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The following is copied from the Biographical History of Old School or Primitive Baptist Ministers by David Montgomery and Mark Green:
ELDER H. G. BALL FROM THE “BAPTIST TRUMPET,” OCTOBER 1970: I was born near Roswell, Georgia, the youngest son of Peter M. and Nancy Brightwell Ball. There were twelve children in our family of which I was the youngest. Our family moved to Texas in 1896, locating near Gainesville, Texas. There were no Primitive Baptists in the country where we lived. In the summer of 1903 something happened in my life, and it has never been quite the same since that time. I suppose I knew by nature that I was a sinner, but never before had I felt and realized this condemnation to the extent that my almost constant prayer was, Lord, be merciful to me a sinner. In April of the year 1904 while in the field at work, my every thought seemed to be in prayer, not only asking, but begging the Lord for His mercy. In some mysterious way to me that burden of condemnation was removed and my soul was filled with rejoicing. The Sunday morning following, in this spirit of rejoicing, I asked for a home in the church and my request was granted. While being given the hand of fellowship, and in the arms of my mother, if it is possible that the Lord has really called me to the work of the gospel ministry, the Lord must have shown it to me than and there, as I was permitted to see the church, to me, in all its glory, and I was vain enough to then think that I could show it to every one of the children of God, as I saw it. I do not know when I was first asked to take part in a church service publicly, but I think it was in 1909, and possibly by Brother J. D. Burgin. To my surprise in so doing my soul became, for a time, at rest from the anxieties that had oppressed me. In July 1910, Harmony Church near Bonham, Texas, asked me to serve them as pastor, so did also the church at Durant, Oklahoma. This I undertook. The congregations were very charitable to me, bearing with my weaknesses and the attendance increased. In May 1912, I was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry by a presbytery composed of some of the most noble of the earth, Elders J. A. Paine, J. G. Webb, James Duncan, P. D. Ausmus, A. P. Johnson, J. W. Purefoy and H. S. Ball. On December 2nd, 1914, I was married to Miss Minnie Greer near Tioga, Texas. She has been a gracious help meet all our married life, and if and when duty has called me from home she was never known to complain, and though we were deprived of many things others had. _______ |
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