The Presbyterian minister William McGee ( 1768-1814) first  ministered in Cumberland for two or three years. Some of the members of the congregation were dissatisfied with the earnest and searching manner in which he held forth, and urged the necessity of a spiritual birth, and wished him to change his mode of preaching. He gave them to understand that he could not do so with a good conscience. The dissatisfaction, however, became so great, that he asked an honorable dismission as a condition of his leaving them and settling elsewhere. The condition was complied with, and he relinquished the charge of the congregation. It is proper, in justice to the memory of all concerned in this unpleasant transaction, to state that the leading persons who opposed Mr. McGee at this time were sympathizers with the Rev. Thomas Craighead, who afterward became distinguished for his opposition to the revival in this country, in 1800, and some of the following years. The congregation was at length divided. A part followed Mr. Craighead, and a part (and much the larger part) remained with Mr. Hodge, the successor of Mr. McGee.

He assisted Mr. McGready at the sacramental meeting at Red River in June, 1800, where the revival first developed itself in full power. At this meeting there seems to have been an extraordinary outpouring of the Spirit of God. On Monday of the meeting many had such clear and heart-piercing views of their sinfulness, and the danger to which they were exposed, that they fell prostrate on the floor, and their cries filled the house.

In all quarters, those who had been the most outbreaking sinners were to be seen lying on the floor unable to help themselves, and anxiously inquiring what they should do to be saved. In a word, persons of all classes, and of all ages, were to be seen in agonies, and heard crying for redemption in the blood of the Lamb. Twelve precious souls, during the occasion, professed to have passed from death unto life; and many left the place pungently convicted of their sin and danger."

Mr. McGee entered earnestly into the spirit of the revival, and is said to have been "particularly active and useful." In July of 1800 a camp-meeting. At Gaspar River Church. "A vast concourse of people flocked to the meeting, from the distance of twenty, thirty, fifty, and even a hundred miles. The ministers who occupied the pulpit on that occasion were James McGready, William McGee, and William Hodge." In September of 1800 Mr. McGready assisted Mr. McGee in holding a camp-meeting at the Ridge Meeting-house, and on the following week Messrs. McGready and McGee assisted Mr. Hodge in a similar meeting at Shiloh. Multitudes attended both meetings, and great effects were produced.

When the Commission of the Synod of Kentucky met in December of 1805, for the purpose of adjudicating upon the proceedings of the Cumberland Presbytery, and demanded a surrender of the "young men" for reexamination, Mr. McGee, with the other older members of the Presbytery, resisted the demand. In consequence of this refusal, and the proclamation of common fame that he with others held doctrines contrary to the Confession of Faith--that they, in effect, denied the doctrine of Election, and held that a certain sufficiency of grace was given to every man, which, if improved, would be increased until he arrived at true conversion, they were cited to appear at the next annual meeting of the Synod to answer for contumacy, and to these doctrinal charges. "Messrs. Hodge, Rankin, and McGee handed in a written refusal to obey the citation, on the ground of its unconstitutionality."

After the meeting of this Commission of Kentucky Synod, we hear no more of Mr. McGee until the 4th day of October, 1809, when what is known in Cumberland Presbyterian History as the Council, met at Shiloh. Messrs. Finis Ewing, Samuel King, and William McGee were present--a number of ordained ministers sufficient for constituting a Presbytery. Mr. McGee, however, informed the Council that he was not satisfied of the propriety of constituting a Presbytery at that time. He was a cautious, and, without doubt, a very conscientious man. Having been identified with the Presbyterian Church from principle, and from infancy, it is no wonder that he hesitated. His difficulties, however, are said to have been theological, rather than constitutional. He had not yet found solid ground between Calvinism and Arminianism.

Mr. Davidson, in his history of the Presbyterian Church in Kentucky, says that in April, 1810, the Presbytery of Transylvania "being made aware of Mr. McGee's distressed state of mind, addressed him an affectionate letter, inviting him to a friendly conference at their next session. Receiving no reply, they repeated the invitation in October; but all their well-meant endeavors were fruitless, for in the fall he joined the independent body." This independent body was the Cumberland Presbytery, which had been constituted in the preceding February. I suppose the "distressed state of mind" to which the historian refers arose from Mr. McGee's theological troubles, from which he seems to have been relieved without the expense and fatigue of a journey to Kentucky.

I recollect very well the accounts given in my early boyhood of his own narrative of his deliverance from these troubles. My recollection is, that the narrative was given at a camp-meeting at Sugg's Creek, in Wilson county, Tennessee. He was silent and thoughtful during the meeting, until the afternoon of Sabbath. After the administration of the sacrament, he called the congregation to the stand, gave them a history of his doubts, fears, and hesitation, which had previously held him back from identifying himself with the new Cumberland Presbytery; his present entire satisfaction that theologically they occupied the true scriptural ground; and that their ecclesiastical course was right, being a necessity imposed upon them. He seemed to be a new man. Many had entertained fears for a while that his usefulness was at an end. The joy was great, and the general impression was overwhelming. He was a great favorite with the common people. The understanding is, that he had not preached from the time the Cumberland Presbytery was organized, in February, up to the time, a space of several months.