DIED, on the 22nd ult., at his home near New Middleton, Smith county, Tenn.

The subject of this sketch was born the 24th day of June, 1805, professed religion at Big Spring, in Wilson county, in 1820, was licensed to preach the gospel in the spring of 1825, and was ordained and set apart to the whole work of the ministry in the Fall of the same year.

Bro. Davis was a good man and a good preacher, sound in doctrines, persuasive yet earnest in manner, and consistent in his life. He spent near fifty years of his life in the ministry, and did his part to inculcate the doctrines of our holy religion as taught by the Church of his early choice. He was in truth a part of "the salt of the earth," and although he has accomplished his day, still he lives in his example and influence for good.

Death had no terror to him. He closed his eyes on things earthly only to open them on things heavenly. He left a widow and two sons to mourn his loss, but we would say to them, weep not as those who have no hope, for what is your loss is his everlasting gain.

The following preamble and resolutions were adopted by the Board of Trustees of New Middleton Institute, of which he was a member:

WHEREAS, On the 22nd inst., in the dispensation of Providence, death removed from our midst one of our oldest and most valued members, the Rev. P. Y. Davis, whose long term of service with us, in his official connection with the Board of Trustees of this institution, has so richly contributed to the success of our labors; and,

WHEREAS, In the death of our reverend brother, we feel that the community of which he was so valued a member, the institution of which he was so ardent an advocate, and the cause of education in general, to which he was so warmly attached, have met with a permanent and abiding loss; therefore be it

Resolved, That while we bow with submission to the will of Providence, and recognize in this dispensation the presence of him who hath in his keeping the issues of life and death, we feel constrained to record our high appreciation of that integrity of purpose, that warmth of zeal, and that noble type of Christian charter which have been so beautifully exemplified in the life of our departed brother.

2. That Bro. Davis, by his warm advocacy of the interests of this institution, by his consistent support of the cause of general education, and by his life-long efforts in promoting the welfare of those amongst whom he lived, has left behind him a memory sacred to every lover of humanity and dear to the hearts of this people.

3. That we deeply deplore his loss to the Board; that we mingle our grief with that of the community thus bereft of its most valued citizen; and to the stricken family whose honored father and faithful husband has been called to his rest, we offer our profoundest sympathy. In their deep distress may they lay hold on the truth that this venerable servant of God "is not dead, but sleepeth," and that on the morn of resurrection, when the sleepers shall be awakened and the dead be quickened, he, too, shall rise to newness of life, and be clothed with a blessed immortality.

4. That these resolutions be spread on the Minutes of the Board, and copies be presented to the family of the deceased and furnished for publication.               PASTOR.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, January 28, 1875, page 2]

Committee on Deceased Ministers

In addition to the above we deem it proper to mention the names of Rev. Daniel Cooper, of Allegheny Presbytery, and Rev. P. Y. Davis, of the Lebanon Presbytery, who died during the previous ecclesiastical year, and by an oversight their names were not in the list prepared by the last Assembly.

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1876, page 27]