Sketches Of
Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers
MICHAEL CATE
(pages 109-110)
Michael, son of John and Mary Cate , was born in Jefferson
County Tennessee, December 20, 1808. He belongs to a family and generation of
preachers. Besides his two preacher-brothers, Noah
and William, there are in the Cate generation in
the South and Southwest more than twenty preachers of influence and standing in
the Baptist denomination
September 5, 1828, the Dumplin Church received Michael Cate
"by experience and baptism." April 11, 1835, he was "ordained
deacon" by the same church, and served his church faithfully in this
capacity for fifteen or sixteen years.
In the division and reconstruction of the Dumplin Church,
April, fourth Saturday, 1839, after the "Anti-mission" brethren had
entered their protests against "foreign missions and the societies of the
day," and pulled out, Michael Cate, as the records show, stands as one of
the twelve firm pillars, supporting, "on constitutional principles,"
the old organization, declaring themselves the original church and in favor of
missions, and resolving to maintain regular worship in the old house, as they
had done for years.
May 6, 1848, Michael Cate was "granted the privilege
of exercising his gift in the bounds of the church." May 5, 1851, he was
"ordained" by the authority of the Dumplin Church. Elders J. S. Coram,
William Billue and William Ellis acting as a presbytery.
May 28, 1833, he was married to Mary
French, of Jefferson
County; and November 25, 1838, he was married a second time, to Nancy Reneau.
His home was near Dumplin Church.
In the business meetings of the church he was often
Moderator, and did a great deal of baptizing and other official work for this
his home church.
He was pastor, at different times, of Rocky Valley,
Dandridge, Pawpaw Hollow, Six-Mile, Pleasant Grove. and Ellijoy churches. He was
a sympathetic and faithful pastor. Everybody had confidence in him and loved
him. The young people reverenced him; the older people were devoted to him. He
was a great stay to his home church, and in Dumplin Valley, where he lived
eighty years, he was a great lump of rock-salt. He was a benediction to any
community where he was known.
"Uncle Mike" Cate, the old people tell me, had
very great power in revival meetings, his sermons and exhortations often having
an electrical effect upon his hearers. His solemnity of manner was awe-inspiring;
his serious, dignified bearing was impressive. There was no levity, or
foolishness, about him. He was a fountain of sympathy, and was greatly in
earnest. He was alike successful as a pastor and as a revivalist. He was not a
traveling missionary evangelist and collecting agent, like his brothers that
were preachers; but holding fast to the center - his home church and community -
he maintained a steady and glowing light, which shone far out into the darkness
and guided many a wanderer to the Shepherd's fold.
July 2, 1890, Brother Cate closed his earthly career, wept for as a citizen, honored as a "father in Israel," his memory cherished by all who knew him.
Burnett, J .J. Sketches of Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers. Nashville, Tenn.: Press of Marshall & Bruce Company, 1919.
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