Rev. Benjamin Blitch Rev. Benjamin Blitch

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