John Crossley Given, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana Submitted by John L Given, Jr., johng18@juno.com John L. Given, Jr. is the grandson of John Crossley Given ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ JOHN CROSSLEY GIVEN 1872 - 1927 SON OF DAVID ALEXANDER GIVEN JOHN CROSSLEY GIVEN Reverend John Crossley Given was born in Franklin County Mississippi on July 30, 1872. He was educated at the Norvilla Collegiate Institute in Greensburg, Louisiana, the Collegiate Institute in Gillsburg, Mississippi and at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi. Greensburg became the parish seat in 1832 when St. Helena Parish was divided to form Livingston Parish. In 1838 the state legislature established and appropriated money for an academy here, the first of many small schools, most of them private, which marked an early interest in education in the area. One these small schools was the Norvilla Collegiate Institute in Greensburg, Louisiana. Gillsburg, Amite Co. Miss is located in the southern part of Mississippi near the Louisiana line. Mr and Mrs William Alex Gill and family moved from Greensburg, La. in the year 1887 (or aboutthat date) to Amite Co. and brought the Charles Wall home and started the village now known as Gillsburg. Miss Ella Gill decided a school was needed. Gillsburg school was built and she was it's first teacher. Her sister, Miss Ida was music teacher. Mr. Gill also built a new home now known as the late Dr. C. W. Stewart home. Healso helped build a large school building which was known near and far as Gillsburg Collegiate Institute, better known as G. C. I. Pupils came from as far away as New Orleans, La and Jackson, Miss. Mr. Gill built two dormitories one for boys and one for girls. There was always twenty or more boarding pupils for several years. Judge J. H. Price of Magnolia was one of the teachers. He married Miss Ida Gill. Prof. Charles Hoopper was a teacher and married Miss Katie Wall, daughter of Charles Wall. Mr. Logan Phillips came to Gillsburg to make his home and married Miss Ella Gill. Later one of the Gills felt the need of a church here so the Gillsburg Baptist Church was built. Gillsburg had grown to be a little village by then. The church was organized in 1882 and the first pastor was Rev. T. C. Schlling. Miss Ella Gill was born at Greensburg, La March 12, 1863. Died in Gillsburg June 29, 1891. She was buried here on the school campus where she had such a large part in building both school and church. Source: A Short history of Gillsburg as told by Mrs. Bessie Stewart Williams Hurst Magnolia Gazzette July 1949. Mr. Given was a successful teacher who began teaching at the age of seventeen. He taught in both the states of Mississippi and Louisiana. In 1894, he was First Assistant at Dallas High School, Lafayette County, Dallas, Mississippi. He was licensed to preach in the McComb, MS Baptist Church at the age of eighteen. Reverend Given was very involved in church ministry, by severing as pastor of churches from the southern counties of Mississippi on the Louisiana line to the northern counties on the Tennessee line. Pastoral responsibilities were met by preforming the normal duties of a minister along with attending Association meetings and writing articles covering church topics such as temperance, ministerial education and sustentation. On October 24, 1918 he wrote a very impressive article covering one of the greatest desires of Jesus Christ, unity in Gods Church, it was titled, The Union Movement and published in the Baptist Record. The Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission records show the following references to his ministry. Friar Point 1910 Rome 1911, 1912 McComb Licentiates 1906 McComb 1913,1914,1916 Enid 1917 Courtland 1918, 1919 Other Church records show the following: 1910 Pastor Marks Baptist Church, Marks Mississippi 1915 Pastor in Liberty, Mississippi 1916 Pastor in Liberty, Mississippi 1918 Pastor Tocowa Baptist Church with records showing two increases by letter, one restored, eleven gained by baptism, with a present membership of 58. 1918 Pastor Pilgrim Rest Church, with records showing two decreased by letter, eleven gained by baptism, with a present membership of 121. Reverend Given married Annie Jeannette Pate on July 2, 1896. They had eight children three sons Pate Ernest Given, Laurence Chastain Given, John Logan Given and one daughter Lois Purser Given lived, while four children died either at birth or as an infant. Rev. J. C. Given and wife of McComb were here Monday. Mr. Given is the elder brother of Howard Given whom Tony Huggins killed. Magnolia Gazette 02/19/1913 John Crossley Given died September 22, 1927 of angina pectoris a disease marked by brief paroxysmal attacks of chest pain precipitated by deficient oxygenation of the heart muscles and is buried in the city cemetery at Belzonia, Mississippi. THE BAPTIST RECORD OCTOBER 24, 1918 THE UNION MOVEMENT BY REVEREND JOHN CROSSLEY GIVEN 1872-1927 Much has been said on this subject. Many have spoken loudly in it's favor, none have spoken in condemnation. Each it seems to me has looked at one side only. The question has two sides, and both sides are to be thought of. The idea is a good one. It is the outgrowth of the teaching of Jesus himself. He desired that his people be united. United in faith and practice and in purpose of effort. They are not so united; therefore, any movement looking to this end is not to be despised. This movement does not seem to be the result of the thinking of any one man but the effect of a great popular thought wave. None seem able to lay hand on the man who started the thought motion. This being true, it must be the working of some unseen force toward a given fixed end, and that is desirable. There can be nothing more desirable than the union of god's children into one great offensive army marching with one purpose against the hosts of evil. This is the purpose of the movement under discussion. It is a good purpose toward an end desired by every thoughtful person. Some have even gone so far as to say the purpose of the movement is to remove denominational distinction. What can be more desirable ? A people who have always deplored the existence of denominations, a people who because of their peculiar tenets, are in every denomination a protest against their own existence, and because of these same distinctive principles are a protest against the existence of every other, can find no just cause for complaint in the fact, that some people declare for the breaking down of lines of demarkation. The sooner the lines are broken down the better for the cause for which all claim to be working. The only reason these lines exist is because someone is in error. These lines can not be broken down and the error remain, unless all agree to the error. This would not be according to the idea of the movement. The movement has for it's idea, the advancement of truth. The breaking down of denominational lines then means the eradication of error and establishment of truth. People who preach the whole truth should rejoice in any thing that moves toward this end. This is one side of the question. The other is this: While men have independent minds and use them independently, they are going to make mistakes. Their very independence is sometime a mistake. There is always the chance for ignorance to play a prominent part in the decisions reached by a mind that undertakes to act independently of all other minds. This movement is the effect of popular thought and has been shaped and is being carried on by minds who desire to be independent of all who have gone before. Many of them have tired of the dogmas by which these minds have been bound. They want freedom. They recognize the restraint that opposing thought throws around their thinking. To have freedom, opposition must be silenced. Some men have tired of the sword so long wielded by unpracticed hands against this opposition and in their impotence turn to compromise as a means of settlement. The purpose is good and if by means the end could be reached the plan tho imperfect might serve the purpose. The trouble is no disagreement was ever settled to stay without removing the cause. Compromise does not remove the cause and therefore is not the means needed. The trouble is not in the thing for which the movement stands but with the plan by which the end is sought. Ignorance is playing it's part in the planning. A mistake has been made no doubt, but those who oppose the movement because of this mistake are equally mistaken. Some have seen the error in the above idea and have sought the end in another direction. They have seen the warring factions on Christendom making war on each other. They as a part of these factions have been drawn into these wars. They have tired of them. In fact there are comparatively few who have not become weary in the incessant fight. All want peace and there can be no lasting peace until the cause of war has been removed. Thus some of them have concluded that to end war, the powers that make war must be destroyed. They have taken up the sword toward this end. They propose to eliminate the cause of dispute, the distinctive doctrines that make the distinction that is the moving cause in this war between factions of what they think is one cause. Their purpose in all right. The movement is toward the right end. Their means is the only thing that any can complain of. Others have seen the remedy in the elimination of all teaching and turning to the doing. If this could be it surely would settle all. Those who have been taught to do might be depended on to do without teaching. Those who have not must be taught, or they will not do. The inarticulate must become articulate or die in one generation. In becoming articulate it became distinctive and wars with all that is not of it's kind and leave the world as it found it. Still the idea is the same, still good but the plan is the trouble. The writer is not the only one who has seen this. He does not stand alone in his opinion about these plans, his position is unique only in his idea of the remedy. Some years ago when the writer had spoken vehemently against the movement known as the "holiness movement" an old preacher said to him: "Don't condemn the movement lest you be thought to fight holiness. Just preach the bible way." This movement is good. The word of god is for it. God wants his people to be one. True union means unity. Nothing else can unite. The spirit of antagonism is not the spirit that will guide into the proper channel. The movement being the expression of dissatisfaction with present conditions and being the effect of thought among the mass of Christians is going to have it's effect on the next generation. As the world war is broadening our view of our responsibility to our fellow men nationally, so is our religious view of responsibility being broadened. As this view is broadened the need of united effort will be more clearly seen. As this is seen the cry for union is going to increase. Antagonism puts men outside of the movement and in opposition to it. Those outside will have only a retarding influence. Those inside will shape it's direction. Those who have the truth need to be inside the truth instead or error may control. Let truth lead, and all will be well. The truth is, this movement is toward the right end. It is going to lead to a union of error against truth with truth fighting united error, or it is going to lead to the elimination of error and the union of all who love the lord under the banner of truth against the forces of evil. Which it shall be depends on the position taken by them who have the truth. Men desire union. They are demanding it. They are going to have some kind of evangelical union. Either they will unite the people who are in error on a compromise, or they must be lead into the acceptance of truth as a whole and develop a unit of one faith. If the first is given right of way the result will be a mighty force against truth. If the second has precedence, the result will be the answer to the prayer. That they may be one as we are one, let the holder of truth get into the movement and direct it into it's proper course. We have made the mistake in the past of leaving reformers to themselves and reformations have miscarried. Let us not make the same mistake this time, but lets take helm and steer the awakened masses into union. There is but one basis on which true union can be formed and that is "kingship of Jesus the Christ." All who have trusted him for salvation are his redeemed, but all have not made him king. They are his friend but not his obedient subjects. If they were, there would be unity and that would be union. As king Christ should be the only law giver, but he is not with all. Let us begin now to emphasize one thought above all others. Jesus is king. When the king speaks all men should be silent. Independence of thought is all right until he who is perfect in thought speaks. Then all should think as he thinks. When that is done, there can be no mistake. All men have a right to their own opinion until god speaks. Then god's opinion is supreme. Yours truly, J. C. Given The Given family lived in or near Grangeville Louisiana during the years 1887 through 1889. They were members of the Grangeville Baptist Church in Saint Helena Parish. Grangeville Baptist Church May 25, 1889 Saint Helena Parish LA. Service by Pastor D. A. Given at usual hour after which conference convened reading minutes of previous meeting red & adopted as red. By request Deacon Warren was asked to preside as moderator who accepted when Eld. D.A. Given presented letter for membership into the church for himself, wife M. L. & daughter D.E. & son A.C Given which was on motion received and the hand of fellowship was extended to all except D. E. Given who was not present which will by order of the church be extended at a time when she is present. On motion church repealed resolution requiring annual meeting to come off in July and on motion fixed for August 4th. Sabbath & Sat. before. Conference adjourned. Note A. C. Given should read J. C. Given D.R. Warren, Mod Pro tem W.T. Woodward, Ch. Clk. Grangeville Baptist Church December 26th 1889 Saint Helena Parish LA. Service by Pastor 11 oclk. a.m. aftr which conference convened for regular business. Minutes of previous meeting red & adopted. Communication from Eld. E.D. Shilling red by clk. and accepted by the church. On motion letters of dismission to Eld. D.A. Given, Sister M.L. & D.E., also Bro. A.C. Given was granted by request of Eld. D.A. Given. On motion rule of church requiring members to report once in three months at regular conference meeting was repealed. On motion conference adjourned. Note A. C. Given should read J. C. Given W.T. Woodard, Ch. Clk D.A. Given Mod. Source: 1. The Lives and Works of Southern Teachers By Hughes and Waldon 1894 2. Ms State Board of Health Death Certificate number 17561 3. Yalobusha County Marriage License signed by David Alexander Given 4. Br derbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 3, Social Security Records: U.S., SS Death Benefit Records, Surnames Beginning with G, Date of Import: Mar 24, 1996, Internal Ref. #1.111.3.79045.58 5. Br derbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 3, Social Security Records: U.S., SS Death Benefit Records, Surnames Beginning with G, Date of Import: Mar 24, 1996, Internal Ref. #1.111.3.79045.111 6. Magnolia Gazzette 7. John Logan Given, Jr. ******************************************************************* http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/sthelena/history/family/givenjc.txt