James, John

James, John a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, was born in Buckingham County, Va., August 1, 1782. He entered the Kentucky Conference in 1820, and successively "filled some of the most important and responsible appointments acceptably and successfully." He was an ardent worker in the vineyard of the Lord, and espoused the cause of his Master amid persecutions and heavy loss of property: his father-in-law, a wealthy man, disinherited his daughter (the wife of John James) because her husband was a Methodist preacher. Mr. James died, after a service of half a century in the Church, in 1860. As a preacher, his ability was superior, but his sermons were more of a hortatory nature than severe logical doctrinal discussions. "During his ministerial life he won many souls to Christ, and was regarded in his old age as a father in Israel. He loved his work to the last, and may be said to have descended from his horse to the grave."- Min. Asn. Confi l. E. Ch. S. 2, 193 sq.