On December 1, 1817, John Mason Peck arrived in St. Louis to begin “Home Mission” work in America. This established him as the father of Home Missions. He was so ill from the trip, he arrived on a stretcher!
He was born October 21, 1789 in Connecticut, when George Washington was serving his first term as President. He attended school in the winter, but had to do most of the farm chores throughout the school year. He became a schoolteacher when 18, and realized his math, spelling, and grammar were very inadequate. It was in December of this school year, 1807, that he attended a revival meeting and was saved. He continued attending this Litchfield Church and met Sally.
He married Sally Paine in 1809 and they soon had their first child. In trying to decide if they should have their baby baptized, they went to the Scriptures and realized that Baptism is for Believers, not infants. They moved to New York and presented themselves for membership to the Baptist Church, in August, 1811. In October, they were baptized at the New Durham Church, and in November, he announced a call to preach. The Pastor of the Church could only visit once a month, so the other services were gladly turned over to John.
In June, 1813, he was ordained. Two years later, Luther Rice returned from India and was seeking to mobilize efforts and support for mission work there. The two met, and John joined Luther in his travels across the Northeast raising funds and educating people of the needs in mission work.
In 1817, his wife and three children joined him to take the 1000 mile trek to the Missouri Territory with a one-horse wagon. When they arrived at St. Louis, they were not welcomed. He had gotten the fever on the trip and was so weak, he could not walk and had to be carried on a stretcher. Yet, as soon as he was able, he began preaching, distributing Bibles, organizing Sunday Schools, and starting churches. They found God’s Word highly resisted. If they were not being opposed by Roman Catholic efforts, there was opposition that came from robbers, pirates, and Indians. The year of 1820 was particularly tough. They lost their oldest son and their mission support was cut off. In spite of all the trials, he persevered and founded several churches, started a couple Seminaries, started and ran several Baptist periodicals, and started and organized several Baptist circuit riding preacher routes. He also started Bible Societies to help print and distribute Bibles. Some of them are still in existence today. His “Rock-spring Theological Seminary and High-School” was the first institution in the State to offer upper grade education.
He was active in politics as well. In 1823-1824, he took a leading part in preventing the introduction of slavery to the State of Illinois. He also wrote several publications about the State, which are still valuable today. These include visitor guides, immigration guides, maps, and State and county histories.
In 1852, Harvard granted him an Honorary Doctorate. His ministries were so varied and numerous, and his energy so limitless, he was called “the man with the twenty hands.” In 1856 his wife died, and just after arriving to be with his children in Iowa, he died March 14, 1856. His poor health and the loss of his wife were more than his exhausted frame could handle.
Sources
Picture and Biography: Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archives - John M. Peck
Jon’s Southern Illinois History: http://www.illinoishistory.com/peck-john-mason.html
The Baptist Page Mission Brief: http://www.baptistpage.org/Distinctives/missions/print/print_peck.htm
E. Wayne Thompson and David L. Cummins This Day in Baptist History. Greenville, SC, Bob Jones University Press, 1993. pp. 501-502.
