The subject of this notice, Rev. Benjamin Blitch, was
born in Effingham County, GA., Nov. 17, 1811, and
departed this life April 22, 1887, at his home near
Jesup in Wayne County.
He connected himself with Turkey Branch church in his
native county at about 21 years of age. The activity
and usefulness manifested in that season of first love
induced his bretheren to elect him, the year after, to
the office of deacon in Cowpen Branch church. In the
year 1832, he was married to Miss Harriet Wilson of
Effingham County, who bore him fourteen children, eight
sons and six daughters. Four of the sons were ministers
of the Gospel. Bro. Blitch was a kind and indulgent and
a devoted husband. He was patient, kind, and
forebearing, ever seeking to accomplish good. There are
trees of rightousness which are ever drooping precious
fruits around them. There are leaves that shine like
stars to recall the fruits of his labor.
In 1835, he moved to Florida, where he united with Black
Creek church (now Sanders) at which church he was
licensed to preach, which he continued to do as a
licenseate 12 years. In 1846, He removed to Effingham
County and connected himself with Little Ogheeche
church, Screven County. He was ordained on the Second
Sabbath in April, 1853. In 1859, he moved to Ware county
and connected himself with Hopewell church, about 10
miles west of Blackshear. In 1860, he moved to
Blackshear and worked as a carpenter for two years. In
1862, he moved to Appling County and joined the Baptist
church, at which church his membership remained on the
day of his death.
He served the Piedmont Association as moderater 14 years
in sucession and clerk 7 years, and again as moderater 2
years.
Bro. Blitch was the first to preach a missionary sermon
on the South side of the Altamaha river; he was
appointed to preach about 12 missionary sermons. He
served as missionary 4 years in Effingham County. He
served as pastor in Calvary church, Union church and in
Ware County, Hopewell and in Blackshear in Pierce
County; In Appling County, he served Bethel, Ten Mile
Creek, Consolidation, and Zion; In Wayne County, he
served Bethel, Flynt Branch, Union, Jesup, Goose Little
River, and Zion; In Coffee at Elizabeth. He served some
churches as long as 18 years continuously.
When the Great Head of the church saw fit to remove from
the field of earthly labor to a place in his heavenly
mansion our much esteemed and beloved brother, we felt
that a deep and general bereavement fell on us. He was
extraordinarily gifted in head and heart; He possessed a
wide power of intellect to comprehend subjects making
him a wise and safe counselor. He was a man of man of
firm decision, candid in his expression; Indeed was he
very prominent before his bretheren in all their
counsels and deliberations as they found in him a wise
counselor and an earnest advocate of the truth as
revealed in the word of God. Our brother was beloved
and admired as a minister for his soundness in the
doctrine of grace and for his clear and attentive
presentations from the pulpit. He was an outstanding
Baptist. Our brother was not what is now termed as an
educated man but he was a man of great natural ability
and one whose heart was full of the Grace of God. As a
christian, he exemplified in his long and useful life
those graces and virtues which clearly demonstrated that
he daily walked with God. His noble traits, dignified
and genial nature will ever remain fresh in the memory
of all who knew his.
His mind was perfectly clear on religious matters to the
last, and he passed over the river in the full triumphs
of living faith, and thus was his spirit united over the
river on pinions of love to the city of God. The death
of such a man has left a deep and painful void, and in
token of our regret to him and as the expression of our
loss, be it therefore resolved:
1st: That we bow in humble submission to Him who
worketh all things after the counsel of his will, and
doeth all things well.
2nd: That we humbly testify our affections for our
brother by saying a great and useful man has fallen in
Isreal.
3rd: That in respect of the memory of our brother a
copy of this tribute be placed on memorial page of our
church book, a copy be furnished for publication in our
County paper, Baxley Banner, and Christian Index, and a
copy to the bereaved family.
Ordered by the Bethel Baptist Church, in conference, May
1887.
J.E. Black, Moderator
Copied from the Jesup Sentinel of June 9, 1887
Submitted by Ann Parkinson