Travis County Obituary - Rev. Moses Jefferson Allen
March 19, 1934

Submitted by:   rsage@austin.rr.com  ( R. Sage)
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Rev. M. J. Allen

 Moses Jefferson Allen, son of Elijah and Mary Allen, was born in Bell County, Texas, July the 5th, 1862. Soon after the civil War was over the family removed to Mason County, where young Allen's father engaged in farming and ranching. The son, when he came to his maturity, began life for himself in the same business.

   It was soon after he started out for himself that he was married to Miss Barbara Goodall. A great event took place in the lives of this young couple. They were converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church South, under the ministry of the late Rev. James A. King. His faith in Christ was rewarded by a definite religious experience. He immediately began and continued in his Christian life with an enthusiasm which was characteristic of the man in whatsoever he engaged.

   His call to preach came to him soon after he began his Christian service in the local church of which he was a member. At the Quarterly Conference held on March 20th, 1886, he was licensed as a local preacher. The authority bears the signature of the Rev. R. M. Leaton. Rev. Allen  continued as a local preacher for five years before being admitted on trial into the West Texas Conference.  During this time he held revival meetings, helping  his pastor, and near-by pastors on other charges, and served as a supply.

   At the Annual Conference held at San Marcos, Texas, in the fall of 1891, he was admitted on trial, and his subsequent ministry formed an important chapter in his conference. On November 1st, 1890, he had been ordained a local deacon by Bishop John C. Keener. In  the fall of 1893 he was admitted into full connection and ordained elder on November 2nd by Bishop Chas. B. Galloway.

   In whatever capacity Brother Allen served, whether as a circuit preacher, station preacher, or conference evangelist, he put all he had, without reserve, into his work, which resulted in thousands of people being converted and joining the church.

   It was while he was serving as pastor of the Ward Memorial Church in Austin that his first wife passed to her reward as a faithful wife of a Methodist preacher. About two years afterwards, while serving Smithville station, he married again; this time to Miss Abba Faubion of Leander, Texas who survives him.  Others surviving him are four daughters: Mrs. T. N. Barton, Mrs. W. A. Dykes, Miss Lola Allen, and Mrs C.C. Pinson; three sons: J. Rector, Marvin J. and Lee O. Allen.

   Because of the hardships and financial distress incident to his early childhood, and the inadequate school facilities of the west, he did not receive the advantages of an early education. Although lacking in academic and theological training when he joined the conference, his quick perception  and practical adaptation account for the fact that he developed into a strong evangelistic preacher and sucessful pastor. Brother Allen was numbered among the most successful members of the West Texas Conference.

   He was a genius in friendship and social appreciation. He loved men and men loved and honored him. He was a master of assemblies. His faith in God gave him an optimism of success. It was characteristic of him to pluck victory from what seemed to be defeat.

   When the earthly life of this good man ended on March 19th, 1934, there was closed one of those romantic chapters of the West Texas conference, written by a man who gave himself with devotion to the cause of his blessed Saviour.  The funeral services were conducted  by Rev J. Lenoard Rea, assisted by the  Revs. M. K. Fred, S. J. Franks, J. A. Foster, and V. H. Fisher. His body rests in the Oakwood Cemetery at Austin, Texas.

                   Good servant of God, thy work is done.
                   The battle's fought, the victory won;
                   No more of earthly toil in flesh of pain;
                   Thou hast gone up on high with Christ to reign.
                                                                                              T. N. BARTON

Taken from the Texas Methodist Centennial Yearbook 1834-1934