Jesse Mercer was a prominent, respected Georgia Baptist leader | Mercer Legends

577
Jesse Mercer statue
The Jesse Mercer statue on the Macon campus. Mercer University photo

Mercerians may best know Jesse Mercer as one of the University’s founders and its namesake. But before establishing Mercer University, he was recognized as a distinguished Baptist pastor, educator, author, editor and hymnologist. Here’s how he became a Mercer Legend.

Mercer Legends logo

Jesse Mercer 

Mercer connection: Founder and trustee 

Years at Mercer: 1833-1841 

What he did: Jesse Mercer was born on Dec. 16, 1769, in North Carolina, moving to Wilkes County, Georgia, in 1784. As a boy, he saw his father, Silas Mercer, leave the Church of England and become a prominent Baptist minister. It was a time of rapid growth in the Baptist denomination, and Jesse Mercer was drawn to preaching. Ordained in 1789, he had three years of ministerial education, which made him one of the most educated Baptists in the state even though he never attended college.  

When Silas Mercer died in 1796, his son inherited his responsibilities. These included pastoring three churches in Wilkes County; leading Salem Academy, the first private Baptist school in Georgia; and fulfilling Silas Mercer’s roles in the Georgia Baptist Association. Jesse Mercer became a leader among Georgia Baptists, writing the denomination’s history and issues of the time. He also edited a collection of hymns titled The Cluster of Spiritual Songs, Divine Hymns, and Sacred Poems, which was used in churches throughout the state for half a century, and owned the Christian Index, a weekly religious periodical.

Together, Mercer and Baptist preacher Adiel Sherwood, another of Mercer University’s founders, started the Georgia Baptist Convention with the aim of promoting missions and ministerial education. Mercer led the new organization until his death in 1841. 

Framed painting of Jesse Mercer
Jesse Mercer. Mercer University photo

Why he’s a legend: In 1829, Josiah Penfield, a jeweler from Savannah, left the Georgia Baptist Convention $2,500 in his will with the stipulation it go to starting a theological school. The convention was challenged to match the amount, which delegates did within 15 minutes. Mercer pledged $250, making him the top living donor. It was decided that the school would be named the Mercer Institute, and the town where it resided would be called Penfield. 

Mercer Insitute opened in 1833 with 39 students. The early school combined manual labor with learning, and students were required to work in the fields for three hours each day. The idea was for Mercer graduates to be able to perform whatever service was needed. For instance, ministers may need to help erect and repair church buildings for their congregations or grow food for sustenance.  

The school was a quick success. The Georgia Baptist Convention soon sought to add a collegiate component to Mercer Institute, resulting in Mercer University, and manual labor was abolished. Mercer served on the University’s Board of Trustees until his death on Sept. 6, 1841. He was buried in Penfield. 

Since that time, the University has grown to offer undergraduate, graduate and professional education. Now, more than 9,200 students attend 12 schools and colleges across four campuses in Macon, Atlanta, Savannah and Columbus.  

Quotable: “Devote your youthful days to the acquisition of all possible useful knowledge.” — Jesse Mercer   

Information for this article was heavily drawn from the book “Father Mercer: The Story of a Baptist Statesman” by Anthony L. Chute, published in 2011 by Mercer University Press. 

 

Do you have a story idea or viewpoint you'd like to share with The Den?
Get in touch with us by emailing den@mercer.edu or submitting this online form.