Another one of our best and most loyal soldiers joined recently the great army on the "other side"--Rev. J. D. Caldwell, who fell with the "working tools" (the Bible) in his hands while teaching his Sunday school class.

God called him home instantly.

Rev. J. D. Caldwell was born July 28, 1861, in Shelby County, Alabama. He taught school at Rocky Ridge while a young man and preached to different churches here in Birmingham Presbytery.

From 1889 to 1891 he was pastor at Cullom, Ala., half time. He also had work in Coosa County, and also at Pratt Mines. This was a great work by him as pastor. He graduated from the theological seminary at Lebanon, Tenn., June 1, 1893.

In this class were T. A. Wigginton of Kentucky, C. H. Reyburn of California, G. E. Scaggs of California, F. M. Wyley of Arkansas, W. L. Childers of Mississippi, F. Z. Nesbitt of Texas, E. E. Hendrick of Texas, E. M. Wright of Tennessee, G. D. Bailey and J. T. Donnell of Tennessee, and others.

On June 1, 1893, the same day of his graduation, he was married to Miss Mary E. Williamson of La Gunda, Tenn. To this union was born a son, Richard, who died at about the age of 2 years, and Lucile Elizabeth, who is a teacher in Bessemer, Ala.

He served as pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Clifton, Tenn., from June, 1893, to October, 1895. Following this he had charge of the Campbellsville and Lynnville churches. In 1896 he was pastor of a group of churches in Monroe County, Tenn.--Madisonville, Rockville, and Towers.

In 1897, May 18, his wife died.

He then went into Madison Presbytery, in West Tennessee, and located at Hickory Valley. On October 2, 1900, he was married to Miss Ella Ferguson of Hickory Valley. From here he went to Memphis Presbytery and served as pastor for Bethel and Pleasant Green churches.

He took an active part in serving our church from the early beginning. He attended the Loyal Court at St. Louis. From West Tennessee he went to Texas and served churches in Marshall, Brownwood and Corsicana Presbyteries.

He spent about twelve years in the Texas work. In 1917 he came back to his native state, locating at Coker, Ala., and served churches in New Hope Presbytery, Mississippi Synod. He also served other churches in Alabama.

From New Hope Presbytery he came to Birmingham Presbytery. He continued in this presbytery and was faithful to the cause until God called him home October 21, 1928.

One of our best and strongest members of the Birmingham Presbytery has joined the General Assembly of the Lord. We can best express ourselves in the following words:

The chained circle broken, a dear face
Missed day by day from its accustomed place;
But cleansed and saved and perfected by grace,
     One more in heaven.

One voice of welcome hushed, and ever more
One farewell word unspoken; on the shore
Where parting comes not, one soul landed now--
     One more in heaven.

A sense of loss that meets us at the gate,
Within a place unfilled and desolate;
And far away, our coming to wait,
     One more in heaven.

One less on earth!

Its pain, its sorrow and its toil to show,
One less the pilgrims daily cross to bear
One more the crown of ransomed souls to wear,
     At home in heaven.

One more at home!

That home where separation cannot be;
That home where none is missed eternally;
Lord Jesus, grant us all a place with thee

     At home in heaven.

                             Rev. B. E. Lee.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, January 3, 1929, pages 15-16]