USA > South Carolina > History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, Vol. I pt 2 > Part 31
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" The people who compose these two congregations are, in general, remark- able for the great simplicity of their manners, the plainness of their dress, and their frugal manner of living. At the distance of 250 miles from the Capital, they are strangers to luxury and refinement. Blessed with a healthy climate, brought up in habits of labor and industry, and scarce of money, they are for the most part clothed in homespun; nourished by the produce of their own farms, and happily appear to have neither taste nor inclination for high and expensive living. There is a quiet degree of equality among them. By far the greater part are in what might be called the middle station of life. None are very rich, few extremely poor. There are few slaves among them, and these are treated with great kindness and humanity. They enjoy all that liberty which is compatible with their situation; and are ex- empted from that rigorous bondage to which their unhappy countrymen in the lower parts of the State are subjected. These are all circumstances favor- able to virtue and religion, and give ground to hope that these will flourish long here, when they shall have been in a great measure banished from those parts of the country where slavery, luxury, and wealth have taken possession. As the country is in its infancy, we have yet to expect that these con- gregations will soon become much stronger, and in the course of a few years, if peace continues, it is probable that each of them will be able to support a minister. It is a pleasing reflection to the friends of religion, that as the people travel westward, the gospel travels with them, or soon follows after them ; that God inclines the hearts of ministers, respectable for learning, worth, and piety, to settle in these uncultivated regions. It is a consideration which often affects pious ministers and pious people, when convened for pub- lic worship, that in these wide-extended forests, where the cruel savage lately roamed, Christian churches are erected, and Christian congregations assemble to pay their homage to the great Lord and Father of all; and that in these very places, where a few years ago nothing was heard but the songs and the shouts of Indians, the glad tidings of salvation are proclaimed, and the voice of prayer and thanksgiving arise to the Creator and Redeemer of all. Reflections of this kind call to mind the words of the evangelic prophet, 'The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall blossom as the rose,' &c.
" September 15, 1793."
" Drawn up in great haste by " THOMAS REESE."
We have copied this as a description of these congrega- tions, by their pastor, and a witness contemporary with the times of which we speak. It is a portion of one of those brief histories of churches ordered by the General Assembly, and written by special appointment of presbytery, which was de- signed to furnish materials for the history of the American Presbyterian Church, to several of which papers we have been greatly indebted. It is a favorable specimen of the style of
638
REV. THOMAS REESE, D.D.
[1790-1800.
this eminent clergyman, who was probably the most finished writer of that day in our portion of the church.
The birth, parentage, and earlier life of Dr. Reese, have been quoted on pages 411, 492, and 493, from a memoir writ- ten by Dr. Witherspoon, of Alabama, and forwarded for our use. We proceed to give that portion which belongs to the period over which we now pass, which proved to be the clos- ing period of his life :
" About the year 1790, circular letters were written by Mr. Austin, editor of the American Preacher, to distinguished preachers of all denominations, requesting them to furnish two sermons annually, that a selection might be made from them, and published as specimens of pulpit eloquence in the United States. One of these letters was addressed to Dr. Thomas Reese, and lie sent on two sermons which were published. In the 4th volume of this excellent miscellany, he appears as the only contributor south o Virginia. Among his unpublished manuscripts were specimens of poetical . talent, highly creditable. His farewell sermon to his congregation in Salem was published at the request of his church, and is still possessed by some of the members, and esteemed for the excellent advice it contains. Dr. Reese was in person easy of access, a friend to human nature, but particularly attached to men of science and religion. With powers of mind equal to his benevolence and piety, he justly held a conspicuous place among eminent and good men. As a proof of the deference paid to his talents by his brethren in religious assemblies, he was selected by some leading men of the presbytery of South Carolina, on a certain occasion, to repel the charges brought by the Rev. W. C. Davis, in a discourse preached before that body, in which he, Davis, de- nounced all his fellow-christians who owned slaves. This reply of Dr. Reese met the entire approbation of the presbytery, and greatly mortified Davis, this early advocate of abolition, in 1794. It is an able argument on the subject of slavery, and shows how early this vexed question had been introduced into the Southern church. It is still extant, and in the possession of his quon- dam pupil. Dr. Reese's theological opinions were founded solely on the authority of the Scriptures, and of course Orthodox. His appearance in the . pulpit was graceful and dignified, his style flowing and elegant. He was in the habit generally of writing out his sermons with great care, and seldom, if ever, took the manuscript in the pulpit. His preaching was of the extempore kind, adding to the mature reflections of the study, the powers of his native oratory. His flowing tears, and often suppressed voice, told the feelings of the heart, anxious only for the salvation of souls and the glory of God. Like Paul, he warned his hearers day and night with tears. His success in his ministerial labors evince the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. It is a subject of painful regret, that the examples of such men as Dr. Reese, Edwards, Whitefield, and others, should be lost, and that their successful manner of awakening and instructing their hearers, should be supplanted by the cold and prosy reading of sermons from the pulpit, which so effectually lulls to sleep a waiting audience, or binds them up, in the present day. Dr. Reese was also an ardent lover of sacred music, and was careful to have his con- gregation well instructed in this devotional part of worship. His own melo- dious voice, mingled with those of the whole congregation, filled God's court with sounding praise. He did not trust this part of divine worship to a choir, which, as the proxy of the congregation, might sing praises to God; but adopted in his teaching the language of David in the 67th Psalm. Let all the people praise thee, O God ; repeating the injunction in the 5th verse, Let all the people praise thee, O God. For classical literature, so much decried by the super-
639
REV. THOMAS REESE, D.D.
1790-1800.]
ficial, he was a great advocate, and to evince his sincerity, retained the knowl- edge of the dead languages as long as he lived.
As a teacher, he had a peculiar facility of communicating knowledge, and the happy talent of commanding respect without severity. For a period of five or six years of his life, and that too past the meridian, exclusive of his performing the regular duties of a pastor, preaching on the Sabbath and lec- turing to the colored part of his congregation, he superintended a small farm, and attended to a large classical school, with but little assistance, in the course of the week. And it is well recollected that during more than one season he preached two sermons on the Sabbath, and performed, besides, the other duties mentioned above.
" Dr. Reese was 'given to hospitality,' and evinced his benevolence by vis- iting the sick and afflicted, and relieving the wants of the poor and needy. Having read many medical authors, and being conversant with physicians, ke had acquired a pretty general knowledge of Southern diseases, and in his visits to the sick frequently imparted not only spiritual consolation, but med- ical aid. This was the more acceptable, as at that time there were no physi- cians near him. In the winter of 1792 and 1793 lie removed from Salem to Pendleton district, South Carolina, being among the first who removed from the low country to the upper.
" Having settled near Pendleton village, he took charge of two churches, one near Seneca river in the neighborhood of Generals Pickens and Ander- son, the other church some ten or twelve milcs distant. In these he labored some years ; but the climate of the upper country not agreeing with his con- stitution, his health declined. He was attacked with Hydrothorax in the latter part of his life, and such was the nature of his disease, that lie did not lie down for weeks previous to his death. He borc this affliction with great patience and resignation to the will of his divine Master, and died in 1796, aged 54 years. His remains lie in the grave-yard, attached to the Old Stone church, near the village of Pendleton .*
" Chancellor James of South Carolina, in his Life of Marion, speaking of Dr. Reese, says :
"'In contemplating the meek and unobtrusive manners of this eminent ser- vant of the Most High, we do not hesitate to say he was a pattern of Christian charity, as nearly resembling his Divine Master as has been exhibited by any of his contemporary fellow-laborers in the Gospel.'
" It may truly be said, in conclusion, of this excellent man, that he lived.es- teemed, and died lamented by an extensive circle of warm and devoted friends. " J. R. WITHERSPOON.
" BROOKLAND, near Greensboro, Ala., 6th September, 1851."
Hopewell and Carmel (late Twenty-Three Mile Creek), re- ported, sorrowfully, to presbytery, the death of Dr. Reese, and asked to be supplied.
* EPITAPH OF THE REVEREND THOMAS REESE, D.D.
Here rest the remains of the Rev. THOMAS REESE, D.D., a native of Penn- sylvania, who departed this life in the hopes of a blessed immortality, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, aged 54 years. He was pastor of Salem church, Black river, about 20 years. He was tlien chosen pastor of Hopewell and Carmel congregations, and died a few years after. Exemplary in all the social relations of life, as a son, husband, father, and citizen, he lived estecmed and beloved, and died lamented. His talents as a writer and preacher were of a highly respectable grade, and were always directed to promote the virtue and happiness of his fellow-men.
1
640
BETHLEHEM, EBENEZER, AND BETHEL.
[1790-1800.
The following is their petition :--
" To the Rev. presbytery of South Carolina, to sit at Naza- reth, on the third Tuesday or Wednesday of October next :-
" The remonstrance and petition of the united congregations of Hopewell, on Keowee River, and Carmel, on Twenty-Three Mile Creek, both of the county of Pendleton, and State of South Carolina,
"Humbly sheweth : That we are left destitute of the ordinan- ces of the gospel in both of our congregations, by the death of the Rev. Dr. Thomas Reese, of whose labors we had share in each congregation as our pastor. We, therefore, make known our destitute condition to your Reverend Body, that you may take our situation under consideration, and grant us supplies in such way and manner as to your wisdom may seem convenient.
" And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will pray.
-
ROBERT ANDERSON, JOHN WILLSON, ROBERT M'CANN, ROBERT HENDERSON, ANDREW PICKENS."
In pursuance of this request, J. Simpson and J. Gilleland were appointed in October, 1796, and April and October, 1797, and April, 1798, with the addition of A. Brown, at Carmel, to visit them ; and these supplies were probably continued to the close of the century.
CHAPTER V.
BETHLEHEM, and PHILADELPHIA (or EBENEZER), on Cane Creek, and .BETHLEHEM (or BETHEL), churches in Pendleton .- In October, 1776, Mr. Andrew Brown was appointed to spend two months on the frontiers of South Carolina, and J. Newton one month on the frontiers of Georgia, in missionary labor ; and they were to receive sixteen dollars and sixty-six cents per month as their compensation. In April, 1797, two congrega- tions, in the fork of Tugaloo, desiring to be known by the name of the United Congregations of Bethlehem and Philadel- phia, petition for supplies, the latter especially for Andrew Brown, and one ordained minister in each of the congrega- tions. At the same time, a people on Cane Creek and Keowee, apply. These congregations had been gathered by the recent
1790-1800.]
REV. ANDREW BROWN. 641
missionary labors of Mr. Brown, then a licentiate. Their re- quest is granted, and J. Simpson and A. Brown are appointed. At the October meeting, Bethlehem. and Philadelphia seek Mr. Brown's ordination. The application not being sufficiently in the form of a call, was not acted upon till March, 1799, when a meeting for his ordination was appointed. This took place at Bethlehem church, on the 18th of July, 1799, and Mr. Brown was ordained and installed, the sermon being preached by Rev. James Gilleland, and the charge given by the Rev. Francis Cummins. In the list of churches given, in the close of 1799, the name of Philadelphia does not appear, but Rev. A. Brown is designated as the pastor of Bethlehem and Eben- ezer, on Cane creek.
We have now gone over all the churches of our denomina- tion that we know have enjoyed the labors of settled pastors. There are a number of names of churches that have been called by the ecclesiastical word "vacancies," which have either been organized churches, or congregations not fully formed. These, as far as mentioned in the minutes of presbytery previous to 1790, we enumerated on pages 561 and 562. We will name those which have petitioned for aid or received supplies during this decade.
FISHDAM (formerly JAGGERS) .- This constantly occurs. It was supplied, if we may infer this from the appointments of presbytery, by J. Alexander in 1792, by R. B. Walker in 1793, '94, and '97, by J. Gilleland in 1793, by A. Brown in 1794, by J. Alexander in 1795 and '96. Fishdam Ford is on the Broad river, near the southwest corner of Chester, and there is a post- office of that name a few miles from it in Union. Fishdam Ford is on a route formerly much travelled. Families by the name Jaggers live at the present time above the Ford who are Presbyterians. Tyger river is about ten miles distant, and the Presbyterians on that stream may have united with others on Broad river, and east of it, in maintaining worship near Fish- dam. Population is continually changing. There is a Meth- odist people now in that vicinity, some of whom, viz: the Glenns, came into this neighborhood before the close of the century.
GOLDEN GROVE, or "THE GROVE," was supplied by R. B. Walker in 1794, by A. Brown in 1796, by J. Gilleland in 1796 and '97. It is still a preaching station, some ten miles south from the court-house, in Greenville district.
UPPER and LOWER UNION .- J. B. Davis, in his historical
41
642
" VACANCIES."
[1790-1800.
sketch of Bethel presbytery, says these are extinct, the new organization of Cane Creek occupying their places. Accord- ing to Rev. J. H. Saye, Lower Union was superseded by the church of GRASSY SPRING.
ENOREE .- Once mentioned. The present church of ANTIOCH may be its successor.
INDIAN CREEK .- The locality of an ancient house of worship, and of a congregation formed about the year 1768, Supplied once by James Wallis, and once, in 1798, by J. Templeton, in this decade. One of the churches ministered to by Robert McClintock was Indian Creek.
GEORGE'S CREEK, near Pickensville, in Pickens district, is still (1869) a preaching place of the Evangelists of South Caro- lina presbytery.
BEAVER DAM is named in 1791, among the small societies unable to support a pastor. The locality is unknown.
BUSH RIVER, in 1791, is named among the societies unable to support a pastor. Bush river is a stream which rises in Laurens, and extends through the central parts of Newberry. Its members may have been represented afterwards in the church of Gilder's Creek.
REEDY BRANCH and CUFFEY TOWN, in April, 1786, petitioned to be taken under the care of presbytery. Reedy Branch is an affluent of Long Cane creek, in the southwestern part of Abbeville. This station was visited, at the appointment of presbytery, by James Templeton in 1787, and by John Springer twice in 1789. There is a Cuffey Town creek in the northwestern part of Edgefield. James Templeton supplied Cuffey Town in 1788. Robert Wilson and Mr. Williamson in 1794.
" In the years 1766 and 1770, a considerable number of Pala- tines arrived in Carolina. They were settled in the township of Londonderry, in Edgefield district, at a place called Cuffey Town. In 1770 the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts sent the Rev. Samuel Fred. Lucius as a mis- sionary to this people. In a letter dated at Cuffey Town, October 25, 1770, he informed the society of his arrival in the Province the preceding April, and that he had officiated in his mission for the first time, on Easter Sunday, to a numerous and attentive congregation. He stated that he had two hundred families under his pastoral care, who had been so long without the ordinances of religion that their children were growing up ' like savages.' From April 13 to September 29, he had bap- tized forty children and thirty adults; and the Lord's Table
643
" VACANCIES."
1790-1800.]
was attended by sixty communicants. No Episcopal clergy- man has been settled here since the Revolution."-(Dalcho, p. 389.)
" That whole region of country lay in the course of the tide of immigration by way of Charleston, Cambridge or Ninety- Six, towards the Savannah river. It accords with my observa- tion that removals within the State have mostly been from the South towards the North. At the dates indicated it was likely to be greater than at any period that has fallen under my observation. . It was then that Greenville and Pendleton were filling up, and two channels of immigration were pouring people into Abbeville- one from North Carolina and Vir- ginia, the other from Ireland. I may remark on the facility with which the first settlers in our country effected removals, and the motives which led to them. As a general rule they did not expect to cultivate much land, or put up costly build-
ings. They kept large stocks of horses, cattle, and some swine. These animals could not only subsist, but flourish upon the natural productions of the soil. They constituted the wealth of the people. The wild game was sought, not only for profit, but amusement. When people came with money and wished to buy land for cultivation, the first settlers were willing to relinquish their claims for a fair equivalent, and push out into the wilderness. So that I infer that our people that were in the Cuffey Town region in the last ten years of the last century, might have been found at the commencement of this, in Pendleton, or parts of Georgia contiguous. In their stead a people from Ireland, so attached to the use of Rouse's version in religious worship as to consider the Pres- byterians idolaters, came to occupy." As to Reedy Branch, "I think our body was supplanted by others to a con- siderable extent in this section. The Associate Reformed exist in that neighborhood in great numbers, and the introduc- tion of Watts's version gave great offence to our people."- (Letter of Rev. James H. Saye.)
THICKETTY, supplied by R. B. Walker in 1793.
MILFORD, supplied by W. C. Davis, H. Hunter, and Wm. Montgomery, in 1793. It had been united with Nazareth, under W. C. Davis, in 1791 and '92.
HITCHCOCK was a locality which Robert Finley was directed to supply in 1785 .. It is not mentioned in subsequent enumera- tions. He was then settled at Waxhaw, and is directed to supply Bethesda, Cedar Creek, and Hitchcock. Hitchcock Creek was a locality in Anson county, North Carolina,-see
644
REV. JOHN NEWTON.
[1790-1800.
Records of the Presbyterian Church, pages 403 and 405 -at which Mr. Harris was to preach, in 1770. It is a tribu- tary of Great Pedee, on which Rockingham is situated. There may, however, be no connection between these two places.
NEWTON, at the head of Tyger river, was received as a society, October, 1796, and James Templeton was ordered to supply it. It is mentioned as a vacant church at the close of the century and afterwards. Its locality is unknown to the present writer.
. The jurisdiction and missionary labors of this presbytery extended over the upper portion of Georgia, beyond the Savannah, until the organization of Hopewell presbytery in March, 1797. In October, 1785, the presbytery, at its session at Jackson Creek, received John Newton, late a probationer from Orange presbytery, under its care, and ordered him to supply one Sabbath at Bethesda, and in Georgia at discretion. He was appointed to Duncan's Creek, in South Carolina, and to Providence and Bethsalem, in Georgia, and the rest at dis- cretion, in October, 1786. In October, 1787, a people on Cann's creek petition to be taken under care, and to be known by the name of Bethel, in Georgia. Mr. Newton continued to labor in our sister State. A call had been presented from Bethsalem, Georgia, for his services in April, and measures were taken for his ordination. This took place at Duncan's Creek, October 18, 1788, Rev. James Edmonds preaching the sermon, and Rev. Francis Cummins giving the charge, and he was solemnly set apart to the above ministry by fasting, prayer, and laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Mr. Newton was received by Messrs. Park and Gilham, in the name of the people who called him in Georgia. On the 13th of April, at Long Cane, Bethany, Siloam, Goshen, Ebenezer, Salem, Little Britain, in Georgia, Bethlehem, New Hope, Fall- ing Creek, Georgia congregations, petition for supplies, and appeals were brought up from time to time from the churches. Meanwhile, Mr. John Springer, who had been under the care of Orange presbytery, but had taken charge of a school at Whitehall, made application to presbytery by letter,* which
* Dated Cambridge, October 6, 1787. From this letter we learn that the pres- bytery of Orange "had discontinued his name on their books for some time past, but if the South Presbytery insisted on a formal dismission he should have it as soon as .they convened." It is probable that he had devoted himself to teaching for some years. Tradition makes him the first president of the college at Cambridge. The name Ninety-Six had been changed to Cam- bridge, as we have seen, in anticipation of the hoped for-future eminence of this institution.
645
REV. JOHN SPRINGER.
1790-1800.]
was seconded also by a communication from Rev. Hezekiah Balch, John Harris, and Andrew Pickens, desiring that his parts of trial, appointed by Orange presbytery, might be heard at an intermediate presbytery, which was accordingly appointed. His licensure, however, did not take place till the 18th of October, 1788. He continued to teach, but supplied the va- cant churches that were near .* In April, 1790, calls were presented to presbytery from Providence, Smyrna, and Wash- ington, Wilkes county, then lately organized, for Mr. Springer. Giving up calls which he held from Little River, Rocky Creek, and Cambridge, which were in his hands, he accepted these, and was ordained by the presbytery of South Carolina, at Washington, July 21, 1790. The ordination service was con- ducted under the shade of a tall and spreading poplar, now of very large dimensions, standing on the grounds of A. L. . Alexander, Esq., no house of worship being yet built. The house of worship of the Smyrna congregation stood some five miles southeast of Washington, on the Augusta road. Mr. Springer was the first Presbyterian minister ordained south of the Savannah river, and was the first minister in the up- country of Georgia. He had charge of an academy in great repute in Washington, Wilkes county, at which John Forsyth, minister to Spain, member of Congress, and governor of Georgia, was fitted for college. He was assisted in this school by Rev. Hope Hull, an eloquent preacher of the Methodist church, and the father of Hon. Asbury Hull and Dr. Henry Hull and of the wife of Prof. James P. Waddel, of Athens."- (White's Statistics of Georgia, pages 256, 596, and his His- torical Collections, pages 233, 395. Dr. J. S. Wilson's " Dead of the Synod of Georgia," page 16.) The appointments of Mr. Springer for the supply of vacant churches were gener- ally at his discretion. Once he was appointed to visit the congregations of Little Britain and Goose Pond. He was moderator of the presbytery at Fairforest, April, 1794. He was an attractive preacher, and delivered his discourses, which were unwritten, with uncommon ease and elegance. The lecture and sermon which were parts of trial before pres- bytery were published in 1805, at the press of Hobby and Bunce, Augusta, by his attached friends, and they were proba- bly all that were found among his papers. A short sketch of his life was prefixed to these, from which we learn that he was born near Wilmington, Delaware, about the year 1745. In
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