THIS devoted and long-afflicted servant of God died at his mother's residence, in Carroll county, Tenn., on the 10th Sept., at 10 o'clock A.M.

Having been intimately associated with him for several years, and having been separated from him for three years past, it was a privilege, both sad and sweet, to be permitted to spend several hours with him just previous to his departure. I found him fully apprised of the near approach of death. He told me that, owing to his declining health, he had for years been anticipating an early death, and that now he knew his work was done; that, both as to temporal and spiritual affairs, his house was set in order, and he was simply awaiting the Master's order to depart.

It would be difficult to conceive of a more triumphant death. Although his physical sufferings were very severe, not a murmur escaped his lips. His failing strength was all consumed in talking of his departure, exhorting and comforting those around him, and praising the Lord.

His faith in Christ was strong, lively, and unwavering. He said he had not the slightest dread or fear of death, that not a doubt or cloud passed over his mind, that his prospect of heaven was as clear and bright as the noonday's sun. Then he added, with peculiar emphasis, "But, brethren, let it be distinctly understood, that although there is not a cloud between me and heaven, yet it is not because of any thing that I have done, Christ has done it all. He has removed all the obstacles. It is alone through the righteousness of Christ that I am saved. Poor Luther had a hard time punishing himself, trying to atone for his sins and merit the favor of God. He found no relief until the light broke into his soul. 'The just shall live by faith.' I can appreciate the delight of his soul when first he beheld that light. It is a precious doctrine, and one of these days, when I receive strength, I intend to raise one loud shout to God for this blessed truth."

His devotion to the cause of Christ was no less remarkable than his faith. His only regret in reference to his life was, that he had not been able to do more for Christ, and his great solicitude as to his death was, that he might spend his last hours, and might die and be buried so as to bring the greatest possible honor to Christ. He let no opportunity pass unimproved. He spoke to every one who came near, earnestly and tenderly of Jesus. The colored people about the place received a full share of his attention. He said all the harm he wished the colored race was, "That they might all get to heaven." When his speech at last failed, he was trying to talk of Jesus to an old colored woman who had long been his faithful cook. Speaking of his funeral, he said, "I want to be buried at Pisgah Church, (the church where he professed religion, and with which he first united.) and I want the Church to bury me. I am a Mason--have sometimes officiated at Masonic funerals, and have no fault to find with Masonry. Yet, in my burial I want to be known only as a Christian. And if any one should see fit to erect a little stone to mark my resting-place, I want that stone to bear no other inscription or insignia except such as will show that I was a Christian. I want the whole testimony of my death, burial, and grave, to be singly and alone for Christ. I want nothing that could obscure or divert attention from that testimony."

In his last hours he seemed to be unutterably full of heavenly joy. He would repeatedly say, "Yes, my body is suffering, but my soul is happy, O, so happy! I never was so happy in all my life. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. The Lord is so good, I cannot praise him enough. But after a little I shall have nerve and strong lungs, and then I will praise him loud and long."

In this ecstatic state of mind he passed away. On the following day, according to his request, we buried him at Pisgah. A drenching rain prevented many who wished to attend, but a good congregation assembled to pay their tribute to his remains. The funeral-discourse consisted in pointing to his life and death as an exemplification of the words of St. Paul, "I am now ready to be offered up, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing." (2 Tim. iv. 6, 7, 8.)

He leaves a wife and two daughters (aged 14 and 4 years) to mourn their irreparable loss. But his God is their God, and the faith that sustained him through life and in death, will sustain them amid all the trials and sorrows of widowhood and orphanage.

I hope soon to be able to furnish the Banner with a brief sketch of his life and labors.
L.C. RANSOM.

[Source: Banner of Peace [Nashville, Tennessee], October 1, 1868, page 1]

MR. EDITOR:--Among the noble men who have lived in our Church, toiled for its welfare, and passed away from earthly labor for ever, none have been nobler, none truer to the cause of Jesus Christ than James M. B. Roach.

Converted in a log-cabin Sabbath school, when a small boy, he began at once to think about the ministry. His struggles for an education were such as few men ever make. At college, without money, without books, without a boarding-place, he lived in an old camp, cooked for himself, and worked at odd times to earn the funds necessary to buy his books.

So severe was his application to study that his eyes began early to show indications of that weakness which remained through his whole life a source of embarrassment and affliction.

But I do not undertake to write a biography. This is simply a tribute from a heart that loved and honored him.

He has gone from a life that was full of toil and pain, from a Church that he loved, but a Church that never appreciated his worth or paid him for his services.

Almost the only time in his devoted life that he received any thing like compensation for his services was when he was driven, by sheer want, to take secular employment as surveyor of the coal districts of Alabama. Mr. Roach's scientific abilities were well known to a few; they showed themselves publicly in the coal-fields of his adopted State.

I remember hearing him preach some most touching sermons in the hills and pine-woods of these same coal-fields. One of these sermons lingers in my memory like a thing of yesterday. It was among the headwaters of the Cahaba. His text was, "The poor have the gospel preached to them."

The Churches of South Alabama never had a nobler heart to yearn over them, or a more earnest tongue to plead with their unconverted.

He is done with toil, has done with weeping, has done with pain, and there are many who look up to heaven with new interest because they know he is there.
B. W. McDONNOLD.

[Source: Banner of Peace, October 15, 1868, page 2]

JAMES M. B. ROACH was born in Wilson county, Tenn., November 2, 1830. When he was quite young, his father moved to West Tennessee, where he was the owner of a farm and a brick-yard, on both of which James was employed as a laborer until he was eighteen years old. Such was his aptness to learn, and mechanical skill, that, by the time he left the brick-yard, he was a good brick-mason.

At the age of fourteen, in the fall of 1844, he professed religion at McLemoresville, Tenn., and soon afterward united with the Pisgah Church, near that place. In the spring of 1848, at Yorkville, Tenn., he was received under the care of Hopewell Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, as a candidate for the ministry. In the fall of the same year, he entered Bethel College, (then a high-school,) at McLemoresville, and remained in that institution five years. During this period he exhibited that remarkable energy and untiring perseverance which so eminently characterized his future life. His father was unable to give the pecuniary aid needful to defray his expenses. There was no "Camp Blake" then; but still he found a camp in which to stay, where he himself cooked the provisions furnished from his father's home. After this arrangement was abandoned, he boarded himself, and by his own exertions during vacations, raised the means to pay his board-bills. He spent the vacation of 1851 traveling through Kentucky, selling books for the American Tract Society, attending meetings and preaching. He spent the vacation of 1852 in the same manner, in North Mississippi.

Notwithstanding his time and energies were so heavily taxed to provide for his own wants, he kept up with his classes throughout the collegiate course, and still found time to attend to all the private and public duties of religion. Prior to his licensure, he was a constant attendant at the Sabbath school, weekly prayer-meeting, and young men's prayer-meeting, in all of which he took an active part, and exercised his gifts publicly whenever occasion offered. He was licensed to preach by Hopewell Presbytery, October 2, 1850. After this time he had regular appointments to preach every Sabbath, and oftentimes, when he could not procure a horse, he would walk eight and ten miles to reach his appointments.

In April, 1853, he was ordained by Hopewell Presbytery, at Camden, Tenn., being then only twenty-two years old. On the 14th of July following, he graduated in Bethel College, and on the evening of the same day, was married to Miss Eliza Jane Weddington, of McLemoresville. In the fall of the same year, he was called to take charge of Cherry Grove Seminary, near Abingdon, Ill., where he remained for two years. His school at this place was large, and his labors in the school-room arduous; but still he gave the same constant attention to all the interests of the Church that he did while in college. He was a member of Rushville Presbytery, and taught gratis all her licentiates and candidates who were disposed to enter his school. By his tender sympathy and kind encouragement, he induced several young men to seek an education, who are now useful ministers in that portion of our Church. In addition to all his other labors, he preached regularly at Cherry Grove and McComb, and spent the vacations traveling and preaching.

All this time he was a close, hard student. While literature and science necessarily occupied much of his time and attention, his chief "study" was "to show himself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed." How and what to preach was the all-absorbing thought of his life. It was this that, in 1855, caused him to give up his lucrative school and repair to Lebanon to take a thorough course in the theological department of the University; determined, as soon as this was completed, to go forth again to unfurl the banner of the cross. With characteristic energy, he prosecuted his theological studies until he was afflicted with inflammation of the eyes and subsequent imperfect vision, which remained a source of great embarrassment until the day of his death. Though reduced to partial blindness, his indomitable will still carried him on. His custom was to study his lessons in Hebrew and Greek, and then rest his eyes while another would read to him the lessons in Horne, Galen, and Dwight. Of these he would recite page after page, and chapter after chapter, one word of which he had never seen. This was continued until failing health compelled him to relinquish, for a time, his cherished object.

In the fall of 1856, still afflicted with partial blindness, he removed to Montevallo, Ala., to take charge of the Female Collegiate Institute located at that place. For two years, under many difficulties and discouragements, he labored assiduously to build up that institution, and during all the time preached regularly at Montevallo, Harmony, and Centerville.

It was during this time that the writer first made his acquaintance, and from intimate association with him, learned that his whole heart was in the work of the ministry, that secular employment with him was not a choice, but a necessity, and that although his labors in the school-room were great, his vision very imperfect, and his physical sufferings very severe, he still felt, "Woe is me if I preach not the gospel." During these two years he was seldom able to read or write, and in his preparations for the pulpit, had to accept the offices of another to examine texts and authors, and to read and write for him. (It is proper to remark here, that the one who rendered most of this indispensable aid, both at Lebanon and Montevallo, was his most devoted wife.)

In the fall of 1858, he resigned his position in the Institute, and through the generous aid of friends and the Masonic Fraternity at Montevallo, was induced to go to Philadelphia and place himself under the treatment of several skillful physicians connected with Wills's Hospital. After a stay of three months he returned home, with the inflammation of the eyes entirely cured, but the imperfection of vision still remained.

On his return from Philadelphia, he was elected pastor of the Montevallo and Harmony Churches, and entered upon the duties of that office, fully determined to devote his whole time and energies to the work of the ministry. He had not, however, abandoned his cherished purpose of completing his theological course at the University. With a view to this, he read and studied at home, and in the spring of 1860, went to Lebanon, spent some time in the theological department, stood an examination with his class, and received his degree. He then returned to his Churches in Alabama, and resumed his duties with renewed ardor.

In the fall of the same year, he accepted a call to the pastorate of the Church in Selma. About two months after he took charge of the Selma congregation, his first hemorrhage from the lungs occurred, and his long, weary years of pain date back to that time. He, however, continued his pastoral duties until the fall of 1861. This was a very trying period of his life. In charge of a small and feeble congregation, struggling for life, the position at Selma was one of no ordinary difficulties. The excitement and confusion incident to the breaking out of the war, made his work all the more difficult, and rendered his burden too great for his enfeebled constitution. His private diary, kept during this time, (which is now before me,) indicates a fond devotion to the people of his charge, the liveliest interest in the welfare of the Church, a keen appreciation of the difficulties of his position, and a deep sense of his own unworthiness in the sight of God.

Prompted by a desire to do good to the souls of the soldiers in the army, in the fall of 1861 he accepted an appointment to the chaplaincy of the tenth Alabama regiment, then on duty in Virginia. In the faithful discharge of a chaplain's duties, he remained with the army until the summer of 1862, when, in the battles around Richmond, hardships, exposure, and cold brought on hemorrhage and entire prostration. This caused him to resign his chaplaincy and return home.

In the fall of the same year, in quest of health, quiet, and usefulness, he removed to the vicinity of Harwell Cross Roads, twelve miles west of Selma, where he remained until the close of the war. But during these three years he was not wanting in labors for the Church. He was pastor of Bethel Church, and, when able, preached to various vacant congregations. He was one of the principal agents in starting and sustaining the Southern Observer, a paper published at Selma, in the interest of our Church. He was also a faithful and most efficient member of the Board of Missions located at Selma, and intrusted with the work of sending missionaries to all parts of the Confederate army. Neither feeble health nor the hindrances of war ever kept him from any of the meetings of either the Publishing Committee or the Board of Missions. Despite heat and cold, rain and mud, raids and panics, he always managed to be at his post.

After the close of the war he returned to Selma, and, during the year 1866, preached to the Selma, Montevallo, Harmony, and Henry Ewing Churches. By this time he health was rapidly declining, and the close of the year witnessed the close of his pulpit labors. His last sermon was preached in Camden, Wilcox county, Ala., on the evening of December 5, 1866. He was never able to preach again, but still his desire to be useful was unabated. His labors during the year 1867 will never be forgotten by the destitute of Alabama. By private letters, appeals through the Church-papers, and in various other ways, he was instrumental in raising and distributing several thousand dollars in money and provisions. This timely aid saved many poor widows and orphans from extreme suffering.

In July, 1867, feeling that the time of his departure was drawing near, he returned to West Tennessee to spend his last days at the home of his widowed mother. His remaining days were days of suffering. In the fall of 1867 he was brought very low, and, with most of his friends, thought that a few weeks, at most, would terminate his earthly career. But it pleased the Lord to prolong his stay, and partially restore his strength. And with every improvement of health, his thoughts were directed to efforts for usefulness. In the early part of 1868 he traveled as an agent for Smith's Bible Dictionary, and in May, attended the General Assembly at Lincoln, Ill., as a Commissioner from the Alabama Presbytery, to which he still belonged. He indulged the hope that the trip to Lincoln would be beneficial to his health, but the result proved to the contrary. He returned home greatly prostrated, and from that time sank rapidly under the increasing weight of disease. In sufferings, as well as in labors, he exemplified his faith in Christ and his devotion to the Church. His sufferings were severe, constant, and of long continuance, yet no word of murmuring ever escaped his lips, not an intimation of impatience was ever observed, nor did his sufferings divert his mind from the Saviour and his cause. He kept himself informed of the condition of the Church to the last, and ceased not to talk of her interest and pray for her welfare until his tongue was silenced in death. He could most heartily say:

For her my tears shall fall,
  For her my prayers ascend,
To her my cares and toils be given,
  Till toils and cares shall end.

The tenth day of September, 1868, witnessed the close of this devoted, useful, and checkered life. Of his death an account has already been published. The tribute to his memory, from President McDonnold, published in the Banner of Peace a few weeks ago, is regarded, by all who knew the deceased, as amply merited. He was eminently a good man. Envy, jealousy, and ill-will were strangers to his bosom. To strife and contention he was utterly averse. Although unyieldingly firm, he was ever mild and gentle. Genial, cheerful, affable, kind, and loving, he was a choice, Christian associate. Loving all, he was beloved by all. The happiness dispensed by such a man in the family and social circles, is best known to those who are nearest and dearest to him. The loss of such an one is felt more keenly than language can ever express.

He was a man of greater intellectual ability than was generally supposed. Although it is said that in his early life he gave no evidence of extraordinary mental capacity, yet by his constant and rigid application, he attained to excellent discipline of mind, and acquired a fund of knowledge, both varied and profound. His views of theology were well-digested and remarkably clear. His preaching was eminently scriptural. He excelled in the abundance and accuracy of his quotations from the Bible. Nor was he destitute of the gifts of oratory. With a clear head, a warm heart, and a ready, fluent tongue, nothing but physical infirmities prevented him from attaining great eminence as a preacher. During the last twelve years of his life it was only occasionally that his physical condition was such as to enable him to do justice to himself in the pulpit. Those who attended upon his ministry well remember occasions on which his efforts were superior.

That one so devoted and so well qualified for eminent usefulness, should have been so hindered by affliction, and cut down so early in life, is one of the inscrutable dispensations of an all-wise Providence. But the Lord's thoughts are not as our thoughts. In this mysterious and afflictive dispensation, we may hear the Saviour reiterating his language to Peter, "What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter."           L. C. RANSOM.
  Memphis, Tenn.

[Source: The Banner of Peace [Nashville, Tennessee] November 26, 1868, page 1]

Licensed by Hopewell Presbytery - 6 October 1850

Ordained by Hopewell Presbytery - 3 April 1853

Left Hopewell Presbytery - 3 April 1853

In Alabama Presbytery - April 1868

Died - 10 September 1868