[Bro. Mahan was one of the leading pastors in western Kentucky in the late 1800s.]
It was with genuine regret and grief that we heard last Sunday afternoon of the sudden departure of our dear Brother for the "city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." He was a brother greatly beloved. We have known him since boyhood. He was often in the home of our boyhood days in Mayfield. He said less than two weeks before his death to Deacon McElrath in Murray while there to preach in the absence of the Pastor, that he loved W. C. Taylor (the editor's father) as he loved few men. When W. C. Taylor died R. W. Mahan for four years sent a contribution each year to his widow to help his boys thro' Bethel College. Of course we loved him and delighted to honor him. The editor has labored with him some in revivals; he never knew a better pastor of country churches. His work was to build up and not to tear down. He was a man of convictions and true to his convictions and to his friends. Only recently at Arlington we heard him tell of his stand in his earlier ministry against "union" meetings when he stood almost alone in West Kentucky. Of course he made enemies - all men of convictions do. His Master did, and a servant is not above his Lord. His sermons had much of humor in them but as he said on his recent visit to Murray, he never told a funny story unless it illustrated the point he was making. Two among the last sermons he ever preached were in Murray on the 3rd Lord's Day in January while the Pastor was in Florida. In a letter he wrote just before going back home he said, "Your people said I did them good - well they don't know how much good they did me. I have been lied on and slandered and been so misunderstood and misrepresented since our association that I had concluded that maybe I had become an old dotard and was of no use." His sermons were greatly enjoyed by the Murray saints and helped the pastor in bis work. But his work is ended. He rests from his labors. We grieve over his departure but we know he has gone home to the Father's House of many mansions. May our Father's blessings abide upon the stricken wife and sorrowing children. May the comfort of the gospel he loved to preach, which he ministered to so many sad hearts, be ministered to each of those who mourn his going!======== [From H. B. Taylor, Editor, News and Truths, February 7, 1908. Document provided by Ben Stratton, Farmington, KY. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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