USA > South Carolina > History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, Vol. II pt 2 > Part 33
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That object was at length attained. The old house and the lot were sold ; and a new house, small, but neat and commo- dious, was erected on a lot generously given for that purpose, by Mr. E. Y. McMorris, in the town of Newberry. The new church edifice was dedicated to the worship of God on the 17th day of December, in the year 1852. The church still retained the name of Aveleigh. After this removal, some of the country members found it more convenient to attend worship.at Gilder's Creek, and Mt. Bethel churches, and so transferred their membership to those churches. The church then numbered only about twenty members.
Signs of greater prosperity were soon apparent. Persons in town, who had little or no personal acquaintance with Pres- byterianism, and who had formed their notions of it from the representations of those who too often think it to their in- terest to present a caricature instead of a true picture of its systems of faith and order, found that it was not in fact what they had been taught to believe it to be. It very soon recom- mended itself to a considerable portion of the thinking and observant members of the community. At almost every communion meeting there were additions, more or less, to the church.
There were but three Ruling Elders in the church. Chancel- lor Job Johnston, in the town of Newberry, and Dr. Geo. W. Glenn, and Mr. Isaac Keller, in the country.
As the late Chancellor Job Johnston was from the begin- ning a leading elder in this church, so much so as to be re- garded as its chief supporter, if not in some sense its founder, we have deemed it proper to insert here, from another pen, and one more competent, some account of his professional standing and private character. We, however, state that he was born January 7th, 1793, in Fairfield County ; was gradu- ated at the South Carolina College, Dec., 1812, third in honor in a class offorty-five ; commenced the study of law with Mr. John Hooker, in 1811. Began the study of medicine with Dr. Davis, in the close of 1814; attended the lectures in medicine
713
CHANCELLOR JOB JOHNSTON.
1840-1850.]
under Drs. Hoosack and Motte, of New York. Resumed the study of law in the winter of 1817, was admitted to the bar n 1818, and soon obtained a fine practice. In Nov., 1826 h'e was elected Clerk of the Senate. Dec. 3d, 1830, was elected Chancellor, as colleague with Chancellor DeSaussure. It will be seen by the following that his decrees reflected credit upon his integrity and ability. His lamented death occurred on the 8th of April, 1862.
Descending from a long line of Presbyterian ancestry, run- hing back at least for two centuries, brought up in that church by a mother whose extraordinary mental powers were dorned by her earnest. true piety, herself learned in the doc- rines peculiar to that denomination, he was entirely Presby- erian. Yet, he was no bigot or sectarian. His catholicity s shown in the decree pronounced by him in the case of Har- non vs. Dreher ( I Speers, Eq. 87), which originated in the inhappy dissension that had sprung up, in 1835, in the Lu- heran congregation of St. Peter, Lexington, and eventually nade a breach in the whole church in South Carolina. The Chancellor begins the decree in the following words :
" I have witheld the decision of this cause for a length of ime, very unusual with me; not so much from the intrinsic difficulties of the case, though these are very considerable, as com a hope that an amicable adjustment might be effected. for I would not allow myself to believe that parties professing hat religion which, above all others, inculcates peace, humil- y and forgiveness of injuries, would reject the suggestions of Christian friends, proposing terms of reconciliation, or fail to eize with avidity the opportunities so frequently afforded since he hearing, to accommodate a dispute so dishonoring to the aviour whom they follow, so disreputable to themselves, and destructive to the church. Being, now, painfully convinced hat there is an unhallowed bitterness in this lamentable ontroversy (arising, possibly, from circumstances which have ot transpired), which forbids the hope of reconciliation mong the litigants, I am reduced to the deplorable necessity f delivering the judgment of a civil tribunal in a case of a piritual nature. I unfeignedly profess that no duty I have ver been called upon to perform has inflicted such pain upon e; and there is no sacrifice that could have been reasonably emanded, which I would not have made, or that I would not ow make, (if there were left any hope of its succeeding,) to
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714
ECCLESIASTICAL AND CIVIL COURTS.
[1840-1850.
compose the differences I am called upon to adjudicate." Then follows a decree wonderfully clear and orderly in the statement of facts, and evincing remarkable pains-taking in its preparation. Of the powers and authority of a Spiritual Court in America, the Chancellor observes :
" It belongs not to the civil power to enter into or review the proceedings of a Spiritual Court. The structure of our government has, for the preservation of Civil Liberty, rescued the Temporal Institutions from religious interference. On the other hand, it has secured Religious Liberty from the inva- sion of Civil Authority. The judgments, therefore, of relig- ious associations, bearing upon their own members, are not examinable here.
* I have * * stated the facts, and have stated the judgment rendered (by the Church Court) on the facts, and that judgment must be conclusive here. * * In this country, no ecclesiastical body has any power to enforce its decisions by temporal sanctions. Such decisions are in this sense advisory -that they are addressed to the conscience of those who have voluntarily subjected themselves to their spiritual sway ; and, except where civil rights are dependent upon them, can have no influence beyond the tribunal from which they emanate. Where a civil right depends upon an ecclesiastical matter, it is the civil court, and not the ecclesiastical, which is to decide. The civil tribunal tries the civil right, and no more; taking the ecclesiastical decisions, out of which the right arises, as it finds them, just as the ecclesiastical forums would be bound to regard the decisions of a temporal court, where a religious controversy springs out of it and is to be decided
by them. How idle the fears, therefore, of those who apprehend tyranny and oppression from ecclesiastical associ- ations. They have, and can have, no power whatever to en- force their decisions, which are, moreover, of no effect upon those who enter into them. Their power is only to cut off and disown intruders who come among them, but will not obey them. But that the Synod here was armed with judi- cial authority for trying and determining cases against delin- quent ministers and churches, appears from the Constitution (Synod's) itself, which is the rule for all who have acceded to it, and which expressly provides for such procedure. Neither can this Court look into the regularity of the process by which the Synod proceeded to its judgment. Every compe-
715
HUMOR AND REPA: TEE.
40-1850.]
nt tribunal must, of necessity, regulate its own formulas." Having a keen sense of the ridiculous and a high appreci- . ive of wit, with a gift of language most remarkable, it is sin- ular that he exhibited no powers of mimicry. It may be, e possessed the faculty, but never indulged in it. One of s sons, in childhood, had this gift to a very extraordinary egree ; but, at the request ofhis father, he abandoned the prac- ce of it, being shown that it was a faculty, which, if persisted would cause the loss, rather than the gaining of friends. he Chancellor, however, appreciated humor in others, metimes even at his own expense, though he was very sensi- je. The following is believed to be authentic: 'The Court Equity was held formerly for Chesterfield District at Che- w. Presiding at one of the terms of that court, which, it ems, was held in a public hall, above the butchers' market, e Chancellor took occasion to berate the Commissioners of iblic Buildings for not providing a more suitable place for a burt of Justice, saying that it was an outrage upon public cency, that while justice was being administered up stairs, eat should be butchered on the ground-floor. Mr. John glis (afterwards Chancellor) playfully remarked : "Your onor, with permission, I would suggest the Commissioners ght reply, that the incongruity is not so great as might be icied ; surely, meats may be butchered down-stairs, while stice is being butchered up-stairs."
His first circuit in Charleston happened to include Good iday. Before adjournment, Thursday, Mr. Pettigrew ved a recess to Saturday, 10 A. M., as to-morrow would Good Friday .. The Chancellor replied that Courts were pointed and terms held by Acts of the Legislature, and at he was not aware of any Statute that had declared Good idays dies non, and refused the motion, Mr. Pettigrew orted that he had never heard of a Court being held that y, except once, whereat the greatest injustice was done that s ever perpetrated-when Pilate condemned our Lord.
[Humor and wit have never been clearly defined.]
His power to state the law with clearness, precision and mpleteness, was very extraordinary. His skill, too, in ar- aging a mass of testimony in such a way as to arrive at the hverging establishment of the central fact, from various proaches, was unsurpassed. Of both these qualities, the je of Freyer vs. Freyer (Rich. Eq. Cases, 87,) which deals
716
THE LAW OF MARRIAGE.
[1840-1850.
with the matter germane, to ecclesiastical law, furnishe; most remarkable evidence. Of this particular case, which, in its subject matter itself is of interest to the church, space forbids to quote more than the opening paragraphs :
" Marriage with us, so far as the law is concerned, has ever been regarded as a mere civil contract. Our law prescribes no ceremony. It requires nothing but the agreement of the parties, with an intention that that agreement shall per se con- stitute the marriage. They may express the agreement by parol-they may signify it by whatever ceremony their whim, or their taste, or their religious belief, may select. It is the agreement itself, and not the form in which it is couched, which constitutes the contract. The words used, or the ceremony performed, are mere evidence of a present in- tention and agreement of the parties. Marriage is always an executed, never an executory contract. It is not what the parties intend to do hereafter, but what they intentionally do now, that constitutes the tie, and renders it indissoluble. Therefore, an engagement that the parties will marry is not marriage ; but an engagement, whereby they do take each other in praesenti for man and wife, is marriage. The con- tract of marriage, when completely entered into, is a fact. Like every other fact, it is susceptible of an infinite variety of proof. It may be proved by those who witnessed it when it took place. It may be proved by subsequent declarations or acknowledgments of the parties. It may be evidenced by their conduct and the attitude they maintain toward each other and the world. But there is a clear distinction between the fact itself, and the evidence of the fact. As a witness, who swears that he saw the marriage take place, may or may not be believed, so the acknowledgment of parties that they have been married, like the acknowledgments, of any other past transactions or facts, may be true or false, and should be believed or disbelieved accordingly. The acknowledgment of a marriage does not constitute the marriage, any more than the acknowledgment of any other fact constitutes that fact. It is evidence only. Nor is it conclusive evidence, even on the parties themselves. It puts the burden on them of show- ing the contrary ; but if they can show the contrary-if they can show that what they have acknowledged did not, or could not exist, they are at liberty to do so. They have not this privilege where the false declaration has deceived, and the
.
717
CONTRIBUTIONS.
-1850.1
action would defraud some third person ; as, where a , by holding out a woman as his wife, has ensnared a litor. But where the question is confined to the parties, etween themselves, or concerns third persons who have been defrauded, there is full scope for every kind of proof ch tends to disclose the real truth of the matter."
possessed of one of the handsomest estates in upper South blina, he contributed largely to the support of the church. gave generally almost one-half, or more, of all the contri- ons made to defray the expenses of Aveleigh Church, of ch he was a member; and there was hardly any enterprise he church at large in which he did not assist very lib- v. At one time he made arrangements with keepers of the y stables in Columbia to enable the licentiates in the inary to go and preach in the country around that city. originated a method of weekly contributions in Aveleigh, ting that each member of the congregation, every Sab- should give five cents, no more and no less, and show- hat, if every Presbyterian in the United States would ribute that small amount weekly, a sum would be raised le for all the enterprises of the church ; besides, being aptly made, the church could reckon on it with certainty, need not be cramped in its enterprises.
e was a priest in his own household. He insisted upon y member of his family, including the domestic servants, g present at the exercises of family worship. He trained laves as if they were children. He required them to at- the church of which he was a member, and their absence strictly to be accounted for. Every Sabbath afternoon were assembled for instruction in the Catechism, etc. government of his slaves was so excellent that, though arger part of them were quartered within the limits of the , where they were more subject to temptations to wrong lg, none of them, during his lifetime, was ever prosecuted ny offense against the public laws. In social life he was ming. Dr. Mayer's letter, which follows, is proof of
NEWBERRY, May 24th, 1881.
AR SILAS: The first time I ever had any conversation with your r, was in the year 1838 or 1839, in Columbia, while I was a student divine, under Drs. Wells and Toland. I met him accidentally, in ublic room of the Hotel then kept by Mr. Maybin. Although I 10 reason to suppose that he knew me (I, however, knowing who
718
TESTIMONY OF O. R. MAYER.
[1840-1850.
he was), he placed me at once in such an easy position, in our conver- sation, as to impress upon my mind then, what was estab ished with me, by my long subsequent intimacy with him, as his most remarkable social trait, namely : his gift of making any man, from a Chancellor to an artisan, feel entire freedom from restraint in his presence, before tlie exchange of a dozen sentences. I never felt embarrassed in his com- pany. although timidity is my ruling fault ; and very many times have I admiringly seen the humblest farmer in familiar discussion with him, and unconsciously yielding up, to encouraging questions, the result of his simple observations. No man ever left your father's house without being a wiser man than when he entered it; and had to confess that there had been drawn ont of himselfmore knowledge than he could have believed was lying dormant in him. I have often meditated upon this pleasing characteristic, which I know came under the notice of others besides myself, and I wondered why it was, that a man possessed of such a quality,-so able by it to encourage suppressed energies, as well as to direct them after development,-should stand so far aloof from the public as Chancellor Johnston did,-should, when his term of professional work was over, for the time, permit the endearments of home to withdraw him from wide associations with his neighbors. I have ventured to think that perhaps, while he was a barrister, he stud- ied human nature too closely, saw too much of the hollowness of the human heart, and, as it was painful to him to be present wherever there was physical suffering, so much so as to force his retreat from any sick chamber, so he was disposed to avoid occasions of meeting the glare of general wickedness, so torturing to the spiritual eye, and take refuge in his veranda, with books and a few trusted friends.
I may say, that the most delightful of my recollections are those which recall the evening rides I sometimes took with Chancellor Johnston, in company with Rev. Edward Buist, his pastor (a good reader), to visit some favorite well or spring, hard by the town We did not dash along in the manner of those who drive out to "take the dust," as I believe it is facetiously called ; but onr speed was restrained so as not to mar the fluency of Mr Buist's reading of Macaulay, to which we listened with innch satisfaction-the Chancellor often raising his hand, as a signal for a panse, whenever he desired to make a comment ; or the reader, him- self, now and then desisting, to question the truth of some statement, for they were both staunch Presbyterians, and the pages read referred to the religious troubles of Scotland But when we arrived at the well -oftener than any other, Mr. Rikard's, under the superb whiteoak, overshadowing the spot whereon was the old-time Black Jack Tavern, -the volume was laid aside, and the tankard was borne to and fro, to the dripping fountain, that we might quaff the cool water while listening to anecdotes of the Covenanter settlers of Newberry, who, with others, sometimes stood upon the pebbly knoll there before us, to pound into nonentity a knotty punctilio with "blows and knocks" against one an- other's faces.
Your father's reading must have been immense and varied. "When I was a young man," he said once to me, "I read voraciously." This last word so impressed me, that I have never forgotten it Nor did he despise light literature. One morning, when I breakfasted with himn. the tea did not suit him. He turned his mild, blue eyes npon William, his servant, and asked, " Do yon call this tea?" "Yes, sir," replied William, nervously. "I call it water bewitched," insisted his master. Imagine what was my pleasant surprise, sometime afterwards, to come across
719
OVERTURES.
30-1850.]
( phrase, "water betwitched," in St. Ronan's Well. I could mention ler instances to show how his memory retained whatever was strik- even in his reading for amusement.
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it what I remember with deeper heart pleasure, Silas, than any- ig else, is the simple account he gave me (I hope there are others to hin he told it) of the sudden change that came over his religious be-
3
He was speaking to me of Dr. Chalmers Said he: Chalmers the Christian Religion in something like derision, until he under-
( to prepare the work on the Evidences of Christianity, which is, per- uj, the best of the Bridgewater Treatises. The researches he was ipelled to make for that purpose, opened his eyes to the truth of ht he at first derided as false. " Would you believe it, that I, myself, aonce a scoffer ?" I replied that I thought his religions life had ( the result of careful parental training. "No," he continued "it uspeen comparatively but a short time since I had any regard for re- in. The change in my views took place in the course of one night. vis while I and my family were residing very near the Methodist ich. One evening, [I think he said it was not a Sabbath evening] icted by the singing in the church, I agreed to a proposition of my f to attend the services. It was not long after we took our seats be- the preacher began his sermon. He was one of those uneducated
so common at that time in that denomination, and certainly one uwas little calenlated to make an impression upon me. But strange sy! while I considered his discourse as an unmeaning rant, I be- r possessed by a feeling which I cannot describe. It was an emo- r hat held possession of me with increasing tenacity, until, in the ph of the night my sighs awoke my wife. "'What is the matter ?' sked me. I tried to explain to her my state of mind, but could ;jo so fully. 'Oh, my dear husband !' she exclaimed, 'I know what S It is the Holy Spirit! thank God ! thank God !' "
I could proceed no further, at that time, though he afterwards often led to his subsequent religious experience, his difficulties, to illus- t which, he gave me to read Bunyan's "Grace Abounding." You vely upon it, that the words I have recorded are very nearly as they om his lips.
el weak from my recent attack of illness ; otherwise, I might have ton more. You know I am at your service to do anything in my vr to recall incidents relating to your father, who was certainly the "valuable friend I ever had; and I therefore hope that you will « free with me in any way by which you may start me in reviewing Jections upon this or that point.
As ever yours, O. R. MAYER.
e writer of this history may also add that Chancellor John- was on the committee of conference with the brethren of the eston Union Presbytery, and that we agreed upon that which was finally adopted by the Synod as to the restora. f those brethren; with him, also, in those overtures which Emade to the Associate Reformed Synod in our own State, rir mutual union, which were unsuccessful here, although $6, The Associate Reformed Presbytery of Alabama were
720
SMYRNA-LEBANON. [1840-1850.
received as a component part of our branch of the Presby- terian Church.
The introduction, too, into our Psalmody, of a selection from Rouse's version, has rendered ministerial intercourse between the two branches of the church in the South, theirs and ours, more practicable than before.
The number of communicants in Aveleigh in 1850, was 49; 1860, 80; 1870, 119; 1880, 128.
SMYRNA CHURCH, (Newberry District.)-In the year 1840, at the Fall Sessions of the Presbytery of South Carolina, the Rev. John McKittrick received a call from the churches of Aveleigh and Smyrna. An adjourned meeting of Presbytery was held at the Smyrna Church, November 1I, 1840, at which his ordination and installation took place. Rev. Edwin Cater. Moderator, preached from Isaiah 52: 7th. The Rev. Hugh Dickson gave the charge to the pastor and congregation, and Mr. McKittrick took his seat as a member of Presbytery. In 1845, Rev. E. F. Hyde was stated supply of Smyrna, in con- nection with Aveleigh and Guilder's Creek. In 1856, the Rev. Robt. McLees became its pastor for half his time, and continued so till his death. During the war, and after, until 1872, it was supplied by different ministers.
The first Elders elected at its organization, were, George Boozer, Esq., and David Clary. Afterwards John and James Senn and David Boozer became Elders. George Boozer, Esq., was always regarded as the leading man, as well as Rul- ing Elder in the church. His influence was great, both in the church, and out of it. He was the father of Rev. J. I. Boozer, who died in Arkansas before the war, and four of his sons were elders in four different churches. One of his daughters married the first pastor the church ever had. [T. C. Ligon.]
LEBANON CHURCH, Abbeville County .- The Rev. James T. Gibert continues as the pastor of this church. In 1842, on the 27th of February, Messrs. Vernon, Johnson and Moore, were ordained and installed as Deacons.
There has been a Bible Society auxiliary to the Abbeville Bible Society in this Church and congregation, from the be- ginning, and a Sabbath School always in the Summer months. The Elders, in 1845, were, Dr. J. F. Livingston, Thomas Griffin, James Paisley, N. M. Strickland, Dr. John S. Reid. The membership during these years varied from eighty to ninety two.
721
BETHIA-MT. BETHEL.
840-1850.]
BETHIA CHURCH was organized by Rev. Robert H. Reid, on he 4th day of November, 1849, with thirteen members, nine white, and four colored persons constituting the original nembership. At the first administration of the Lord's Sup- ber there were sixteen members in regular standing. On he 23d of February following, Joseph Bridges and Andrew McLane, of Bethel, were elected Elders. The Rev, Mr. Reid left in May, 1851, and the Rev. J. F. Gibert became the tated supply of this church, in connection with Lebanon which he has served as its pastor. The members in 1853, vere forty-one in full communion.
MT. BETHEL CHURCH .- The circumstances which led to he organization of Mt. Bethel Church, in Newberry County, 6. C., as set forth in the preface to its first Session Book, are is follows : I, a desire on the part of "a few benevolent men o procure religious instruction for their slaves," and 2, as here was no Presbyterian Church convenient, to have a place of worship of their own faith and order for themselves, their families and their slaves.
"The object, at first, was to secure the services of a Mission- ry, and that he should visit the plantations of those favor- ble to the enterprise, at proper times, and impart such in- truction by preaching, and the use of Jones' Catechism as hight be thought to be beneficial to the instructed."
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