USA > South Carolina > History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, Vol. I pt 2 > Part 28
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We continue the succession of the elders in this church from page 339. "John Murphy was elected in 1780, and was, for a time, pre-eminent as an elder, and was leader of the music in public worship. Through a misplaced confidence in the
39
610
MR. SAMUEL WILLIAMSON.
[1790-1800.
impostor McCarra, he was led to adhere to him after the pop- ular verdict turned against him, so that his influence was great- ly diminished. He continued in office through the period of which we write.
"John Cooper was called to the eldership in 1780, was a very devout man and zealous Christian, ready for every good word and work.
"Elijah Fleming was a son of the elder Robert Fleming, and entered upon the eldership in 1780.
"Col. Andrew Love served as ruling elder from about 1780 to about 1801, when he removed to Kentucky, leaving a son who afterwards succeeded him in the eldership here.
" Arthur Starr entered the eldership in 1794, and was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and of great conscientious- ness. His official term was brief but active and useful. As illustrative of the times, we may add that it was objectingly said on his inauguration to the eldership, that 'he was not a substantial man ;' and the explanation was, that 'he did not own a distillery.' He died about the close of the century, but left an honored name and cherished memory.
" Thomas Black was made an elder in 1794. He was a man of business capacities, diligent in his spiritual calling, and faithful as an officer.
"Elias Davidson was born in Pennsylvania and emigrated to this community about 1780. He was constituted an elder about 1794. He was clerk of the congregation for many years.
" Andrew McCreary was chosen to the eldership in 1795, and served until his removal to the West, at the close of the century.
"Samuel Williamson's name is recorded in history as hav- ing resided on the battle-ground of Houck's defeat, and hav- ing killed the first man slain in that battle. He was elevated to the bench of elders in 1795, and in a most commendable manner did he exemplify the spirit of his station. His official life extended into the next century. His father, James Wil- liamson, senior, served a while as an elder in Purity church, Chester, but he returned to Bethesda in his latter days. Mr. Williamson left two sons for the ministry, two elders and a deacon for the church of Christ, and five daughters who were exemplary members of the Presbyterian church.
" William Clinton began to perform the duties of the elder- ship in 1799.
"Robert Hanna, a native of Mecklenburg, North Carolina,
611
REV. JAMES M'ELHENNY.
1790-1800.]
was brought in early youth to Bethesda, of which he was made an elder in 1799."
Mr. Harris, to whose MS. history of this church we are in- debted for this account of the eldership, speaks of this church as having been always characterized by its firm adherence to Presbyterian doctrines, principles, and usages, and having had a decided preference for the gospel in its simplicity and un- mixed purity.
Its officers have generally been men of decided characters, fair representatives of the intelligence and piety of the mem- bership, and able to command the respect of all. Practical god- liness and a high tone of morality have in general prevailed, and the church has always been one of the most reputable and prominent in the up-country, ranking with any in its materials, ecclesiastical organization, and its exhibitions of practical godliness and charity. The density of the population, and the predominance in it of Presbyterian training and predilection, have always contributed to its numerical strength. Notwith- standing the losses it had met with, it is believed its member- ship was about one hundred at the close of this century and the beginning of the next.
Among the large contributions which this congregation has made of men to the several walks in life, who were born pre- vious to 1800, Mr. Harris enumerates Rev. James McElhenny, who, although born in the Waxhaw church, was brought to Bethesda when ten years of age .* Rev. John McElhenny,
* " Among the men of my name who resided in the northwest part of the State," says Rev. John McElhenny, D.D., " was my brother James. His life was full of incidents well calculated to illustrate the mysterious dealings of God's providence, but to enter fully into his history would now be im- practicable. I shall therefore only set down a few of the prominent facts connected with his life. His ancestors were of Scotch descent, who emi- grated from Pennsylvania to South Carolina at an early day, and settled in the Waxhaws, in Lancaster district. His father, John McElhenny, was the eldest son of S. McElhenny, and liis mother's maiden name was Cail. They had six children, four sons and two daughters. James was the eldest of the family, and was born in the Waxhaws about the year 1766 or 1767. At the close of the Revolutionary war his father died. Soon after this, the family moved into Chester district, where he was partly raised. It was not until he was somewhat advanced in life that he became impressed with religion. When he obtained a hope he determined under God to prepare for the minis- try. To reach this end he had many difficulties to encounter, but his energy and perseverance overcame them all. He commenced his classical education with Mr. Alexander, and completed the study of the languages with him. He studied the sciences with Doctor Hall of North Carolina ; and with him studied theology, and was licensed to preach in that State. Soon after he was licensed he was invited to take charge of the congregation in John's island, near Charleston. How long he continued to preach in that congregation, or
612
REV. JOHN M'ELHENNY, D.D.
[1790-1800.
D.D., his brother, born in the Waxhaw congregation, March 22d, 1782, was the youngest of six children, and was brought to Bethesda when only a few months old. After prosecuting his academical course under his pastor, Rev. R. B. Walker, he began the study of the languages with Dr. James Hall, of North Carolina. After a few months he repaired, in 1800, to the large academy, taught by Rev. James Gilleland, in Spar- tanburg district, and joined the church, probably Nazareth, in that neighborhood. In 1802 he entered Washington College, Virginia, having left home for Yale, but the prevalence of yel- low fever had occasioned the suspension of its exercises. He studied theology under the Rev. Dr. Baxter, and was licensed by Lexington presbytery, February 11, 1808. In April fol- lowing, he received a call from the church at Lewisburg, and soon after from the church of Union, twenty miles distant, and was ordained April, 1809. He preached in this united charge till 1834. For many years he was also principal of Lewisburg Academy. He preached his semi-centenary ser- mon at Lewisburg, June 5, 1858. Among his pupils were Rev. Henry Ruffner, D.D., and Rev. William S. Plumer, D.D., LL.D. He has been pastor of that church now (1869) sixty-one years. He was for a long time the only Presbyterian minister around and west of Lewisburg, and is the patriarch of Presbyterian- ism in that whole region, where he has stood a noble and devoted herald of the cross for nearly two-thirds of a century. -(Mr .. Harris, MS. History, and the Central Presbyterian, August 4, 1869.)
"For more than fifty years," says Dr. Plumer, his former pupil, he has travelled far and wide, and preached the gospel with great earnestness and success. His personal and ministerial influence are of course prodigious.
"My first acquaintance with him began forty years ago, when I entered his classical school. He taught with great diligence and success. He was then also preaching statedly in several places in two counties. He was a lively and powerful preacher. He was very joyous on wedding occasions, and was often sent for to a great distance to celebrate that honored rite. He always travelled on horseback ; and has seldom, if ever, been known to fail punc- tually to meet an engagement.
"As an equestrian he has had few equals. He is a good judge of a horse. I
what success attended his ministry, I cannot say ; but finding it hazardous to his health to spend his summers in that region, he purchased property in Pendleton district, where he spent the summers. His residence was not far from the court-house, and near to the Stone church. This congregation was at this time without a pastor. He was called to take charge of the congrega- tion during his residence there in the summer. In the fall of 1812 a most. malignant fever prevailed in his neighborhood ; to this he fell a prey, and was buried in the graveyard at the Stone church."-(Letter of Rev. John McEl- henny, D.D., to J. H. Saye.)
613
1790-1800.] REV. JOHN M'ELHENNY, D.D.
never saw him riding a mean one. He has not carried a watch for more than twenty years. He says it misleads him if he relies on it; but that his horse always brings him to his appointments in good time, if he relies on him alone.
:" When this venerable man came to his present pastorate there were not more than fifty members of the Presbyterian Church within seventy miles of him in one direction, one hundred and fifty miles in another, and a hundred miles in two others. In the same region are now nine hundred and ten members of Presbyterian churches, and great numbers of good people have passed away. He has married one thousand and five hundred couples. He has baptized at least thirteen hundred persons. He has preached about eight thousand times, of which, probably, full one thousand were funeral discourses. . " In hospitality, he is boundless ; in energy, indomitable ; in friendships, ardent; in good-will to all, a model. He is known by almost all the children and servants for many miles around him. A year ago last summer there was a gathering of his friends at a meeting, which lasted several days. It was the fiftieth anniversary of his settlement. Many came twenty miles. One of his ministerial brethren rode on horseback 100 miles to be there ; and one of his old pupils, a preacher of the gospel, came 700 miles by railroad, steam- boat, and stage, to greet this venerable man, and tell him the debt he owed him, but could never pay.
" In stature this man is above the average height, rather thin than robust, with a musical voice, in which strangers notice a defect in pronouncing some syllables, and always having a manner of extreme earnestness. Sometimes his tones of voice and whole appearance melt down all his pions hearers. I once heard from him a sermon, which so affected the late Dr. Baxter, then Presi- dent of Washington College, Virginia, that for three or four days he was heard repeating it as he walked over College Hill.
!" As long ago as 1845 a member of the New York press visited this region, and was so struck with the power of this man, that he wrote to his paper : ' Wherever, in the hundred valleys that lie hidden in the mountains of South- western Virginia, you shall observe a dwelling, around which reign thrift and neatness, and within which are found domestic happiness and enlightened piety more than is common, there shall you hear them speak with reverence and affection of this good man, and tell many a story of days spent at school in Greenbrier. Let it be known that he is to preach, and all will be seen moving as when John the Baptist preached in the wilderness of Judea; for even those who at all other times neglect the house of worship, will not neglect it when this earnest veteran officiates. For the space of 200 miles all around him, he is the Bishop acknowledged by all hearts. . . . No man in Virginia rides and preaches more than he. None but the well-mounted shall be his company for a whole day, on one of his preaching tours to the destitute settlements of these mountains.
' He appears to be ever in a hurry to do good. He has been in a hurry all, his life. He has no time for elegant circumlocutions. As soon as his mes- sage is delivered, he is in motion again, to deliver his message somewhere else. He is the very personification of motion. He is a striking illustration of how much a man can do who does it with all his might.
'I may add that such a man, in the best sense, never dies. His spirit and principles will live in ten thousand hearts, in successive generations, while a single human voice is heard, or footstep seen among the mountains of Vir- ginia.'
" This venerable man, now [in 1860] in the 79th year of liis age, yet lives with the excellent wife of his youth. Three of his children, two daughters and one son, still live. He has no child in the ministry; but one of liis grandsons is now studying divinity. May his grandfather's mantle fall upon
614
EBENEZER .- UNITY.
[1790-1800.
him. The church at Lewisburg has lately procured a worthy helper to their old pastor in the person of Rev. Calvin Barr.
"During the recent sessions of the Baltimore Conference in Lewisburg, this venerable man was seen even to a late hour at night in the assembly, helping together by prayer and expressions of hearty good-will that reverend and able body of gospel ministers. They paid him the kindest attentions, and he and his generous people returned it all with interest. I had almost forgotten to add that I have been speaking of REV. JOHN McELHENNEY, D.D."
Rev. Francis H. Porter, father of four sons who are now . ministers in the Presbyterian church, and were educated at the seminary in Columbia ; Rev. John Williamson, of Hope- well, North Carolina ; Rev. Samuel Williamson, D.D., his brother, former president of Davidson College, both sons of the elder, Samuel Williamson ; Rev. Lossing Clinton, son of the elder, William Clinton. The history of these men, and others he mentions, belongs rather to the nineteenth century than to this. He enumerates also Dr. Josiah Moore, Dr. Wil- liam Bratton, Dr. Haslett Clendennin, Dr. William Gibson, Dr. James Davidson, Dr. John S. Bratton, Dr. Charles Hanna, Dr. William Moore, Dr. Alexander Clendennin, and Dr. Nathan Marion, who must have been born within the bounds of this congregation before the close of the eighteenth century, and various families that have emigrated from it into other States, to illustrate the influence for good which has gone forth from this community of Christians. But their history, and that of others born in the next century, does not belong to the times of which we treat.
EBENEZER (INDIAN LAND) remained vacant through these ten years. In the account of the churches in York county, to which we have before referred, this is spoken of as "a small congregation, who have never had the gospel statedly among them, except by stated supplies on week days, by the Rev. Francis Cummins, of the South Carolina presbytery; and also one summer season they had the one-half of Mr. John Bowman's labors, a probationer under the care of Orange presbytery." It is reported to the synod as a vacant congregation in 1791, 1796, and 1799. It solicited ministerial supplies, and Messrs. Foster, Davis, Dunlap, Walker, and Rosborough were appointed to preach to it in 1793, 1794, and 1796. " They are consider- ably divided in religious sentiments, and religion seems but low amongst them. They have been supplied by the South Carolina presbytery."
UNITY CHURCH, in the northeastern part of York, in the Indian Land, is represented by the same authority as not very unanimous in sentiment, and as dependent on presbytery for
615
SHILOH .- OLNEY .- WAXHAW.
1790-1800.]
supplies. It however became part of the charge of Rev. John Brown, after his settlement at Waxhaw, in 1793, and he devoted to it one-fourth part of his time. Their call to him was laid before presbytery in 1798. The fall meeting of pres- bytery was held at this church October 11, 1798.
The small congregation known as SHILOH, or CALVARY, in the upper part of York, and near the North Carolina line, was partly supplied from Orange presbytery, and partly from South Carolina. It never had the gospel preached to them statedly before the close of this century. We find Messrs. W. C. Davis and G. G. McWhorter appointed to visit it and preach in 1795, 1796, 1797, and 1798.
OLNEY also, formerly the upper part of Bethel congregation, and over the North Carolina line, received occasional supplies from the presbytery of South Carolina.
OLD WAXHAW CHURCH .- The Rev. Mr. Finley was dismissed from the Waxhaw church and the presbytery in 1788, having been in this pastorate four years and a half .* The presby- tery ordered as supplies for this congregation that year, Rev. James Edmonds, Rev. James W. Stephenson, and the licen- tiates, Mr. Humphrey Hunter and James Wallis.t Mr. Davis says : "The eastern part of the congregation who in- cline to worship at their new house, have, since his (Rev. Mr. Finley's) departure, discovered some inclination to join another community. The reason of this is thus explained. During the period that the church was vacant " a foreign clergyman (Bryce Muller) from Ireland, and of very eccentric character, stationed himself in this section of the country, and itiner- ated extensively, and ingratiated himself into the favor of a large proportion of the supporters of this congregation, and .in others in its vicinity, and prevailed on many to withdraw from the Presbyterian church, and to form themselves into sep- arate societies. It was about this period that changes were being made in sundry churches by the substitution of Dr. Watts's Psalmody for that of Rouse's, commonly called the Old Version of the Psalms of David. Of this circumstance this foreign minister availed himself, to excite and fix the pre- judices of those who attended on his ministrations, and that
* Mr. Finley was received by the presbytery of Redstone in Western Penn- sylvania, November 10, 1789. He removed to Kentucky in 1791, where he labored a short time in the ministry.
+ Mr. Crockett also mentions a Mr. Samuel Finley, who preached after Mr. Robert Finley, and before Mr. Brown.
616
BETHANY.
[1790-1800.
with considerable success. He continued his labors in this region for four or five years. But at length his irregularities becoming notorious, his influence was weakened, and he was eventually constrained to remove to the western country. Al- though the agent by whom this state of things was produced was removed, very few of those who were drawn off from the Presbyterian churches returned to them. They generally at- tached themselves to the Associate or the Associate Reformed presbytery. And by this means the Presbyterian churches were divided and weakened."-(MS. of Dr. Thornwell, pastor of this church in 1835.) "In the beginning of the year 1792, application was made to Mr. John Brown, then a probationer under the Orange presbytery, who has since joined the pres- bytery of South Carolina, and in October last (1793), was or- dained our minister.". This gentleman was born in Chester district. At the age of sixteen he enjoyed the advantages of a country-school for nine months; and in his nineteenth year he was sent for an equal period to a grammar-school taught by Mr. Humphries, at the Waxhaw church, where he was associated with Andrew Jackson as a fellow-student. These eighteen months embrace the whole period of his school educa- tion. At the age of sixteen he bore arms, as Jackson did, un- der General Sumter. He was shot at by the Tories who were in pursuit of him, when on one occasion he had returned from camp. He was in the battle of Eutaw, and others of that period. After the war was over, he availed himself of every opportunity of improvement his circumstances would allow. He studied theology under Rev. Dr. McCorkle, of Salisbury, and was licensed in 1788. In 1793, he was received as a licentiate from the presbytery of Orange, and was ordained, as before mentioned, by the presbytery of South Carolina, at - Waxhaw, on the 10th of October. Dr. Brown, during his pas- torate, preached one-fourth of his time at the Black Jack church, on the southeastern side of Cain creek.
The beginnings of a BETHANY CHURCH, in Lancaster dis- trict, also now appear. A letter was received by the presby- tery, "from a number of the inhabitants of Lancaster dis- trict, requesting to be known on our minutes by the name of Bethany Church, and who petition for supplies."
There were three congregations to which Rev. Robert Mc- Clintock ministered during this decade, as he did for some years before. One was the congregation of Concord, in Fair- field district, received under the care of presbytery in April, 1796; another was Indian Creek, in Newberry ; a third was
617
DUNCAN'S CREEK.
1790-1800.]
Rocky Spring, in Laurens district. For twelve or thirteen years he seems to have preached to these congregations with great regularity, rather oftener than once a month in each, exchanging frequently with his brethren Morrison and Mc- Cosh, most often with the latter. He appears to have been a man of great activity. His register of baptisms embraces the names of two thousand and eighty persons whom he baptized in various parts of the State, the last record being June 5, 1803. He died soon after this, it is believed in the year 1803, aged about fifty-seven, and lies buried in "McDowel's . Old Field" on Warrior's creek, near the church of that name, which was not then built. He left three children, two sons and a daughter-John, Robert, and Mary. John is dead. Robert survives, and is a ruling elder in the Clinton church.
The church of DUNCAN'S CREEK was visited by Mr. Hum- phrey Hunter, then recently licensed, by the appointment of presbytery. He preached for them in the closing part of 1789, and also at Little River. In April, 1790, these churches sent a call to presbytery for his services, which was placed in his hands. Meanwhile Mr. Hunter had made use of the " Gospel Psalmody" instead of the version of Rouse, which provoked the displeasure of some, and the call was declined by him at the next meeting of presbytery. After this the church was supplied by James Templeton and Messrs. Williamson, Hun- ter, Wilson, A. Brown, and John B. Kennedy. The people of Duncan's Creek, in conjunction with the congregation of Little River, preferred a call to the last-named candidate, which was introduced to presbytery in September, 1795, accepted by Mr. Kennedy at the Spring-meeting in April, 1796. His ordina- tion took place at Duncan's Creek, September 8th, 1796, Rev. William Williamson preaching the ordination sermon, and James Templeton delivering the charge. Mr. Kennedy claimed the liberty of using either version in the worship of God, and did so for a season; but this giving offence to some who were more zealous than discreet, he intermitted the use of the old version, which again gave great offence to a number, who left the church altogether ; among whom were two elders, Samuel Laird and James Underwood, whom Mr. Kennedy had or- dained. On Mr. Kennedy's accession to the church but two of the old elders, Joseph Adair and Robert Long, were sur- viving. These differences of sentiment, with deaths and removals, left this church and congregation considerably diminished at the close of the eighteenth century.
The history of LITTLE RIVER CHURCH was nearly parallel with
618
GRASSY SPRING.
[1790-1800.
that of Duncan's Creek during those ten years. It made the same efforts to provide itself with the ordinances of the gospel. During the period of their destitution of pastoral super- vision, they obtained occasional visits and ministrations of the word and ordinances from the presbytery, by different preachers, often the same who were appointed to visit the congregation of Duncan's Creek. They united with it in the call to Mr. Hunter, and afterwards to Mr. Kennedy, who be- came their pastor, in April, 1796. The interests of this con- gregation suffered much by differences of political opinions, during the war which terminated in our national independence, and since that time by divisions connected with religion. Besides the supplies granted by the presbytery of South Carolina, we find, by a letter addressed to Robert Mcclintock, that Rev. Hugh Morrison, whose connection was with the presbytery of Charleston, preached at Little river for one year. The letter of Mr. Morrison is dated Little river, April 25th, 1791. In July, 1790, Mr. Morrison wrote from Belleville, on the Congaree, his ministry at Little river being at an end.
GRASSY SPRING makes its first appearance in the minutes of presbytery during this decade. On page 73, under date of September 24, 1794, is the record, " Grassy Spring petition to be taken under our care and to be supplied." It could not have been associated as a distinct congregation much before .* William Williamson was appointed to preach to them one Sabbath, April 13, 1797. J. B. Kennedy and J. B. Davies were appointed for one Sabbath. J. B. Davies again at the Fall meeting of presbytery, and William Williamson in October, 1798, who was also to "examine." The same order of examinations is enjoined upon all the supplies appointed for destitute congregations at this meeting of presbytery. Pre- vious to 1795 or '6, the visits and ministerial labors of Dr. Joseph Alexander, of Bullock's Creek, were frequently en- joyed by them. They seemed to have worshipped first at Indian Creek, on the other side of the Enoree. That congre- gation appears to have passed under the care of Robert Mc- Clintock. The Rev. William Williamson became pastor of the church of Fairforest in 1794, and, according to a MS.
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