Basil Manly

Background

Basil Manly Sr. was born on January 28, 1798 near Pittsboro, Chatham County, N. C. , second son of Basil and Elizabeth (Maultsby) Manly. The father was a farmer who had served with some distinction in the Revolution. Two other sons, Charles and Matthias, became men of local distinction, the former as governor of the state and the latter as a jurist.

Education

Basil, like his brothers, received his early education at Pittsboro and in the Bingham School. His father was a Catholic, but his mother became a Baptist, and Basil followed her into her church, being baptized August 26, 1816. Soon afterwards he announced his desire to study for the Baptist ministry and, despite the opposition of his father, who refused to assist him toward further education, was licensed to preach by the Rocky Spring Church, April 26, 1818. About this time Rev. W. T. Brantly, pastor of the Baptist church at Beaufort, S. C. , and president of a small college located in that town, made a visit to this section of North Carolina. Impressed with the promise of young MAfter eightanly, Brantly persuaded him to go to Beaufort and enter college there, where he could secure financial assistance. After eighteen months of study in Beaufort, he entered the junior class of South Carolina College in December 1819, graduating as valedictorian and honor man of his class December 3, 1821.

Career

With the encouragement of Jonathan Maxcy, president of the institution and an able and eloquent Baptist minister, he had begun to preach in the churches of the surrounding country. His ability was at once recognized and his services were much in demand. In January 1822 he settled in Edgefield, S. C. , becoming pastor there and at Stevens Creek, a neighboring country church. He joined the Stevens Creek church, where he was ordained March 10, 1822, by John Landrum and Enoch Breazeale. He was elected secretary of the Baptist State Convention, and in 1823 was a member of the committee of five appointed to select a site, arrange courses of study, and complete all necessary details connected with the founding of Furman Academy and Theological Institution, the forerunner of Furman University. Throughout its early years of struggle he was the steadfast friend and ablest helper of this institution. In February 1826 he accepted a call to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Charleston, the oldest and at that time the wealthiest church of his denomination in the Southern states. Here he remained in a happy and prosperous pastorate for about twelve years. In 1835 he declined the presidency of South Carolina College, but in September 1837 accepted the presidency of the University of Alabama, a position which he held till 1855. In 1853 he declined the presidency of Furman University, but two years later returned to South Carolina, to the pastorate of Wentworth Street Church, Charleston. He was an ardent promoter of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and president of the three conventions (1856, 1857, 1858) which established that institution. In 1859 he returned to Alabama as state evangelist and then became pastor in Montgomery. He gave whole-hearted support to the secession movement, and on February 22, 1861, was chaplain at the inauguration of Jefferson Davis as president of the Confederacy, riding with the presidential party and delivering the prayer. In 1863 he returned once more to South Carolina. He was partially paralyzed in 1864, and died four years later in the home of his son Basil, at Greenville.

Achievements

• Basil Manly, Sr. was one of the major architects of Southern Baptist life. Educator, preacher, administrator, and denominationalist, Manly played a strategic role in the development of the major concepts contributing to the uniqueness of Southern Baptists. Manly was also largely instrumental in founding the Alabama Historical Society and Judson, Howard, and Central colleges.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Bible Doctrine of Inspiration Explained and Vindicated

    (This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)

  • The Bible Doctrine of Inspiration: Explained and Vindicated (1888)

    (This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of th...)

  • The Child's Question Book on the Four Gospels Part 1

    (The child's question book on the four Gospels. Designed f...)

Personality

He was everywhere greatly loved as a pastor. His sermons were carefully prepared, packed with pungent thought, delivered with pathos and power.

Connections

On December 23, 1824, he married Sarah Murray Rudulph of Edgefield, by whom he had eight children.

Mother:

Elizabeth (Maultsby) Manly

1768 - 12 June 1855

child:

James Syng

October 4, 1842 – March 1, 1921

child:

Basil Manly Jr.

December 19, 1825 – January 31, 1892

child:

Richard Fuller

February 11, 1845 – August 15, 1919

child:

Charles

May 28, 1837 – May 1, 1924

father:

John Basil Manly

June 8, 1742 - May 15, 1824

Child:

John Waldo

April 8, 1827 – November 6, 1830

Child:

Abby Murray (Gwathney)

September 12, 1839 – 1919

Child:

Sarah Rudolph (Smith)

January 10, 1833 – January 9, 1900

Child:

Zebulon Rudolph

July 27, 1827 – July 15, 1829

Wife:

Sarah Murray Manly (Rudolph)

1 August 1806- 12 September 1894

References

• A History of the Baptists in the Southern States East of the Mississippi (Classic Reprint)
• Baptist Beginnings in Education A History of Furman University
• The Manly family : an account of the descendants of Captain Basil Manly of the revolution, and related families,