USA > South Carolina > History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, Vol. II pt 2 > Part 8
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STONEY CREEK INDEPENDENT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- In February, 1830, the Rev. Edward Palmer began to preach to this Church once a fortnight, alternating with Walterboro'. In February. 1831, he removed to this Parish (Prince Wil- liam's), but continued to preach at Walterboro' as before. On the first of November, 1832, he became the regular pastor, giving his whole time to Stoney Creek. From September to December, 1839, he again preached at Walterboro' on alter-
451
1830-1840.] BEAUFORT-MIDWAY CHURCH, GEORGIA.
nate Sundays. He continued to serve this Church through the period of which we now write.
BEAUFORT .- We find no references any longer to any organized church, either Presbyterian or Congregational, at this point. Beaufort was the Postoffice of the Rev. Joseph Wallace, who received his education in the theological school established by the Rev. J. M. Mason in New York City. He was a member of the Associate Reformed Presbytery of Phil- adelphia, which had been extinct for several years. In April, 1836, he was received as a member of the Charleston Union Presbytery, on subscribing the confession of faith. His name s entered in the Assembly's minutes as of one without a pastoral charge. What labors he performed were devoted to he colored people among whom he resided.
WAYNESBORO', BURKE COUNTY, GA .- Rev. Lawson Clinton continued to serve this Church as its stated supply till 1834. n 1836 the Rev. Theodore M. Dwight was the stated supply of this Church, and continued so through this decade. It was beginning more and more to assume the Presbyterian order, nd is called the Burke County Presbyterian Church in the tatistical tables appended to the minutes of 1836, 1838 and 839. It was a church small in its numbers, not reporting hore than 22 members in the only two instances in which its membership is alluded to in the statistical column, but the cholarships founded by John Whitehead in the Princeton Seminary, and his donation to the permanent fund of the Amer- can Educational Society, and its donations to public charities, ttest the generosity and public spirit of at least some families the congregation. Its subscriptions to the Theological eminary alone, from 1834 to 1838, amounted to $1,380.
WHITE BLUFF does not appear to be mentioned by name, h any documents accessible to us, as an organized church. probably was supplied from time to time with preaching y ministers resident in Savannah.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, MIDWAY, GEORGIA .- The Rev. obert Quarterman continued the pastor of this Church hrough this decade. In March, 1836, the Rev. I. S. K. xson, a native of Charleston, was settled as colleague pastor, id preached his first sermon at Midway, on the 29th of pril in 1836. He had previously been for two years pastor f the Dorchester Church. The Midway congregation was spersed so widely over Liberty County that it required no
452
HUGUENOT CHURCH, CHARLESTON. [1830-1840.
small amount of pastoral labor ; and the various rural villages of Walthourville, Jonesville, Gravel Hill, or Flemington, resorted to especially in the summer and fall months, fur- nished many points at which the ministration of the word was required. This Church co-operated in all its benevolent efforts with its nearest neighbors, the Presbyterian Churches. Its subscriptions to the Theological Seminary from the reports of B. E Hand and Dr. S. S. Davis, in the earlier part of this decade, amounted to $1,292, and the legacy of Major Maybank to the same institution, received in January, 1837, amounted to $5,396.70.
CHAPTER II.
FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, CHARLESTON .- About the year 1830, a few of the descendants of the Huguenot refugees were incited, by a laudable desire, to renew the worship of God in their own sanctuary, according to the forms sanc- tioned by the wisdom and piety of their ancestors. A con- gregation was accordingly organized, and a committee, viz : Elias Horry, Thos. S. Grimke, Joseph Manigault, William Mazyck, Daniel Ravenel, and George W. Cross, were ap- pointed to compile a liturgy for divine worship. This was submitted to the congregation in October, 1836, and adopted.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHARLESTON .- During this decade the name of the Rev. Arthur Buist, the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, commonly called the Scotch Church, occurs in the statistical tables of the General Assem- bly as a member of the Charleston Union Presbytery without charge. The congregation resorted to the method which their predecessors had often adopted in former times and sought to obtain a minister from Scotland. Their wishes were met in the person of the Rev. John Forrest, afterwards D. D., a member of the Presbytery of Edinburgh, who came in 1832, with high recommendations, and who has proved to them an earnest, able and faithful minister. Dr. Forrest was born in the city of Edinburgh on the 19th of September, 1799, and was graduated with the degree of A. M. in the University of that city. He was called by the First Presbyterian Church of Charleston in February, 1832, and was ordained
453
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
30-1840.]
g.
the Presbytery of Edinburgh on the 27th of June follow- He assumed the charge of this church in October of the me year.
The Rev. Arthur Buist, before mentioned, was born on the 'd of December, 1799, and was graduated from South arolina College in 1814, and studied theology in Edinburgh, has been already stated. He resigned the pastorship of e First Presbyterian (or Scotch) Church in 1832, in conse- ience of ill health. He was thenceforward engaged in aching and preparing pupils for college until his death, hich occured on the 4th of January, 1843, at the age of rty-three years and thirteen days. He was married at ey Friars Church, at Edinburgh, Scotland, to Susan ewart Ballantine, on July 31, 1819. By her he had nine ildren, seven sons and two daughters, four of whom were rviving, all sons, in 1881. Of these, two, Arthur and James, preachers .of the gospel in the Baptist Church, and one, lward H. Buist, in the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Buist ed in 1847. The only published production of Mr. Buist have seen is a sermon in The Southern Preacher, p. 107, ited by Rev. Colin McIver.
The Rev. Dr. Forrest continued the pastor of this church many years.
THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND CONGREGATION IN E CITY OF CHARLESTON .- Dr. Smyth still continuing the story of this church, says : "In August, 1830, the Rev. exander Aikman, received an unsuccessful call. In April, 31, a similar call was presented to the Rev. J. B. aterbury.
'It was in April, 1832, we were first acquainted as minis- and people. Very wonderful were the leadings of provi- ice, by which I was brought to this country and to this 't of it, and by which you were led to extend to me an itation to supply the pulpit for a year. In August, 1832, presented to me a permanent call to the pastoral charge of s church. This, in pursuance of a long established convic- that to the happiness of such a connexion intimate ac- tintance with each other was required, I long retained, and open to any change in your views. Having rendered this lding everything I could desire and proportioned it to my oleness of body, I cordially accepted your unanimous call, was installed by the Charleston Union Presbytery, on
454
THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
[1830-1840.
Sabbath evening, December 29th, 1834. I have thus been connected with you five years, a period longer than any other pastor has been, except Dr. Flinn.
There have been fifteen Elders connected with this church, six ordained by Dr. Flinn; three by Mr. Boies; three by Dr. Henry and three by myself. The statistical tables.for 1839 give the whole number of communicants in this church to be 304, seven of whom had been received on examination, and eleven by certificate, during the year.
THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHARLESTON,-The financial condition of this church became less prosperous, and in 1830 was burdened with a debt of $4,200. By special effort this burden was removed. It was destined to meet with s severe trouble. In 1833 Dr. Wm. A. McDowell, its beloved pastor, being elected to the Secretaryship of the Assembly's Board of Domestic Missions, resigned his charge of this church. and about the same time or shortly after, four of its most efficient elders removed from the city. The pulpit was then filled by casual supplies until the fall of 1835, when a call was extended to Wm. C. Dana, afterwards D. D., who preached his first sermon in this church on the 6th of December, 1835. At the annual meeting of the congregation in January, 1836, this call was renewed with great unanimity and his ordination and installation by the Charleston Union Presbytery took place on the second Sabbath of February, in that year. Dr. Dana was a graduate of Dartmouth College, of which his father was at one time President. His theological studies were pursued partly at Andover, partly at Columbia and at Princeton. His father was the well known and honored Dr. Daniel Dana, pastor for many years of the Presbyterian Church in Newberryport, and his grandfather the Rev. Joseph Dana, D. D., was pastor of the church at Ipswich, Mass., for the space of sixty-three years. Dr. Daniel Dana's ministe- rial life extended over a period of sixty-five years, during which time he was a firm and fearless advocate of the doc- trines of the Westminister confession. The present Dr. Dana, pastor of the Third Church in Charleston, has always claimed to be old school and conservative in doctrine, but was always opposed to those measures of excision which divided the Presbyterian Church in 1837 and 1838, and opposed to them " irrespective of doctrine." The church and its pastor re- mained in a state of isolation from the Synod for the space of
.
455
JAMES ISLAND.
1830-1840.]
ourteen years. Its eldership was reinforced by the election of Charles Clark and Robert L. Stewart, who were ordained on the 22d of February, 1835, by William Birnie and George Cotchett, who were ordained on the Ist of April, 1838. William A. Caldwell, William Birnie, James Dick, Samuel P. Ripley, James J. McCarter, were successively Presidents of the corporation from 1830 to 1840. Robert Eager and Cope- and Stiles succeeded each other as Treasurer, and Charles Clark, William Miller, James Taylor, Nathaniel Hyatt, and William Caldwell held the office of Secretary in succession during the same period.
The location of their house of worship in Archdale street, hs Dr. Dana says in his fortieth anniversary sermon, preached n 1876, " was an incubus on the church." The ladies society n 1838 " determined on the erection of a costly lecture room. An eligible site was purchased. for $3,100 by general sub- cription, all else was the work of the ladies, who, availing Themselves of the fire loan, from year to year steadily dimin- shed the debt till, through their persevering zeal, the whole vas paid."
JAMES' ISLAND .- The Rev. Dr. Leland was probably the tated supply of this church at the commencement of this lecade. It appears from the minutes of Charleston Union Presbytery that Edward Tonge Buist, a licentiate under their are, and a son of Dr. George Buist, former pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of the city of Charleston, popularly known as the Scotch Church, made application to be ordained o the work of the Gospel ministry, stating as the grounds of he application that he had received a call for settlement from Congregational Church in the neighborhood of the city. He was accordingly examined as a candidate for ordination, nd was approved. The Presbytery adjourned to meet at he Independent Presbyterian Church on James' Island to roceed to his ordination. On the 10th of January, 1833, the Presbytery met. Present-Rev. B. Gildersleeve, moderator ; B. M. Palmer, D.D., A. W. Leland, D. D., W. A. McDowell, ).D., E. White, A. Buist, E. Palmer, T. Smith, J. A. Mitchell. Rev. Arthur Buist, brother of the candidate, preached the ermon from Is. lii. 7. Dr. McDowell presided and ave the charge, Mr. White the right hand of fellowship, and Ir. Edward Palmer, the address to the people. On the 2d f November, 1837, Mr. Buist was dismissed from the
456
JOHN'S ISLAND AND WADMALAW.
[1830-1840.
Charleston Union Presbytery to the Presbytery of South Carolina, where he first became pastor of the Nazareth Church, and within the bounds of which Presbytery he spent the remainder of his life.
JOHN'S ISLAND AND WADMALAW .- The Rev. Elipha White continued the pastor of this church and congregation. He took an active part in the establishment of the Theological Seminary in Columbia, was a member of the Board of Directors, was on the committee which was appointed to re- vise the constitution which was adopted in 1833. He was agent for the seminary within the bounds of Charleston Union Presbytery, and, between 1831 and 1837, collected and paid into the treasury $5,072. His church, too, contributed generously to the work of foreign missions.
" On the 20th day of. December, 1836, the following pre- amble and resolutions were introduced, and were adopted on the 2d of January, 1837 :
" Sensible of our obligations to Christ and His religion for most of our present enjoyments, and all our future hopes, and whereas, many of our fellow creatures in heathen lands and other climes are destitute of these blessings ; and
" Whereas, Christ has commanded his disciples to send the Gospel to every creature ; therefore
" Resolved. That we, the members and supporters of the John's Island and Wadmalaw Church and Society will fur- nish the sum of six hundred dollars annually for the next five years, or while Providence shall favor us with the means, to support a missionary of the Gospel of Christ among the heathen.
" Resolved, That the sum of six hundred dollars, now raised in accordance with the above resolution, be, and is hereby, appropriated to the support of the Rev. J. Leighton Wilson, missionary at Cape Palmas, Africa."*
Several letters from Rev. Leighton Wilson, then in Africa, to Rev. Mr. White, appeared in the Charleston Observer in the years 1837-1838. This church, incorporated in 1785, in consequence, it is said, of that act having fallen into oblivion, was again incorporated in the year 1835 under the name of the " Presbyterian Church of John's Island and Wadmalaw."
*Minutes of Corporation, p. 16.
457
30-1840.] DISSENT FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
church had been built on Wadmalaw Island as early as 793 or 1794, which was either a distinct Presbyterian Church, a chapel for the purpose of uniting that people with those John's Island in support of the Gospel. With this church as connected a small tract of land, afterwards sold to Henry ickling in 1812., The name of this church or chapel is pre- rved as the present name of the incorporation.
In 1838 Mr. White was appointed to the General Assem- y by Charleston Presbytery. In April, the corporation assed the following resolution :
Resolved, That Mr. White be permitted to go on to the eneral Assembly agreeably to the appointment of the Pres- ytery. 1
The following persons composed the session in 1838 : Rev. White; ruling elders, Thos. Legare, Hugh Wilson, and insey Burden, Sr.
In 1838 the great division between the old and new school irties took place, and all the churches were called upon to clare for one or the other of these assemblies.
At a semi-annual meeting of the church held the 24th December, 1838, the following preamble and resolutions ere introduced by Kinsey Burden, Jr., and seconded by blomon Legare.
Whereas the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church the United States did at its annual session in the year 18, adopt a resolution, declaring every slaveholder to live open violation of the law of God, and requiring every esbyterian under its jurisdiction to promote the emancipa- on of his own slaves, and the abolition of slavery through- it the world; and whereas the dissentions which have ex- ed in said church for years past, have finally resulted in a paration of said General Assembly into two bodies, each timing to be the true Assembly ; and whereas both of the id bodies have refused to repeal the said resolution, and pecially whereas, at the suggestion of some of the mem- rs of this church, and it is believed with the concurrence most, the pastor of this church did, as the delegate from e Charleston Union Presbytery, and the representative of is church, move the body styled the Reformed Assembly,
Minutes of Corporation, p. 19.
458
DECLARES ITS INDEPENDENCE.
[1830-1840.
at its meeting held in Philadelphia in May last, to repeal the said resolution on the subject of slavery, which motion was almost unanimously rejected, thus manifesting a continned enmity to Southern Institutions ; and further, whereas, at a meeting of the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia held in Columbia in this State, in November last, and composed entirely of ministers and laymen belonging to churches in these two States, a motion was made that in view of this expressed enmity to our domestic institutions, on the part of the General Assemblies, it was no longer expedient that the Southern Presbyterian Church should be in connection with that of the North; and a resolution was introduced to dis- solve the said connection, which resolution was rejected with but nine dissenting voices; and whereas, in the opinion of this church these facts show conclusively that while the Presbyterian Church of the North is radically unsound upon this vital subject, that of the South, from party views and feelings is dead to a sense of its own dignity, and to what is due the community in which we live; and whereas further, in consequence of the dissentions and divisions before alluded to in the General Assembly, a secession has taken place in the Charleston Union Presbytery, to which this church has been for some years past attached, and this church is now called upon to say to which of these divisions it will adhere; and whereas this church considers the dis- sentions which have led to this result as disgraceful in the extreme, injurious to the denomination to which we belong, deeply wounding to the cause of religion, and desires to have no part or lot in the matter ; therefore
Resolved, That this church has no longer any attachment to ecclesiastical bodies so inimical to Southern institutions, or so indifferent to their defence, and as it has not contributed to create the dissentions and divisions existing in the Pres- byterian Church at large, in the United States, so it will not consent to be involved in them in any way.
Resolved, That the Presbyterian Church of John's Island and Wadmalaw feeling its dependence upon the Great Head of the Church, acknowledging its obligations to Him for past mercies, and trusting him for the future, and desiring to cul- tivate and maintain a spirit of harmony and unity within itself, and without which its unity must be destroyed, does
459
LAWSUIT AND ITS ISSUE.
830-1840.]
hereby declare itself an Independent Presbyterian Church, bsolved from all connection with the Charleston Union Presbytery, and every other ecclesiastical body, and placed pon the same ground occupied by other Presbyterian Churches in our neighborhood.
Resolved, That with unabated attachment to the doctrines, iscipline and order of the Presbyterian Church, we will sus- ain her standards as based upon God's word, inviolate.
Resolved, That we will unite as heretofore, with sister hurches in every good and benevolent object, to promote he welfare of our fellow-men and the cause of our Redeemer.
The pastor of the church, the Rev. E. White, while sup- orting these resolutions, was at his own request excused rom voting.
The vote was as follows :
YEAS-Thos. Legare, Kinsey Burden, Sr., Jno. A. Fripp, Vm. Beckett, Chas. E. Fripp, Sol. Legare, Jas. L. Walpole, linsey Burden, Jr., Horace Walpole, J. C. W. Legare, D. elyer, Mr. Laussey .- Yeas, 12.
NAYS .- Hugh Wilson, Sr., Jno. F. Townsend, Hugh Wil- on, Jr .- Nays, 3.
This action caused Hugh Wilson, Wm. McCants, Edward eckett and Hugh Wilson, Jr., to withdraw from the corpo- tion and organize themselves into a separate body. They rganized under the action of the Assembly of 1838. Baird's Digest, p. 775.) and claimed to be the true Presbyte- an Church of John's Island and Wadmalaw, and therefore he corporate body of that name, and entitled to all the rights id privileges of said corporation. They therefore demanded the majority who they claimed had destroyed all their aims to the said corporation by their act of secession, that ey put them in possession of all books, papers, accounts, nds or other property belonging to said Church. This emand the majority refused to comply with. Hugh Wilson, Im. McCants, Edward Beckett, and Hugh Wilson, Jr., then ought suit against the majority for the possession of said operty. The original bill of complaint I have been unable find, and gather the grounds of complaint only from the swers. These seemed to have been three :
I. That union with a Presbytery was essential to the exist- ce of a Presbyterian Church. That the majority by their
460
EDISTO ISLAND.
[ 1830-1840.
act of secession had destroyed their right to be called a Presbyterian Church, and therefore their right to claim the privileges conferred by the act of incorporation, which was the incorporation of a Presbyterian Church.
II. That all funds or property in their possession was in trust to be used for the Presbyterian Church of John's Island and Wadmalaw. That by their act of secession the majority had dissolved their connection with said church. That therefore they, the minority, were the true Presbyterian Church of John's Island and Wadmalaw, and so entitled to the property.
III. That the will of Robert Ure, expressly provided that the funds given by him should be used for the support of a Presbyterian minister, who should "acknowledge and sub- scribe the Westminster Confession of Faith, as the confession of his faith, and that he should firmly believe and preach the same to the people there committed, or which shall hereafter be committed to his care and pastoral inspection." That the Rev. E. White, pastor of said church denied the doctrine of " Total Depravity," and was therefore not entitled to the benefits of said property.
This suit was begun in 1839, and reached its final settle- ment in 1846. [MS. Hist. of Rev. F. H. Leeper. ]
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF EDISTO ISLAND .- This Church continued under the care of its beloved pastor, the Rev. Wm. States Lee. At the close of the year 1831 an increasing desire for a protracted meeting on the part of several of the Church members, induced him to make arrangements for such services. These were well attended, and the interest in them was increasing, when the duties of the brethren from Charleston who were aiding the pastor required them to leave the island. In the month of January, 1832, about four weeks after the protracted meeting closed, the Rev. Daniel Baker accepted an invitation, given him by one of the elders, to visit the island. In conjunction with the pastor the religious ser- vices were recommenced, and continued for eight or ten days. There were usually two services each day at the Church, and an evening service at a private house. The attendance was very large, when the population of the island is considered, and much good was done. During 1832 and 1833 a larger number of whites were added to the Church than at any other equal period during the ministry of the pastor. The mem- bers in communion in 1821 (as far as information could be
461
WILTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
830-1840.]
btained) were 16 to 20 whites, and from 7 to 10 colored. he number of both, especially of the last, was considerably hcreased.
An attempt was made about the year 1832 to have two ervices on the Sabbath during the winter and spring, and rayer meetings during the week, but the inconvenience con- ected with the distance to be traveled in short days, and the ifficulty of making suitable arrangements by families having mall children, caused them to be relinquished in a few years. In 1836 and 1837 three of the elders died, and in conse- uence of the age and infirmity of the remaining elder, four f the members were chosen to this office, and were ordained March, 1837, viz : Wm. G. Baynard, Wm. Seabrook, J. J. furray and Wm. M. Murray. [MS. of Rev. Wm. States Lee. ]
A new church edifice was erected in 1831, and was repaired nd further improved in 1836. The Church continued for ometime jealous of Presbyterial intervention, one of its by- ws being, " Presbytery shall, upon no pretence or occasion, termeddle with the secular affairs of the Church, nor shall hey have any cognizance of the ecclesiastical, except in cases f reference and appeal, and the ordaining or installing of the inister." [Extract from the 2nd By-Law.]
WILTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- The Rev. Zabdiel Rogers ontinued to be the pastor of this Church through this decade. n the 3rd of November, 1837, amid the debates of that ventful year ; the following record appears in the minutes of harleston Union Presbytery, p. 245 : "It appearing from he records of Presbytery in the case, that the Rev. Zabdiel ogers was received by the Presbytery of 1828 without hav- g formally adopted the Confession of faith of the Presby- trian Church, not because he declined adopting it, but trough the neglect of Presbytery to require its adoption y him, he, therefore, having ever since he was received into his body regarded the constitution of the Church as his rule faith and action, and supposing that all was regularly done this reception. now requested leave to adopt it. His request as granted. The Moderator then proposed to him the ques- ons required to be put in such cases, which he answered in le affirmative, adopting ex animo the Confession of faith of le Presbyterian Church." [Minutes of the C. U. Presbytery, 245.]
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