George N. Briggs
On the northern home front, a strange accident takes the life of one of the most prominent men of the state of Massachusetts.
George Nixon Briggs (born 1796), lawyer, former U.S. Whig Congressmen (1831-1843) and seven-term governor of Massachusetts (1844-1851), reaches for an overcoat in the closet of his home in Pittsfield. In so doing, he dislodges a gun stored in the closet, and the weapon falls to the floor. Stooping down to pick up the firearm, the gun accidentally discharges and fatally wounds the former governor. One week later, he dies from the wound.
In addition to being one of the leading politicians of Massachusetts, Briggs was a vocal, unapologetic Baptist, while yet displaying charity to all persons. A product of the Second Great Awakening that swept through the North in the opening decades of the century, he was converted to the Baptist faith at the age of fourteen, remaining devoted to his Baptist identity for the remainder of his life.
During his life, many acquaintances mocked his Baptist faith. In such instances, he was quick to defend Baptists. On one such occasion, Briggs was on his way to watch the baptism of a “colored woman” when he encountered a friend who, upon learning of Briggs’ intentions, “sneered and said contemptuous things about the Baptists.” In response, Briggs replied:
My friend, the Baptists are the people of my choice, and I shall be but too happy to encourage and assist, if need be, the poor slave woman in her noble act of obedience to her Divine Master.
From 1847-1861, Briggs served as president of the American Baptist Missionary Union. Francis Wayland, who served in the position prior to Briggs, spoke glowingly of his successor’s term of service. The governor also held the offices of the presidency of the American Tract Society and American Temperance Union.
Shortly before his death, the Massachusetts Baptist presided over the 1861 meeting of the American Baptist Missionary Union. The war hung heavy on his mind. In his address he declared:
” By the kind providence of God we are brought together to attend another anniversary. The simple purpose of our organization is the promotion of the religion of Christ. It is declared by our constitution to be the sole object of the society to extend the Redeemer’s kingdom, by means of missions among the heathen.
Can we meet for a higher, a holier, a better object? It becomes us, then, to act in the spirit of the Gospel which we aim to promote ; to come in the spirit of Christ, the author of the Bible, which is indispensable to success in the propagation of the Gospel as it is in the progress of the religious life. ‘ For if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.’ If we are assembled to promote the work of the Holy Spirit, we must be influenced, directed, and controlled by that Spirit, or we have no hope of success. In the peculiar circumstances of the country we may expect that our assembly will be smaller than usual ; but we have the sweet consolation that those who are here have come with hearts devoted to the great purposes of the Union. And I may ask that the time be sacredly, honestly, sincerely, and earnestly devoted to the claims of the missionary cause. It is not unkind to say that for several years past, the great and solemn objects of our association have been kept in the background, while other and collateral subjects have absorbed our attention. For the sake of the cause, for the sake of its Author, I beg that no more time may be so consumed.
We are assembled here to-day under such circumstances as never before. I hope I shall go down to my grave before such a state of things occurs again. The country is flooded with armed men; families are leaving their homes ; soldiers with their guns are flying to the field of conflict : the American flag floats over every street and village and community in our land. Patriotism sways the heart of even” youth and every man of every age. All are rallying to the support of the Government, of law, and of order. I am amazed and excited at this outburst of patriotism. Oh. while we gather around the standard of our country with such enthusiasm, shall the standard of the Prince of Peace be deserted? It is not right. I would that the Christian host, wherever the standard of Christianity waves, might gather to its defence … If our cause is just in this conflict with the South, as we believe ; if it please God, He will cause it to succeed. Let us so conduct that we may compel our brethren in arms to respect us. I feel that the great difficulty is an entire misapprehension of our brethren of the South of the feeling of the North toward them. I wish the heart of the North could be uncovered to the South. If it were so, the trouble would end at once.
Lemuel Porter, pastor of the Pittsfield Baptist Church, said of Briggs:
He was the Christian patriot, the Christian reformer, the Christian benefactor. In religious opinion he was a Calvinistic Baptist, made so by the study of the Scriptures. His views of gospel doctrines were unusually clear, yet he loved religion better than theology. His religion was practical. He judged the tree by its fruit. ‘ Oh, that Christians,’ he often said. ‘ were more exemplary in their lives. They ought so to live, that a Christian profession shall be a passport to confidence.’ He had his personal views of revealed truth, and held them with all the firmness of strong conviction, yet he respected and loved every one in whom he saw the image of Christ. He often said, ‘ Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.’ He gave, what he claimed, liberty of conscience.
Source: William C. Richards, Great in goodness : a memoir of George N. Briggs, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, from 1844-1851. New York: Sheldon and Company, 1865 (link); illustration (link)
