference to Brother Henderson's early home: "When this family and one other settled near Round Prairie, Mo., there was no other family within a circuit of ten miles. It was many a long year before there was any school within reach. Having neither post-offices, newspapers, nor stores, the pioneers lived a lonely life. It is a touching thing to read Mr. Henderson's account of his rapture when at last his home was surrounded with neighbors who employed a school-teacher."

He became a Christian and church member at seventeen, and was received by the presbytery as a candidate for the ministry at nineteen. He entered with all the energy and force of his strong nature into the work of a pioneer preacher, riding the circuit, preaching in the cabins of the settlers and in the open air. When he was thirty-six years old he accepted an invitation to go to western Pennsylvania where Morgan and Bryan and their fellow missionaries had planted our church ten years before. For a series of years he was pastor of Hopewell church, Fayette county, near Brownsville, Pa. It is stated that he served this one congregation as pastor a full quarter of a century. His first pastorate here was continued perhaps sixteen years, and he twice afterward returned to the same people, serving them through a period of years. He was also for a time pastor at Uniontown, Pa. Everywhere in western Pennsylvania he was known and loved. He was a bold, positive, and able defender of the doctrines of the church, and a most earnest and effective preacher of the gospel of Christ. There are scores of members in our Pennsylvania churches who were led to the Christian life and hope under his ministry. At intervals his labors were transferred to the region of his boyhood home, Missouri. He was the real founder of the church at Sedalia in that State. The following account of his work there is given in our Church History: "In September of that year (1878) the Rev. J. T. A. Henderson, then of Knobnoster, Mo., began to preach twice a month in this city without any appointment from the board or the presbytery, and at his own charges. He continued these services regularly for about two years, his compensation being less than his traveling expenses." We may fittingly close this imperfect notice of a noble and consecrated live with the following testimony from the pen of the Rev. J. G. Patton, pastor of the church at Brownsville, Pa., who was, in the closing years of Father Henderson's ministry, was intimately associated with him: "Father Henderson, as we all called him, was one of the oldest ministers, if not the oldest, in our church. He was a pioneer in the truest sense. In early times Brother Henderson was a favorite preacher at the camp-meeting. It is said that often the afternoon hour was given him, which was considered the most difficult time in which to interest the people. But the strength and melody of his voice combined with an intense earnestness in his manner, drew even the most careless close about him to hear his gospel. His themes were usually doctrinal. At that time free-will, depravity, the Lord Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, dying in the room and stead of sinners, were the great subjects analyzed and borne to the people as parts and the whole of salvation. Throngs of listeners in Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Ohio could have testified that Father Henderson was a giant in these things. He had power in forcing conviction upon the sinner's mind, and his power was as marked in holding up Jesus to the burdened soul. Had he been less argumentative, and more historical, less combative and more irenical, his popularity would have been unbounded. But it could hardly be possible for such a strong mind to be less antagonistic in its tendencies. What he believed he lived in with all his soul. Any middle ground would be to him a compromise and injury to his conscience. Still he allowed to other men their proper liberty in thinking, and did not in a judgment condemn them.

No man tried harder to live near his Savior than Father Henderson. An active man and a strong man, he had hard battles to fight with himself and the world. Did he come off a victor? Those who have heard his supplications and thanksgivings to God know that he "kept the faith" within and without. His active ministry extended through a space of time longer than most men live. he did not cease thinking and speaking of the great gospel themes until his death.

To the young minister Father Henderson was a true friend. He loved them and their work. During the year 1889 and part of 1890 he lived in our village. Whenever the weather would at all permit he was in his accustomed seat--a chair just in front of the pulpit. He sat, a patriarch indeed, facing the audience. To us all, both pastor and people, his presence was a benediction. The lessons of faithfulness, of patience, of true kindness, love to God and man, we shall not forget."
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, November 6, 1890, page 2]

Bibliography

Henderson, J. T. A. The Way to Be Saved Made Plain. Kansas City: Ramsey, Millet & Hudson, 1873. [1 copy in the archives]

Henderson, J. T. A. The Way to Be Saved Made Plain. St. Louis: Perrin & Smith, 1881. [This book is needed for the archives]