LP-05-Thomas Munnell

Thomas Munnell

THIS earnest, energetic, and successful preacher of the Gospel is a native of Ohio County, West Virginia, and was born February 8, 1823. He remained at home with his parents until he entered Bethany College, where he graduated, in 1850, as one of the "Honor men" of his class. While at college he was distinguished for high intellectual and moral qualities, and, during the last session he remained there, began to exercise his gifts in preaching the Gospel. After graduating, he entered at once actively on the work of preaching and teaching. Seven years of his life were spent in this double employment, the greater portion of the time, filling the chair of Ancient Languages and Literature in the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, located at Hiram, Portage County, Ohio. While holding this position he gave abundant evidence of fine executive talent, as well as that energy and persistence for which he has always been distinguished. It was largely through his instrumentality that the institution in which he labored was placed on the road to success; and whatever prosperity has attended its subsequent career is owing, in a great measure, to his efforts to give it a consistent and permanent organization while he was one of its professors. Since leaving Hiram he has been offered several times the Presidency of the Institute, but has never felt it his duty to accept. In addition to his experience as a teacher at Hiram, he has, at different times, been Principal of flourishing academies at Williamsburg, N. Y., Mt. Sterling, Ky., and New Castle, Ky. At all these points he gave evidence that he possessed superior qualifications to impart knowledge to the youthful mind, and a proper moral direction to the youthful heart. In 1857, he entered upon the duties of pastor of the Christian Church corner of Eighth and Walnut streets, Cincinnati, Ohio. His labors in this church were constant and arduous. Visiting from house to house, and especially among the poor of the congregation, was an every-day duty. The strong were made stronger, the wavering confirmed, the indifferent warned, the prodigals persuaded to return to their Father’s house, while a general interest was created in the Sunday-school, prayer-meeting, and all the other agencies of the Church. Such labors, as they deserved to be, were greatly blessed. The spiritual strength of the Church was largely increased, Christian sympathies and activities developed, while the Lord added many converts from the world to the cause of Christ. In 1860, he removed to Mt. Sterling, Ky., where he divided his labors between the Church and an Academy until the war compelled him to discontinue the latter. He was with the brethren there during their severest trials, and did much, by his prudent counsels, prayerful labors, and constant watchfulness, to save the Church from division, and the cause from utter ruin. For the last four years his time has been chiefly occupied as Corresponding Secretary of the Kentucky Missionary Society, and his success in this department of labor has proved him to be the "right man in the right place." His present home is Mt. Sterling, Ky.

Brother Munnell is five feet nine inches and a half high, weighs about one hundred and forty pounds, has a tough, bony frame, high, projecting forehead, dark-brown hair and beard, with a sharp, black eye, that always looks you straight in the face. His whole organization is indicative of a character distinguished for great mental and physical activity; such a character as is capable of a large amount of good, honest work. His preaching is chiefly practical, and always instructive and entertaining, though not remarkable for logical arrangement, rhetorical finish, or oratorical display. He is a much better writer than speaker. He is very fond of discussion, and, with the pen, is a formidable opponent, as any knight of the quill may learn by attempting to cross his plans. Notwithstanding this, he is kind in the social circle, and has, in a remarkable degree, the power of attracting all classes of society to him.