Thomas Jefferson Simmons

Elder Thomas Jefferson Simmons, the Baptist war-horse of the Pacific coast, has gone to his reward.  He was born near St. Louis, MO., April 14, 1851.  Moved with his parents to the Pacific coast when about eight years old.  He was married to Miss Susan Brown, also a native of Missouri, at the age of twenty-five, and is the father of nine children.  His wife died in 1893.  Brother Simmons was saved at the age of twenty-nine under the influence of the United Brethren but refused to join that faith because they could not give Biblical authority to administer the ordinance of baptism.  Though his parents were Baptists, he disliked the Baptists because of their narrowness in doctrine.  But on being shown by the pastor that Baptists had Biblical authority to baptize, he joined the Baptist church, and begun at once to preach.  

After he had been preaching about two years, having organized a small church which then had twenty-four members, there came a very smart Adventist preacher asking him some questions that he could not answer, and the Adventist took his congregation and organized an Adventist church.  One man out of the twenty-four remained with Brother Simmons, saying, that he was a young man, and that he could not answer was no evidence that he was wrong.  Brother Simmons wrote J. T.  Grave and D. B.  Ray, and got their works and prepared himself.  He met the same Adventist preacher in debate two years later, and proved himself famous.  From that time he began to be known as a debater, and was called upon to defend the faith against Campbellites, Mormons, Adventists, and any other who would debate.  

He was a great evangelist and builder; built churches all over the Pacific coast country, baptized hundreds, and trained many young men to preach.  When I was studying for the ministry, he came to Roseville, California, which was a blessing from heaven to me, as I was with him three to six hours a day studying the Bible, and he taught me to preach, how to make an argument in debate, and how to appear before an audience.  In fact he gave me thorough ministerial training; we being together for over three years.  He called me his baby preacher.  He was uneducated literally, but in the Bible he was a scholar.  I have heard him talk with men who had the D.D., L.L.D. degree, men who were as old in years, and in the ministry as he, yet in Bible knowledge they were no match for him.  Elder J. T.  Moore says of him:  "T.S. [T. J.] Simmons has been worth more to the Baptist cause than any man that has ever lived on the Pacific coast."  Some enjoyed calling him radical, but it is much easier to call a man radical, than it is to answer his arguments.  This is why so many are always ready to call a man radical if he advances truth that they know nothing about.

Brother Simmons died July 16th, 1928, in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Pearl McClane, at Riddle, Oregon.  He had informed his daughter and son, Earl, that he wanted me to preach his funeral, and as soon as they had arrangements made, I was notified.  His funeral was conducted in the Convention Baptist church house of Riddle, Oregon, and his body was laid to rest in the Myrtle Creek cemetery.  The Convention Baptists never fought a man harder than they fought T. J. Simmons, and no doubt they will rejoice to read of his death.  He was glad to boast of fighting the Convention all his ministerial life; and it was hard for him to forgive a man for working with the Convention, even though he came out from them and denounced the system.  He was not perfect, but a great reward awaits him in glory for his faithful services in God's kingdom.

Elder C. E. Hunt

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The Baptist and Commoner
August 15, 1928
PACIFIC COAST DEPARTMENT
ELD. W. Z. A. WRIGHT ...EDITOR
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