McCalla, William Latta

McCalla, William Latta a Presbyterian minister, was born near Lexington, Ky., Nov. 25, 1788. He received his preparatory education under the supervision of his parents; graduated with honors at the Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky.; afterwards studied theology privately; was licensed in 1816, and afterwards, ordained pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Augusta, Ky.; in 1823 he went to Philadelphia, and was installed pastor of the Scotch Presbyterian Church, where he continued to labor until 1835, when impaired health prompted him to resign. Subsequently he took charge of the Fourth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, and under his pulpit ministration the Church became large and influential. In 1839 he resigned this charge, and spent some time as an itinerant missionary in Texas; on his return to Philadelphia, he successively filled the Middletown and Ridley charges, in the vicinity of Philadelphia, and Union Church, on Thirteenth Street. In 1853 he removed to St. Louis, Mo., and after preaching there some time became connected with the Female Seminary at St. Charles, Mo. In 1859 he assumed the pastorate of a Church in Louisiana, where he labored until his death, Oct. 12, 1859. Mr. McCalla possessed excellent pulpit talents; his expository style was rich and absorbing, his preaching close and pungent. He was the author of many published Sermons and Essays; also Discussions with Alexander Campbell on Baptism; with Kneeland on Universalism; with Barker on Infidelity; a small volume on the Doctorate of Divinity; and Travels in Texas. See Wilson, Presb. Hist. Almanac, 1861, p. 99.