I was born August 26, 1864, in a log cabin in Monroe County, Missouri, about seven and one half miles southwest of Paris, the county seat. My mother, whose maiden name was Ann Eliza Welch, was born in the same county. My father, John F. Moore, was born and reared in Bath County, Kentucky, and when he was a young man came to Missouri and married my mother.
My earliest remembrance is of my mother's father, then an old man, sitting by the fireplace at night with the family about, and by the light of the fire and an old tallow dip candle, with the large family Bible on his knees, reading from it a lesson and then leading in prayer. While I cannot remember a word that was said, there was a profound impression made upon me.
A sad incident happened when I was about five years of age. Uncle Tom, one of my mother's brothers, one day, riding one of his plow horses, became entangled in the harness and falling from the horse, was dragged to his death. This incident caused me at that time to realize that life was uncertain and death may overtake us at any time; and as young as I was, I felt there must be a special preparation, for if one died without being at peace with God he would be eternally lost.
The manner in which Uncle Tom met his death so impressed me, that when I came to be a plow boy, which was when I was ten years of age, I determined not to ride a horse or mule with harness, without unbuckling the hame strings. My father, when I was about thirteen years old, bought a large team of mules, and I often plowed with this team. One was gentle to ride, and I often rode this one, back and forth to the field, and several times in dismounting, my feet would hang up in the harness, and every time, the mule would jump to run, but the hame strings being loosed, I would pull the harness off. I always, at such times, felt that I had been saved from a horrible death.
My earliest recollection of attending church was when, as a very small boy, I rode behind mother to Mt. Airy Baptist Church, a country church. It's pastor, Elder W. B. Craig, was the first man I remember ever hearing preach. He was a good and loyal preacher, whom I came to know better and was associated with him somewhat in my early ministry.
When I was a boy of thirteen years of age, I attended an old time, Southern Methodist revival, and I was truly convicted of sin, and had I been properly instructed, I am quite sure I would have been saved. But, as it was, the next four years were not happy years; for I realized that I was a lost sinner, and many nights did I pray God, not to let me die while asleep; for I was not prepared to meet God.
The Bethlehem Baptist Church in Audrain County, Missouri, and pastor, Elder J. F. Smith, assisted by Elder William Jesse, held a great revival meeting. It was in this meeting that I was made to drink of the bitter cup of deep conviction, and after some ten days of soul distress, the burden rolled off my soul while down on my knees at the old fashioned, mourners' bench, on August 6, 1881, and I rejoiced in Christ as my personal Savior. I was baptized by Pastor Smith on August 8th, along with many other converts, into the fellowship of old Bethlehem church.
When I was a small boy of only ten years of age, I felt that someday, God would have me preach; yet at that time, I realized that I must be "born again" before I was fit to enter upon such a responsible work. When I became deeply convicted of sin, I was not ready at once to make a complete surrender; but I found out no compromise could be made with our Lord.
My first two years after my conversion, were not altogether happy years, for part of the time, I was indifferent and shirked my duty. I thought, and planned to go west to Montana, and among strangers there, get away from feeling that God would have me to preach. However my brother, Frank, who was then in Montana, wrote me, urging that I stay at home with our parents. I decided to take his advice.
It was in August, 1883, when I was nineteen years of age, that old Bethlehem church sent me as a messenger to the Little Bon Femme Baptist Association. That was an old time association. There was plenty of real old-time Gospel preaching. The Holy Spirit was there, and His power was manifested. A burden of awful conviction came upon me, that I must preach. One day during the association, I stole away alone to the woods (the association was being held in a large country church) and knelt beside a large log, and there, surrendered to the call, and promised God I would give myself to the ministry. My soul was filled with Joy. When the association closed, I returned home, and then alone with mother, I told her of my call to preach, and my surrender to preach. Her reply impressed me. She said, "My boy, before you were born, I prayed God to give me a preacher."
In January of 1886, I received my first call to a pastorate. The Mt. Airy Baptist Church of Monroe County, Missouri, called me for one-fourth time. I was born within about one and a half miles of this church, and it is the first church I ever remember attending, and it's former pastor, the first preacher I ever remember hearing. A short time after I began my pastorate, this church called on the Bethlehem Church, of which I was a member, to ordain me, and it was found that the Bethlehem Church, having a business meeting on the same day, called for a council for my ordination. Hence on April 21, 1886, the council met with the Bethlehem Church, and after examination, recommended me to the church for ordination, and was then ordered to proceed with the ordination.
The following is a copy of the certificate of ordination, with the names of the eight ministers composing the council:
"BE IT REMEMBERED that on the 21st day of April, A.D. 1886, we, the undersigned Presbytery, having been invited by the Baptist Church of Bethlehem, Audrain County, Missouri, to set apart our beloved Brother John T. Moore to the Gospel ministry by solemn Ordination, and after a thorough examination as it regards his Christian experience and call to the Ministry, also upon the doctrines of Baptist Denomination, we proceeded to the ordination, by prayer and imposition of hands."
"We do therefore cheerfully commend him to the confidence, respect and love of the brotherhood, and especially to the churches with whom in the Providence of God, his lot may be cast."
(Signed) "James F. Smith, Jno. S. Parmer, M.S. Whiteside, Joshua Pearce, B. F. Hagan, W. J. Jesse, J. E. Jesse, E. Silver."
Some of these men had already spent long years faithfully in the ministry, and some only a few years, but all have proved to be men of God and loyal Baptists. Only two of them are this side of heaven at this writing, May 23rd, 1938, and they are now about four score years or older of age, and still laboring in the ministry.
The above, beginning of a story of his life, was found among the papers of Dr. J. T. Moore after his death in September, 1938. He was unable to finish it. This copy is from the "Pacific Coast Baptist" of March, 1941.--Editor.
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