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Granville Lipscomb,
Jr.
Biographical
Sketch On The Life Of Granville Lipscomb
The
cause of Christ in Middle Tennessee is perhaps stronger than in any other
section of the Southland. One reason for this is that there have been so many
strong, stalwart men in the faith who consecrated their lives to the preaching
of the gospel. Any cause will prosper if it has strong leadership; no cause
spreads rapidly without strong men to propagate it. Among those strong preachers
of the gospel who devoted much time to preaching in Middle Tennessee was
Granville Lipscomb.
Granville
Lipscomb was born on June 18, 1845, in Franklin County, Tennessee, not far from
Huntland, Tenn. He grew to manhood in his native county, and was trained
according to the strict standard of rearing children that prevailed at that
time. His father died when he was eight years old, and his training was received
from his mother. (Granville and Jane Lipscomb)
She was one of those industrious, pious women who had strong native ability,
with a deep religious nature. She was strict in her discipline, yet kind and
affectionate toward her children. She felt the responsibility of rearing her
children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. She taught her children the
Bible and to fear God and keep his commandments. Children reared in such environment
become strong characters and valiant servant, in the kingdom of God.
The
Lipscomb family was one of the best families in the county. It was thrifty and
bad a surplus of this world's goods. Granville Lipscomb was a brother to the
lamented
David Lipscomb and that prince among
scholars,
William Lipscomb.
His education was had in his own county until be was
about grown. He attended Franklin College and studied under Tolbert Panning, He
and the justly famous
T. B. Larimore
were roommates and classmates in Franklin
College.
Brother E. G. Sewell,
though much older
than Granville Lipscomb, was a student in Franklin College at the same time.
Brother Lipscomb was endowed with splendid powers of mind by nature, and he
applied himself to his courses in college with such energy and persistency that
he became truly an educated man. He had a general fund of knowledge which he
used to a great advantage. His knowledge of the Bible was thorough and profound.
At
the age of twenty-four years Brother Lipscomb began to preach the gospel. He was
formally ordained to preach by fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands at
Salem church house, in Franklin County, Tennessee, on Monday, September 29,
1869. The ordination service was conducted by Elders Mosley, N. W. Carter, and
R. N. Mann. Brethren
Jesse L. Sewell,
T. W. Brents,
and T. J. Shaw
were the visiting preachers who assisted in this service. This
was a solemn service, and Brother Lipscomb always remembered the vows that he
had taken and the dedication of his life that he had made there to be faithful
in preaching the gospel. Brother
J. D. Floyd
heard him preach his first sermon
after he had been ordained to preach. This was at New Hermon
one night in the
week of a meeting conducted by Brother T. J. Shaw. Brother Lipscomb soon
developed into a very strong preacher of the gospel. He preached in nearly all
the counties of Middle Tennessee. He labored much in mission work, establishing
congregations in many places and strengthening the weak ones. His popularity
grew, and his fame spread abroad until he was called into nearly all the
Southern States to preach the gospel.
Brother
Lipscomb was not only a successful preacher of the gospel, but he was also a
ready writer. His writings were clear and Scriptural. No one could read anything
from his pen without being instructed and impressed with a deep reverence, which
he had for the word of God. Brother Lipscomb wrote for five years the Sunday-school
quarterlies published by the Gospel Advocate. His notes on the lessons show his
thorough knowledge of the Bible and his earnest desire to teach young people and
others the word of God. He wrote the quarterlies and continued his preaching. He
contributed at the same time articles for the Advocate. He was abundant in
labors and seemed not to tire in working for the Lord.
Brother
Lipscomb was a useful man, not only as a preacher, but as a neighbor and a
citizen. He operated a farm, and in a large measure supported his family in that
way. He bought a farm adjoining his brother David Lipscomb's farm, near
Nashville. This brought him into a new field of activity and brought him in
touch with the churches of Nashville. He gave much time and labor to the
establishing of congregations in and around Nashville. At one time he served as
chaplain of the State prison. He was tender-hearted and sympathetic toward the
unfortunate, and with the gospel truth made a strong appeal to the better nature
of the unfortunate who were committed to that penal institution.
While
preaching at New Hermon in Bedford County, Tennessee, he was stricken with
paralysis. His first sermon was preached at New Hermon, and then his last
sermon, more than thirty-five years afterwards, was preached from the same
pulpit. It was pathetic that he should be stricken while in the pulpit
proclaiming, the word of God. He lived about six years after he was stricken,
but was unable to proclaim publicly the gospel. He was interested in the
progress of the gospel and the peace and welfare of the churches. He died on
February 20, 1910.
Brother
Lipscomb contributed a useful life to the cause of Christ, and passed into
triumph and hope to the larger and fuller life of the redeemed of earth.
—From
Biographical Sketches Of Gospel Preachers, H. Leo
Boles, Gospel Advocate Company, Nashville, Tennessee, 1932, pages
351-354
Granville Lipscomb is buried in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Nashville Tennessee. The cemetery is located at 1101 Lebanon Pike, Southeast of downtown Nashville. Click over to Mt. Olivet for map and location of the grave in the cemetery. His remains rest in Section 14 near, but not in the same plot as David & William Lipscomb, his step-brothers.
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