THE MIMS LETTERS ~ Page 5
FROM REV. WILLIAM NOLEN TO JAMES SESSIONS MIMS (4 Letters)
(1)
Dancyville, Tenn
January 1849
Dear Brother Mims,
I would have wrote you before now if I have had time. Since I got home it has rained the most of the time. Owing the interville I have been looking out for a little to go upon. My journry was a long and tedious one. We were 35 days on the road. It rained, snowed and sleeted on us. We came through Nashville - called to see the penitentiary 186 poor miserable human beings in it. All dressed a like, all have the same countenence. They look like brothers. There I sa the miserable effects of sin. I don't know that I ever felt worse at looking at the conditions of men. I think if Col Litmen ? could see them it would make a final cure so that he would no more advocate that secturn of punishment. When we got home we were well nigh worn out. My house is in an unfinished state. One end is so I can go in it. The other must go unfinished til summer. The cholera is raging in New Orleans from three to five hundred die every day, so I was told to day by a Bapt. preacher just from there. A few case have died in Memphis. The people are much alarmed, for my part I feel quit easy on that___________, it may come into the country, and should I die with it, I have only one time to die.
In conquence of so much bad weather I have not formed many acquaintances among the ministery. A few I have seen and heard preach. I am pleased with there spirit, from what I can learn all have there eye to our institurion as there place to the Theol Education, when I say all, I mean the influential brethren. Twelve young men are speaking of coming as soon as they finish their classical education. At the meeting of the convention I intend to bring the matter before the body. There is a great (contention?) going on in all this vally between the Baptist and the (Pedoes?) feelings manifested of an unchristian character. The Baptist will finally take this country - but in their zeal for the truth I feel some have become a little over (plum ?), we need an educated pious ministery among so the truth in all its ports can be clearly set before the people. I think the majority only want to se their duty and they will do it. That is member of the Baptist church.
My dear brother you have no idea how bad I want to see you if I could only sit and confab with you an hour itwould do me more good than a dram but we are too far apart. As this is the case you must instruct me with you pen. What did you do at the convention? What are you doing in the old inst ? please let me know.
I shall look for the Dr. in some 15 days. I wish he could have been here sooner. Achance to suit himself was muchbetter, to buy or rent. I have the promise of a place to rent in half a mile of me.The land is good. The houses are poor, but not so much worst as hhe lived in last year. corn is cheap only 20 cents per bushel. The only difficulty will be in the danger of going to Memphis through the coleria may not be there long. I will do all I can for him. Temperence is prevailing like a contagious disease. I delivered an address to the south on Christmas Day. I was pleased to see so large a number of sober men. Let me know what you have done with (Reynolds ?) send me your reply if published. My paper is about out. Old fellow pray for me for I am a great sinner as you know. Give my respects to Bro Edwars and J.C. Furman. My wife sens her love to sister M. Give my respects to as if I had named them, please have the Southern Baptist sent to me if it is any better in the hands of the new editor. I will send the money as soon as I can. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit.
William Nolen
Editors Note: The following comments are not part of the letter.
The above named Reynolds made a slashing attack on the Furman Inst in the columns of the Baptist Guardian of Richmond which said Reynolds was editor. J.C. Furman was elected senior professor instead of Reynolds. Reynolds called Furman incompetent and Professor Mims a heretic. The board of trustees answered the charges resultin is Reynolds getting the worse end of the deal. It also strenghened Furmans and Mims position. Mims offered to resign from the Institute but resignation refused to accept it.William Nolen was the doctor's pastor. He was from South Carolina studied at Furman and was more or less a home Missionary.
(2)
Dancyville Tenn.
May 23, 1849
Dear Brother Mims,
Your epistle came to hand in due time, for which I thank you. Your random remarks as you call them are just such as I need, for I confess the dispondency is a great weakness with me. And but for that fact I might do much more in the cause of Christ than I do. Since the reception of your letter I am trying to scrape up all the men I can. and on all proper occasions, I try and on best as last sabboth I got acquainted with Bro Milikin a Bapt Minister. I regard him as a man of the first order of tallent. I was much pleased, it sounded so much like what I have been accustomed to hearing at the old Inst. I have received the first two no of the Merideth review, upon the whole I am pleased with it, though not as well as I expected to have been. I read the article from your self and Brother F. with great delight. I felt as if I had been there in a confab with you on the subject. I see the Merideth is giving Reynolds gall, he has fallen into bad hands this time. I notice that one of editors in Ky is using Dr. Johnson quite rough on such of interpretation. Though I suppose the Dr. will be enogh for him. This subject seems to be the subjet of remark all through the country - some for and some against.
The chloera has quite subsided in Memphis and the country around. The smallpox is in this country though none close than 15 or 20 miles. Dr. Mims went accordingly to appointment at Shelbyville to meet his wife, a distance of about 200 miles, he stayed there the best part of a week, he came back quite disappointed. I never was so sorry for a poor fellow in my life. He is taking a fine stand amng the people. All speak well of him. In one case where he was called in a doctor having failed to do anything. In a short time he did the work by the use of his forsips, ( a case mudurfery ?) it is a matter of conversation among the people. The first Dr. had perforated the head of the child and taken out about half the brains, but when delivered it was alive. All the damage to the woman was a slight laceration. The Dr. will leave about the last of this month to meet his wife at your house. He will come in about 8 days. I write this for you to collect as much money for him and myself as you can. We are among strangers and need a little of the good things - say to Brethren Sh___ly and Rollins if they can possibly send me what are due me on post I will be much obliged to them --
Crops are generally good and bid fair. for an abundant harvest except which crops, it is cut off by frost in April and the dry spell.
If you can procure Dr. Waylans sermon by the time Mims gets there please do so and send it to me. If you cant do any better send the old copies which you have. If you can spare it the Dr. will pay you. I am anxious to hear how sister F. is. How the apostle Peter getting along and all the students. I suppose you can let me know by the Dr. what you did at the convention. We are all up though I am not well. not much sickness as yet in this region. All send respect to Sister M.
Yours with much respect.
William Nolen
(3)
Dancyville, Tenn
June 8th 1850
Dear Brother Mims,
I have neglected too long to answer your last epistle but really I have had so much on hands that I have had time until now. And having just returned from a fishing spree I am quite out of tune for writing.
Your letter and draft came save to hand in due time for which I thank you. I would be glad should it be convient for the balance which the Dr. left in your hands to be collected and sent to me. I am pleased to hear that you have some students of the right stamp ? . I heard a few days since all about you at that place. You are still pouring over the old books as usual. We are enjoying fine health in these ends of the earth. since Cholera has subsided Elizabeth has a fine Dauter Seven months old. It is beautiful and has same fine qualities as all children have. What these qualities are I leave you to conclude. Dr. S.A. Mims and wife are in the finest of health and are doing well. The Dr. has been conducting a prayer meeting all this spring. He does it to the satisfaction of all the church. The Dr. is elected to the office of Deacon in our church and is to be ordained next Lords day should ministers be in attendence. I am preparing to preach on the occaision. I have not doubt that he will make a good Deacon. The truth is I never expected to see him take the interest in church affairs which he does. Though no man could take much interest in the church at the Inst. for just the sight of things in that church is enough to freeze a man's soul in him to set down and see sh ty Col Smith and Woodward as leading members of a Baptist church is enough to __________ a man in infidelity. If he was in doubt on the subject. The hearts of the most of the members of that church are as cold as a young hog gruben ? and no effort seems to elleeit ? any interest in them. don't know how you preach there. I will be glad to hear from you any time. And after the examination is over you will have time to write hope you well so are we all well. Give our rememberances to Sister H.
Yours truly,
William Nolen
(4)
Dancyville, Tenn
Nov 25th 1851
Dear Brother Mims,
Your last Epistle came safe after a long time, the money you collected was all
safe and sound for which I thank you. I am glad to hear that you are well. You are in a
pleasent and healthy place. I have no doubt that you enjoy yourself finely. I am pleased
to hear you say you would like to divide out into about ten good ministers and take the
field. I have no doubt you would accomplish as much for in the cause of your
master if you would enter the field singlehanded. There is a great demand at this time for
efficient Baptist ministers especially in this part of the world. Pedo Baptist are
making a tremendous effort in these ends of the earth ? to
demolish the entire Baptist cause "Tehy say nothing short of this will satisfy
them" I am fully into the contest. You may judge that while on the banks of the
creeks ponds and lakes. That I spought ? my Greek largely during
this season. I have had many occaisins to repline ? to the waters as
did the Apostles. Tomorrow cold as it is I have to try again. I think my labours
this year are out here among these cretures have not been in vain for which I truly feel
thankful to my God. I am sorry to hear tha S.C. has become missionary ground though I am
not much astonished for the churches has long been suffering with the gripes
I am pleased to hear that some of the more important places are begining to make
lamentations. I hope they may be in ____________? to feel in their pockets a little deeper
and when they get a minister again appreciate him. In reference to my mind touching the
question of a return to S.C. I fully confess that all the ties of early life are there, my
feelings are there but as the churches sent me away by slasvation ? . I don't
feel inclined to return until some church will call me back and pay me too. As soon as
this offer is made that is call me back and pay me. I shall soon return. I can
live free from want in this country, indeed this is a first rate country to be a Christian
in this country a man has to contend with the world and the flesh and the Methodist I am
doing something in the way of steady________ preaching. My trip to Arkansas did not do me
much good I was not pleased though there is any amount of fine land. I am going to Texas
in the Spring after that I am done. I shall the settle for life some place - Oh it
is a bad business for a man to cut the ties of early life no place feels like home
so much as the place that gave him birth. I am getting tired of roving about through
this________world. May God direct me.
At this time our community is much devided some time back we had a debate on the
subject of Baptism between J.L. Capman Methodist and S.H. Bendy Baptist the
particulars I suppose Sister Mims has given you them I need not enter into detail. I
will only say that I have less confidence in Pedo Baptist than ever before. This is at the
foundation of the great evil of Union of Church and State.
I suppose you want to hear a word from Dr. and Sister M˛. and children. They are all well. The last Son much the finest indeed he is a fine boy. The Dr. is doing a big business this year. His practice is worth about Eighteen hundred Dollars. He is making about 25 Bales Cotton each bale weighing 500 lbs. He has a fine plantation and a house and lot in town. In a word cant you and sister M come out and see us. It would do us all good to see you again. This note is written in great haste as you will discover from the reading of it so I beg you excuse any ommisions Pray for us. Give rememberances to Sister M.
Affectionately
William Nolen
P.S. Write me often and full W.N.
˛This would have to be Sister H for (Harriett) the Doctors wife. ed.
~ THE MIMS LETTERS FINISHED ~
THE FIND
Margaret Ann Mimms Ward, great-granddaughter of Dr. Samuel A. Mims and sister of John Allen Mimms Jr., found the letters while searching for information on James S. Mims at Furman University. James was a professor at the college, later to be named Furman. An employee of the Furman Library told Margaret about a box of James Mims papers and let her look through the box. She found about 100 letters, 18 from Dancyville, starting in 1843 and ending about the time of James death in 1855. It took the family 2 years to transcribe the letters because the penmanship was so difficult to read. The original letters are in the archives of the Furman University Library, Greenville, South Carolina.
The transcriptions of the Mims Letters are Copyrighted© and the exclusive property of John Allen Mimms Jr. They may be used for personal genealogy purposes only. Commercial use without written permission is prohibited.
We greatly appreciate John Allen Mimms Jr.,
great-grandson of Dr. Samuel A. Mims, providing and permitting the letter
transcriptions to be published to this site.
Note: Some of
the Mims family, in later generations, added the second 'm' to the name.