Davidson College - Quips and Cranks Yearbook (Davidson, NC)

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REV. LUTHER McKINNON, D. D.

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oo !5W Cutler SttclKinnoit. £ . D. As an expression of our appreciation of bis lifelong Interest to TPavidsoti (Tollcge Gbls Volume of Quips ano Cranks Is oeolcateo by tbc Eoltors VDOEY CO

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3W Cutler Mtclftitinon, D. 3 . tUM HE SUB J ECT 0F THIS SKETCH was born near Maxton, N. C, in what is now the county of Scotland. He received his early education and prep- aration for college in the best academies of that section, which were usually presided over by college graduates. In 1857 he entered the Freshman Class at Davidson College, and graduated in 1S61, sharing with two others the highest honors of his class. The same year he entered the Theological Seminary at Columbia, S. C. It was in 1862 that he joined ranks in the Confederate Army and there gave faithful service in behalf of the Southern cause for more than a year. In November 1863 he was licensed by the Presbytery of Fayetteville to preach the gospel. Shortly after, at the age of 23 he was elected Chaplain of the 36th North Carolina Regiment and shared its varied fortunes until the surrender near Greensboro, N. C. Upon assuming his duties as chaplain he requested the Colonel not to require the soldiers to attend his preaching, but allow him to trv the power of personal influence over the men. The result was that he had large and attentive congrega- tions, attesting to the great personality and strong character of the man. It is hard to esti- mate the good he did in these meetings and the warm encouragement he gave to the soldiers at a time when they stood in especial need of spiritual uplift. Dr. MeKinnon always regarded his army experience as his most difficult work, but always spoke of it as a most valuable training for his life work. Soon after the Civil War closed he was elected President of Floral College, an institution for the higher education of women, located four miles from Maxton, N. C. He went to work and selected suitable teachers for the various departments and during the short time he was there, he put the College on a firm basis and left it in a flourishing condition. In connection with his college work at this place he supplied the Presbyterian churches at Laurinburg and Lumberton, and was ordained by the Presbytery of Fayetteville in April, 1866. However, his growing popularity and power as a preacher did not permit him to remain here long. In 1867 he received and accepted a call from the Goldsboro Presbyterian Church, where he spent nearly four and a half years of laborious and successful service in the cause of Christ, to which he has ever been so much devoted. During his residence in Goldsboro the Presbytery of Wilmington was constituted and Dr. MeKinnon was elected its first stated clerk. Dr. MeKinnon was married in December, 1869, to Miss Addie Lee, of Clinton, N.C., from which union were born four children. Early in the year 1871 he received a call to the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church in Concord, N. C, but declined to accept. Ho ' vever, the people of Concord were so anxi his for him that the call was renewed later in the same year and this time he accepted it. Here he remained for about twelve years and gave to the people of this church and community prob- ably the richest and most fruitful years of his gifted and consecrated life. During his useful pastorate at this place his friends and co-laborers showed the high esteem in which they held him by frequently electing him to such important positions as Moderator of Presbytery. Synod, Commissioner to the General Assembly, Trustee of Davidson College; and for about ten years he was President of the Board of Trustees of the last named institution and Chair- man of the Executive Committee.