It was my privilege and great pleasure to attend services at the Cumberland Presbyterian church, Pulaski, Tenn., August 3, 1902, and hear that great and good man, George Washington Mitchell, D.D., preach on the eighty-seventh anniversary of his birth. He selected his text from Heb. 11: 24-26: "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasurers of Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of reward."

Befor entering upon the discussion of his text, with deep emotion and tender pathos he said: "My brethren and friends, God has been good to me, and I praise him for permitting me to preach to you on this the eighty-seventh anniversary of my birth. I was born in Maury county, Tenn., August 3, 1815; was reared in the Presbyterian Church, my father being an elder. When about eight or ten years old I was convicted under a sermon preached by Rev. Hugh Shaw from Joshua 24: 15. I felt if I were to die I would be lost. I wept for some time, but no one knew why I wept. Afterward at different times I took my Bible into a private room, and locked the door, and read the text, and the same feelings I had at church would return. While a student in Mt. Pleasant Academy a revival occurred which continued several months, during which I became so deeply convicted I pluckily sought the Lord for several days, and at 5 p.m. Friday, June 12, I obtained the assurance that my sins were pardoned; that my soul was saved. Two or three weeks afterward I joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The last week in September I was received by Elk Presbytery as a probationer for the ministry and twelve months thereafter was licensed to preach. I preached my first sermon in the Presbyterian church, Florence, Ala., Saturday night before the third Sunday in October, 1834; hence I have been preaching this blessed gospel nearly sixty-eight years. I was broken down in health, had to abandon school, and went to central Mississippi to recuperate. From that time on I was greatly afflicted. Perhaps I never enjoyed a single day of perfect health. I often preached when I felt it would be my last sermon, and that is doubtless the reason my services were productive of such great results. I thought in all probability it was my last message to poor, dying sinners. I thank God for calling me into the ministry. I am sure I never could have been so happy in any other calling. I love to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love. Preaching is the best medicine I have ever tired. I have preached away many a pain and ache. I am glad to say I am enjoying better health to-day than ever before in all my life."

It was beautiful to behold his bright face and hear him say: "I had rather suffer with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin. I esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than any earthly treasures. Let the old man beg you to choose this day whom ye will serve." At the conclusion of the sermon he stood in front of the pulpit, and, leading himself, he sang several verses, with the chorus, "Bear me away on your snowy wings to my immortal home," while the congregation came forward to grasp his hand. I am sure that multiplied scores who have been led to a better life through his instrumentality will while reading these lines join me in saying, God bless the dear old man. I always feel like standing with uncovered head in his presence. It has never been my good fortune to come in contact with a nature more lovable, more exalted. For nearly fifteen years I have been permitted to sit at his feet. Often we have met in the interchange of confidential thought. I never heard him speak uncharitably of any one. The coldness of calculating selfishness is foreign to his soul--a mind so pure that it is doubtful if a deliberately profane or vulgar thought ever found a resting place therein. The world is better for his living. Manhood is elevated by the record he has left for its guidance. Who among us ever knew a more knightly or more lovable spirit than George Washington Mitchell?
                                                               THADDEUS E. HUDSON.
   Pulaski, Tenn.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, August 21, 1902, page 212]

Cumberland Presbyterians everywhere will grieve to hear of the death of the venerable Dr. Geo. W. Mitchell, who died Wednesday, April 6, at his home, Pulaski, Tenn.

The grandparents of George Washington Mitchell (Andrew Mitchell and Mary Govan Mitchell) came to America with the tide of Scotch-Irish immigration from North Ireland in the seventeenth century and settled in Orange county, N.C., about 1752. They were Presbyterians and held membership in the New Hope congregation of the above county. (This congregation was a branch of the old Hawfields congregation.)

Soon after the formation of Maury county, Tenn., James Mitchell, son of Andrew Mitchell, with his wife, Mary Craig, settled in the southwestern part of the county, near the present site of Mt. Pleasant, and they became connected with the old Salem congregation of the Presbyterian Church. Here they lived and died, becoming the parents of thirteen children. George Washington, the subject of this sketch, was one of this household. He was born August 3, 1815; spent his youth on the farm of his father, attending, as opportunity offered, the common schools of the neighborhood. In a sermon preached at Pulaski, Tenn., August 3, 1902, Dr. Mitchell made the following statement: "When about eight years old I was convicted under a sermon preached by Rev. Hugh Shaw, of the Presbyterian Church, from Josh. 24: 15. I felt if I were to die I would be lost. I wept for some time, but no one knew why I wept. Afterward at different times I took my Bible into a private room, and locked the door and read the text, and the same feelings I had at church would return. While a student in Mt. Pleasant Male Academy a revival occurred which continued several months, during which I became so deeply convicted I publicly sought the Lord for several days, and at 5 p.m.Friday, June 12, 1833, I obtained the assurance that my sins were pardoned, that my soul was saved. Two or three weeks afterward I joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. I few months later--the last week in September--at Harpeth Lick church in Williamson county I joined the Elk Presbytery as a probationer for the ministry, and on October 2, 1834, at the fall meeting of the same presbytery in the town of Columbia, I was licensed to preach. I preached my first sermon in the Presbyterian church, Florence, Ala., Saturday night before the third Sunday in October, 1834; hence I have been preaching this blessed gospel nearly sixty-eight years. I was broken down in health, had to abandon school, and went to central Mississippi to recuperate. From that time on I was greatly afflicted. Perhaps I never enjoyed a single day of perfect health. I often preached when I felt it would be my last sermon, and this is doubtless the reason my services were productive of such great results. I thought in all probability it was my last message to poor, dying sinners."

About a year was spent in Jefferson county, Miss., when, in November, 1835, he returned to Mt. Pleasant Academy to resume his studies. Return of bad health soon compelled him to retire from school, and on the 16th of June, 1836, he left home as a volunteer for the Creek War in Alabama. Upon the arrival of the brigade at the seat of war, the Creeks made peace, whereupon the brigade proceeded to Florida and finished their term of service in the Seminole War. On November 18, 1836, at the battle of Wahoo Swamp, he received what was thought to be a mortal would, from which he was obliged to retire from service, reaching home January 16, 1837. During the spring of this year he resumed his preaching services, and has continued the same up to the last few months of his life. In some manuscript notes in the hands of the writer given him some years ago by Dr. Mitchell, he says:

"My great aim, through all my ministry was to save souls. I was greatly encouraged in this work by the success attending my efforts. On the first of January, 1853, I took charge of the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Athens, Ala., where I was installed by Tennessee Presbytery. This work I resigned in 1866, and took pastoral charge of Mt. Moriah congregation in Giles county, Tenn., where I was installed by Richland Presbytery in the autumn of 1867. This work was relinquished in January, 1872, to take charge of the newly established mission congregation at Jackson, Tenn., which I organized on February 25 and dedicated the church the following April. At the close of the year I returned to my former pastorate at Athens, Ala., the financial condition of the country at the time making frequent pastoral changes necessary. In the spring of 1888 I again assumed pastoral oversight of the Mt. Moriah congregation, but finding the pastoral labor over such a large country congregation too heavy for my state of health--after the close of the great revival in September, in which fifty-five persons were converted and forty-five accessions were made to the church--I resigned my pastorate. On the 20th of July, 1837, I was married to Miss E. Jane Isom, of Mt. Pleasant, Tenn., who was the mother of fourteen children, ten of whom lived to be grown, the other four having died in infancy. My children were dedicated to God in infancy, and all professed religion and came into the communion of the church between the ages of five and fourteen. I was bereaved of my wife August 19, 1882, at Athens, Ala., who, with seven of my children, has gone before to wait for me and those that remain to finish life's work."

Dr. Mitchell was often selected by his presbytery to represent them in the courts of the church, and was faithful to attend to every such duty laid upon him. He records that he attended in his lifetime twenty-five meetings of the General Assembly. Of these he was elected to represent as principal fourteen times, once he was enrolled, having to take place of an alternate, and attended as a visitor ten times. At the last meeting of the Assembly in Nashville, Tenn., he was a visitor, and attended nearly all the sittings of the body, renewing with great interest his acquaintanceship in the church, and receiving the reverent attention of a great circle who have learned to know and admire him. In reference to the "birthday" sermon preached at Pulaski, alluded to in the above, Rev. T. E. Hudson, who has lived near Dr. Mitchell for many years, says:

"I was beautiful to behold his bright face and hear him say: 'I had rather suffer with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin. I esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than earthly treasures. Let the old man beg you to choose this day whom you will serve.' At the conclusion of the sermon he stood in front of the pulpit, and leading himself, he sang several verses of the hymn, the chorus of which is, 'Bear me away on your snow white wings to my eternal home,' while the congregation came forward to grasp his hand. I am sure that multiplied scores who have been led to a better life through his instrumentality will, while reading these lines, join me in saying, 'God bless the dear old man.' I always feel like standing with uncovered head in his presence. It has never been my good fortune to come in contact with a nature more lovable, more exalted. For nearly fifteen years I have been permitted to sit at his feet. Often we have met in the interchange of confidential thought. I never heard him speak uncharitably of any one. The coldness of calculating selfishness is foreign to his soul--a mind so pure that it is doubtful if a deliberately profane or vulgar thought ever found a resting place therein. The world is better for his living. Manhood is elevated by the record he had left for his guidance. Who among us ever knew a more knightly or lovable spirit than George Washington Mitchell?"
   Columbia, Tenn.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, April 14, 1904, pages 469 & 474]

MITCHELL.--"My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more;" his mantle has fallen: who will take it? Another one of God's old servants called home. Another one of our great men has passed away, adding one more to the list of our noted and worthy men, who bore his burden like others in the early history of our church--a time that tried men's souls; a time when men of the right stamp were in demand--"men who could endure with the ox, soar with the eagle, roar with the lion, love with the angel, and reason with the man;" men who esteemed the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; men "of whom the world was not worthy." They had respect unto the recompense of the reward. George W. Mitchell, son of James and Mary (Craig) Mitchell, was born on Thursday, August 3, 1815, at Boiling Spring, on the waters of the Big Bigby, three miles from Mt. Pleasant, Maury county, state of Tennessee: the youngest of fourteen children. He professed religion June 12, 1833, at 4 p.m., and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian church two weeks after profession at Mt. Pleasant, under the pastorate of Rev. John P. Campbell, Rev. William S. Burney assisting in the meeting when George professed. In September, 1833, Samuel A. Nelson, George C. Stockard, A. H. Campbell, W. H. Crofford and G. W. Mitchell joined the Elk Presbytery at old Harpeth Lick church in the southeast corner of Williamson county, Tenn. Soon after the meeting of this presbytery these five young men entered Jackson College of Manual Labor, located near Spring Hill, Tenn., as probationers for the ministry. A. H. Campbell never preached. G. W. Mitchell was licensed to preach in Columbia, Tenn., October 2, 1834, and was ordained at Mt. Pleasant by the Richland Presbytery in March, 1838. Here at Mt. Pleasant is where George was born, reared, educated, professed religion, joined the church, joined the ministry, was licensed to preach, married, was ordained and labored the first eighteen years of his ministry. He was married to E. Jane Isom (daughter of George and Elizabeth Isom), July 20, 1837. There were born to them fourteen children, the same number as in his father's family. In each family nine boys and five girls, in each family one set of twins, a boy and a girl, and one of each set died early, and each that died was a boy. They raised ten children to be grown, and all saved and members of the church. He moved his family from Mount Pleasant to Athens, Ala., December 22, 1852, on a special call to the pastorate of the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Athens, where he served many years faithfully and successfully as the shepherd of the flock. As a man, Brother Mitchell was a model Christian gentleman; as a preacher, he was clear, logical, biblical, faithful, deep; as a presbyter, he was regular, wise, prompt, conservative and safe; as a shepherd of the flock of Christ, he was watchful, exemplary and tender, feeding them with healthful food convenient for them. He was greatly beloved by his brethren and by the church, reverenced and highly respected by all classes. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith; and much people was added unto the Lord (Acts 11: 24) and "after he had served his own generation, by the will of God he fell asleep, and was laid unto his fathers" (Acts 13: 36) at Athens, Ala., April 7, 1904, by loving hearts and tender hands. The writer was acquainted with Brother Mitchell more than fifty years, and for at least forty years of that time intimately associated with him. We were bound together by strong, unbroken bands of friendship and love undisturbed even unto the end. I shall always regret that I could not fulfill his repeated request that I should attend to his funeral services when the end should come; but I could not. Long and well did he serve his God and his church; but his harness is off; his tongue is still; sixty-six years an ordained preacher; seventy years from his licensure.--C. B. Saunders, Stevenson, Ala.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, May 12, 1904, page 604]

Mitchell, Rev. G. W. X+Y=Z; or The Sleeping Preacher of North Alabama. Containing an Account of Most Wonderful Mysterious Mental Phenomena, Fully Authenticated by Living Witnesses. Printed for the Author. New York: W. C. Smith, 1876. [2 copies in archives]

Mitchell, Rev. G. W. X+Y=Z; or The Sleeping Preacher of North Alabama. Containing an Account of Most Wonderful Mysterious Mental Phenomena, Fully Authenticated by Living Witnesses. 2d ed. Printed for the Author. New York: W. C. Smith, 1877. [1 copy in archives]

Drake, William Pickens and , G. W. Mitchell. X+Y=Z, or, The Sleeping Preacher of North Alabama. Centennial ed. Drake Publications: Owens Cross Roads, Alabama, 1981. [4 copies in archives]