Philip F. Lamar
1826-1878 

Biographical Sketch of Philip F. Lamar

Philip F. Lamar was born November 14, 1826 in the state of Georgia. He was the eldest son of Philip and Margaret Anthony Lamar. When Philip was six years old, his family moved to Muscogee County, about 10 miles from the town of Columbus, where they were near Mrs. Lamar's parents and other relatives.

His mother was from the Methodist faith. His father was a Baptist. However, it was his mother’s influence, along with his mother’s brother, Samuel Anthony, a Methodist preacher, who influence young Philip to become a Methodist. He and his two and one-half year younger brother, James Sanford Lamar, read a published communication from Dr. Daniel Hook in a newspaper. Impressed, they invited Dr. Hook to preach at Columbus which then had a population of 6,000 persons. They had “no place of worship – no brethren – and all of the orthodox to contend against.” Dr. Hook responded to the invitation, preaching in a hall the young men rented for the purposed. It resulted in a decision by the Lamar brothers to become Christian ministers.

His brother, James attended Bethany College with the kind help of Emily H. Tubman. A year after his arrival there, the Elder Thomas Campbell passed away, January 4th, 1854. James was one of the pallbearers. Later that year he graduated with an A.B. degree and was valedictorian of a class of seventeen. J.S. Lamar was known far and wide in the Restoration Movement. 

Though not as educated as his younger brother, Philip was much loved and committed to serving the Lord in the state of Georgia. His first place of preaching was in Griffin, Georgia with a small group of Christians. His contemporaries called him the “Great Evangelist.” During the Civil war it was reported that once or twice per month he would go up to the Antioch church, in Clarke County to preach. In 1867 he evangelized in Northeastern Georgia. Sister Tubman was a main benefactor in his continuous efforts. He preached throughout Georgia as state evangelist in 1870 and 1871. He helped to organize churches in the northeastern part of the state. He made his home near Watkinsville. He held strong appreciation for the help the American Christian Missionary Society was able to lend in helping him and the preaching of the gospel in the state of Georgia.

In 1856, The first pre-Civil War periodical definitely known to have been published by Georgia Disciples Of Christ was the Christian Union. The first issue of the monthly, containing 32 pages, published at Augusta, was dated January, 1856. “God Is Love” was subtitle. Publication began with James S. Lamar and A.G. Thomas as editors, Dr. Daniel Hook and Philip F. Lamar as Associate editors.

Congregations which Philip F. Lamar lead in establishing included Christian Chapel (1860), Barrow County; Corinth, 1861, Walton Count; Bethany, now Bogart, 1863, Oconee County; and Galilee, 1868, near Jefferson, Jackson County. He baptized mare than 2000 persons during a ministry of more than 25 years.

After the Civil War, Lamar was supported by the American Christian Missionary Society to continue the work of evangelism in Georgia. Advocating the cooperation of churches to help mission work in various places, Lamar stated at the 19^th annual meeting of the ACMS, October, 1866, “I feel that I owe the Society a debt of gratitude which I can never pay. When it was impossible for me to be sustained in the field by the brethren at home the Society sustained me for them. . . .” (p.10) However, in the early stages of the ACMS, it had widespread support by most all Christians in the movement. The later issue of instrumental music in worship evaded the life of P.F. Lamar a few years.

In early 1871, Lamar was Georgia State Evangelist and traveled over 1800 miles, preached 51 times at 21 places and organized or helped to form two congregations.

Philip Lamar was the author of A Practical Grammar published in Philadelphia by Howard Challen. The book began its greatest usefulness at the outbreak of the Civil War. In 1868, he wrote a lengthy sermon that appeared in the Gospel Advocate entitled, “Obedience To The Lord, The Only Safe Ground.” (May 21, 1868, pages 401-410)

Documentary materials that record the life and work of Philip Lamar are scarce. Perhaps he was satisfied to bask in the limelight of his younger brother’s renown. Philip Lamar died on September 3, 1878, and was buried in the cemetery of Galilee church, overlooking the Oconee River.

-Much of this biographical sketch comes from Disciples Of Christ In Georgia, by J. Edward Moseley

Location Of The Grave Of Philip F. Lamar

Lamar began the work at Galilee in 1868. It is located just southeast of Jefferson, Georgia in Jackson, County. My wife Jenny and I, along with friends, Daryl and Mildred Smith, visited the church graveyard in October, 2001 and took a few pictures of the grave. To the right is a map that we borrowed from the Galilee Christian Church website and enhanced a little for our needs. We also found a shot of the first church building, that we've added here for your convenience. 
Northwest of Atlanta on I-85 you will get off at the Jefferson Exit and go east toward Jefferson on Hwy 129. When you get into Jefferson there are two ways to get there. Either enter Galilee Church Road further south from Hwy 129, or do as we did and go south on Hwy 11 toward Winder and turn left on Galilee Church Rd. When you get to the building and cemetery, you will notice that the older graves are closest to the building. About three of four rows in is the grave of Philip F. Lamar.

The Church At Galilee

Special Thanks to Don Brandon, Tom Plank and the good folks at Galilee Christian for supplying the photos you see on this page. 

History Home       History Index Page