Carter, Dr. Briscoe
1/24/1941
December 31, 1865 - January 24, 1941 |
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| Briscoe Carter was born December 31, 1865, at Bastrop, La., the son of Rev. C. W. Carter and his wife, Clara Pentecost Carter. His earth]y pilgrimage was ended seventy-five years later, January 24, 1941, at Shreveport, Louisiana. Briscoe attended various schools, after the manner of Methodist parsonage children; in time he entered Centenary College, Jackson, La., and was graduated in the class of 1886. About the time of his graduation he decided that he was called to preach; and, as his father was then stationed in New Orleans, he preached his first sermons in open air services held on the streets of the city in connection with work of Rev. J. J. Billingsley, City Mis-sionary. In 1888 the young preacher joined the Louisiana Annual Conference, and with the exception of eight years spent in the North Texas Conference, he gave all his time and energy to the Louisiana Conference, being pastor of Mooringsport when the fatal illness came. Dr. Carter served well and in many places, circuit rider station preacher, presiding elder, agent for the Methodist Orphanage, president of the Legal Conference, once a delegate to the General and once a delegate to the Ecumenical Methodist Conference, convening that year in England. He served on many Con-ference boards and was always an active member. On September 19, 1895, Briscoe and Ella C. Robinson were united in marriage, and the home they built became an abiding place of peace and a source of blessing. Four children came to their home, a daughter and three sons. The daughter, Ruth, Mrs. Alfred Soderman, preceded her father to the heavenly home. Mrs. Carter, the loved wife, the sons, Charles, Howard and Samuel, and eight grandchildren survive. Besides these one sister, Mrs. Lizzie Carter McVoy, and a brother, Rev. Van Carter, also survive Dr. Carter. Briscoe Carter was an unusual man. He had a sound mind in a sound body. His gifts, his energy and his personality were marked. The spirit within him was full awake to the life about him. He thought rapidly and clearly, coming quickly to conclusions. Nor was he evasive or hesitant in the midst of issues. He was always a man of movement, an eagerness rather than a restlessness of spirit. Perhaps this at times was mistaken for abruptness. Brother Carter set himself to be fair to friend and opponent alike, and in him there was no place for smoldering animosities. Nor did he give way to regrets and gloom. He never cast shadows across today with complaints about yesterday. His spiritual life was the result of a confident and abiding faith. When the call to preach came he responded without reserve. In all the years of his long ministry he was always in favor of any proposed forward movement of the Church. He was a man of deep sympathy, and was ready to come to the aid of anyone in distress. He had a special fondness for little children. He knew their names and never forgot them. Two things should have mention, even in this brief review, of the activities of his ministry. He served many times and efficiently as presiding elder. His very wide and exact knowledge of the entire Conference, his understanding of men, their gifts, their personalities, made him successful as a leader of men. The other outstanding accomplishment of Dr. Carter is the service he rendered in behalf of Centenary College. Perhaps the college, would have been abandoned years ago but for his understanding of its need for a wider field. He gave himself wholeheartedly to this task and to him the larger part of credit is due. Briscoe walked briskly through life with shoulders back, march-ing unswerving as to a goal, and when the end came the spiritual glow undimmed was in his heart and he went into the presence of the Lord. |
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| Source: Annual of the Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Church, Pages 84-85, 1941 by N.E. Joyner. | |
