USA > South Carolina > History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, Vol. II pt 2 > Part 16
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SMYRNA CHURCH (NEWBERRY DISTRICT) is located six and half miles west of Newberry C. H., in the District of New- erry, directly on the high road leading from Newberry C. H. Old Cambridge, or Ninety -Six. It was organized Septem- er the 25th, 1838, by the Revs. R. C. Ketchum and M. D. raser, with seventeen members, viz : Geo. Boozer, Esq., and ife, Mrs. Harriet Cappock (widow), Mr. and Mrs. David lary, Mr. and Mrs. John Senn, Mr. and Mrs. David Boozer, [rs. Rebecca Hendrix (widow), Mrs. Elizabeth Boozer vidow), Mrs. Christiana Senn (widow), Mrs. Mary Boozer widow), Mrs. Pamela Benton, Miss Caroline Boozer, Miss Tary Boozer and Miss Sarah D. Boozer. From this number eorge Boozer, Esq., and David Clary were elected and rdained to the eldership. The Church was supplied in part ly the Rev. R. C. Ketchum, Geo. Boggs and P. H. Folker, ith perhaps a few sermons from others, till the year 1840. GILDER'S CREEK enjoyed the services of Rev. John B. Ken- edy till 1839. He resided at Laurens C. H. and ministered oth to Gilder's Creek, in Newberry District, and Rocky pring, in Laurens. The membership of Gilder's Creek in 830 was sixty-nine, and of Rocky Spring eighty seven. In 839 Gilder's Creek was vacant, and Rocky Spring had sixty- even communing members.
534
LITTLE RIVER-LIBERTY SPRING. [1830-1840.
LITTLE RIVER, LAURENS .- The records of this Church were destroyed somewhere about the year 1842, as we have before mentioned. The Rev. John B. Kennedy continued to preach to this Church till his death. The pulpit was subsequently filled at different periods by the Rev. Messrs. William Mc- Whorter, P. H. Folker, Mr. Johnson, D. Wills, Z. L. Holmes, and C. B. Stewart.
Since the death of Mr. Kennedy, William H. Horan, John H. Boyd and James G. Williams have been elders in this Church.
DUNCAN'S CREEK .- The names of Rev. Messrs. Arthur Mooney, A. J. Pearson, Wm. Quillan, J. B. Kennedy and John McKittrick have been named to us as successively stated supplies to this Church till about 1838. By this time, we are told, the Church had almost ceased to exist. There had been no additions for several years. Many of the old mem- bers had removed to other parts. Some had attached them- selves to other denominations, several had died, and those who remained were careless as to the prosperity of the Church. The elders were dead or had moved away with the exception of Elder George McCreery, who had become old and frail, and unable from physical infirmity to give attention to the affairs of the Church. The Rev. John B. Kennedy from this time met occasionally a few of the members who yet remained.
ROCKY SPRING (LAURENS) appears to have been ministered to as a stated supply by John B. Kennedy, and to have had a membership of eighty-seven communicants at the beginning of this decade, and sixty-seven through the remainder.
LIBERTY SPRING .- Rev. Thos. Archibald, who was preach- ing to this congregation at the beginning of this period, died on the 31st of December, 1832. Rev. Mr. Adams, a gentle- man probably from Massachusetts, preached at this Church in 1833. He remained one or two years in this part of South Carolina, and returned to the North. The Rev. John B. Ken- nedy, before mentioned, preached at Liberty Spring again in 1834; the Rev. Samuel B. Lewers in 1835; the Rev. Mr. Martin, from Abbeville, in 1835. The Rev. Mr. Lewers again in 1837, 1838, 1839. The Church at Laurens gave up a part of his time to this Church on account of its peculiar circum- stances. In July of 1837, Capt. Robert Cunningham and William Thompson resigned their eldership. William Green, Mathew Bryson, Jonathan Reid, and Dr. R. E. Campbell were
.
535
WARRIOR'S CREEK-NAZARETH.
0-1840.]
:cted elders ; only the first two consented to serve, and were dained by Rev. Mr. Lewers.
WARRIOR'S CREEK, in Laurens District, is reported vacant, th fifty-four communicants, in 1830; vacant, with sixteen mmunicants, in 1836 and 1837.
FRIENDSHIP CHURCH, (LAURENS.) -- We are able to give but mcagre account of this church. The succession of its min- ers was partially given on a former page. After Eleazer ainard, Aaron Foster, Anthony Mooney and Archibald aig then mentioned, S. B. Lewers, formerly an elder in the urch, is said to have preached several years, beginning th 1832. This will probably more than cover the period which we now write. After the elders before mentioned, llow the names of S. B. Lewers, Thomas Cunningham, Thos. 1; Simpson, and Isaac P. Boyd. The terms of their office not dicated. Friendship Church is set down in the statistical bles as having eighty members in 1830, thirty of whom ere received in that year. In 1831 it was supplied in con- ection with Fairview, by Arthur Mooney, and had ninety- he members, sixteen of whom had been received in that clesiastic year. In 1832 vacant with ninety-three members. 1 1833 it was supplied by Rev. Samuel B. Lewers, who also applied Laurens Courthouse, then, for the first time, men- oned. In 1838 the members were fifty-four in number and e same in 1839. Mr. Lewers continued their Stated supply 1 the close of this decade.
NAZARETH (SPARTANBURG) .- Rev. Michael Dixon resigned le pastorate of this church in 1833 and removed from the bunds of the congregation. The church was afterwards applied for four years by the Rev. John Boggs. He was icceeded by Rev. Edward Tonge Buist who was dismissed om the Charleston Union Presbytery November 2d, 1837, the Presbytery of South Carolina, by which body he was stalled as pastor of this church.
The frame building which had superseded, between 1785 id 1790, the original log house in which worship was first inducted, gave way in 1832 to the present brick building, which religious service has been held ever since. To the riginal elders of this church have been added from time to me, as circumstances have required, Messrs. Richard Barry, mes Hadden, Thomas Gaston, David White, Andrew owan, James Jordan, Thomas Brice, John Smith, Richard
536
FAIRVIEW-SMYRNA CHURCH.
[1830-1840.
Daniel, Thomas B. Collins, Jonathan N. Hadden and Richard Barry, Jr.
FAIRVIEW (GREENVILLE.)-On the fourth Sabbath in 1832 the Rev. John Boggs, then of Virginia, became stated supply of this church, and at the fall meeting of the Presbytery of South Carolina he was duly called and became pastor for half his time at a salary of $200. On the 4th of July, 1835, Rev. David Humphrey, of Anderson District, took charge for half his time on the same compensation. On the Ist of July, 1838, the Rev. William Carlisle succeeded him, salary the same, and remained in this relation for six years.
Alexander Thompson was elected to the eldership in this church May 7th, 1837, and James Dunbar and Adam Stevens W/ January Ist, 1838. Scénhouse
NORTH PACOLET .- Rev. F. Porter was supplying this church till 1832, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. L. Ken- nedy. Under his care Mr. J. L. Clarke and Mrs. D. Clark, his wife, B. Clark, J. F. Clark, M. B. Clark, J. M. Clark, W. Dickson, and his wife; M. Jackson, J. Jackson, M. Caruth, C. Jackson, M. Jackson, H. Kelso, J. McClure and M. McClure became united with the church. In 1838, Rev. J. L. Kennedy and Rev. A. J. Pearson labored with us in the ministry of the gospel, under whose care S. Jackson, D. Jackson, M. Jackson, J. Jackson, E. Jackson, P. Jackson, M. Jackson, J. Jackson, M. Jackson, a whole family circle apparently, also became members. [Letter of A. F. Jackson, B. W. Clark, Wm. Jackson, Elders, February 10, 1853.]
The number of communicants in this church was thirty in 1832, so also in 1836, 1837.
SMYRNA CHURCH .- Rev. Hugh Dickson discontinued his labors at this place in 1830, at which time Robt. Redd was the only elder, his predecessors having either died or removed away. At this time, " not a face of the first members," says Father Dickson, " was to be seen in it." "Some of the old adherents, with others, have associated together. They have erected a comfortable house of worship, had elders ordained, and at one time it appeared as though something might have been done, but later one of the elders, with five or six of the members, have moved away ; few are left behind. They are visited by a Mr. Donnelly. What will be the result heaven only knows. Under the new organization the church is known as Bethesda." [Letter of Rev. Hugh Dickson to his
537
30-1840.] GREENVILLE-ROCKY CREEK.
on-in-law, Rev. John C. Williams, containing his reminiscen- es of the olden times of the church, dated March 9, 1853. ranscribed and remitted to the author by Rev. John C. Wil- ams, March 14, 1853.]
GREENVILLE (ABBEVILLE.)-The Rev. Hugh Dickson con- nued in the pastorship of this church and congregation. he ruling eldership had been reduced by the death and re- hoval of two elders. The one, John Weatherall, had died, ne other. Samuel Agnew, had removed. About the year 829 or 1830, John Donald, Williams Means, A. C. Haw- horn, with Abraham Hadden, were ordained elders. About 833, a difference in politics occurred which occasioned a onsiderable withdrawal from the church. The seats of two Iders were vacated. Tranquility restored, the loss was soon epaired. In 1836, Lydall Williams and John Weatherall ere elected and ordained ruling elders, and John McKittrick as added to the Session.
ROCKY CREEK (NEW ROCK CHURCH), ABBEVILLE .- The Rev. Hugh Dickson continued to supply this church until anuary, 1836, having labored six years and three months. rom January, 1836. to October, 1837, it was supplied by he Rev. Charles Martin. He served the church one year nd nine months. In January, 1838, Rev. Edwin Cater con- ienced supplying for half his time. In the spring of 1839, e gave all his time to it. At the meeting of the Presbytery the fall of the same year, he received a call to become the astor, which call he accepted, but was not installed till April, 1840. This was in consequence of the failure of the ommittee appointed to instal him. He resigned his charge October 3d, 1846, having labored eight years and nine months. n 1823, when the Rev. j. Rennie began to supply the church, here were twenty members. From this time to 1838, when Rev. E. Cater began his labors, thirty-seven members were dded, the entire number being sixty ; but fourteen members re reported to have died or been dismissed. And twenty- our others are so reported, but of these the date of deaths or emoval is not given in the minutes of the Session ; and whether it was before or after the year 1838, I am not able to letermine.
In February, 1838, William Calhoun, Robert Crawford nd James Caldwell were ordained as ruling elders by Rev. Mr. Dickson. In February, 1839, Dr. E. R. Calhoun, Genl.
538
OLD CAMBRIDGE-HOPEWELL.
[1830-1840.
James Gillam and John McClelland were ordained by Rev. Edwin Cater. [From the sermon of Rev. John McLees, pastor of this church, preached April 3, 1867. being the 20th year of his pastorate. Southern Presbyterian, October 22, 1878.]
OLD CAMBRIDGE .- This church, on its original site, had now become extinct. The church building was sold to the Baptists in 1833 or 1834, and removed to another site, where a few years since it was still standing.
HOPEWELL (ABBEVILLE), formerly LOWER LONG CANE .- . In 1830 the Rev. Richard B. Cater became the pastor of the church. He was an earnest minister, his sermons were pre- pared with great care and delivered in a manner and with a grace rarely surpassed. He entered upon his duties under favorable auspices and had the prospect of a long and useful pastorate ; but an unfortunate difference occurred between himself and some of the members of the Session, which led to their withdrawal from the church, and although Mr. Cater was sustained by the congregation, he felt that it was his duty to resign, which he did in 1832, and soon after removed to Alabama. Rev. Isaac Waddell succeeded Mr. Cater in 1833. Called by the unanimous voice of the congregation to the pastoral office, he brought to the discharge of his responsible duties that rare combination of moral, mental and social qualifications which endeared him to the people and won for him the appellation of the "beloved pastor." His sermons were plain, practical discourses, in which the truth of the Christian religion was the central idea, and in strong, vigor- ous language he urged its acceptance as a rule of life. In public his manner was sedate, not severe ; in private, a sincere 'and true friend, at all times an upright Christian gentleman. He was known to be thrown off his balance but once in the pulpit. There was in the congregation an old Irishman, by the name of Johnny Glasgow, who occupied one of the short seats on the left of the pulpit. One long hot day in June the old man was wholly overcome by sleep, and leaning his elbow against the end of the seat and resting his head in his hand, he was soon in the land of Nod, the observed of all observers. Mr. Waddell had been addressing himself to the bulk of the congregation before him and had not noticed Mr. Glasgow asleep, but on some point of general application he exclaimed in a louder tone : " Awake, thou that sleepest, arise !" This
539
HOPEWELL-ROCKY RIVER.
-1840.]
urbed the old man's dreaming and brought him instantly his feet, when, raising his eyes and hands to the preacher, said, in his drawling way, " Aye, profess, Maister Waddell, not asleep." Mr. Waddel looked down on the little old n in great astonishment and quietly said, "Take your seat, . Glasgow," then turned to the front to continue his mon; but the face of the congregation was like a calm lake . en the South wind blows. He turned to the right, then again the front, some of the youngsters suickering audibly, and, laughing is catching," it extended to the old folks. The mister looked grave, his shoulders would rise and fall, his ast heaved and he sat down. The pulpit was one of those cular boxes, about eight feet high by three in diameter, ck upon the side of the house. We do not know what he I when hidden from view, but after a few moments he rose d concluded the service. There was one trait in these old ng Cane Irish and their descendants worthy of mention, d perhaps of imitation, that is when charged with a "short ming," although sometimes " schanny" in avoiding the int, they would squarely own up to the truth, if guilty. ptain J. C. Mathews, one of the good old men of the Church, s an elder. He also acted as precentor and parcelled out lines of the hymn and led the singing. He had a seat led in to himself under the pulpit and immediately in front the congregation.
When the minister would take his text, the old Captain uld settle himself in his nest and listen attentively to every und which fell from his lips, but should the sermon be too g or too high, or not altogether to his taste, he would owl out a peculiar yawn, something between a groan and a h, as an admonition to the speaker to hurry up, which, if heeded, he would turn to front, fold his arms and quietly to sleep. On being rallied about it he would say, " I was I and could hold no more," then quote a saying of Dr. Barr, Then weariness begins, edification ceases," and add in his n quaint way, " the best thing one can do under such cir- mstances is to go to sleep." [E. P. D.]
ROCKY RIVER (Abbeville) -In 1830, this church was again der the pastoral care of Rev. Dr. Waddell, and so continued til 1835, says one authority. Another says, until a year two of his death. In 1837, Rev. Wm. Davis took charge this church, and continued to serve it about two years, and
540
ROCKY RIVER.
[1830-1840.
was succeeded by Rev. James Lewers* A worthy gentleman of the old school and member of this church, thus writes, mingling the ancient and the modern in his recollections : " There being no session-book kept until quite recently, I am unable to furnish you with a roll of the members that formerly belonged to the. Rocky River Church. They now number thirty-five; but forty-five years ago, I have no doubt, there were at least two hundred, From removals and deaths, small farms have been bought up, and large planters (who, generally, are a curse to a community) have occupied the soil, so that we have dwindled down to the above number. The first settlers in the bounds of Rocky River were mostly from Ireland and Scotland. During the Revolution they suffered great privations ; they lost all, or nearly all, their property ; many were butchered by savages; they were often alarmed amid the darkness of the night, and fled to the forest or any place where they might think themselves secure. These accounts I have often heard related by my mother and others. One case I have often heard her relate: The Indians had murdered several of her neighbors (my father being out in the service) ; she got the news about sunset; she immediately set off with, I think, four children and one at the breast, and as she passed one of her beds, caught up a quilt or blanket and fled to some retreat, and spread the cover over her children, but sat up the whole night herself. There were many other cases similar to this. In the year 1802, I think, there was what was then, and by some is now, considered a great re- vival of religion. I attended two of those meetings. I was then 17 years of age. There was no noise, no excitement; many would fall down and appear for hours insensible. A number of my acquaintances were affected in this way ; but so far as my knowledge extends, I could perceive no reforma- tion in after life. I only speak as to my own observation. In two or three years the Presbyterians generally gave up these camp-meetings ; I think it was well to do so. In 1836, Rev. Daniel Baker held a protracted meeting at our church, and some twelve or fifteen joined the church. Several of these turned again to the world. My opinion (although
*William H. Davis was received by the Presbytery of South Carolina, from Union Presbytery, in the Synod of Tennessee, on the 22d of March, 1839, and was ordained and installed pastor of Hopewell and Willington Churches on the 22d of May, 1839. (Minutes of South Carolina Pres- bytery, pp. 131-137.)
541
WILLINGTON.
0-1840.]
rth but little) is, and long has been, that Presbyterians ould stand aloof from all the nere measures that have been, may be, adopted by others. No need of camp-meetings, need of organs, fiddles, gowns, bags, altars, &c., &c.
"A. GILES.
' Montery, S. C., October 16, 1853."
WILLINGTON .- The Rev. Dr. Waddell, the former pastor of is Church, and who had left it for the presideney of the hiversity of Georgia, at Athens, having resigned that office August, 1829, in February, 1830, returned to Willington d resumed his former pastoral duties here. He continued minister to this church till September, 1836, when he was sabled by a stroke of palsy. We are again indebted to his voted and intelligent friend, Mrs. M. E. Davis, for the scription and estimate of his character :
' Dr. Waddell's time was divided between Willington and Rocky ver. The arrangement was permanent and voluntary-there was no use for effort or self-denial on their part, Though some now began complain of the tediousness of a discourse protracted to an hour, or hour and thirty minutes, yet the respect and veneration which his aracter inspired no blemish could weaken, no infirmities destroy. has been said that Dr. Waddell's forte lay in teaching ; and, perhaps, e who affected criticism on pulpit oratory would not have pronounced m a great preacher ; but that he possessed the instinctive power of le eloquence is evinced by the fact that a person not particularly in- rested in his doctrines could listen to him for an hour without weari- ss ; and when his massive fist came down upon the pulpit, with a rce corresponding to the strength and energy of the thought which verned it, the conviction that went to the hearts of his hearers was resistible. His manner of life from his youth had given his sermons didactic form, and, no doubt, from the habit of controlling and in- ructing youth, they had acquired the dogmatic style which characterized em. In his old age he had lost all regard for brevity ; his voice and stures had become somewhat stern, his style blunt and unadorned. is evident that from the first his only model was nature, his only acher the Bible. He soared into no untrodden heights of fancy, sel- m attempted tropes or figures of rhetoric, aspired to no superior graces elocution ; but the deductions drawn from nature and experience ere to him like those of the Apostle when he says: 'I speak that I know, and testify to that which I have seen,' &c. Perhaps there was ever a speaker more in earnest, or one who more emphatically expressed
neerity. It was his habit to dwell very strongly on a few fundamental ints of Christian doctrine. One of these was the duty of secret ayer, and very seldom did he finish a discourse without enforcing in he conclusion this favorite and well-grounded tenet, frequently, also, sing in public worship the hymns belonging to this department.
"When, on a certain time, dancing assemblies were set up almost at is very door, by one high in authority, and many of his church mem- ers, with their children, were drawn under their seductive influences,
542
DR. WADDELL.
[1830-1840.
his grief and indignation were unbounded. But, not content with an- nonneing publicly, on the next Sabbath, his ministerial and personal disapprobation of such 'revellings,' and so forth, he soon had the satis- faction of proclaiming triumphantly that, with the assistance of Rev. Dr. Barr and others. he had succeeded in passing a resolution to the effect that all church members who attended or suffered their children to attend dancings, should be subjects of discipline, &c. Always a strict censor on the morals of the young, his zeal for their interests had now become part of his nature, and though he seldom pressed upon them the personal claims of salvation, there are some now living who remember with increasing gratitude his faithful. though, at that time, unwelcome chidings and rebukes.
" After his return from Athens, though he engaged no more in its active duties, he exerted a beneficial supervision and influence over the large school sustained at W., first by his youngest son, and afterwards by the eldest, James P. Waddell. Such was the respect which his character and virtues combined with dreamy traditions of the rod, in- spired, that there was generally nothing more needed to bring up a delinquent pupil than to be obliged to report his condnet or his lesson to the venerable president. No doubt some yet remember the old chestnut before the door of the little study, where they have been held in tedious durance, perhaps for hours, listening to a lecture on good behavior or on Latin verbs and particles Sometimes a pleasant thought or a ludicrous association would, in spite of his assumed austerity, force away the frown from the grave old brow, and he would shake with laughter, to the no small wonder of the culprit. This was always the precursor to an amusing anecdote or some pleasant reminiscence, and the fortunate youth went away much enlightened on the subject of his old preceptor's past achievements.
" In his declining years he was garrulous, and, like all men much held up to public gaze, a little vain-giorious. But in this respect he was more sinned against than sinning ; for the flatteries he had received were enough to turn the head of any one not more than mortal. We have often heard him allude, in a way which showed that he did not over- rate his abi ities, to the little book written by himself, containing the beautiful life of Caroline Elizabeth Smelt, of Augusta, Ga At that period of our country's existence, authorship was rather rare, and might well be considered an enviable distinction. He received for this more attention, I presume, than for any other work of his life ; but he declared that it was undertaken not for any fitness, but simply because there was no one else to do it. As long as he lived his name, connected with authorship, presented a ludicrous association to himself. But if this little work. so simple, terse and pure. may be taken as a sample of the author's powers, we may be excused for regretting that he never published anything more. It is said that his sermons were never written out, though he was accustomed to preserve the heads of his discourses, preaching always without notes.
"From the simplicity of his early manner of living he never departed, being plain and rather careless in his dress, and frugal in his diet. He was from principle and habit a strict economist, and as his wants were so simple. the easy manner in which he managed his estate did not materially affet his comfort or his purse. As an evidence of his con- sideration for the poor, he protected and cared for the widow of an Irish emigrant, a distant relative, for a number of years, and placed her little son in his school until this pious and amiable lady was married to Mr. John B. Bull.
543
DR. WADDELL.
(30-1840.]
" In his domestic discipline, Dr. Waddel followed the instructions ven to Timothy, believing that every man should be 'bishop of his house,' and there his authority was undisputed. It was his uniform istom to catechise all the children, both white and colored, every bbath evening, concluding with the Lord's Prayer.
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