Unknown County GaArchives Biographies.....Byne, Edmund unknown - 1814 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 31, 2005, 4:08 pm Author: J. H. Campbell EDMUND BYNE. This eminently pious and laborious servant of Christ was born and brought up to manhood in King and Queen county, Virginia. He was impressed with, the reality and importance of divine things by the following dream, while he was yet a child: It seemed as if the judgment day had come. He saw Christ, the judge, sitting on a dazzling throne. Men were called, one by one, before him, and received their eternal doom. "When it came to his turn, he was compelled to approach the judge. A large book was opened, in which he was required to read; and, to his utter astonishment, he saw therein a catalogue of all the sins he had ever committed. When he had read over the list, the judge looked upon him with a stern countenance, and demanded of him whether he was "guilty or not guilty?" He was about to open his mouth to pass sentence upon himself, when his agitation caused him to awake. The seriousness which ensued gave his parents (who were members of the high church) great anxiety. They supposed their son, who was a promising youth, to be somewhat deranged. Accordingly, blisters were applied to his head, and he was treated otherwise as a lunatic. After this, his convictions were deepened by a public discussion between one Iverson Lewis (an uncle of his) and an Episcopal clergyman, on the subject of religion. Mr. Lewis was not then a professor, but afterwards became an eminent Baptist preacher in Virginia. He undertook to convince the clergyman and his members that they were all going to perdition together, and that, too, from the scriptures. His quotations were such as made solemn impressions on the mind of young Byne. At what precise age he was converted, is not known. But he was a man of family when he was baptized, as will hereafter appear. At the time he obtained a hope in the pardoning mercy of God, he had agreed to run a horse-race, on which a large amount of money was bet. Horse-racing and dancing were so common in Virginia in those days, it was almost impossible to live and not be connected with them in some way. As soon as Mr. Byne felt the love of God in his heart, he went to his opponent in the race and tried to get off from his engagement to run. He was flatly told, if he did not run he should pay the bet. "Well," said Byno, "I'll run; but, if I win, (which I am sure I shall do.) I'll give every dollar to some charitable object." An immense crowd was collected on the race-field. Mr. Byne won the race, as he expected. When he had received the purse, he called the attention of the crowd, informed them of his effort to get off from running the race, and of his intention to devote the contents of the purse to charitable purposes, and closed by exhorting them to turn to the Lord. "And now," said he, "I shall run no other race except one—that is, the race to heaven. Farewell!" When the Baptists began to preach in Virginia, he went to hear them, much against the wishes of his relatives and friends. Having been taught by them the way of the Lord more perfectly, he resolved to submit to the ordinance of baptism. When he went down into the water, his oldest son (then a youth, not fully grown,) rode into the stream, threatening to horsewhip the minister. To such indignities and insults did our fathers have to submit in those days! Not many years thereafter, this young man, who had married and settled some distance from his father, was himself brought to a saving acquaintance with Christ. He and his father set out simultaneously to visit each other on the joyous occasion. They approached one another on the road—but the son was so absorbed in devotion, his eyes following heavenwards where his thoughts led, as not to discover his father until they met. "John, where are you going?" "To heaven," was the immediate reply. The father and son rushed into each others arms, and a scene followed upon which God smiled, and over which angels rejoiced, In 1785, Mr. Byne and several other families from Virginia landed in Savannah. They had a most boisterous and dangerous passage out, having been at sea six weeks, most of the time driven with the tempests hither and thither. Having letters of introduction to the Governor of Georgia, they were kindly received, and had a house furnished them for temporary use by that excellent functionary. Mr. Byne soon found a home in Burke county, where he lived, and labored, and died. He and his wife had not long been settled in their new abode, when news reached them of a glorious revival of religion, then prevailing in Virginia. Mr. Byne had commenced preaching before he came to Georgia; and now his spirit was so stirred within him, that he and his wife went throughout the neighborhood, from house to house, exhorting the people and praying with them. Religion was a hissing and a by-word in Burke county; but as these pious souls sent up their prayers, with strong cries and tears, the Lord avenged them speedily. Under his preaching, many souls were born into Zion. The Rocky creek church called Mr. Byne to ordination, which he had several times declined in his native State. Now, he felt it his duty to yield to the wishes of his brethren, and especially of those who had recently been converted under his ministry. Accordingly, he was ordained by David Tinsley and Loveless Savidge, and soon baptized some seventy or eighty persons. Though of some eccentricity of character, he was nevertheless a fearless and faithful servant of the Lord, as will appear from the following anecdotes. Not long after he joined the church, he was invited by some of his former companions in sin to attend a dancing party, which he engaged to do, on condition, expressly agreed to, that he should give direction to all the exercises of the evening. When the party assembled, Mr. Byne appeared in their midst, accompanied by several church members, who were good singers. The violin at length sent forth its enlivening notes, when a young lady stepped up to him, and invited the preacher to lead in the dance. He politely took her arm, stepped out on the floor, required the music to cease, and after reminding the managers of the condition upon which he agreed to attend, struck up a spiritual song. The church members immediately joined him. The song concluded, he engaged in prayer. Another song was followed by a second prayer. By this time tears were flowing from many eyes. The ball was converted into a prayer meeting. The people of the house, with others of the company, became pious, and this was the last dance ever attempted to be held there. After his removal to Georgia, he was in the habit of preaching at Waynesboro, in Burke county. A certain Mr. Jones, who was unfriendly to religion, threatened that if Mr. Byne came again to Waynesboro to preach, he intended to give him a text that would puzzle him. Sure enough, the next time he rose before the people, Mr. Jones was there, and demanded of Mr. Byne to preach without meditation from the words, "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath that is to come !" So little did Mr. Jones know about the Scriptures, that he understood the words according to their literal meaning. It was a good weapon for Mr. Byne, and it was said he used it to such effect that Mr. Jones declared he "never would give another Baptist preacher a cudgel with which to beat his own head." When advanced in life, his infirmities were such as to render it necessary that he should resign all pastoral charges. He had been a most laborious and self-denying preacher. No state of weather, however inclement, could stop him from his appointments. When the rain poured in torrents, he would put on his great-coat, wrap a blanket about his shoulders, and post off to his meetings. Though confined mostly to his house for several months preceding his death, yet a short time before his departure he insisted on being propped up with pillows in his carriage and conveyed to the regular meeting of the church of which he was a member. He was helped into the meetinghouse, and, being bolstered up in front of the pulpit, he addressed the congregation for the last time. He spoke as a dying man indeed! It was a solemn and affecting season. Several afterwards joined the church who dated their awakening from these last words of God's aged servant. He returned to his home to die, which solemn event took place in February, 1814. Additional Comments: From: GEORGIA BAPTISTS: HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL BY J. H. CAMPBELL, PERRY, GEORGIA. MACON, GA.: J. W. BURKE & COMPANY. 1874. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by J. H. CAMPBELL, In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 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