USA > South Carolina > Charleston County > Charleston > Two centuries of the First Baptist Church of South Carolina, 1683-1883. With supplement > Part 13
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On the death of his mother, Mrs. Henrietta Shuck, at Hong Kong, China, being about eight years old, his father sent him to Virginia to his maternal grandfather, Rev. Addison Hall. Here he was at once placed at an excellent classical school conducted by Mr. Lewson Chase by whom he was prepared for college. At the suggestion of his uncle, Rev. Thomas W. Tobey, he entered Wake Forest College, North Carolina, from which he was graduated in the same class with Rev. James D. Hufham, D.D., now a prominent Bap- tist minister of North Carolina.
After a year as Professor in the Oxford Female College, North Carolina, he was ordained to the work of the ministry, Rev. Samuel Wait, D.D., Rev. T. W. Tobey, D.D., Rev. M. Baldwin and others constituting the Presbytery. After a few years, his father, who had resigned the Chinese mission in California and had taken a pastorate in
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South Carolina, died of a brief illness, and the son was invited to become his father's successor. Consequently, for a few years he preached in Barnwell, S. C., until in December, 1869, he ac- cepted the call to the First Baptist Church in Charleston.
On arriving in Charleston, Mr. Shuck found the church greatly reduced in numbers and in material resources, but the brethren and sisters who had invited him to become their pastor and leader were full of faith and hope, and everything soon assumed the most encouraging aspect. Early in the spring of 1870, the religious interest in the church had grown to such an extent, that accessions by baptism were of frequent occur- rence. And when Rev. A. B. Earle visited Charleston soon afterwards, he found consider- able interest in the church. Dr. Winkler and Mr. Shuck co-operated heartily with Mr. Earle, the evangelist, holding meetings alternately with the Citadel Square and First Baptist Churches.
A baptismal scene at the First Church about this time will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it. As Mr. Shuck, one Sabbath morning was leading into the baptismal waters a promi- nent lawyer of Charleston, Col. R. W. Seymour, the candidate was greatly affected, and in the
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hearing of the entire congregation, exclaimed, "O Lamb of God, I come!"
The effect was thrilling. Many of Col. Sey- mour's friends were present on that occasion to witness his baptism, and were profoundly im- pressed. He was a gifted speaker, and his voice was frequently heard in prayer and exhortation in the social prayer-meeting until he went home to heaven.
The new pastor was encouraged by frequent ad- ditions to the church, as many as twenty receiving the hand of church fellowship at one time. Mr. Shuck had the hearty co-operation of the deacons of the church, Capt. T. S. Budd, Simeon Hyde, Esq., and D. H. Silcox, Esq., who were honored and faithful servants of God, and who have gone to re- ceive their eternal reward. Never did a pastor have better deacons to hold up his hands than these three faithful, consecrated brethren. Although far beneath them in years and experience, he re- ceived their marked respect on all occasions and enjoyed their highest love and confidence. In consideration of the growth and improved condi- tion of the church, the pastor's salary was in- creased, the church edifice was beautifully re- paired, and new life seemed to be infused into both the church and the Sunday-school. Quite a
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number from the Sunday-school were brought into the church, one of whom has recently been chosen a deacon.
About this time, Mr. George A. Norwood, a fellow-student with Mr. Shuck, at Wake Forest College, and now a prominent and prosperous merchant, removed to Charleston to engage in business, and on his arrival united with the First Church, where he served faithfully as a deacon for many years, until he removed from the city.
Rev. E. T. Winkler, D.D, had been for some years pastor of the First Baptist Church, but at the close of the war accepted a call to the Citadel Square Church in the same city. He gave Mr. Shuck a warm welcome, and the two labored together pleasantly and cordially until the removal of Dr. Winkler to Alabama. This association of these two ministers was the more delightful from the fact that Dr. Winkler had preached the An- nual Sermon at Wake Forest College, North Carolina, before the graduating class of which Mr. Shuck was a member. He also formed a firm friendship for Rev. J. A. Chambliss, D.D., who came to Charleston as the successor of Dr. Wink- ler. About this time Wake Forest College, North Carolina, conferred upon Mr. Shuck the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. Dr. Shuck found
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his labors in Charleston especially interesting, as the mother of Mrs. Shuck, Mrs. Caroline Y. Trotti, had for years been an active member of this church. Her time and means were always at the service of the church, and her name and memory are tenderly cherished by those of the congregation who remember her consecrated Christian life. During his ministry two young brethren of the church were licensed to preach, both of whom have attained distinction, Rev. Kerr B. Tupper, D.D., the gifted pastor at Grand Rapids, Mich., and Rev. O. F. Gregory, D.D., of Baltimore.
The pastor was enabled to render substantial service while visiting the poor of the congregation, in consequence of a fund called the " Green Fund," so called after the generous donor, Miss Green. This worthy lady, having in possession quite a large sum of money, bequeathed it to the church to be so invested that the pastor might use the interest accruing, especially for the poor female members of the church. No one can fully com- pute the amount of relief which this fund has afforded to female members in distress.
Shortly after Dr. Shuck was fully settled, and the church seemed to be enjoying unusual pros- perity, a heavy blow fell upon pastor and people
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in the death of Deacon Silcox. He left home one Sabbath morning to attend service and reached the church door, when he became suddenly indis- posed, returned home immediately, and after reaching his room became unconscious, and al- though every remedy physicians could suggest was employed, he never rallied, and in a few hours passed away to his eternal rest. His death was a severe blow to the church. A true man in every sense of the word, a devout and consistent Chris- tian, liberal in all his contributions to the church, his death cast a gloom over the entire congrega- tion. Never did a pastor have better friends than Deacon Silcox and his estimable wife.
Indeed, the female members of the church were always alive and zealous. Mention must be made of the venerable Mrs. E. Y. Tupper, who was the first to give Dr. Shuck a warm welcome, and whose love and friendship remained unchanged during the entire pastorate. She has entered upon her rest in heaven, but her name is fragrant with the most precious memories.
In November, 1882, Dr. Shuck resigned the pastorate, and in the following year accepted a call to the First Baptist Church at Paducah, Ky.
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PASTORATE OF REV. A. J. S. THOMAS.
Mr. Thomas preached his first sermon as pastor of the church January 7, 1883 ; his last sermon July 3, 1887. This pastorate was not a long one, but it was one very eventful.
Church Repaired.
In the latter part of July, 1883, the church began important repairs on their house of worship. "The old pulpit was taken down, the platform enlarged, the baptistery raised, new and modern pulpit furniture purchased, all at the cost of $600." During the work the church services were held in the lecture-room. The first service in the church building after the work was held October 21, 1883.
Convention and Bi-Centennial.
A prominent event of this pastorate, as is known, was the joint meeting of the Sixty-third Session of the Baptist State Convention and the Bi-Centenary of the First Baptist Church. By the intelligent activity of the pastor and those asso- ciated with him in the matter of arranging for the great occasion, the best facilities and the most generous hospitalities were afforded. Too much praise cannot be given to the press of the city, especially to that Nestor of the Southern press, The News and Courier, for the full and
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accurate reports of the proceedings of the meet- ings, to which reports the editor of these papers is much indebted. Referring to the occasion, one writes: "We had as visitors from other States, attending the convention, such brethren as Drs. J. L. M. Curry, Basil Manly, H. A. Tupper, C. C. Bitting, Lansing Burrows, I. T. Tichenor, G. A. Nunnally and J. T. Ellyson. It was a most enjoy- able meeting, frequently spoken of by the Charles- ton brethren. The pastor and members of the Citadel Square Church rendered their brethren of the First Church all assistance possible in enter- taining the convention."
Twelve Aggregating Nearly One Thousand Years.
In March, 1884, the church lost two aged mem- bers, Mrs. Anna Lucia Brailsford, aged eighty-six ; and Colonel R. W. Seymour, for many years a prominent lawyer, aged eighty-three. During this pastorate of four and a half years the church lost also, by death, Deacon Thomas S. Budd, aged eighty-four; Samuel Riley, sixty-nine ; Daniel O. Leary, sixty-seven ; Mrs. Caroline De Treville, eighty-two; Simeon Hyde, seventy-six; A. J. Burke, seventy-two ; Mrs. Scott, eighty-four ; Miss Eliza Lawrence, seventy-six; Mrs. Sarah Howe, ninety-one; Mrs. Eliza Y. Tupper, eighty-seven,
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In all twelve persons whose aggregate ages amount to nine hundred and thirty-seven years. What a history in those years of spiritual experience ! These all seem almost as my fathers and mothers in the Lord, into whose faces I looked from my infancy. Some of them were the choicest spirits I ever knew. Countless incidents in connection with several of them come trooping before my mind. Would I could give a volume to their memory! Truer, more consecrated, and more saintly folk than were some of them never belonged to the Church militant. The pen of their pastor did honor to more than one of them in the days of their translation. In 1886 departed Mrs. Phoebe Brown, "an English lady of superior mind, large means and liberal spirit."
Ordination.
December 14, 1884, the church called to the diaconate E. L. Wilkins, who was ordained Janu- ary 1, 1885, by the pastor, assisted by Rev. C. A. Stakely, of the Citadel Square Church, and Rev. A. C. Wilkins, of Beaufort, S. C., brother of the new deacon.
Cyclone and Earthquake.
On the 25th day of August, 1885, a great cyclone passed over the city, doing great damage. The
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loss amounted to over a million dollars. The beautiful spire of the Citadel Square Church was blown off and the building otherwise damaged. The First Church was so seriously injured that services were not held in the building until Feb- ruary 7, 1886.
The great earthquake occurred Tuesday night, August 31, 1886, the first shock being felt at 9.50. The pastor says: "I shall never forget the feel- ings which came over me as I saw the sad and silent procession of men, women and children, walking around on Thursday afternoon-the first time they had ventured to walk around-to see their ruined homes, and churches and business- places. There was great confusion and demora- lization everywhere. The First Church was a sad wreck. * * We could not think of holding ser- . vices in the church-buildings. The pastors agreed to hold out-door meetings, Rev. John O. Wilson of the Methodist Church and I, were sent to preach on the Charleston College campus. A large crowd attended, standing or sitting on the grass. All listened and seemed prayerful. It was a most precious season of worship."
Subsequently, it was agreed by a joint business meeting of the two white Baptist churches, that Brother Stakely should "canvas the country " for
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funds and Brother Thomas should " take charge of Baptist affairs in the city." Each performed his part with eminent success. "The total amount received for repairs was $20,575.21, which was disbursed as follows : Citadel Square Church, $12,131.10; First Church, $6,065.53 ; colored churches, $1,740.00. Expenses, including traveling, $638.58." The Citadel Square Church began repairs in October; the First Church, which discussed the measure of removal to a more eligible location, did not begin to repair until the spring of 1887. The work was finished the fall of that year. "It was resolved to erect a mission chapel on Cannon Street. An industrial school, conducted by Miss Eliza Y. Hyde, had been carried on in Bogard Street. It was at- tended by sixty pupils. Soon after the earth- quake the school was resumed, and when the chapel was completed, the whole enterprise of school and mission received a simultaneous im- pulse which crowned it speedily with most grati- fying results."
The Three Events.
The following is from the pen of an intelligent and pious young member of the First Church :
The history of the Church after the year 1860 was marked by three events,-the war, the cy-
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clone and the earthquake,-any one of which, humanly speaking, might have seriously impaired its life and growth. A special Providence, how- ever, watched over the sacred walls and extended the arm of protection around the old mother church.
The First Baptist Church was spared the trial of being used, during the war, as many others were, as a hospital, or as the temporary dwelling- place of the soldiers. It did suffer materially, however; for a shell exploding in the organ in- jured it so severely that it was unfit for use. Other shells thrown into the church broke the tablet erected by the side of the pulpit to the memory of Dr. Richard Furman, and also shat- tered the marble slab near the vestry door, mark- ing the burial spot of the venerable pastor.
The lecture-room also suffered from these deadly instruments, the ceiling being broken and damaged badly. Many of the members were away when the war closed, but by the year 1867, most of them had returned, and with commend- able energy worked for the church. The men soon realized the sum of $862, by which the needed repairs were done. The tablet in the church was replaced through the earnest efforts of one of the female members, who had long sat
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under the ministry of Dr. Furman. The slab in the yard was contributed by another as her loving tribute to an honored and beloved pastor.
The ladies helped especially with the lecture- room, forming themselves into a. society, and many were the sacrifices made and loving labors rendered, thus attesting the interest taken in the good work. Pieces of silver and valued articles were contributed to be sold for the purpose of assisting with the building fund; the young peo- ple of the congregation were gathered together to aid with their work, and soon the room was put in complete order and regular services held.
The church sustained greater injuries from the cyclone which occurred August 25, 1885. The walls were broken by the force of the wind, the building was almost entirely unroofed, the rain pouring into the church from the pulpit to the vestibule, destroying the books, cushions and car- pets. By the vigorous efforts of the male mem- bers the church was rendered fit for service. Among themselves they raised $800, and all ne- cessary repairs were made.
Hardly had the church recovered from the ef- fects of the cyclone, when it was called upon to pass through the same ordeal, for the next year, August 31, 1886, it was shaken by the earthquake.
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The walls were rent, the plastering fell in every direction, the floors were strewn with the broken fragments, so that no one could enter the build- ing with safety. The ceiling of the porch was shaken down, as can be seen from the photograph giving the side view, and everywhere was a scene of desolation and destruction. The lecture-room was dreadfully shattered ; a temporary cloth sup- plied the place of the ceiling. The people, not being able to accomplish the work of repairing by themselves, requested aid from the sympathizing friends through the country. Generous responses were made to these urgent appeals, for the con- tributions so liberally and kindly given enabled the church to begin the work of repairs. This was done at the cost of $3,000.
Owing to the kindness of friends, the Sunday- school kept up its services, first in the Circular Church building, and then in the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association. After a time the school returned to its own building, the outer walls of which had been made tolerably secure by propping them up with strong beams.
The congregation united with the Citadel Square Church in worshiping in their Sunday-school room while the repairs were going on. After many months of waiting the church was again ready for
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service, and the hearts of the people were filled with gratitude and praise to God who had pre- served them through the war, the cyclone and the earthquake. The church at present (1889) is in thorough repair, and is in a fine condition.
DEVOTED BAND OF DISCIPLES.
Brother Thomas writes: I was pastor of the First Church four years and a half. During this time we were out of the house of worship seven- teen and one-half months. The church interests at these times suffered, of course; but the Lord watched over his own. The church still lives and struggles on. A more devoted, earnest, active band of disciples cannot be found. When I left for my present pastorate (Orangeburg, S. C.), Mrs. Eliza Y. Tupper was in her last illness. She never knew of my resignation. Two weeks after my removal I was sent for to officiate at her funeral. She was one of the most lovable and remarkable saints that I have ever met. Her memory is embalmed in the following sketch in the Baptist Courier of September, 1887, by Dr. James C. Furman :
THE LATE MRS. ELIZA YOER TUPPER, OF CHARLESTON.
Mention has already been made of the death of this venerable lady; but it is proper that a more
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extended notice should be taken of her. This of- fice has been devolved on us, though it could have been better done by others.
Luke, more than once, refers to the honorable women, alluding most probably to a social grade, in which the accident of birth gave rise to the use of the epithet. In our own land, where the at- tempt at least is made to eschew everything like caste distinctions, the term would have to denote something more important than an artificial social distinction. It might thus recall a pious parent- age. In that elegiac gem of Cowper's suggested by the sight of his mother's picture, he does not allow himself to rejoice that noble blood flowed in the veins of those who gave him birth, but rather that he claimed descent of "parents passed into the skies." Happy are the offspring, be they men or women, who can rejoice in this privilege. And then if in addition to superior gifts of mind the subjects of this honor have themselves experi- enced the renewing grace of God-that work of the Holy Spirit which is the origin of true piety- this is an added occasion of real honor. "Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised." Add now the gratification of a mother's aspirations afforded by the sight of her sons and daughters and other
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descendants fulfilling her expectations, and thus rewarding her anxieties and toils, and you have another element in the state of many honorable women. The mothers of Samson and Samuel, of Augustine and John Newton, are honored in their sons. Of the excellent woman, King Lemuel says, "Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." And if to such mothers God in his sovereign pleasure lengthens out life beyond the limit of three-score years and ten, and even of four-score years, and enables his favored handmaid to adorn the doc- trine of God her Saviour with a beautiful trust and gratitude, showing, as Andrew Fuller once expressed it, "that old age, though to nature a time of decay, to grace and faith is the prime of life," then surely we may place this revered mother in Israel among "the honorable women."
Such was the train of thought which rushed through our mind when our dear brother, her late pastor, gave us to understand that we were looked to to furnish some memorial of our deceased and venerable friend.
Mrs. Tupper was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Yoer. Of this worthy couple we have a very vivid impression as to the high esteem in which they were held by their pastor. It is among the
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indelible recollections of our child-life that Mr. Yoer was often referred to in the family as a man of uncommon excellence of character. His death was profoundly regretted as a great loss to the church and to the cause of religion in Charleston. His widow was afterwards married to Capt. Oliver Fuller, whose name is borne by our brother, Dr. O. F. Gregory, of Baltimore. Mrs. Fuller, previously Mrs. Yoer, and mother of Mrs. Tupper, we remember. as an old lady, full of energy, full of vivacity, and gifted with a facile address and remarkable conversational powers. She was al- ways busily active in the affairs of the church. On a certain night in the week meetings for prayer were held in private houses, and her resi- dence on Meeting street, nearly opposite the Cir- cular Church, was one of the places for such gath- erings. Under the influence of such associations, Miss Eliza Yoer spent her early years. She was born Aug. 5, 1800. In 1816 she was married to Mr. Tristram Tupper, a gentleman long known in mercantile connections as a thorough business man, of unquestioned integrity. He was one of the building committee, to whose hands was com- mitted the erection of the building, long known as the Baptist church, on Church street. The zeal and constant inspection of the work by some
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member of the committee (Col. Rouse, the intend- ant of the city, Dr. R. B. Furman, who drew the plan of the building, and Capt. John Riley were associated with him) ensured the construction of one of the best built edifices in the city. Mr. Tupper, it is said, effected the importation of the raw material out of which was built the imposing pulpit of solid mahogany which until a few years ago occupied the space in the western end of the building between the galleries. One of the remi- niscences of our early years, running back to the latter years of the pastorate of Richard Furman, and into the beginning of the pastorate of his suc- cessor, Rev. Basil Manly, is that of a long pew occupied by the Tuppers, with the father's lithe form and the mother's expressive face and the group of bright children all silently attesting that they had learned at home how to observe the de- corum which becomes the house of God. There was a large accumulation of energy and intellect in the family flock which were gathered in that pew destined to be felt in other spheres. The oldest boy, Samuel Y. Tupper, who afterwards be- came associated with his father in business, has as president of the Chamber of Commerce and in various public relations commanded the confi- dence of his fellow-citizens as a man of integrity
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and superior intelligence. Another son, though laboring under the disadvantage of being a crip- ple, was an eloquent speaker, achieving success at the bar, and was frequently drafted upon to advocate with his flowing, silvery eloquence the interests of education, morality and religion. He was one of the most energetic and liberal pro- moters of the erection of the beautiful house of worship of the Citadel Square Baptist Church. He was one of the deacons of said church. At the time of his death he had been filling for years the responsible office of Master in Equity. His generous and impassioned advocacy of temper- ance and his earnest appeals in behalf of evan- gelical religion have made the name of James Tupper a sacred memory to many hearts. The relations of Dr. H. A. Tupper to the Baptists of the South as the Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Southern Bap- tist Convention cut off occasion for all remarks but one, viz., that he was one of that bevy of bright children who once filled their places in that said old pew. We are not aiming at any exhaustive detail of Mrs. Tupper's domestic envi- ronment, and yet we cannot forbear mentioning that the amiable and pious Mrs. Hyde, the relict of Deacon Simeon Hyde, of sainted memory, was
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one of her daughters, she herself, as did her mother before her, shedding around her in the home circle the sweet lustre of a pure and benig- nant Christian example to be reflected back in the characters of her own offspring. Nor can we fail to recall the generous hospitality we our- selves enjoyed at the hands of another daughter, the consort of Samuel Lord, Esq., in whose house our venerable friend spent her last years and ended her days.
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