USA > South Carolina > Charleston County > Charleston > Two centuries of the First Baptist Church of South Carolina, 1683-1883. With supplement > Part 14
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Nor was it in her own children only Mrs. Tup- per found matter for satisfaction and unceasing gratitude to God. Two of her grandsons preach- ing the glorious gospel of the blessed God,- Revs. Kerr Boyce and Henry A., Jr.,-and an accomplished and pious grand-daughter bearing part in a work crowned in its very beginning with phenomenal success, and giving promise that the women of Mexico will be lifted speedily to the full enjoyment of the blessings of Protest- ant Christianity,-these were among the ingre- dients in her daily cup of thanksgiving.
Mrs. Tupper's was a beautiful old age. It has been considered as a difficult problem-how to grow old gracefully. But really it is an open se- cret. If the littleness and meanness of a selfish spirit dwell in the heart and control the character,
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it will show itself at last in its deforming power, whatever disguises may be worn for the time being. Old age will be querulous and censorious. The soul will be more wrinkled than the body. The old woman from whose withered heart dis- content and peevishness, complaints and suspi- cions and sneers find vent in the husky tones of a voice which has lost its melody, is a repelling object. Men call her a hag. But if the peace of God which passeth understanding has shed its balmy influence over the thoughts and feelings, then the cracked tones acquire a music of their own, because they acquire by association the sweetness of right judgments and noble senti- ments and an ever-refreshing benevolence. The whole mental machinery is lubricated, and works gently and smoothly with the least possible wear. Virgin loveliness is beautiful; but Martin Luther thought a Christian matron more beautiful still. And Dr. Martin was no bad judge in such mat- ters. The beauty in the one case is that of a tree in bloom; in the other, of the tree laden with its ripened fruit.
For an octogenarian the play of Mrs. Tupper's faculties was remarkable. It was even playful, illustrating the fact that "the doctrine which is according to godliness is the doctrine which yields
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true cheerfulness." We remember the easy pleas- antry with which, when dinner was announced, she said to the writer as she took his arm : "Come; let us young people lead the way!" This was during the meeting of the Convention in Charleston. ,During the subsequent meeting in Columbia we ran down to Charleston to preach for the churches afflicted by the earthquake visitation. On Monday, before the departure of the train, we made to her a hasty visit of respect. The late calamity was naturally the subject of conversation. She told graphically of the scenes of that memor- able night,-how, as others, she spent the night in the middle of the street; "but," she added, "I never felt a more perfect faith in my Heavenly Father. I felt that the way to heaven was as straight, if we went by a brick-bat, as in any other way."
Mrs. Tupper was born August 5, 1800. In 1816 she was married to Mr. Tristram Tupper by the Rev. R. Furman, D.D., by whom she was baptized December 5, 1818. She attended Mr. Hamilton's school in Charleston, until she went to Philadelphia, where she attended school for a year, where she learned to know and love Dr. Staugh- ton, of whom she frequently spoke.
In a recent letter to her daughter, Mrs. Lord, Dr. Boyce uses the following language :
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" Your mother was even more remarkable for qualities of love and mind than for her long years and failing strength. Her affection for those she loved was boundless. Her mind was intellec- tually strong and vigorous, with much of the fancy and imagination which would have made a suc- cessful author had she exerted herself in that direction. But above all, her Christian virtues were eminent. Her faith never failed her in the deepest sorrow of such varied afflictions. Her love for her church and her communion with God were constant and undiminished throughout a very long life. Now that she is gone, that life and character are a precious heritage to her chil- dren and her friends. I esteem it a great blessing to have been so loved by her, and to have had sometimes by brief visits opportunities of repay- ing her many kindnesses to me, even from the days of my boyhood. One more link has gone of them who by their knowledge and love of my own mother helped to preserve the recollection of her who died when I was but ten years old. As I lost my mother so early in life, I know what a blessing you have had in the long life of yours."
Mrs. Tupper kept a diary, some extracts of which we have been permitted to peruse. We subjoin some of these as illustrative of her religious spirit.
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They will tend to confirm the accuracy of that judgment which is expressed in the loving words of Dr. Boyce. At the same time they have his- torical value, as they bring into view some persons and places and usages of the past. They are prefaced with a letter to a beloved granddaughter who bears her grandmother's name. The revered grandparent writes thus :
" My Dear Eliza : Enclosed you will find some extracts from very old papers; also a few recol- lections of my past history.
"At the request of our pastor [Rev. A. J. S. Thomas], I had intended to write largely of the manner our dear old church was conducted in former years, but that could not possibly affect the present government. Our precious old brothers and sisters have all gone to their rest. I stand almost alone and have no influence whatever.
"I can but notice with pain the sad danger we are in of being entangled with the world, whose delights are really empty and not capable of yielding solid contentment to an immortal mind.
"I love to think of the past as we worshipped sixty years ago. We seemed to be of the same spiritual household, and we seemed to see in each other the likeness of our dear Lord and Master. The clear and pungent exhibitions of truth we
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listened to, I have never lost the sweet savor of to this day.
"I would like to take my pencil and trace our dear noble, intelligent, godly brothers and sisters of the long past. We hungered for the bread of life and could not be satisfied with a stone or husks. . We had days of special devotion, like Jacob of old, to wrestle with Jacob's God for a blessing on the sanctuary reared to his name. We honored the mercy-seat, and firmly trusted in the power of prayer. We were excited to love and good works by the charity and brotherly kindness manifested. Oh! how lovely was that Christian fellowship, reflecting and multiplying the Christian graces.
" I think often of our sunrise prayer-meetings ; great numbers assembled. While leading along my little, dear children, I cannot express the de- light and satisfaction I felt in having, at that early hour in the morning, praise and thanksgiving. I can never forget it ; no, never.
"I warn myself, dear child, not to give way to doubts and fears which are dishonorable to God, and destructive to our peace and comfort. I trust the good providence of God has directed our pastor here to lead to the Fountain of living waters. Is not Christ just the same? Is he not
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a full Saviour? Do let us trust him, as he is the tried corner-stone. Oh! how poor and trifling this world appears, if we are favored of God. Let us remember that whatever we make our chief delight, to the neglect of Christ and his sal- vation, is vanity in the fruition, and will be bitter- ness in the end. Oh! how we long for Christian fellowship. I sometimes wonder if the same heaven can contain those who have no fellowship on earth !
"As ever most lovingly, " GRANDMOTHER."
The paper enclosed contained the following items :
" Dec. 5th, 1818. With snow on the ground 3 inches deep, I walked with my mother from my home on East Bay to the church, and there I put on Christ by baptism. Dr. Furman administered the ordinance.
"As I stepped down into the water, my dear pastor whispered in my ear, 'My dear child, how happy your sainted father would have been could he have witnessed this scene.' He baptized me as 'Elizabeth.' I did not feel the cold. Such hap- piness I had never felt before, nor since. Heaven seemed to have come down to earth. I can not
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possibly describe my joy. Mind and heart were filled with a peace that passes all understanding. The boldest flight of imagination cannot picture how my pride and ambition were put to shame.
" Dec. 6. I feel sensibly my accountability. God has given me a precious child. Is it so, that the babe I hold in my arms shall in the future sustain a moral character; and that the history of his life will be approved at the bar of the Eternal Judge? What the character of this infant mind is to be I know not, I cannot know. Who knows but it may be that of a Newton? But this I do know, that it is a sinful being, a rational being [the] heir of an unholy nature. My God, my Father, give me wisdom to instil those principles which may render my precious child a fit com- panion for an angel.
" 8th. I am so happy to-day, supremely happy. I feel like floating in air. God has revealed him- self unto me and I can say, 'Abba, Father.' Among other pleasant things connected with my childhood and youth is the dear pastor who led me so sweetly to the Saviour. I cannot remember the time when I did not love Jesus. His cruci- fixion always affected me and caused my weeping, and I often thought I could lay down my life for him willingly.
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" My present pastor stands foremost. Then come my Philadelphia pastors, Dr. William Staugh- ton and Dr. Holcombe. Then I think also of the Rev. Edmund Botsford, my father's spiritual fa- ther. He was for years the pastor of the George- town church. He was a martyr to tic-doloreux. Whenever he came to the city to consult a physi- cian, our house was his home, I often sat on his knee and sang my sainted father's favorite hymn, 'The God of Abram praise.' I seem to hear that soft, sweet voice praying for me and my darling, Christian little sister. Oh! he wrestled with God that we might be prepared for usefulness here and happiness hereafter. Our happy home was made thrice happy by his presence. He often preached for us. He was an Englishman. When about seventeen years of age, he came to Amer- ica, a poor boy ; a kind friend educated him and put him through a course of study preparatory to preaching the gospel. He is now at rest, dear, patient sufferer and much-loved servant of the Lord. 'Well done' has been pronounced on him !
" 9th. This day has been a jubilee to me. Our two deacons, Inglesby and Adams, with a kind friend, Mr. James Harper, called to see me. Dr. Furman came also, and made a solemn dedicatory
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prayer for our household, not forgetting baby Samuel Yoer. He fervently asked God's bless- ing on our child that he might be like the child Samuel in the Bible, and also like his sainted grandfather, whose name he bears. Among the friends who called was my school-mistress, Mrs. Evans ; she taught me to read when but four years old. Other ladies called; these precious, affectionate sisters of the church welcomed me among them as one of God's children. The fore- most among them stood, with joy and tears, my happy mother. Can I ever forget that day? My heart was full of love. I never loved these dear Christians as I do now-an evidence, I hope, that I have ' passed from death unto life.'"
To these extracts from her diary, we append another paper, headed Recollections of a very long life, and dated July 4, 1883 :
"When but a child, I remember hearing my parents speak of their baptism in the First Baptist Church. When that took place the church, par- sonage and font stood just where our present place of worship stands, on the west side of Church Street. My mother was immersed in the yard October 28, 1798. She was the last candidate there baptized. Before the next occasion the church was abandoned, and the congregation took
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possession of the new one on the east side of the same street [known now as the Mariner's Church.]
" My father was there baptized, being the first candidate. That occurred on the 3d day of Feb- ruary, 1799. Dr. Furman administered the ordi- nance to both of my parents. He became pastor of the church in 1787. 1
"I remember the first Sabbath I went to church : I was not four years old ; that was in 1804. Never can I forget my astonishment when I saw in a high pulpit Dr. Furman in a black gown and white bands. I knew him personally and intimately ; he was a familiar visitor at our happy home. My father being a prominent, consistent and intelli- gent member of the church, the brethren sought him on all occasions of interest in the church.
"The next cause of surprise to me was the concourse of negroes who had assembled and filled the north gallery to overflowing. And then ! when Dr. Furman lined out the hymns, and the choir (seated around the font) commenced some familiar old-fashioned tune, and the gallery burst forth, it appeared to me like thunder.
" The naturally fine voices, and perfect know- ledge of the dear old tunes gave them perfect assurance, and they were fully prepared and quite at home when our pastor, in his clear, ring-
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ing voice, said, 'Let us all sing.' Sure enough, all burst forth, praising God with the spirit and the understanding. Our colored members numbered about three hundred; and when the island popula- tion came to the city, it was truly a religious jubilee. This occurred at baptismal and communion seasons. Oh ! the precious old hymns which we then sang, how the memory flits across my mind like a vision of the past. What joy it would give me to hear those old familiar strains once more, 'Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,' ' Jesus, lover of my soul,' and others equally devotional and soul-stirring. We felt that there was a vitality and power in the utterances, and the spirit of devotion was everywhere apparent.
"Our beloved pastor always preached three sermons on the Sabbaths and one on Thursday night. In addition to that there was a social meet- ing at the members' houses, when something would be read from some good author, I remember at one of these meetings Dr. Furman read from Bunyan's 'Holy War,' and we children laughed at some of the incidents in that wonderful book, and we were glad to be able to say, when gently re- proved, 'We saw mother laugh.'
" Dr. Furman had a manner peculiar to himself; his voice excelled in melody ; grace of action he
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possessed in an eminent degree. He lived and preached for eternity. He had power to move the affections and to warm the heart; and how many are now reaping the benefit of his prayers ! To sound judgment and exalted piety were added a sweetness and vivacity of manner which rendered him a charming companion. I heard my father describe a church meeting, that to me, a child of ten years, was very amusing. It seems that one of the sisters had sent her children to a dancing- school. In those days the Baptists thought that an unpardonable sin. Well, it was brought before the church and discussed at length. One of the deacons was very indignant at the sister's conduct. He threatened what he would do if any man would twist and turn his daughter in such a style, and, suiting the action to the word, became improperly excited. Another brother, more lenient, thought dancing gave ease and grace to the manner, and could not injure if not carried to excess; and there was no sin in the simple act of dancing. Dr. Furman then rose, and in his peace-making spirit, and always so genial, said he had never danced a step in his life, and yet he had been called 'a graceful person.' He had gone through life happily without it, and thought others could do the same. This turned the current of affairs.
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The good deacon apologized for his vehemence in God's house, and the dear sister was requested to sin no more. I wonder, if the good deacon could rise from his grave, what he would say or think now !
"We had no Sabbath-school then, but we had the Baptist Catechism, which we were as familiar with as with the Lord's Prayer. At our quarterly seasons, we the children of the congregation, re- peated the Baptist Catechism, standing in a circle around the font. We numbered from sixty to a hundred. The girls standing at the south of the pulpit, the boys, meeting them in the centre, to the north, Dr. Furman would in his majestic, winning manner, walk down the pulpit steps and with book in hand, commence asking questions, beginning with the little ones (very small, indeed, some were, but well taught and drilled at home.) We had to memorize the whole book, for none knew which question would fall to them. I think I hear at this very moment the dear voice of our pastor, saying, ' A little louder, my child,' and then the trembling, sweet voice would be raised a little too loud. It was a marvel to visitors on these occasions, the wonderful self-possession and accu- racy manifested by the whole class. This practice was of incalculable benefit; for when it pleased
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God to change our hearts, and when offering to the church for membership, we knew what the doctrines of the church meant, and were quite familiar with answering questions before the. whole congregation, and did not quake when pastor or deacon or any one else asked what we understood by Baptism, the Lord's Supper, Justi- fication, Adoption, Sanctification. Oh! no. We had been taught it all. What a pity that such a course of instruction has been abandoned.
"1825. [The year Dr. Furman died.] Oh ! where is my precious pastor-my spiritual father ? The tomb has been opened, but he is not there. The body will moulder ; the grave cannot retain the immortal soul. He is gone, and we shall see him no more on earth. Those dear feet will never tread the aisles of the sanctuary again. And those dear hands which so often dispensed the emblems of the body and blood of Christ are now cold and lifeless. His death was sudden and unex- pected. Multitudes of his spiritual children gath- ered to mourn around his placid, sweet face, so beautiful even in death. Sobs and sighs are heard from thousands. Oh, my Father, my Father !"
This memorial is fraught with important and touching suggestions, but we are sure that they
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will occur to every thoughtful reader without our mention. And thus we close this labor of love, and this humble tribute to the memory of one of the truly " honorable women." F.
HOUSES OF WORSHIP AND
MURAL TABLETS.
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HOUSES OF WORSHIP.
T HE first house in which the Church wor- shipped, as has been stated, was on King Street, furnished by Mr. William Chapman. The next house was a frame building, erected in 1699, on site of the present church edifice, with a parsonage on the same lot. The cemetery was on the premises, as now, which led to the re- mark of a biographer of Dr. Richard Furman, who occupied the parsonage, that "he lived in the midst of graves." The third house, built in 1746, is the building on Church Street, long known as the " Mariner's Church." The present house of worship is described by the eminent architect Mills, in his "Statistics of South Caro- lina, published in 1824," thus :
" The Baptist Church of Charleston exhibits the best specimen of correct taste in architecture of the modern buildings in the city. It is purely Greek in its style, simply grand in its proportions and beautiful in its detail.
"The plan is of the temple form divided into four parts-the portico, vestibule, nave and ves- 20
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try rooms. The whole length of the building is II0 feet, and breadth, 60 feet. The facade pre- sents a portico of four massive colums of the highest proportions of the Doric, surmounted by a pediment. Behind the main walls rises an attic story squared up to the height of the roof and crowned by a cupola or belfry. The side walls of the building are opened by the requisite aper- tures for windows and doors, and a full , cornice runs around the whole.
"You enter the vestibule by three doors, on each of which the gallery stairs ascend; by three op- posite doors you pass into the aisles dividing the pews into blocks : at the extreme end of the nave of the church are the baptismal font and the pulpit, lighted by a large vaulted window ; around three sides of the nave, a double colonnade ex- tends, rises up to the roof and supports the gal- leries. The lower order of columns is Doric, the upper Ionic, each with their regular entabla- tures.
"The whole finished in a rich, chaste style, and producing from the unity of the design a very pleasing effect."
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MURAL TABLETS.
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O N the interior walls of the church are four tab- lets. The first was erected to the memory of Dr. Furman-In the " Historical Sketch of the First Baptist Church," published in the "Year Book of the City of Charleston," the author says of Dr. Furman :
" His death was regarded as a great calamity, and occasioned universal mourning. His grave may be seen in the cemetery of the First Baptist Church."
The congregation erected a mural tablet in the church, which was shattered to pieces by a shell which entered the church edifice during the Con- federate war. It was replaced a few years after- wards. The tablet bears the following inscription: "1825-REV. RICHARD FURMAN, D.D. Sacred to the mem- ory of the Rev. Richard Furman, D.D. For more than half a century an able and eloquent preacher of the gospel; and for thirty-eight years the useful, beloved pastor of this church. Purity of life and active benev- olence distinguished him as a man ; patriotism and public spirit, as a citizen ; fidelity and sympathy, as a friend; tenderness and affection, as a relative. In manners he was simple, unassuming, dignified. In
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disposition, meek, thoughtful, philanthropic. In un- derstanding, enlightened, comprehensive, various. As a minister of the gospel, pious, persevering, conscien- tious, diligent, apostolic ; actuated by ardent zeal for the welfare of his fellow-men, and uncompromising jealousy for the honor of his God, he preached Jesus and him crucified. As a pastor he was the guide, the father of his flock. Having spent his strength in pro- moting the immortal interests of men with eminent suc- cess, he died, in the evening of life, beloved and vener- ated, with a hope full of immortality. As a tribute of respect to his memory, his mourning congregation have caused this marble to be erected. Obt. 25 August, 1825. Atat. LXX."
The next tablet was erected to Col. William Rouse, a brave soldier, who had served the State as Senator and the City as Mayor, and was the president of the Corporation of the Church. The epitaph is as follows :
" 1829-COLONEL WILLIAM ROUSE. Sacred to the memory of Colonel William Rouse, who died in Charleston 15th June, 1829. He was born in England, near Leeds, Jan. 30th, 1756; arrived in this country Nov. 5th, 1774; settled in Virginia; took an active part in the struggle for American Liberty, and was taken prisoner at the siege of Savannah. After his release he took up his residence in Charleston, where he acquired and main- tained the confidence of his fellow-citizens. He was long a member of the Legislature, either as Represen- tative or Senator; at various times a member of the City Council; twice Intendant of the city, and for many years the active president of this church. To his family he was kind and affectionate ; to his friends,
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ardent and sincere, and in the community at large was esteemed an honest, upright, friendly, charitable man."
The third tablet erected was to Dr. Brantly. Mayor Courtney's annual Review says :
"In the midst of his arduous labors, Dr. Brantly was struck with paralysis, and was taken to the residence of his son, the Rev. Wm. T. Brantly, Jr., D.D., in Augusta, Ga., where he died -The congregation erected the tablet which now stands in the church, in memory of his eminent services and faithful labors." The tablet bears the following inscription :
" 1845-REV. WM. T. BRANTLY, D.D. To recall to memory the Rev. William T. Brantly, D.D., who died, the pas- tor of this church, the 28th of March, 1845, his mourn- ing people have erected this tablet. He was born in Chatham County, North Carolina, January 23, 1787. He became a member of the Baptist Church in 1802; soon after began to preach, and was ordained in 1809. He was graduated in the South Carolina College in 1808. In 1811 he was called to the pastoral charge of the Baptist Church in Beaufort, South Carolina, and was appointed president of the Beaufort College. In 1819 he removed to Augusta, Georgia, and took charge of the Richmond Academy. There he gathered to- gether the Baptist Church and ministered to them 'without money and without price.' In 1826 he re- moved to Philadelphia to the charge of the First Bap- tist Church. In 1837 he became pastor of this church, and soon after, the president of the Charleston College. The various duties of these stations in his Master's and
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