Gospel preacher. One purpose of these sketches is to bring to the attention of the present generation pioneers and heroes of the gospel who have been forgotten or whose memory has been neglected. We want to give honor to whom honor is due and pay tribute to whom tribute is due. Many earnest, consecrated, sacrificing gospel preachers have been forgotten, and many today are enjoying the fruit of their labors without even knowing the hardships that were endured by those who helped to "restore the ancient order of things." It is a small way of giving them due honor by sketching a few of the interesting facts and labors connected with their work. It seems that we ought to do this much, at least, for the memory of such men. Many congregations exist today which do not know the sufferings and hardships that others had to endure in order to make it possible for the church to exist or to be established. John Calvin Smith comes in this class. He was born of very respectable and pious Baptist parentage in Wilkes County, N. C., May 27, 1796. His parents moved to Tennessee while he was small, and later moved into Southern Kentucky. At the age of twenty-five he was baptized into the Baptist Church at Clear Fork, Cumberland County, Ky., by Elder Isaac Denton, a noted Baptist preacher in that vicinity. The following year he began preaching for the Baptists. After preaching for a while at Clear Fork, he moved his membership from that church to the Sinking Springs Baptist Church in Fentress County, Tenn. He soon became the pastor of that church and of the Wolf River Church, a few miles from there. The Baptist churches prospered under his preaching. He earnestly and faithfully preached the doctrine of that church to the best of his ability. In the meantime he studied the New Testament, and from this he learned that the church to which he belonged was not modeled after the New Testament order or pattern. While preaching for the Wolf River Church, another Baptist preacher, Jonathan H. Young by name, applied for membership in the Wolf River Church. This was in 1829. Elder Young asked permission to speak and explain his position in regard to some of the articles of faith of the Baptist Church. In giving his explanation, he declared that he had no confidence in creeds made by man. John Calvin Smith, who was present, heard Elder Young's argument against human creeds and confessions of faith made by man. He also expressed his doubt as to the authority of these creeds and articles of faith, and declared that the Bible was sufficient for all rules of conduct and matters of faith in a Christian's life. After these statements he said that if the church was ready he would call for the vote of the church as to whether it would accept Elder Young as a member. When the vote was taken, Elder Young was unanimously received into the fellowship of the Wolf River Baptist Church. Smith was now thirty-three years old. From this time a new era dawned on the Baptist community in all parts of that country. Gradually Smith learned the truth, and as he learned it he taught it to others. Elder Young was a faithful co-laborer with him, and they studied much together. Elder Young became very bold in preaching the newly found truths to all who would listen. He went into Cumberland County, Ky., and preached there the gospel as revealed in the Bible. Elder Isaac Denton heard him. and pronounced him unsound in Baptist doctrine. Elder Young replied that he had been accepted by the Wolf River Baptist Church and that John Calvin Smith had voted with the church there to receive him. This brought Smith into direct conflict with Elder Denton, and ultimately a clear-cut issue was formed between Elder Denton and John Calvin Smith. The Wolf River Baptist Church was called upon to answer for such an offense as receiving into fellowship one who preached heresy, and it was also charged with maintaining a preacher that preached heresy. The time was set for a trial and a large congregation assembled the first Saturday in August 1831. The issue was clear: Should creeds and confessions of faith be rejected? The debate was opened with great energy and animation, and it was conducted with great ability on both sides until late that evening. The suit was then postponed until the first Saturday in September. A large assembly of anxious people from all parts of the country came together to "hear the conclusion of the whole matter." Again the debate was conducted with great zeal and ability until late that evening. Finally Elder Smith made the proposition: "All that are willing to accept the Bible alone as the only authoritative rule of faith and practice, rise up and stand with me." Several courageous souls with boldness took sides with Smith. Elder Denton, after explaining for some time what he was pleased to call "Campbellism," called upon the church to vote and exclude from their fellowship Elder John Calvin Smith. They did this, but not until after Smith had withdrawn from them. From this time Smith preached a full gospel in its simplicity and power, and many were led into a fuller knowledge of the truth by his preaching. Baptist churches in that country began to decline and churches of Christ were established and waxed stronger and stronger. John Calvin Smith was a good man. He was one of the best men in that whole country. He was chaste and modest in all his ways. The prophecies and promises of the Bible furnished food for his soul. As a preacher, he was more logical and convincing than rhetorical and declamatory. When he was aroused and "warmed up" to his subject, he often became quite eloquent. His voice was clear and musical, and his exhortations were impressive and fervid. He always fed his hearers with knowledge and Scriptural arguments. Wherever he went, he sowed the seed of the gospel broadcast in every neighborhood. A church was planted after the New Testament order on Wolf River, which soon became a large and influential church in that community. The pious Stephen Sewell and his family left the Baptist Church largely through the influence of John Calvin Smith. This was some time after the trial and exclusion of Smith from the Baptist Church. Stephen Sewell had four or five sons who became faithful preachers of the gospel. Much of the work done by John Calvin Smith prepared the way for the great work which the Sewells did in that country; hence, some honor is given to Elder Smith in the work which the Sewells did. No man had greater influence in those early days in Pickett, Fentress, and Overton Counties, in Tennessee, and Clinton and Cumberland Counties, in Kentucky. Frequently entire Baptist churches were caused to give up their creeds and accept the New Testament. John Calvin Smith was so familiar with the New Testament and could handle the arguments against creeds so effectively that no one was able to stand before him. With the "sword of the Spirit" he put to flight all the enemies of the truth; and he did it in such a simple way that the common people easily grasped the truth and loved him for his earnestness and faithfulness in the cause of the primitive order of things. He gave his entire life to the preaching of the gospel, and he did this without any earthly reward. He received very little for his services as a preacher of the gospel; but he was not preaching for money, but for the salvation of souls. His last days were spent in intense pain and suffering. He bore this extreme pain as a Christian hero. with patience and resignation to the will of God. He was anxious about the welfare of his family and the church. In his last affliction he requested the church at Albany, Clinton County, Ky., of which he was a member and an elder, to pray that his faith might not fail. He did not wish them to pray for his restoration to health again. He died on Friday, February 18, 1870, and was buried in the Travice family graveyard in Pickett County, Tenn. --- H. Leo Boles, Biographical Sketches of Gospel Preachers, 77-80.