Mccutchen, James B

Mccutchen, James B.

a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, was born near Murfreesboro, Tenn., Aug. 26, 1829; professed religion in his fourteenth year, and joined the Methodist Church; was licensed to preach, and joined the Memphis Annual Conference in 1852; was appointed to Camden Circuit in 1853; Mount Pinson in 1854; Tishomingo in 1855; Clinton Circuit in 1857; Paducah Circuit in 1858; Murray Circuit in 1860; and Tishomingo Circuit in 1861. During this year he was elected chaplain of the 7th Kentucky Regiment C. S. A. In this service he continued till the close of the war, when he resumed his place as, traveling preacher, and was appointed in 1866 to Cageville Circuit; in 1868 to Trenton Circuit, and again to Cageville Circuit in 1869. He died Aug. 28, 1870. "Brother McCutchen was a self-made man, having received but a limited education in his youth, but by industry and hard study he had acquired a very good English education, and no mean acquaintance with the Latin and Greek languages. His preaching was of a plain, practical character, exhibiting a large acquaintance with the sacred Scriptures, and with the standard literature of the Church. He was not of a polemical turn of mind, but when our doctrines were attacked, he always showed himself a fearless champion and a trustworthy debater. But few men in our ranks are better prepared to defend our doctrines than he was, and yet he cherished a noble catholicity of sentiment and feeling that did credit at once to his head and heart. He was not merely acceptable, but popular and useful, making many friends wherever he went." — Conference Minutes of. E. Church South, 1870, s.v.