USA > South Carolina > Charleston County > Charleston > Two centuries of the First Baptist Church of South Carolina, 1683-1883. With supplement > Part 1
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31837
ARTES
SCIENTIA
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FRONT VIEW OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AFTER EARTHQUAKE.
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ARTIST CHURCH
HCAROLINA
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OMPAC.
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A
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TWO CENTURIES
OF THE
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF
SOUTH CAROLINA.
1683-1883.
WITH SUPPLEMENT.
EDITED BY H. A. TUPPER.
=
BALTIMORE:
R. H. WOODWARD AND COMPANY.
1889.
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3-11-18.
DEDICATION.
TO HIM WHO IS THE GREAT HEAD OF THE CHURCH, THIS VOLUME,
A LABOR OF LOVE, IS
Milan 197 8-16 - 46
MOST DEVOUTLY DEDICATED
BY
THE EDITOR.
320886
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i
1
ACTION OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CHARLESTON, S. C.
WHEREAS the papers read on the occasion of the Bi- Centennial of this Church by distinguished brethren who are familiar with its history, and the facts brought to view by these papers have to do not only with this particular church, but are of interest and value to the Baptists throughout the State ; and as it is important to preserve this history to the Denomination, Therefore, Resolved, That we as a church, in conference assembled, request Rev. H. A. Tupper, D.D., a distinguished son of this church, to write a history entitled, " Two Centuries of the First Baptist Church of South Carolina."
Resolved 2, That a committee of three members of this church be appointed to take such steps for the pub- lication and sale of this book as they may deem wise. R. W. LIDE, Pastor. SIMEON HYDE, JR., Clerk.
Done in Church Conference, Dec. 30th, 1888.
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CONTENTS.
PAGE
DEDICATION
iii
ACTION OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
V
PREFACE
ix
I. INVITATION TO CELEBRATION
3
II. THE PRESS :
Preceding the Celebration
7
Succeeding the Celebration.
9
III. SOUTH CAROLINA BAPTISTS. By Wm. G. Whilden .
.
19
IV. MEMOIR OF WILLIAM SCREVEN. By Henry Sweetser
Burrage
38
V. BI-CENTENNIAL PAPERS AND ADDRESSES :
I. History of the First Baptist Church from 1683 to 1825. By Basil Manly 64
2. Biography of Richard Furman, Sr. By A. Friend 124
3. Biographical and Historical Sketches from 1825 to 1883. By H. A Tupper . 157
4. Missions and Education. By James C. Furman and J. L. M. Curry . 195
5. History of the Sunday-Schools. By Oliver F. Gregory . 235
6. In Memoriam. E. T. Winkler
. 251
V
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CONTENTS.
PAGE -
VI. RECENT PASTORATES :
I. Pastorate of W. H. Williams . . . 261
2. Pastorate of L. H. Shuck . 266
3. Pastorate of A. J. S. Thomas . 273
VII. HOUSES OF WORSHIP
305
VIII. MURAL TABLETS.
307
IX. WORK AMONG THE NEGROES
. 315
X. CONCLUSION .
· 323
SUPPLEMENT. Death of Dr. J. P. Boyce
· 333
INDEX
· 339
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PREFACE.
T HE only perfect history of God's dealings with the children of men is found in the sacred Scrip- tures and among the archives of the celestial world. But the wise of all ages, since the closing of the canon of the divine word, have agreed that the record of God's grace in extending his reign on earth, even though prepared by pens to which imperfection adheres, may be useful in keeping in remembrance the past goodness and mercies of our God, in order to heighten present praises and to stimulate future efforts. It is duty, therefore, for one generation to collect its records for the use of another generation which finds it difficult to gather the records of the past in a ratio ever increasing with the lapse of time. The same wisdom that prompts churches to keep records of their acts and experience should in- duce them to put their history in such form as will re- duce to the minimum the probability of its being lost by the casualties of war or fire; or by less grave causes which are so fruitful of the misplacing and loss of church records. This regard for the generations and
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PREFACE.
centuries to follow is the principle on which all history is published ; and what history is more worthy of publi- cation than history ecclesiastical-the history of God's movements on earth ? Hence, papers of historic value, connected with the First Baptist Church of Charleston, S. C., presented at its Bi-Centenary and since that time collected, are preserved in this volume for the use of the future historian. The biographies of William Screven and Richard Furman, Sr.,-early pastors of the church -are published intact, notwithstanding the fact that the more general history of the church, found in the volume, necessarily includes many facts and incidents narrated more fully in these biographies.
If it be human that love and veneration for the grand old church herself, crowned with the honors and sorrows of twenty decades of years, should enter into the motive for perpetuating her name in honorable remembrance among the Baptists of our country and of the world, is there not divine precedent in the expressions of the per- sistent love and admiration of the ancient captive ser- vants of God : "If I forget thee, oh Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth !" Every child of the church, and every church in the State, must be filled with sentiments grateful and joyous, in contemplating this venerable spiritual mother rising
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PREFACE.
up from her humble and feeble origin, and reaching out to the vast multiplication of herself in the present Bap- tist hosts of South Carolina, not to include her children and children's children, laden with good works all over the land and in the ends of the earth. As these lines are penned, there fall under the eye the words of a Virginian, Dr. J. Wm. Jones, written at the Baptist State Convention of South Carolina, in Orangeburg, Decem- ber 1, 1888 :
"South Carolina Baptists report twenty-nine Associa- tions ; 374 ordained ministers, 756 churches, 5,327 bap- tisms during the past year, and a white membership of 74,745. The colored Baptists report 625 churches and 1 16,865 members, making an aggregate of 191,610 Bap- tist members in a population of 1,085,789 in the State. I have had some good opportunities of knowing the Baptists of South Carolina, and do not hesitate to say that, in many important particulars, the Baptists of this noble little State head the column of the Baptist hosts of the Southern Baptist Convention. In the ability of their ministry, the number of resident pastors and the number of parsonages, the regularity, systematic meth- ods, liberality of their gifts, and in the steady progress they are making in the intelligence, zeal and efficiency of their churches, South Carolina Baptists are in the very forefront."
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PREFACE.
And, as citizens of South Carolina, can the Baptists of the State fail to feel an intense interest in the history of the "Old First Church," whose origin synchronized with the settlement of their metropolis; whose members and offspring have been represented in every department of city and State affairs, from the small beginnings of the church and province in the last quarter of the seven- teenth century to the last quarter of the nineteenth cen- tury ; and whose every pulse of spiritual life-in her own veins or the veins of her kindred churches-has contributed some benefit to the Commonwealth : while no experience of the State, in all its varied history of weal and woe, has failed to touch a chord of rejoicing or sympathy in the heart of the Baptists of South Carolina.
Nor can any patriotic citizen of the State be indiffer- ent to the history of this church, forming so important a part of the history of Charleston and of South Caro- lina. Many have been the divine blessings of a civil and social kind, and who knows how largely they have been enjoyed because of the prayers of this church, as well as of other Christian churches ? Many have been the disasters, but who knows how many worse disasters have been averted by the supplications and pious walk of these people of God? Wide apart are the organiza- tions of Church and State, yet intimate and delicate are
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their relations, their movements and interests interlacing in a thousand ways. How can it be otherwise ? Is not the magistrate, as well as the minister, ordained of God ? And how truly sang the Hebrew bard: " Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain !"
But it is not from pride that this publication is made, but with praise to the God of the Old Mother Church, whose strength is well nigh gone out into her countless representatives and labors of love, and whose heart of hearts is full of the humble utterance to the Father of lights and Author of every good and perfect gift : " Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us; but unto thy name, give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake."
And as these records of God's dealings with this venerable Mother of Israel, which are now committed to the grace of God and to the patronage of the churches, are read and pondered, may they prove effica- cious, by the divine blessing, in stimulating to nobler deeds in our times of widening work for the saving of the world about us and to the ends of the earth; and to earnest petitions for the grand old Church of two hun- dred years, that the days of the years of her pilgrimage on earth may be yet many years, and that, by the abounding mercies of our God, she may renew her
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youth, bringing forth fruit in old age, and realizing the promise of the great Head of the Church : " He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall : But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength ; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary ; they shall walk and not faint."
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It should be added that this two hundredth anniver- sary of the First Baptist Church was celebrated in con- nection with " the sixty-third session of the State Con- vention of the Baptist denomination in South Carolina, held with the First Baptist Church, Charleston, Novem- ber 21-25, 1883." The officers of the Convention were as follows : :
PRESIDENT,
B. W. Edwards, . Darlington, S. C.
VICE-PRESIDENT,
Thomas P. Smith, . . Charleston, S. C.
SECRETARY,
Luther Broaddus, . Newberry, S. C.
--
ASSISTANT SECRETARY,
A. B. Woodruff, . Woodruff, S. C.
TREASURER,
C. H. Judson,
. Greenville, S. C.
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PREFACE.
On Wednesday evening, November 21st, the Conven- tion-Sermon was preached by Charles Manly, D.D., which was next day reported by the press, thus :
"The annual sermon before the Convention was preached last night by the Rev. Charles Manly, D.D., of Greenville. The church was filled by a large and bril- liant congregation, and the services throughout were deeply impressive and earnest. The music was con- ducted by Professor G. O. Robinson, of Augusta, who presided at the organ, and was assisted by an improvised choir of a number of fine singers. The Rev. A. J. S. Thomas, pastor of the church; the Rev. L. H. Shuck, D.D., and Dr. Manly occupied seats in the pulpit. The opening prayer was offered by Dr. Shuck.
"Dr. Manly's sermon was based upon John iv. 36, 'And he that reapeth receiveth wages and gathereth fruit unto life eternal ; that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.' The discourse was an eloquent and earnest plea for the greater consecration of the Christian to the work of the Master, and a clear setting forth of the mutual joys and labors of those who are sowing and those who are reaping in the kingdom of God. Seed must be sown before a harvest can be gathered. God has given us His word, and in order that it may accomplish that for which it was given, it
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PREFACE.
must be sown in the human heart, and everywhere throughout the world, wherever there are lost human creatures to be saved. The word of God, although given to us through the imperfect medium of human language, is still the channel through which all the na- tions of the earth are to be brought to Christ, and whe- ther taught by patriarch, or prophet, or printed page, or by the humblest instrument of the grace of God, it is the word itself, the truth itself, that is sown and becomes, under the operation of the Holy Spirit, the source of un- speakable joy and blessedness. To make the sowing effectual, the word should be in our own hearts, so that in giving it out we must give out, at the same time, something of ourselves, and the choicest and best part of ourselves.
" Dr. Manly's sermon was a fine effort, and was heard to the close with the deepest interest.
"The Convention was then called to order by the president, and, after attending to several matters of busi- ness, adjourned, after the benediction had been pro- nounced by the Rev. Dr. C. C. Bitting, until half-past ten o'clock this morning."
The editor gratefully acknowledges his obligation, for valuable material, to William G. Whilden, Esq., a kins- man of two of the earliest pastors of the church, whose
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PREFACE.
varied and vast stores of information, with regard to the Baptists of South Carolina, constitute him the custodian of priceless treasures, which are designed, it is under- stood, to be transferred to the Historical Society of the Commonwealth.
And the writer should not omit to say that the de- nomination is largely indebted, for the publication of this volume, to the earnest perseverance of the present pastor of the church, Rev. R. W. Lide, who has showed much intelligent interest in the matter; and that, in return for the favor, the best wish that the denomination can make for him, as one of the first pastors of a new century of the church, is that he may be so blessed of the Lord, in his responsible charge, as to be very famous, for goodness and usefulness, at the next centen- nial celebration of "The First Baptist Church of South Carolina."
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INVITATION TO CELEBRATION.
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INVITATION TO CELEBRATION.
T HE invitation ensuing was sent out by the Church and informs sufficiently of the Programme for the occasion :
Two Hundredth Anniversary of the First Baptist Church, Charleston, S. C., November 21 to 25, 1883. You are respectfully invited to be present at the services of the Two Hundredth Anni- versary of the First Baptist Church, November 21 to 25, 1883. Very respectfully, A. J. S. THOMAS, Pastor.
G. A. NORWOOD, T. S. NIPSON,
F. A. SILCOX,
SIMEON HYDE, JR., SAML. C. BLACK,
Committee.
PROGRAMME.
Thursday, November 22d, 11 A. M .- " History of the First Bap- tist Church." Addresses by Rev. Basil Manly, D.D., Kentucky, Rev. H. A. Tupper, D.D., Virginia.
Thursday, November 22d, 7.30 P. M .- " The Church's conec- tion with the cause of Education and Missions." Address by Rev. J. C. Furman, D.D., South Carolina.
Sunday, November 25th, 4 P. M .- " History of the Sunday- School of the First Church." Address by Rev. O. F. Gregory, North Carolina.
Sessions of the Baptist State Convention every day at the First Baptist Church, beginning Wednesday, 10 A. M. Public respect- fully invited.
Wednesday, November 21st, 7.30 P. M .- Introductory Sermon before Convention. Rev. Chas. Manly, D.D., South Carolina.
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THE PRESS.
PRECEDING AND SUCCEEDING THE CELEBRATION.
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
THE PRESS.
PRECEDING THE CELEBRATION.
Preceding the Celebration, the following ap- peared in the Charleston News and Courier :
THE BAPTIST BI-CENTENNIAL.
T HE oldest Baptist church in the South is the First Baptist Church in this city. It was constituted in 1683 by Rev. William Screven, who was its first pastor. Part of the original mem- bers came from Maine with Mr. Screven and part came direct from England. Mr. Screven labored here for many years, and late in life moved to Georgetown, S. C., where he died and where he was buried. He was succeeded by such men as Oliver Hart, Richard Furman, Basil Manly, W. T. Brantly, N. M. Crawford, J. R. Kendrick and E. T. Winkler.
The church has a remarkably interesting his- tory. It has lived through wars and fires and various reverses. It was an organized body a hundred years before Charleston was an incor-
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TWO CENTURIES.
porated city. To give an extended history of St. Michael's and the First Baptist Church, with their workings, would be to give much of the history of Charleston.
The church has had only thirteen pastors. They now occupy the third house of worship the church has owned. Their first house-a wooden build- ing-stood where the present house now stands. The present house was built in 1821, while Dr. Richard Furman was pastor. The church has sent out over thirty preachers, some of whom are now the leading preachers of the South.
During the approaching session of the Baptist State convention, which meets with this church on November 21st, the church will hold special ser- vices celebrating its two hundredth anniversary. Addresses will be made by Drs. Basil Manly, H. A. Tupper and J. C. Furman. The first two addresses will cover the history of the church from its organization to the present time. Dr. Furman will speak on the church's connection with the cause of education and missions. Rev. O. F. Gregory will make an address on the Sunday- school work of the church. These gentlemen are sons of the church, two of them sons of former pas- tors. A short history of this church was prepared a few years ago, by the Rev. Dr. Shuck, at that time
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the pastor, and published in the " Charleston Year Book."
It is altogether proper for the Baptists of South Carolina, who are now so numerous and influential throughout the State, to mark this era in their history by publicly celebrating the two hundredth anniversary of this church. It is right for a people to gather and preserve and hand down history when they have made it. As one of our oldest institutions, its remarkable history should be preserved in some more permanent form.
SUCCEEDING THE CONVENTION.
Friday morning, November 23d, the News and Courier gave a sketch of the celebration and pro- ceedings of the Convention. Some of the inci- dental matters reported are interesting, if not important to be recorded :
TWO HUNDRED YEARS OLD THE BI-CENTENNIAL OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH-INTERESTING COM- MEMORATIVE CEREMONIES OF A MOST IMPORTANT EVENT-ADDRESSES BY DRS. MANLY, TUPPER AND FURMAN-THE SECOND DAY'S DOINGS OF THE BAP- TIST STATE CONVENTION.
There was an increased attendance upon the State Baptist Convention yesterday, which was promptly opened at half-past ten o'clock, Col. B.
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TWO CENTURIES.
W. Edwards presiding. The Convention was opened with prayer by the Rev C. T. Scaife, of Spartanburg. * * *
The Rev. R. H. Griffith, who had offered a resolution on Wednesday night providing for the appointment of a committee of five to report to the Convention some plan to secure systematic contributions for missions from the entire mem- bership of the Baptist Church, asked leave to withdraw his resolution. This request aroused considerable interest and occasioned some ani- mated debate.
Rev. Dr. Tichenor, Secretary of the Home Mission Board, made an earnest speech in behalf of some plan for systematic giving like that in- volved in the resolution. He had given a great deal of time and careful thought to the consid- eration of this subject. He was satisfied that this thing of systematic contributions to missions by all the membership of the churches was the only path to the successful prosecution of the work of the Master. Whatever the obstacles in the way and however great the difficulties to be overcome, the grand duty devolving upon the Baptists in the South was to get every man, woman and child in the Church to contribute to missions. Fortunately the Baptists in South
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
Carolina in this respect are ahead of all the rest of the Baptists in the Southern churches. The speaker believed that there were more churches in South Carolina, and more of the members of these churches that make contributions to mis- sions than in any other State in the Union, North or South. But all of the Baptists in the State do not contribute to missions. He had been told by a lady that in one of the most prosperous churches in the State, out of a membership of two hundred ladies only forty could be persuaded to join in any movement having for its object contributions to missions. While the Georgia Convention represents a membership of eighty thousand Baptists it has only a contributing con- stituency of eight thousand, and a few years ago this constituency had numbered only three or four thousand. What is true of Georgia is true also of Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and Alabama. It is a fact that the great ma- jority of Baptists give nothing to missions, and there never can be the fullest measure of success until every Baptist can be persuaded to help in this cause.
Rev. J. C. Furman, D.D., although he had at first received the suggestion with aversion, be- lieved that the appointment of such a committee
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as that proposed in the resolution could evolve some general, some great practical view which would be of benefit, which would set the churches to thinking, and result in achieving great good. He believed that the great deficiency was with the pastors of the churches, and he wanted the subject fully discussed so that the matter of mis- sions could be brought home to the churches and their membership be persuaded of the necessity for larger liberality and more general giving to this great cause.
THE BI-CENTENNIAL OF THE CHURCH.
The discussion of the resolution was inter- rupted at this point by the special order of the day-the celebration of the two hundredth anni- versary of the organization of the First Baptist Church of Charleston. These memorial exer- cises were of the deepest interest, and had caused the assembling of a large congregation, com- posed of ladies and gentlemen, representing al- most every shade of denominational belief. The pastor of the First Church, the Rev. A. J. S. Thomas, presided. The platform was occupied by the following clergymen, "sons of the church :" Charles Manly, D.D., C. A. Baynard, R. W. Sey- mour, Jr., M. R. 'Suares, B. W. Whilden, R. F.
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