USA > South Carolina > History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, Vol. II pt 2 > Part 9
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462
BETHEL, PON PON.
[1830-1840.
BETHEL, PON PON .- The Rev. Edward Palmer who was settled as pastor of this Church continued in that office until January in 1832, when he was succeeded by Rev. Adam Gilchrist till December 1840. "It was while I was there," says this venerable brother ( Rev. E. Palmer), writing under date of September 12th, 1878, " and during the earlier years of my ministry, that at two protracted meetings, at one of which we enjoyed the labors of that devoted man of God, Rev. Dr. Baker, the Lord was graciously present, and mer- cifully blessed our convocation. At the first of these, at which I had the aid of only two brethren, both younger in the ministry than myself, there was an outpouring of the Spirit, which resulted in the addition of twenty-five members to our Church, six to the Episcopal, and several others to the Methodist Churches. It was during the progress of this meeting the uncommon, but most interesting, sight of five gentlemen who, three weeks before, went forth to the so-called 'field of honor,' as principals, seconds, and physician, was presented, kneeling at the same seat, at a prayer meeting, pleading with others around them, for mercy and salvation, the duel having been suppressed by the wise interposition of the seconds, just as the fatal purposes were about to be ex- ecuted. Of these five seekers after salvation, two became preachers of the gospel, two officers of the church, the other soon left for the far West, and his destiny is unknown. All but the last have passed off into eternity, and very probably that one likewise. The circumstance was so strangely novel, that it was at the time recorded in the public prints.
" At the same meeting there was a married lady who be- came deeply impressed, but refused to attend the inquiry meetings which had been appointed, giving as a reason the solemn interdict of her husband (an honorable, upright, but unconverted man). Very shortly the Spirit gave him an insight into his own heart, which conducted him, with his wife, into the inquiry meeting, and the Church of Jesus."
Mr. Gilchrist was a native of South Carolina, a graduate of Dickinson College, Pa., a student of Princeton Seminary, and was received by Charleston Union Presbytery January 3rd, 1832, as a licentiate of the Presbytery of New Brunswick. He was ordained on the 11th of January, 1832, Dr. William A. McDowell. presiding, Mr. Gildersleeve preaching the sermon from Ephes. iv : 8. He was ordained by the laying
463
SALTKETCHER.
830-1840.]
on of hands, and installed pastor of the Church and congre- kation. Dr. McDowell gave the charge to the pastor, and Rev. Joseph Brown to the people. The services took place the Church at Walterboro', originally the summer church f the congregation, but which had become its chief place of worship. The statistics of the Walterboro' Church are very Imperfectly given in the Assembly's minutes. In 1834 the otal number of communicants is set down as 40; in 1837, as o; in 1839, as 60. These probably are whites, with a large umber of colored members at the original Church of Bethel, on Pon.
SALTKETCHER .- This church, which is situated near Salt- etcher Bridge, was served, according to the statistical eports of the General Assembly, through most of these ears by Rev. John Brevoort Van Dyck, whose residence was t Walterboro'. Mr. Van Dyck was graduated at Amherst College in 1826, in which year he entered Princeton Seminary, nd pursued the full course of study at that institution. He as received as a member of Charleston Union Presbytery by ismission from the Second Presbytery of New York on the th of November, 1830. On the 6th of April, 1831, he re- eived a call from the Saltketcher Church through the Charleston Union Presbytery to become its pastor, which eing accepted by him, a committee was appointed to install im on the 27th of that month, as pastor of that church. Ir. Gildersleeve was to preach the sermon, Dr. McDowell to reside and deliver the charge to the minister, and Edward almer to give the charge to the people. These services 'ere held according to the appointment, and were solemn hd interesting. Mr. Van Dyck continued to serve this people Il his death, which occurred early in 1840. His death was hnounced to Presbytery at its meeting in Charleston on the d of April of that year, and Rev. Mr. Gilchrist was ap- ointed to bring in a suitable minute in relation to it, which as as follows :
" This Presbytery has heard with extreme regret of the eath of their fellow-member, Rev. J. B. Van Dyck. In this vent, not only has the Church sustained the loss of a minis- er, but the world that of a useful man. Our departed brother 'as gifted with those qualities of energy and perseverance hich enabled him to overcome difficulties which few, when imilarly situated, would have encountered. It was during a
464
REV. J. B. VAN DYCK.
[1830-1840.
winter sojourn in this city for health, when about the age of twenty-one, that he attracted the favorable notice of the Rev. Jonas King, now missionary in Greece, and by him was in- duced to study for the ministry. His education previous to this had been of such a character as fitted him in every sense to be a practical business man ; and it is to be observed that the effect of his early training was seen in the various walks of life which he afterwards filled. His education, preparatory to college, was conducted in the academy under the care of the Rev. Mr. Williamson, in York District, now Professor in Davidson College, where he maintained a character for con- sistent piety and devotion to study. His College course was conducted at Amherst, Mass., where. it is believed, he attained to more than ordinary proficiency, and held a rank among his fellow-students more than respectable. It is to be observed here that during the whole period of his college life his health was very infirm; and yet, notwithstanding, he managed to accompany his class, rarely absenting himself or being unprepared for recitation ; and what is worthy of re- mark, supported himself in part, if not wholly, by the articles of a manual occupation which he had been taught in early life, and which now gave him exercise during leisure hours. His seminary course at Princeton, though divested of the necessity of self-support, was characterized by the same diligent attendance to the business before him which marked the previous periods of his life.
After furnishing himselt with the requisite theological learning, he was licensed by the Third Presbytery of New York, and, actuated by motives of gratitude to those who had been his patrons in the different stages of education, he removed to this State, with a view of assuming pastoral charge of the church at Saltketcher, which he continued to oversee till the period of his death.
The diminished state of our brother's congregation, owing to the depopulation of the neighborhood, made it necessary that he should unite the calling of instructor of youth with that of preacher of the Gospel. He accordingly removed to Walterboro about five years since, and on his individual responsibility commenced a school which, mainly through his exertions, has since grown into an incorporated academy.
Of his superior qualities as a teacher, the very best proof is in presenting living testimonials. A professor in that
465
330-1840.] INDEPENDENT CHURCH, SAVANNAH.
igher Literary institution, whither most of the pupils from Valterboro' Academy have gone, has declared, to the praise four brother, that none have entered college who did not nter well prepared, and who did not afterwards attain an honorable standing.
As a preacher, Brother Van Dyck was characterized by. learness of style and edifying matter rather than by ornate- ess in his composition or grace in his delivery. Those who ent to be instructed, always might be, when he prepared his iscourse with care. Had he devoted himself solely to the Ministry, and placed in a suitable field for his exertions, he ould have been a most instructive preacher.
As his life was diligent and useful, so, we have been told, is death was edifying. He met his latter end prepared, and ech ring his sole hope was in the righteousness of Christ, is Saviour, he peaceably breathed away his spirit. .
He has gone. Who next is to follow, to render in the ccount of his stewardship, is only known to Him in whose and; are the issues of life. Let this Presbytery hear, in that ournful event which has deprived us of a fellow-member, he voice of the Master, saying, " Be ye also ready."
THE INDEPENDENT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN SAVANNAH .- he Rev. Daniel Baker still occupied the pulpit of this church the beginning of this decade and through some portion of te year 1831. The Rev. Daniel Baker was of Puritan des- nt, was born in Liberty County, Ga., August 17, 1791, and s early boyhood was spent in the Midway Church and con- egation, Liberty County, of which we have written, Vol. I, ), 269. 312, 463, 565, 568. He received his literary educa- on at Hamden, Sydney and at Princeton College, where he aduated in 1815. He was licensed by the Presbytery of inchester, Va., in October, 1816, was ordained and installed Harrisonburg, Va., March 5, 1818. Here he remained till 20 or '21. Soon afterwards he became pastor of the Second esbyterian Church in Washington City, which he con- qued to serve something over six years. His ministry in vannah was a brief one, terminating in the year 1831. In e latter part of his ministry here, perhaps in the year 1830, d beginning of IS31, he had a season of revival in his urch, some reference to which we have made in our prece- ng pages. This revival commenced in a protracted meet- " and it being noised abroad, others were held in various 30
466
DR. BAKER .:
[1830-1840.
places, to which Dr. Baker was invited. At Gillisonville, in South Carolina, some sixty persons were hopefully converted, two or three of whom subsequently became preachers of the gospel. He attended also a protracted meeting at Graham- ville and on May River, at which places a blessing followed. But at Beaufort, South Carolina, through the influence of William Barnwell, who was converted at Grahamville, and was afterwards pastor of a flourishing Episcopal Church in Charleston, and who then was a resident of Beaufort, he re- ceived a pressing invitation to that place. There was at that time no Presbyterian Church in that town and divine service was held in the Episcopal and Baptist Churches, alternately. The whole number of persons hopefully converted were about eighty, of almost every age, from fourteen to eighty-six. Among these were men of eminence in society. Richard Fuller, an eminent lawyer. afterwards the Rev. Richard Fuller, D. D., of the Baptist Church, Stephen Elliott, after- wards the Episcopal Bishop of Georgia, Robert Barnwell, afterwards President of South Carolina College, Hon. Mr. Grayson, since a distinguished member of Congress, Rev. C. C. Pinckney, Rev. B. C. Webb, Rev. Richard Johnson and Rev. W. Johnson. Six of these exchanged the profession of the law for the ministry of the gospel.
These things increased the "hankering," to use his own word, for the missionary life. He celebrated his last commu- nion in Savannah and forthwith entered upon his work as an Evangelist, holding protracted meetings the two first years in South Eastern Georgia and in Florida, then in the princi- pal places in South Carolina and upper North Carolina, after- wards in other States tending ever Westward and South- Westward, until he reached Texas, when in his efforts to build up Austin College, of which he was the agent, travers- ing the country far and near as its agent, not neglecting his Evangelistic labors meanwhile, until on the Ioth of Decem- ber, 1857, he expired at Austin, Texas, in the arms of Wil- liam, his son, the pastor of the church in that place.
But in the fall of 1831, their attention was directed to the Rev. William Preston, D. D. He was a native of Massa- chusetts, a graduate of Brown University, and after first com- mencing the study of the law, felt himself called to the higher work of the gospel ministry. He occupied several posts of honor at the North, being for a short time President of Bur-
467
REV. WILLIAM PRESTON, D. D.
1830-1840.]
lington College, Vermont. Impaired health brought him to the South. He arrived in Savannah on the 2d of April, 1829, made the acquaintance of several Christian gentlemen and the then pastor, and several of the elders of the Presbyterian Church. He left for the upper portion of the State, spent the first summer at Powelton, taking charge of an academy and preaching as opportunity offered. In the autumn o'f that year he was invited to Milledgeville to supply the pulpit of the Presbyterian Church and to the superintendence of a large academy for both sexes, where his family joined him. In the fall of 1831 he was invited to Savannah by the eldership of the Independent Presbyterian Church, to preach with a view to a permanent settlement. He preached his first sermon before that people December 25th, 1831, and on the 14th of the following January, received a unanimous call from the Session and Trustees to become their pastor.
This he accepted, beginning his pastoral labors in January, 1832. For this field he seemed to be peculiarly fitted, by his education, manners, piety, experience, temperament and habits of industry. His charge was laborious and responsible, and his history strikingly illustrated the value of the faithful minister to the church and community, and the burden of cares and anxieties devolving upon him. His congregation vas among the largest, most refined and intellectual in the Southern States.
His ordinary public labors consisted of three public services on the Sabbath, a weekly lecture, and an almost invariable ittendance on a weekly Congregational prayer meeting. He arely accepted of the summer vacation given by city churches o their pastors, and for seven consecutive years he never left he city except for some occasional ministerial call abroad. Much more might be said of his parochial duties, of his kind- less to those afflicted strangers whose sick-beds he found out t their hotels and boarding-houses, acting the good Samar- tan, as well as directing them to the Great Physician of souls. Iis manners were winning and affectionate, and his presence as always hailed with delight by the old and young, the xalted and humble. He never seemed to forget his high rofession-never to forget that his work was to serve God nd humanity. [From the biographical sketch prefixed to r. Preston's Sermons, edited by Samuel K. Talmage, D. D., resident of Oglethorpe University.]
468
BOILING SPRINGS-BEECH ISLAND.
[1830-1840.
BOILING SPRINGS .- On a former page it was said that "the Rev. Edward Palmer, of Stoney Creek Church, for several years visited the Boiling Springs, and preached and adminis- tered the sacraments there." When this began is not indicated, but he continued to do so in this decade. " He received me," says the Rev. S. H. Hay, " into the church at that place in 1837. 'There had been no organization at this time." We are left to understand that this state of things continued during this period. On page 363 of our first volume, from the report of Elam Potter, a missionary sent out by the Synod of New Yerk in 1767, we learn that there were a num- ber of Presbyterian families among the first settlers of this region. Though seventy years had passed from that time they had not forgotten the religion of their fithers, and en- couraged the visits of ministers of the gospel. It was also visited by missionaries sent out by the Missionary Society of South Carolina, but no church was yet organized.
BEECH ISLAND .- This church succeeded in procuring the services of Rev. Henry Reid, then residing in Augusta, for half his time for a year, beginning with January, 1831. On the 22d of July was commenced a three days' meeting, during which religion was greatly revived, and twenty persons pro- fessed their faith in Jesus Christ. In August another three days' meeting was held in continuance. On the 19th of February. 1832, Mr. Reid still continuing their stated supply, Samuel Clark* and James Briggs were ordained olders. On the 25th of March there were three more additions to the church.
On the Ist of October, 1832, the elder so greatly beloved, Dr. Thos. S. Mills, departed this life, and on the 8th of Nc- vember, his death was followed by that of James Briggs. On the 25th of January, 1833, David Ardis was elected to the eldership and set apart to that office by ordinition. On the 3d of February following, the pulpit was vacated by the with- drawal of Rev. Henry Reid as their stated supply. For a
#Richard Clark, the grandfather of Mr. Samuel Clark, of Beech Island, about the time of Braddock's defeat in 1775, was killed with probably three of his children. They had come from Pennsylvania and settled in the Calhoun settlement in Abbeville Distri t. There was a general massacre. The bodies of the slain were all baried in one grave. and rough rocks heaped over it. The spot was on the plantation now owned by Mr. John Bull. Mrs. Clark fled to Charleston with three children.
469
BEECH ISLAND.
1830-1840.]
short season, beginning with May, 1833, they were supplied by Rev. Francis R. Goulding, who had been recently licensed. On the 11th of September, Theodore M. Dwight was engaged by them as a stated supply, who served them in this capacity ill November 15th, 1834. Eleven persons were added to he church by profession of their faith during his ministry. .
The Charleston Union Presbytery met by adjournment at he Presbyterian Church at Beech Island on the 2d of April, $35, at 12 o'clock. Mr. Erastus Hopkins, a licentiate of Montpelier Association, in the State of Vermont, had been aken under the care ef the Presbytery on the 12th of No- ember, 1834, and was examined at the tinie on the subjects equired for licensure, and had answered affirmatively the questions required by our form of government to be put to indidates for licensure, and was received as a licentiate under he care of Presbytery. Against this action the Rev. Elipha Vhite protested, as against the general usage of the Church nd the articles of correspondence between the General As- embly of the Presbyterian Church and the General Conven- ion of Vermont. Against this protest an elaborate answer vas presented, drawn up by Rev. Dr. W. A. McDowell and Lessrs. Smythe and Gildersleeve.
A call from the Beech Island Church to Mr. Erastus Hop- ins to become their pastor was presented through the Pres- ytery to Mr. Hopkins, and was accepted by him. Having assed successfully the usual trials, he was ordained by Pres- ytery and installed, and was solemnly set apart by prayer nd the imposition of hands. Dr. Palmer gave an appropri- te charge to the pastor, and Mr. Buist to the people, and Ir. Hopkins took his seat as a member of the Presbytery.
This pastoral relation was dissolved on the Sth of April, 837, with the consent of Presbytery, and the church de- lared vacant.
On the 4th of April, IS38, a letter was received by Pres- ytery from Messrs. Samuel Clark and David Ardis, elders f the Church of Beech Island, requesting that Mr. Thos. funscome Legare, just received as a licentiate from the resbytery of Harmony, be ord tined, with the view of labor- ig alternately in the Church of Beech Island and at Aiken. o this measure Presbytery gave its assent, and Mr. Legare as ordained on the 4th of April, 1838, the ordination taking ace in the lecture-room of the Circular Church. His labors
470
HAMBURG.
[1830-1840.
as evangelist or stated supply terminated the 18th of Novem- ber of the same year. Four persons had been added to the church during his brief ministry. He was succeeded as stated supply by Donald J. Auld, who had been licensed on the 2d of November, 1837, and was solemnly set apart to the work of the ministry on the 6th of January, 1830. On the 20th of November the same year, he was dismissed at his own re- quest to join the Presbytery of Harmony, within whose bounds he expected to reside. Four had been added by ex- amination during the year, and the total membership was forty-two
HAMBURG .- The earliest intimation we have of the organi- zation of a Presbyterian Church in this place is found in the following subscription paper which has fallen into our hands, bearing date December 15th, 1831 :
HAMBURG, 15th December, 1831.
Those citizens of Hamburg that belong to the Presbyterian order of Christian faith, have been lately organized into a regular church under the care of the Rev. Henry Reid. The inducements to this measure appeared to us to be conclusive although few in numbers and weak both in pecuniary resources and in worldly influence. Our town was without any supplies of a preached Gospel, except from the occasional labors of domestic missionaries. Professors of religion among us were obliged to attach themselves to the churches in Augusta, under very serious disadvantages. We could enjoy very little of that social inter- course that Christians should cultivate with each other, and especially with members of the same church. Indeed, many of the Augusta brethren were scarce known to us even by name, while the incon- venient distance of the church in Augusta caused our attendance (par- ticularly of females and children) on public worship, even on the Sab- bath day, to be very irregular; and at night and through the week, utterly impracticable. Besides that we were not likely to feel a proper zeal for the welfare of a church of which we formed a very small minority, and were in danger of growing cold and neglectful of all our religious duties. We trust, therefore, that our efforts will be crowned with a divine blessing, and that they will be approved of and aided by our Christian brethren
The only building in our little town now used as a place for public worship is very uncomfortable, not designed originally or at all adapted to the purpose It is, in fact, an old storehouse, for the use of which we, in common with every other denomination of Christians, are in- debted to the courtesy of Mr. Schultz. The Legislature has just granted ground for the erection of churches, but we are able among ourselves to contribute very little towards a suitable building. Without designing to be at all extravagant in the size or style of our church, it is never- theless desirable to have some reference to the probable wants of our town a few years hence. It is but a short time since the first Presby- terian Church was organized in the large and populous District of Edgefield. Ours is the second. We cannot, therefore, reasonably ex-
471
HAMBURG.
830-1840.]
bect to receive much assistance in a community where Presbyterianism s so little known, especially as our Baptist brethren, who constitute he prevailing order in the district, are also endeavoring to raise means or a like object. Our brethren at a distance, as well as all who are Friendly to the cause of religion, will see the necessity we are under of irculating our subscription papers beyond the limits usual for such an bject ; and whatever aid is accorded us, we pray that a gracious God ill abundantly bless it, both in the giving and in the receiving.
A communication was received by the Charleston Union resbytery on the 6th of November, 1832, from the town of Hamburg, stating that a Presbyterian Church had been or- anized in that place on the 6th day of November, 1831, and referring a request to be taken under the care of this Pres- ytery. . (Minutes, p. 132.) This request was granted. B. [. Whitman, Esq., represented this church as an elder at the meeting of Presbytery on the IIth of November, 1834. At his meeting he appealed to that body for their counsel and id in the erecting of a house of worship, and in supplying hem with the stated ministry.
Joseph Milligan and George Thew were elders of this hurch in 1836. The church edifice was erected of brick, bear- g a very respectable appearance as seen from the exterior. The church however, did not prosper, and on the 2d of December, 1838, the elder, Joseph Milligan, made the follow- g communication to the Presbytery, dated at Augusta :
" DEAR BRETHREN: The destitution of the church at Ham- urg, and its utter inability to sustain the public worship of od, together with the fact that I am now, and have been for tree years past a resident of this place, induce me to make plication to you for a letter of dismission to unite with the Presbyterian Church of this city. I am now the only remain- g member of the session, and consequently cannot be re- eved from my connection with the Hamburg Church, but by our authority. All of our members were formally notified st summer of my intention to make application to you for y dismission, and several of them availed themselves of this tification, applied to me and were dismissed for the purpose . connecting themselves with other churches of our denomi- tion. Four now remain in their old connection, and have t expressed to me any intention of withdrawing their mes. Yours very truly and affectionately,
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