TAYLOR.--The sad news comes to us from Mineral Wells, Texas, of the death of Rev. B. M. Taylor, one of the grand old men of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He spent August and September in Tennessee holding meetings, closing at Floral in this county. Mr. Taylor was seventy-two years of age, but seemed strong and vigorous; but death steals on us unawares, and we should not be surprised. During his last sojourn in Tennessee Mr. Taylor accomplished a grand and glorious work for the Church and the Kingdom of Christ. He said he had a love feast every day and enjoyed every hour of his stay in Tennessee. He was a loyal Cumberland Presbyterian and said he wanted to die one, instead of going into the mother church. You only had to look at him and hear him talk to know that he was filled with the Holy Spirit and had a heart full of divine love, and a courage born of true greatness. His last words were: "I have a through ticket; I am no afraid to die." Mr. Taylor entered the ministry more than fifty years ago; served four years during the Civil War as chaplain of the Twenty-third Tennessee Regiment, carrying the gospel to wounded and dying soldiers in the hottest of the contest, and at its close took up the work of reconstruction among the churches of Tennessee and Kentucky, reorganizing the work at Russellville, Ky., Springfield, Clarksville, Pulaski and a number of other places in Tennessee. He went from Tennessee to Hillsboro, Texas, afterward to Ennis, and then to Mineral Wells, his last pastorate, where he had under construction a magnificent church building and a good membership, all due to his faithful and untiring energy, which never knew failure of any kind. He had gone to his last home, from which there is no return; but his character and good works will live after him. We loved him; and, indeed, who did not?--S. T. Larkins.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, November 17, 1904, page 636]

The subject of this sketch was born and reared to manhood in Williamson County, Tenn. He united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Hill's Valley Camp ground, and soon after placed himself under the care of Nashville Presbytery.

He received his education at Cumberland University. He enlisted as a Chaplain in the Confederate army at the beginning of the Civil War, and served to the close of the war. He belonged to the 23rd Tennessee regiment. As a Chaplain he carried the gospel to wounded and dying soldiers in the hottest part of the contest. In this respect he was like his blessed Lord.

When the war was over he took up the work of reconstructing the churches in Tennessee and Kentucky. At one time he was the efficient agent of Camp Blake, the preacher's home at Lebanon, Tenn. He perhaps gathered more money and provisions for this institution than any other man. Leaving this work he was called to take charge of the synodical mission at Clarksville, Tenn.

From Clarksville he was called to Pulaski, Tenn. He also served the church at Springfield, Tenn., and Russellville, Ky., and a number of other places in Tennessee and Kentucky. He was then called to Hillsboro, Texas, thence to Ennis, and finally to Mineral Wells, Texas, where he had under construction a substantial brick church with a good membership, all due to his untiring labors, which never knew any failure and here it was that he received the summons to lay down the implements of his earthly warfare and labors and to enter upon his great reward, which was on Sabbath, October , 23rd, 1904, in his 72nd year, having been a Cumberland Presbyterian Minister for over fifty years. His last words were: "I have a through ticket, I am not afraid to die."

The writer first met Brother Taylor at the meeting of the Tennessee Presbytery at Athens, Tenn., in April, 1870, at which time the writer was taken under the care of the Presbytery, and had the pleasure of hearing Brother Taylor preach one sermon on the text, "Sir, we would see Jesus," John 12:21. We never had the pleasure of meeting again until the year 1874, while the writer was Superintendent of Camp Blake. Then we never met again until the 3rd day of last August, when we met at Brother J. H. Fields, Rock Hill, Tenn, where Brother Taylor had come to assist the writer in three protracted meetings. First, he preached the last three sermons in the meetings at Belleview Church, in which the writer had been assisted by Rev. J. L. Alexander. Closing up this meeting, we began the next Sabbath at McKay's Church, and continued until Wednesday night, August 19th. Then on the following Saturday night we began a meeting at Ash Grove, which closed on the 4th Sabbath night of August. Brother Taylor did all the preaching in the meeting at McKay's but one sermon, and all at Ash Grove, but three sermons preached by Rev. N. F. Gill, a former pastor of this church.

The writer saw Brother Taylor for the last time at the Maxwell Hotel, corner of Church and Cherry streets, Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, August 31st. On parting Brother Taylor said,--"Well, Brother Dale, we will meet again, some time, some where; farewell." He was then on his way to hold a meeting in Dickson County, Tenn., at the "Birth Place" of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Brother Taylor was a loyal Cumberland Presbyterian, and told the writer that he wanted to die one. He had no thought of going into union with the Northern Presbyterian Church. As the writer was about writing the closing sentences of "The Difference in Creedal Statement," he said: "Brother Taylor, can't you give us a closing sentence for this book?" He thought a moment and then quoting John 2:17, said, "The zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up? I am wholly consumed by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and cannot be swallowed by any other."

He was one of grand old men of our church,. Rev. J. R. White, of Mineral Wells, Texas, writes: "I was with him till almost the last. There was not one single word of complaint. A short while before he breathed his last, I asked him how he was feeling. He said, 'I'm feeling good,' and smiled. Then I said: 'Brother Taylor, is there anything we can do for you?, He answered: 'No! just keep on doing good.' He was so cheerful; he spoke of his late trip to Tennessee, where he had preached so earnestly for two months."

IT is thought by his wife and others that his death, being caused by nervous prostration was due to over exertion in his labors the past summer.

Brother Taylor belonged to that class of preachers in our church whose preaching had the old time Cumberland Presbyterian ring. But preachers of this class are rapidly passing away.

Truly a great and good man is gone, and it will be hard to find a man to take his place, possessed of the same earnest zeal and devotion that his was, but may his mantle fall on a veritable Elisha who shall wear it worthily.

To his bereaved companion and numerous relatives we extend our heart felt condolence.

  "Servant of God well done,
Rest from thy love employ;
  The battle fought, the victory won,
Enter thy Master's joy."
[Source: The Cumberland Banner, December 15, 1904, page 6]