THOMAS W. O'KELLEY

A subdued sorrow fell upon the city of Raleigh at noon Tuesdayof last week, when phones carried the message from home to homethat the beloved pastor of the First Baptist Church had passedaway. Though the end had been expected hourly for two days, itwas hard to realize that one whose life had meant so much to thiscity for the past sixteen years had gone from us to return no more.

Thomas Washington O'Kelley was born in Hall County, Georgia, onDecember 16, 1861. He was a graduate of Mercer University, andreceived his theological training at the Southern Baptist TheologicalSeminary. He held pastorates in Hawkinsville, Griffin, and Atlanta,in his native state; in Little Rock, Arkansas; and St. Joseph,Missouri. From St. Joseph he came to Raleigh in January, 1911.

For two or three years Dr. O'Kelley had not been in robusthealth, but kept up his work until a year ago, when he was forcedto take a prolonged vacation. His pulpit was filled for somemonths by preachers residing in Raleigh. But when little hope wasgiven that he would ever be well again, he insisted that his re-signation be accepted which was done on condition that he consentto become pastor emeritus, with sufficient salary to meet his needs.

The pastorate of the First Church, Raleigh, was Dr. O'Kelley'slongest pastorate as it was the longest pastorate of the church.He came here a stranger, not half dozen people in Raleigh havingever seen him until he stepped off the train in January, 1911,but it was only a short time before he was well known and highlyesteemed by the people of the city, irrespective of denomination.He grew in favor with the passing years, and at the time of hisdeath was one of the best beloved citizens of the city.

Dr. O'Kelley was truly God-called preacher. He loved to preachabove everything else, and though offered the presidency of hisalma mater, Mercer University, he felt that he could not turn asidefrom the work to which God had called him. He was deeply interestedin all the work of the denomination, and led his church in a greatway. with tremendous emphasis he laid upon the hearts of his peopletheir obligation to the Kingdom of God and urged them to makesacrifices for its advancement. Though a useful member of theForeign Mission Board for several years, he was heartily in

THOMAS W. O'KELLEY---------2

favor of the Cooperative Program. His church stood sadly inneed of better Sunday-school equipment, but he insisted thatbuilding be deferred until the pledges to the 75-Million Campaignhad been paid.

Dr. O'Kelley never preached sensational sermons, nor did hewaste time in useless controversy. He was true to the Book andthe God of the Book. He held up Christ as the only hope for lostmen, and made the cross the central theme of his preaching. Thefourth of July, 1926, which fell on Sunday, was the last time heoccupied his own pulpit. His text that morning was from FirstCorinthians 1:17, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but topreach the gospel: not with wisdom of words lest the cross ofChrist should be made of none effect." What a fitting close fora ministry which had magnified the Christ who died on the cross!

On July 11, 1926, Dr. O'Kelley was invited to preach at theopening of the beautiful new building of St. John's Church,Charlotte. In the morning he preached on faith, using the trialof Job as his subject. He said the only faith worth the name isa faith that stands the test. At night he preached on Heavenfrom Psalm 90:1, "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in allgenerations." His last sermon was about the home which he joy-fully entered on Tuesday of last week.

The body was carried to the churth at ten o'bloCk Wednesdaymorning and lay in state until the funeral at four in the afternoon.Many friends and admirers went to the church to look for the lasttime on the face of the beloved shepherd. Dr. R. T. Vann who hasbeen acting pastor of the church sor some months, conducted theservice, assisted by Dr. J. F. Love, of Richmond, Va., CorrespondingSecretary of the Foreign Mission Board; Dr. Charles E. Maddry,Corresponding Secretary of the Baptist State Convention of NorthCarolina; and.L~vingston Johnson, the editor of the BiblicalRecorder.

The large auditorium was crowded, as many came from surroundingcommunities to attend the funeral, and many citizens of Raleighleft their business to show their respect and esteem for thisuniversally beloved citizen. The floral designs were beautifuland very profuse, the pUlpit being banked with them as was otherspace at the front of the church. The body of the gentleshepherd was laid to rest in Oakwood Cemetery, where he had spoken

THOMAS W. O'KELLEY----------3

the last word over the remains of many to whom he ministered inlife.

His two preacher brothers, N. B. of Jacksonville, Fla.,and A. F. of Denmark, S. C., were at the bedside of their elderbrother when the end came. Another brother who lives in NewMexico was too far away to come. Mrs. O'Kelley and three children,Thomas, Miss Mary and William survive. Mrs. O'Kelley because ofillness which resulted from the great nervous strain and deepanxiety of the past year, was unable to attend the funeral.Thousands of friends of Dr. O'Kelley will pray earnestly that thisfaithful and devoted wife may soon be restored to health.

BIBLICAL RECORDER, July 20, 1927, p. 6:1-3

205/B47

THE STRUGGLES AND FRUITS OF FAITH (Raleigh, NCFirst Baptist Church) 286/R13s

DR. W. C. TYREE1902-1910

V DR. THOMAS W. O'KELLEY

1911-1927

DR. J. POWELL TUCKER

1927-1937

\DR. S. L. STEALEY

1938-1942DR. BROADUS E. JONES

1943-1960

BAPTIST BIOGRAPHY, volume 2By: B. J. W. Graham \

92Q/G76THOMAS WASfIINGTON O'KELLEY.

Concord Baptist church, which is.located in Hall county, Georgia, fifteenmiles north of Gainesville, was for 8

long period of years one of the largestcountry churches in that section of theState. It was the center of the socialand religious life of the community.Its membership was composed of stur-dy country folk, and its pastorsin theearlier years, though neither collegebred nor seminary trained, were strongpreachers of the simple and yet pro-

found gospel of dying love and saving grace. Their preaching wasedifying to the church and convincing. to the unsaved, and largecongregations hung upon their ministry. In the course of yearsthe educational spirit of the community crystallized into theChattahoochee Baptist High School. Its buildings are .hard bythe old church. With the establishment of the school, the popula-tion of the community began and has continued to increase. It isnow known as Clermont, Georgia, a prosperous little town whichhas been built around the old church and school. .

One of the pioneer citizens of the Concord community, as it wasformerly known, was Edward Washington O'Kelley, of Irish stock.His wife was Elizabeth Barnes. They lived on the farm, and theirhome was blessed with six boys, three of whom, T. W., N. B. andA. F. have become distinguished Baptist ministers. Joseph, the,youngest brother, died while a student of the State Normal School,Athens, Georgia, where he was preparing himself to teach. It wasthought by his .fellow students, class mates and intimate friendsthat God had laid his hands on him for the ministry. It may besaid of him that he was not less brilliant than his gifted brothers.

Thomas Washington O'Kelley, the subject of this sketch, andthe eldest of the three preacher brothers, was born in the Concordcommunity, Hall county, Georgia, December 16, 1860. The early

It iswhich.

BAPTIST BIOGRAPHY 245

years of his life were spent on his father's farm, on which he"wasaccustomed to do hard work. In bodyhe developedinto a large andstrong man more than six feet tall and weighing one hundred andeighty-five pounds. Between the busy seasons on the farm he at-tended the local school of his community•.. As. a boy he was anapt and diligent student, and with the meager advantages af-forded in a country school he prepared himself for the Freshmanclass of Mercer University, at Macon, Georgia.

Of course Mr. t'}'Kelley was not as well prepared for collegeas many of his classmates, but he had been accustomed to hardwork and knew nothing but to be an honest, painstaking student.It was not enough for him to make a passing mark; his collegecourse was serious business, and he made it his habit to go to thebottom of the subjects he studied. Soon he was in the lead of hisclass, and in 1889 he graduated with first honor. Unlike manyfirst honor graduates, he has continued to be a close student ofbooks and things. During the years of his busy life and respon-sible positions, he has amassed a vast amount of exact knowledgeand of general information. In point of scholarship he ranks highamong his fellows.On his graduation from Mercer University with the A. B. degree,

he became principal of the Hiawassee High School, at Hiawassee,Georgia, in the Fall of 1889. After a year of successful serviceas head of that institution, he was called to the chair of Latin inMercer University, where he began his career as a collegeprofessor,in September, 1890. The following year he occupied the chair ofGreek in the same institution. As a teacher of the classics he wasgifted in inspiring his students to study and in making clear tothem the technicalities of the languages. Had he chosen teaching.as his Iife work, he would have developed into the peer of anyteacher in all the land.Mr. O'Kelley was happily converted in October, 1879, and in

November, 1888, he was ordained to the full work of the gospelministry. by .the First Baptist church, of Macon, Georgia. Thepresbytery was composedof Drs. E. W. Warren, J. G. Ryals, A. J.Battle, John J, Brantley and George R. McOall. Having feltcalled of God to preach the gospel he could not be content with the

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2.46 BAPTIST BIOGRAPHY\

work of the 'Schoolroom. Whileptofessor at Mercer University hepreached somewherenearly every Sunday, and for a time was pastorof Mount Zion church, near the city of Macon. During the earlypart of the year 1892 he supplied the pulpit of the church at Haw-kinsville,Georgia. That church was so pleased with him as pastorand preacher that it induced him to give up his professorship inMercer University and to become its permanent pastor. For oneyear he led this great old church in doing a magnificent work.In 1893, the First church at Griffin, Georgia, extended Dr,

O'Kelley a hearty and unanimous call to become its pastor. Thecall was accepted, and he began his work with this church on thefirst of May. The climate of South Georgia had undermined hishealth, but upon his return to the highlands his former vigor wasrestored. The Griffin church greatly prospered under his ministryfrom May, 1893, to July, 1899. It was during that period thechurch attracted State-wide attention on account of its increasedChristian liberality. Every department of its workprospered underhis leadership. During his pastorate it graciouslygave him leaveof absenceto take a special course at the Southern Baptist Theolog-ical Seminary, at Louisville, Kentucky. .In September, 1899, the West End Baptist church, of Atlanta,

induced Dr. O'Kelley to retire from the pastorate of the Griffinchurch to accept its call. It was in Atlanta he had his first experi-ence in the grind of a city pastorate. In his other pastorates hischurches were first dn the community and were located in thecenter of things. In spite of: the new and untried experience ofa city pastorate, he did a great work for the West End church,and it was loath to give him up that he might accept a call to theSecond Baptist church, of Little Rock, Arkansas, in March, 1902.It was hard for Dr. O'Kelley to break away from his family and

State ties to take up work in a western State. But the opportuni-ties offeredby the Second church of Little Rock, the leading churchof the city and State, were too gr=at to be turned down. In ashort time he won his way into the affections of his people, andtactfully adapted himself to his new environment. Soon his repu-tation as a strong preacher and aggressive pastor became knownfarther West. Accordingly, the First Baptist church, of St. Joseph,

of Atlanta,the Griffinfirst experi-

pastorates histed in the

BAPTIST BIOGRAPHY

Missouri, extended him a call in 1904. This call was acceptedand he began his work in that city in February of the same year.Seven of the best years of his life were given to that great church.AU the departments of its work greatly prospered under his leader-ship. In the Fall of 1910 a number of leading churches in theSouth were seeking his services, but the First Baptist church ofRaleigh, North Oarolina, made the strongest appeal. Its unani-mous. call was accepted and he began his work as its pastor inJanuary, 1911. Under his leadership this church, located in the. capital of the State, with Meredith Oollege in the same community,and Wake Forest Oollege nearby, has done the greatest work in itshistory ..

The Baptist, denomination has given full recognition to the' '.'splendid gifts and attainments of Dr. O'Kelley, than whom thereis not a more modest and unassuming minister of his ability inthe South. Mercer University, his Alma Mater, conferred uponhim the degrees of A. B., A. M. and D. D. While in Georgia hewas a trustee of Mercer University and of the Georgia BaptistOrphans' Home, and ~as a member of the State and Home MissionBoards. Since leaving Georgia he has served as a member of theMission Boards of Arkansas, Missouri and North Oarolina. At thiswriting he is the State member of the Foreign Mission Board forthe State of North Oarolina. These are only a few among the manyhonors conferred upon him by his denomination. In recognition ofhis ability as a preacher, he delivered the annual sermon 'beforethe Southern Baptist Convention at its session in St. Louis, Mis-souri, in 1913.

Dr. O'Kelley has been twice married. His first wife was MissMamie Alexander, of Maysvill~j Georgia. She was' a bright and.consecrated Ohristian woman, a"worthy helpmeet to her husbandin his great work. She passed away in April, 1893. In July, 1900,he was married to Miss Rosa Meriwether, of Albany, Georgia, awoman of exceptional qualities for the wife of a pastor. Threechildren have blessed their home, Thomas W. Jr., Mary Outliff andWilliam Meriwether. 'Itmay be aaia that Dr. O'Kelley is a high type of Ohristian gen-

tleman. In all the relations of life he is a true man. In civic

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247

248 BAPTIST \BIOGRAPHy'

.... '-.

affairs he is always on the right side of every question. As a friendLhe is as true as steel. In business his word is his bond, and while'he knows the value of, a dollar, he is generous in the use ,of hiS- Imoney for the good of others, World-wide evangelization of theNew Testament order, and Christian education have commandedhis best gif~\as a preacher and leader, .and they, receive morethan a tithe of his. income. While he looms large as a gospelpreacher and a successful pastor, he is not less as a man among ,men.

, "

ISAAC NEWTON ORR, SR.

One of the most substantial and in-,fluential pioneer citizens of the eastern,part of Georgia in the beginning of thelast century was Philip Orr.' In 1829"he and his wife and their children >

moved to Coweta county, Georgia, and .\""settled in a virginforest ten miles from ,'( ,Newnan, the older boys cutting a roadten miles long through the woodlandto the' place they cleared for a planta- , "tion. Among the sons of Philip Orr

-, was Robert, who was born in Wilkes"county, Georgia, in 1813. The wife of Robert Orr was AlmiraE. Simms, who was born in Hancock county, Georgia, and belongedto one of the pioneer families of .that county. On November 12, "1840, a son was born unto Robert and Almira E. Orr, who 'was ,,':given the name of Isaac Newton Orr, the subject of this sketch.

Isaac Newton Orr received his primary education in the aa-:ante-bellum country school, finishing his Iiterary training' in "Newnan. His early life being spent on the farm, he was free fromthe subtle temptations so common in towns and cities. Thein-fiuences of the home in which he was reared were the very best. Asense of honor was instilled in his mind and heart, and it grippedhim and held him throughout his long and useful life.