Unknown County GaArchives Biographies.....Trice, Thomas C. 1808 - 1866
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 3, 2005, 6:15 pm

Author: J. H. Campbell


  The following also appeared in the Minutes of the Salem Association for 1867:

THOMAS C. TRICE.

  Departed this life at his residence in Pike county, Alabama, on the 3d day of
July, A. D., 1866, Elder Thomas Calvin Trice, aged fifty-eight years, three
months and one day.

  He was born in Orange county, North Carolina, and was married, on his arrival
at manhood, to Miss S. H. White, daughter of William H. White, of Wade county,
in said last mentioned State. He was hopefully converted to the religion of
Jesus Christ and joined the Baptist church in 1828, and exemplified the beauties
of our holy religion during the balance of his eventful life. Soon after his
conversion, he commenced preaching the gospel, and continued warning his
fellow-man, "shunning not to proclaim the whole counsel of God." In the year
1832, he moved to the State of Georgia, Jasper county, and from thence to Pike
county, Georgia, in the year 1839, where he resided until he moved to Pike
county, Alabama, in the year 1864, where he died.

  For many years he represented his county in the Georgia State Legislature,
where he distinguished himself as one of the working men of the body, and
commanded the respect of his co-laborers for his sterling good sense and
faithful discharge of duty. So, in every relation of life, he was never known to
occupy an equivocal position. In politics, he was an old line Whig and States
Rights man, and in the recent struggle for independence, he was uncompromisingly
Southern.

  As a citizen, he was written down by all as an eminently useful man; as a
neighbor, kind and obliging; as a friend, steadfast and trusty; and in the
endearing relation of husband and father, none can. so well appreciate his
superior excellency of character as his heart-broken widow and sorrow-stricken
children.

  While he thus stood in the various relations of life, in nothing did the
cardinal virtues shine forth so much as in his church actions, and here we must
be permitted to refer to his course during the unfortunate division which took
place amongst the Southern Baptist churches in the years 1836, 1837 and 1838,,
When the division occurred, he took sides with what is known as the "Hardshell"
or "Primitive" Baptists, and for many years—indeed, up to a short time of his
death, he held communion with this portion of the church. It were needless to
recount the causes operating on his mind and influencing his course. But, in his
last days, it is certain that this great and good man could not sanction what he
considered flagrant errors of the anti-Mission Baptists, such as re-baptism, and
the manifest departure of many of his brethren from the true principles of the
gospel, both in faith and practice, as held by the church from the days of the
Apostles until now. Hence, he sought communion with the regular Baptist church,
and was cordially received into Spring Hill (missionary) Baptist church some
time before his death.

  It is due to his memory to state that he did not love his anti-Mission Baptist
brethren less, but the cause of Christ more, which influenced him to join those
who believe it to be their, duty to "preach the gospel to every creature," so
far as they can. Let no one say he changed his religion in his latter days. This
would be a gross misrepresentation of a good man. He only came back to the
original church of his first choice, who rigidly adhere to the ancient
landmarks, and with whom he could exercise liberty of conscience, and it is
needless to tell the present generation how dear this privilege is to the
regular Baptists.

  As a consistent and well beloved member of the regular Baptist church, and
faithful preacher of the cross of Christ, he closed his mortal career. Much
bodily pain and suffering (the consequence of protracted labor as<a minister of
Jesus,) he was called upon to endure by the Master in his last days. These he
bore with Christian resignation and fortitude, and spoke of his dissolution as
an event to be devoutly wished rather than dreaded. Not believing in funeral
sermons, as held by Roman Catholics and their descendants, still he desired that
one of his faithful brother preachers—his pastor—should preach a sermon on the
occasion of his death, selecting the text a few days before his death.

  Truly, this good man has fought a good fight—has finished his course—and no
one who intimately knew him. in life will doubt that he has entered upon that
life of happiness and oy which is promised to all those who die in the Lord.
"Henceforth," from the day of his death, he is ever happy.

  It might not be amiss to say that, in consequence of his beloved Baptistic
views, and his freedom from prejudice and superstition, that many of his
anti-Mission Baptist brethren suspected him of being a Mason. In this they were
very much mistaken. He never was a Mason until a few short months before his
death; and in the full vigor of his intellect, greatly above mediocrity, he
united himself to this Order, and their tenets met his entire approval. The only
regrets he ever expressed, after becoming acquainted with Masonry, was that he
did not attach himself to the Lodge at an earlier day.



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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