Like our subject from last week, William Cate was born and raised in East Tennessee, apparently in Sevier County. On this day in 1837, he and his wife, after their public professions of faith in Christ, were immersed and joined the local Baptist church.  Three years later Brother Cate was ordained and began a fruitful ministry for his Saviour, beginning first as an itinerant evangelist.  After a year of service, he published the following report: “Protracted meetings held, 23; sermons preached, 200; number of conversions witnessed, 500.”  Quickly, Brother Cate organized several churches, after which he pastored the congregation in Jonesboro, northeast of Knoxville, from 1842 until his death.  While pastoring in Jonesboro, he agreed to visit another congregation at Dumplin Creek.  The records of the Dumplin Church have a copy of a “notice” posted on a tree near the meeting house.  It read: “Mr. William Cate.  It is generally believed you had better not come to this camp-meetin at Dumplin, lest you cause sinners to be lost; for they have no confidence in you.  They believe you are not seeking souls, but money. Now for the cause of God and your good, you had better stay away.”  Of course, Bro. Cate didn’t stay away, and God protected him during that meeting and for another nine years.  In 1860, he traveled west of Fayetteville, Arkansas, seeking the Lord’s will about starting a church there.  Upon arrival he contracted pneumonia and from there he went to be with the Lord on February 2.

– Source: This Day in Baptist History III, Cummins