Unknown County GaArchives Biographies.....Fleming, Robert 1797 - ;iving in 1874
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 4, 2005, 4:52 pm

Author: J. H. Campbell

ROBERT FLEMING.

  The subject of this brief sketch was born in Warren county, Georgia, August
3d, 1797. His father, Samuel Fleming, was a native of Ireland. His mother was a
Grier, and was a near relative of Robert Grier, the author of "Grier's Almanac,"
so well known to the people of Georgia.

  From early childhood Mr. Fleming exhibited much fondness for books, and the
first quarter of a dollar he ever earned was used in purchasing "Webster's
American Spelling Book," which was preserved with great care, and was finally
given to a female relative and was used by her as her first school-book. During
the war of 1815, he commenced teaching school at the early age of seventeen,
which business he pursued most of his life. He was considered an excellent
English scholar and a good teacher.

 • It was in 1820, under the preaching of Rev. James 0. Andrew, (afterwards
Bishop Andrew, of the Methodist church,) that Mr. Fleming became fully awakened
to a sense of his lost condition as a sinner. It was at a camp-meeting in
Columbia county. The text was, "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand
before God." etc., Revelations xx. 12. We give his Christian experience in
nearly his own words: "He was sublimely eloquent, and it was this which first
engaged my attention. But his reasoning seemed to me irresistible. I had often
heard, and verily thought, that infants came into the world holy. Why,
therefore, thought I, should they be judged? But he made it appear conclusively
that they were 'born in sin,' 'born under the law,' and that none but Jesus
Christ, who was 'made of a woman,' 'made under the law,’ could redeem them that
are under the law. The necessity of a divine mediator, of a divine atonement, of
a divine righteousness—the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ—was most
powerfully presented. I felt that I was entirely unfit to appear before God in
the judgment. I was without God and .without hope. The discourse was so deeply
impressed on my mind, and my feelings were so much agitated, that during the
afternoon it seemed as if some one was following me, wherever I went, with the
words, 'Hear him! hear him!' It seems to me strange to this day, yet it is true,
that I did believe Andrew could explain the way of salvation, and that I could
learn it from him, as if it were a mathematical problem. The putting forth of
mental effort, I thought, is all that is necessary in order to become a
Christian. Oh, how completely has sin put out the knowledge of divine things in
the soul! How lost, how ruined by the fall!

  "Rev. William Capers (afterwards Bishop Capers,) was appointed to preach on
Monday, to be followed by Andrew, in exhortation. And I waited with great
anxiety for Capers to close, that I might hear Andrew again, as the words 'hear
him! hear him!' still seemed to sound in my ears. I had seated myself
conveniently for hearing to advantage, and when Andrew rose to speak, I rose,
also, that I might have a good view of him. In the act of rising, I thought I
was on the very threshold of salvation; that Andrew would make all plain, and
that I should be a Christian. But I had scarcely risen to my feet when this
impression swept away all hopes of the kind, 'You are a lost sinner; none but
God, who made you, can save you!' At that moment I turned from Andrew, and all
created help, to God for salvation. The voice, 'hear him!' was now hushed, and
'God be merciful to me a lost sinner!' came in its stead. In an agony bordering
on despair, I sat down, and, bowing my head, I wept bitterly. Language is
inadequate to describe my feelings. A pious friend, sitting by my side,
inquired, 'Do you feel that you want to be a Christian?' I could not reply, but
throwing myself on his lap, I was overwhelmed with the deepest emotion. Mr.
Andrew, and other Methodist and Baptist friends, Mr. Sanders (afterwards Rev. B.
M. Sanders,) among them, gathered around, manifesting the kindest sympathy for
me. Mr. Andrew made special prayer in my behalf; yet it was not until some
months later that I fully embraced Christ Jesus as my Saviour, and was enabled
to leave all my interests for time and eternity in his hands."

  It was by searching the scriptures, especially by reading prayerfully the 6th
chapter of Romans, that he, though brought up a Presbyterian, became convinced
of the truth of Baptist sentiments. In June, 1821, he was baptized into the
Union church, Warren county, by Rev. Winder Hillman; in November, 1827, was
licensed to preach the gospel, and in 1830, was ordained at Warrenton by B. M.
Sanders, J. P. Marshall, E. Perryman, J. H. Walker and Jonathan Davis.

  His limited circumstances and the wants of a growing family rendered it
necessary that he should devote his attention during the week, throughout nearly
the whole of his active life, to the business of teaching. His labors in this
respect were dispensed mostly in Warren, Meriwether and Talbot counties.

Yet, as he had opportunity, he preached laboriously and successfully. Few men of
his day were so particular in the .preparation of their sermons. He frequently
wrote them out in full, which not many ministers of that day had either time or
inclination to do. Several were published, which were very creditable productions.

  Mr. Fleming was the author of several small works, among which may be
mentioned "John's Baptism," and the "Life of Rev. Humphrey Posey." He also
published the "Georgia Pulpit," a collection of sermons—a valuable work. His
"Elementary Spelling Book," published during the war, had a fine sale, and was
very popular.

  He was married three times. His first wife was Elizabeth Gunby, his second was
Charlotte D. Sherwood, (a sister of Rev. Adiel Sherwood,) and his third Mrs. R.
A. Harris, widow of Dr. Bennet Harris, of Jefferson county. They were all
excellent persons.

  Mr. Fleming is still living, (in Thomas county, Georgia,) is in good health,
and is in his seventy-seventh year. No man. is more deserving of public respect
and confidence than he. It is not very creditable to the denomination that men
of his years and in his depressed circumstances, are not better sustained.


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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