Freed-Hardeman Connections
Researching the Restoration Movement in Mississippi and West Tennessee
Richard Winn Dunlap
Nov. 30, 1851 - Sept. 8, 1897
At about this period in our history, new light began to dawn upon this Church. A broader field of vision was presented. A young man, a recent graduate from the Bible School at Lexington, Kentucky, was offered and accepted the pastorate of this Church. He was mot unknown to the congregation-being born and reared in our midst. He knew all the unfavorable conditions surrounding and confronting the Church at $tat time; its small membership, its inability to pay its minister a living salary, and the local prejudice to be overcome, as well as the anti-missionary spirit existing in the minds of its members by reason of the early teaching of our people. Yet, with all these barriers facing him, he espoused the task (and it was no small one), and for twenty years, and up to his death, devoted his time, talents and energies to the service of this congregation.
I refer to that refined, scholarly, Christian gentleman, R. W. Dunlap, who was personally known to many persons here today. This man, in my humble judgment, did mope than any one, or agency, to bring our' people to a higher conception of Christian obligation and to broaden the sphere of Missionary Endeavor and other things essential to the stability, growth and influence of the local church'. And that this community might know and better understand the Disciples' plea, he brought to us some (of our ablest preachers and teachers, such men as Jacob Creath, Moses E. Lard, J. W. McGarvey, Phillip Fall, James Vernon, and others I might mention of our faith. The message so ably presented by such high lights in our ministry, brought to us from time to time by Elder Dunlap, gave the Church a religious standing in this community it had not before enjoyed, and further strengthened the faith of our people in apostolic doctrine and teaching.
Elder Dunlap was a man of delightful personality-greatly beloved, not only by those of our faith, but other religious denominations of Paris and Henry County. "In social life, in the sweet companionship of books and friends, his spirit shone with the gentle tenderness of a woman's nature." Himself in all things pure, he saw in others the highest and noblest qualities- had no enemies, but many warm attachments. Godly, spiritual and tender, "where shadows fell, he moved with gentleness and sympathy that rendered grief and sorrow Less bitter." With a depth of affection and wonderful self-sacrifice, he gave himself, his all, to the service of the. King. Love dominated his life. He preached it, he taught it: he lived it.
Love, with him, was the fulfilling of the law of Christ. But just in the meridian of his splendid and useful manhood, God took him.
History of the Paris Christian Church, 1944.
Paris City Cemetery
"A Christian Minister - His life abounded in charity and charities"
Photos taken by Tom L. Childers, 10-12-06
Nov. 30, 1851 - Sept. 8, 1897
At about this period in our history, new light began to dawn upon this Church. A broader field of vision was presented. A young man, a recent graduate from the Bible School at Lexington, Kentucky, was offered and accepted the pastorate of this Church. He was mot unknown to the congregation-being born and reared in our midst. He knew all the unfavorable conditions surrounding and confronting the Church at $tat time; its small membership, its inability to pay its minister a living salary, and the local prejudice to be overcome, as well as the anti-missionary spirit existing in the minds of its members by reason of the early teaching of our people. Yet, with all these barriers facing him, he espoused the task (and it was no small one), and for twenty years, and up to his death, devoted his time, talents and energies to the service of this congregation.
I refer to that refined, scholarly, Christian gentleman, R. W. Dunlap, who was personally known to many persons here today. This man, in my humble judgment, did mope than any one, or agency, to bring our' people to a higher conception of Christian obligation and to broaden the sphere of Missionary Endeavor and other things essential to the stability, growth and influence of the local church'. And that this community might know and better understand the Disciples' plea, he brought to us some (of our ablest preachers and teachers, such men as Jacob Creath, Moses E. Lard, J. W. McGarvey, Phillip Fall, James Vernon, and others I might mention of our faith. The message so ably presented by such high lights in our ministry, brought to us from time to time by Elder Dunlap, gave the Church a religious standing in this community it had not before enjoyed, and further strengthened the faith of our people in apostolic doctrine and teaching.
Elder Dunlap was a man of delightful personality-greatly beloved, not only by those of our faith, but other religious denominations of Paris and Henry County. "In social life, in the sweet companionship of books and friends, his spirit shone with the gentle tenderness of a woman's nature." Himself in all things pure, he saw in others the highest and noblest qualities- had no enemies, but many warm attachments. Godly, spiritual and tender, "where shadows fell, he moved with gentleness and sympathy that rendered grief and sorrow Less bitter." With a depth of affection and wonderful self-sacrifice, he gave himself, his all, to the service of the. King. Love dominated his life. He preached it, he taught it: he lived it.
Love, with him, was the fulfilling of the law of Christ. But just in the meridian of his splendid and useful manhood, God took him.
History of the Paris Christian Church, 1944.
Paris City Cemetery
"A Christian Minister - His life abounded in charity and charities"
Photos taken by Tom L. Childers, 10-12-06