Unknown County GaArchives Biographies.....Collins, Henry 1798 - 1861
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 4, 2005, 2:40 pm

Author: J. H. Campbell

HENRY COLLINS

  Was a native of Jackson county, Georgia, where he was born February 20th,
1798. The poverty of his father prevented him from affording his son a liberal
education, so that he attended school only long enough to acquire a knowledge of
the rudiments of the English language. At the age of about twenty-seven, he
obtained hope in Christ and was baptized into the fellowship of Sharon church,
Henry county, Georgia. He was licensed to preach in February, 1835, and was
ordained in January, 1836, by a presbytery consisting of A. Sherwood. W. A.
Callaway and J. H. Campbell. Soon after his ordination, he removed with his
family to Cobb county, which was then a frontier country, inhabited by Indians
and hunters. In his neighborhood there were only two professors of religion, a
Methodist exhorter and a Hard-shell Baptist. But the zeal of this humble yet
faithful man of God soon found places for preaching and people to preach to. As
the country was totally destitute of meeting houses, he called the settlers
together in private houses, under bush arbors, and frequently under the shades
of the primeval forest trees; and with such heavenly unction did he deliver the
gospel message, that hundreds were soon brought to a saving knowledge of Christ,
who were baptized and constituted into churches. Meeting houses soon sprang up
as if by magic, and "the wilderness and the solitary place" was literally "made
glad." He labored in that field about twenty-five years, and was instrumental in
accomplishing incalculable good. Frequently, during the summer and fall months,
he would be engaged in revival meetings almost incessantly, preaching day and
night, and baptizing hundreds. On one occasion, during a period of three months,
he attended meetings regularly, with an intermission of only one day and two
nights, during which time he baptized seventy-five souls. Sunday-schools and the
temperance cause found in him a consistent and ardent supporter and advocate.
Indeed, there was nothing calculated to promote the best interests of his
fellow-citizens that did not receive the whole weight of his influence, which,
though an extremely modest and unpretending man, was generally controlling in
his field of operations. Of course, such a man could not do otherwise than
command the respect and confidence of all who knew him.

  In September, 1859, he contracted a violent cold while laboring in a meeting
at Holly Spring church, Cherokee county, which resulted in chronic pneumonia,
and which finally terminated his useful life. The following winter he withdrew
from the field of labor which he had cultivated so long and so successfully, and
located in Dooly county, in the hope, perhaps, that a warm climate might improve
his health. But he was able to preach but few times in his new field of labor,
on account of the diseased condition of his lungs. It would seem that the Lord
had given him warning of his approaching end, as several months before his
death, while yet able to ride about the neighborhood, he was often heard to say
that his work was done. Several times he said to his family that Paul's
declaration (Timothy, iv. chapter, 6, 7, 8 verses,) rested with great weight on
his mind: "For I am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at
hand," etc. He lingered for months, enjoying the brightest evidences of his
acceptance with God, and finally fell asleep in Jesus on the 5th day of June,
1860, in the sixty-third year of his age.

  The Noonday Association, at its session in 1861, thus notices his demise: "We
also notice the death of one other minister, who, though not a member of our
body at the time of his death, yet his name and labors are so intimately
connected with the Baptist cause in this section of country, that we cannot
refrain from mentioning him: We refer to your former moderator, Rev. Henry
Collins, a man who lived in your midst for many years; whose voice has been
heard in nearly every Baptist church, and in almost every nook and corner of
this part of Cherokee Georgia. He ‘bore the heat and burden of the day.' 'He
went forth weeping, bearing precious seed.' God abundantly blessed his labors,
and hundreds still live to testify that he was the favored instrument in the
hands of God in bringing them to Christ. He was eminently a man of prayer; and,
not only in his waking moments, but sometimes in the stillness of the night,
have the families with whom he tarried been awakened from their slumbers by his
unconscious, though fervent appeals to a throne of grace for some poor lost
sinner. He was a good minister of Christ, and, though not great in the
estimation of the world, yet was he blessed of God, and loved and honored by his
brethren. Like a shock of corn, fully ripe, has he been gathered into the garner
of the Lord, that he may rest from his labors, and so that his works may follow
him." A noble testimonial to a worthy man!

  His doctrinal views were moderately Calvinistic. As a Baptist, he was liberal,
but decided. In person, he was above the ordinary height and weight, of a benign
countenance, musical voice, persuasive manner and grave deportment. His
influence for good, in Cherokee Georgia, will not soon be lost.


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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