Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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- - __ ,- ^ - ? i , i . * f^gja BY HUGH WILSON. ABBEVILLE, S. C., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1886. VOLUME XXX. NO. 35. ,J| , . " 1 - ' . ' '' <* . l1ir r'M BE7. JOHN LOfSIS WILSON.1 SIS INSTALLATION AS PASTOR OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT ABBEVILLE. Sermon by Rev. Francis P. Mnllallys D. D??Charge to tfee Pastor bj Rev. D. E. Frierson, I>. I>.,?Charge to the People by Rev. W. T. Hatbeffs. Membership, Past and Present, of the Abbeville Church-- Some Historical Facts ' Connected with the Organization?Al* though Abbeville and Fpper Long Cane are Separate in Name, Yet They are j Bound Together by a Common Interest, and by all the Hallowed Associations of , tie Past--A Word or Two of the Newly Installed Preacher. The Presbytery of South Carolina met in the Presbyterian church at this place last Saturday night for tbe purpose of making the necessary preliminary arrangements for the Installation on Sunday morniug of the Rev. j John Lowrle Wilsou, (late of Belhesda con- j gregutiou.) to the pastorate of the Abbeville congregation. To Rev. Francis P. Mullally, < IX D-, was assigned the duty of preaching tbe ?ermon, and of propounding tbe Constitution- 1 ul questions to the pastor elect, and to the congregation; Rev. D. E. Frierson, D. D., { was directed to deliver the charge to I 1 lie pastor, and Rev. W. T. Mathews was ap- ] pointed to deliver the charge to tbe people. | The weatlier was exceeding inclement. 1 Rain, enow or 6leet began to fall in the early * part of the night and continued to tall until t next morning, when much of the ground was c covered with snow. The cold weather, the ^ .not am) eliinnv with the rain- r lall combined to keep persons away from the ^ church that morning. The exercises, were ex- r ceediugly Interesting. At eheven o'clock, ? BJev. Dr. Frlereon ariaounced that the Presby- 1 tery had met, according to adjournment last a night, for the purpose of Installing the new pastor. * c Rising to their feet, the whole congregation j joined with thechoir in singing: v Praise God, Cwm whom all blessings flow; c Praise Him, nJl crewtures here below; s Praise Him above, ye heavenly ho?t.; Praise Father, Son, und Holy Ghost, ^ At the conclusion of the singing Dr. Mul- s lally made the following J Invocation. J Almighty, most merciful and ever blessed 1 God our Heavenly Father, vouchsafe, we be* ' *eech Ther. to regard us graciously under the v very solemn circumstance* of our assembling c thin /luv In Ilia lltllllO (if .IpKIK Christ OUT ' Lord, we present ourselves to The6, us one of Jhy Courts constituted to solemnize the pastoral relation between Thy servant and this congregation, which we believe. In answer to prayer, thou hast gloriously appointed. Thy *ervant is here to receive the charge of souls boughtby the precious blood or Thy sou, and the congregation to receive from Thee, through lliine ordaiued ageuc.v. one of the most precious gifts coming'to us from our ascended Saviour?a pastor. 0 Lord, regard us in leuder mercy anu gracious love, and give lis Thy Holy .spirit, that we may clorify Thy name iu all tilings appertaining to this service, and so e. dow with tiie fulness of Thy jjmce, we beseech Thee, this dear people and him whom they have called to minister to them in holy things, as that the work of this tlay shall be found to have largely redounded to the honor of Thy dear son, when He shall behold His perfected glory in His complete Church. And the praise shall be to the Father **?'< tho ^ah o Hi) Hal u nhiwt u/hfwn vi'f? wor. sbfp us one God, world without ecu!, Ameu. ? The 570th hymn, as follows, was then sung : c I "Go preach My gospel," salth the Lord, c "Bid ihe whole earth My uraoe receive: t He shall be saved who trusts My wora; I lie shall be dainned that won't believe. t i *1*11 -make your great commission known, Attd.ye shall prove My gospel true, 1 Jiy all the works that I have done, By all the woudcrs ye shall do. " 'Go, heal the sick, go, raise the dead, 11 Go, cast out devils in My name: ^ 2?for let My prophets be afraid, * Though Greeks reproach and J e ws blaspheme, j "Teach all the nations My commands ; J I'm with you till the world Khull end; | All power is trusted to My hunds, I can destroy, aud can deieud." He spake, and light shone round Hfe head ; On u bright cloud to heaven He rode , J They to tae fartljest nations spread 1 The grace of their ascended God. Jj The Doctor read the scripture lesson from | the third chapter of St. John. Prayer. f c Most merciful God, we thank Thee for Thy N beloved Church, which Thou hast established t in this world by the mission of thine adoru- *j "bleSon,our lAtrd Jesus Christ, and founded \ on His Person and merits; which, lor his <j #ake, Thou hasl promised to illumine, purify, | and strengthen by Thy Holy Spirit; which <j Thou dost ever secure against the gales oi j he 1; and from which, it is Thy gracious pleas- e ure, that salvation to the souls of men should j go forth unto the end of days. We thank (] Thee for her iellowshlp of Christian hearts t for her songs of praise, for her lessons of in- e ?t-rucilon, for the reading and exposition of jThy word in her courts, for all the means of j grace and for our hope of gBory which they i nourish and foster. We praise Thy wisdom s and thy bounty, O Lord, for Thy promise to e *end continually to the prayerful congregar ^ tions of Thy Church, true teachers and minis- a tersof Thy word, and, so to enlighten their s minds with the knowledge of Thy truth, as r that they shall laithrully make known Thy t whole counsel, and that those to whom they t minister, being admonished, eulighted. com- E for ted and strengthened by Thy heavenly and r everlasting word, shall, in this world sincere- t ly endeavor to do the things which please t "Thee, and, finally, come to the enjoyment of eternal life, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son. f We beseech Thee now, most merciful Fath- ^ er, to endow with the abundance of Thy r :grace him, whom in answer to their prayers, g Thou hast given to this people as a pastor. , Bless hitn in dispensing Thy truth to the congregation, in leading the faithful here to the throne of grace, iD comforting the uffltcted, visiting the sick, restoring those that have vone astray on the solemn commemoration of our Divine Lord, and in impressing upon 1h9 children Thy seal of Thy precious prom ise to be a God to the believing and to their -children after them. Grant, we beseech Thee, that at all times and places, the words of his mouth and the meditations of his heart may be acceptable to Thee and profitable to the people giveu him In oharjre and to himself. Give him strength to be faithful to his high calling and when at last his work on earth Is ended make hira a partaker of heavenly Joy. 0 Lord, bless this congregation in receiving to day tills ascension gift of Thy son. our JiOrd Jesus Christ. Give every member trrace to receive him as the messenger of Jesus <Jhrist, sent by our blessed Lord und by Him anacie their Bishop. Ever prompt each to sympathize with htm and pray for him, and to receive Thy word from his lips, as all the nuAAlAitif f/~vi? m I n if f lltVKlirh Thinp nil'M 'I'VIC picuvuo ?\ri Wiuiuij mtiwu^d am>mv vom specially appointed channel; and cause, that ; all those who have united lu calling Thy ser- i vant, may continually, with one heart, desire the prosperity of Thy holy Church through- 1 out the world, and with one mouth profess i the lalth delivered to the saints. And, 0 1 Lord, as Thy st-rvant stands here amoug this 1 people, to beseech sinners, In Christ's stead. 1 to be reconciled toJGod, look down In mercy I upon him that he may fulfil his fearful office to the praise of Thy glorious name; and. crown, we beseech Thee, his faithful efforts : . with joyful success. Grant, most merciful ' and mighty God, that what we ratily to-day may result in eternal good to this whole town i and indirectly >n promoting the triumph of the gospel throughout the world. Hear these our i supplications oar Father in heaven through Jtsus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen. The 573rd hymn, as follows, was then sung: I Let Slon's watchmen all awake. And take the alarm they give ; JCow let I hem from the mouth of God, Their solemn charge receive. Tis not a cause of small import, The pastor's care demands ; Hut what might fill an angel's heart, ' Auti ailed a Saviour's hand*. Thev watch for souls, for which the Lord JM<J heavenly bliss forego; For souls, which must lor ever live In raptures, or in woe. All to the great tribunal hnste. The account to rehder there; And shouldst Thou strictly mark our faults, Lord, how should we appear? May they that .Testis, whom they pleach, Their own Redeemer see; And watch Thou dully o'er their sodls, That they may watch for Thee. THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF IS TH& OBJECT hp RAVTKfe FAITH. I "" " 1 Sermon by Rev. Francis F. Mullally, D. D. 1 ( * i Che Ineffectual Lights or Logicians J Pale Their Ineffectual Fires Be- i fore tbe Intuitive Brightness of j the Stars that Illumine the Fir- t mament of the Soul. J For God so loved the world, that hegave his 1 >nly begotten son, that whosoever believe.th n ltim should not perish, but have everlast- 1 ns life.?John III: 1G. ? Two of the many truths embraced in this J joinprehensive sentence are : (i> That faith is J he only condition of salvation, and (2; That | Fesus Christ, himself, is the object of saving J Ulth. Volumeshave been written toexplain fnith. 1 md vet not a word is necessary in order lhat 1 uiy sane man may know whiit it Is. We 11 snow it by our own consciousness, as we 1 tnow love, hope, fear, and every other natu- 1 al state of mind. WliHt Inner feeling reveals P At the soul, logical disquisition clouds, rather ' han illumines. Intuitive cognitions burn f >ri?htly as stars In the firmament ol the soul, i uid arc not to be discovered by the lamp of J :ojiitatIon. Man's every day life being a life f >f faith, this state of the soul, is too real and * Mtal a thing with eueh one of us to require 1 ixplanation. If there lives a soul that does r lot know, by experience, what faith is,all the B vorksof the world's ablest tueologians could lot reveal it to that soul. It is not therefore any part of the work as- ? Jgn'ed to the Christian teacher, to Klve a phi- J oi-optiic exposition of the nature of fsith. 1' 'HE EXCLUSIVE BtTSI^E-SS OK TIIE PREACIIEK *' e s to direct faith to the true object?the object a >n which the well-being of humanity de- '] >enda. A guide is not to explain the struct- t ire of the eye, but to show the right way,and ? o the preacher is not to give the philosophy t f faith, but to show the object 011 which it t hould be employed. s What Is that object? The text answers this 1 [uestlou very decidedly. But does the preva- s ent preaching ot our uay agree with the an- C wer the text gives ? It appears to me that lot a few of our religious instructers make I! he objectof faith to be a proposition, mat v noro make It a system of propositions, some n , system ot facts, ?nd others the evidences of 1 lie truth ot certain statements, anil very " natty represent it as a plan, tho plan of sat- ti 'ation, and seem to think that the highest ex- ri trcise of faith is to rerceive tlie nice adjust- 1 nenta.id wonderful concatenations of this li ?lau. In contradistinction to all theso views v he Bible teaches that the object of saving I! aith is a person, and that person, the God- 1 uan, the Word made flesh, who was dead and p s alive, nnd who hits itie keys of hnites nnd a leath, and has made the promise : "Lo ! I am I: vith you always, even to the end of the c voild." "God so loved the world as to give fi His only begotten son that who-oevet he- y leveth in him should not perish but have ev- i. it lasting life." q I admit, nay frroclaim with absolute con- e fiction, that belief of the facts of the Saviour's ii ife, aud a knowledge of the doctrines of the c 3ibie, are necessary in order to bring Jesus t Christ Himself, in living form before the soul, t 3ut industry is not wealth, thouuh it may be r lecessary to weaitn, siuay is noi. learning, i hough without it no onecan become learned; o md so the belief of propositions, although it (. condition of the exercise of saving faith is not t his faith itselt. Jesus Christ Himself is the t >bJeetof saving faith, and not propositions or (. tocirines or a sy stem or a plan, not even the s ysteni of divine truth, the plan 01 salvntiou e ?r the doctrines of gi ace. And if this be true c iow much less is It a system ot church gov- t rnment, or of ritualistic forms. To illustrate I his assertion and to impress, at once, its iin- v xirtance and its truth, let us viev It in rela- t ion to the needs of the soul and the demands 11 md representations of the Gospel. t 'he soul. of man needs a moral trans- a formation. This is essential to his true freedom, dignity md blessedness. That It is, is proved by uni- ? ersal experience, attested by our own con- ^ iciousness and declared with extraordinary ^ orce and frequency by he word of God. A fj lew character, heart, lifeare involved in the 0 ihange demanded, nothing less. Now laiili a n propositions cannot etfcct this moral revo- r ution. Its great essential condition is thai a . ove for goodness, holy goodness, be genera- tJ ?d in the soul. 8 Our loves are our masters. They inspire our ? ictivities and work our faculties according to P heir bent. The strongest love i? the monarch >f the soul, and the moulder of the character. ['he love ot sin, in the form of carnal pleas- ? ire, self-aggrandizement, or self assertion 16 \ he sovereign passion of depraved hearts. 1 To dethrone this despot and expel him from P he soul, there must be generated within and ' Ostered to an all-conquering passion, the love if goodness. Can faith In propositions about 0 rirtue, and holiness, and events, of afardis- ? ant period, ever accomplish this? Never. ? The soul must have K<>o?iness embodied in a ? iving, present, personality, must see his ra- * liant countenance, feel his warm breath and r isten to the thrilling music of bis lips, in or- , ler to be the subject of his heart-captivating >ower. In Christ it has all this and nowhere . Ise. He is not a dead, but a living Saviour, J1 n whom you have love, the tenderest. the 'J leepest, the most universal aud unconquera- * ile, blended with a purity radiant with the a tt'ulgence of the Godhead. In Him, you ? lave the truth respecting God, and respect- v ng man?what divinity really is and human- * ty really should be. The aroma of all virtue ^ ti earns from His robes. The accents of Heav- 6 n tone their music in His utterances, the ? pirlt of all goodness Is His very life. It is, * ls the eye of faith looks at Him that the soul i ees what Fin is, aud loathes it?what good- I less is and loves it. Beholding, ns In a glass, * he glory of the Lord, we are changed into f hp imflfrp Thf> livlncr ClirlsL not an ' ibstract creed, is the magnet lo draw, and the >ower to transform tlie souls of men. No )ower can change heart, but heart and the rue creed for man is the Christ of God. As He Is necessary to the sunctincation of >ur nature so is He, also, to its satisfaction. iVhat can allay the restless anxiety of the unegenerate soul ? What can answer to its ense of dependence ? its consciousness of vroug?Its craving for objects of love ? OUR SENSE OK DEPENDENCE 8 deep, Ineradicable, and ever operative. ,'onstant, and often terribly painful Is man's lonsciousness that both his being and his welljelng depend on objects outside of himself. Xten has he been made to feel that he was eanlngon objects external to himself, that lave failed him. Nay, all on which he is deluding, he sees floating away on the restless ide of uestiny. His soul craves some permanent resting place, some rock on which to stand amidst the surging sea of change?some jbject .:n which to center his soul lti implicit xjnttdcnce. Without this, Inner satisiactlon is an impossibility. Now, what will give it? Will a faith that rests tu propositions give t? or a faith that stops at the beauty and .ruth ot a system? Never! Words are butp is air, the medium of vision, systems but statuary?tho forms without the life. The soul cannot build on air, or be inspired with hope by cold marble. Jesus Christ himself, und he onl.v, meets this want. Faith in him means confidence in intlnite love, unerring wisdom and Almighty power. In him we have not only piomise, but friendship; not only facts of history, but active, unchanging, wd imparing affection?not only a pathetic Jtoryof redemption, but a living Redeemer,the same yesterday, to-day and forever; not only Jehovah who has been the shepherd of Ills people, but Jehovah who is our Shepherd. THE SOUL'S SENSE OF GUILT Is another principle of painful restlessness. The consciousness of ill-deseri. is universal, felt by the strong and the nervous, the cultured and the rustic, men of genius and humble plodders, and it is connected with great distress or souls, It cherishes the serpent of remorse within and points to the approachInn thunderstorm of punishment without. What will remove this? Will faith in any proposition? Will even the belief of the . story of the cross, viewed as an event of near- i iy nineteen hundred years airo? No! The i sinner must believe in Jesus Christ htmself. i Now appearing in the presence of God for us; now a lamb as it had been slain, in the midst 6f the throne above?must hear the .Saviour himself saying to hlin "Fear not." it is only when the sinner believes in the great Hltili j Priest over the house of God. mill bearing the , nail and spear marks, still standing as the 1 rme Mediator, meeting nil the demands of dl t viti<=s laws and justice, and making the way g if divine love perfectly fn-e?It is only then a that the sense ot guilt'is removed, the threatening cloud of the soul dispelled, and its t heaven heichtened with the light of hope, a Believing on him we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 ANOTHER WANT OF THE 1IU3IAM SOUL Jj Is an adequate object of lbve. As the bee 1' searches the flowers of summer for honey, so * the soul is ever in quest of some object on J which to bestow Its love. But what object ~ :an fill and satisfy man's capacity for love? * A.U history shows that thei'c ifi no objeftt un- * Jer the sun on which the soul can settle its 1 ,iflection with an unbroken repose; and we r know that by virtue of the laws of our na- n Lure, the finite can uever satisfy the craving r ?f our love. What will satisfy It? words? " We cannot love words. To prlee them nt nil t ive must know und love tne utterer. Jesus J" Christ the divine Saviour is thft preclousness 11 if the souhff Brought to faith In him it ex- r altantly exclaims: "L?>. this is our God and ive have waited for Him." Faith In Jesus Christ hlmsclt removes Indifference, fenr, eninfty, which keeps the soul from God. In .Christ, not in propositions Is God reconciling T he world unto himself. ChrisUnnd not doc- f trine, is the way, the fruth. and the life. 1( h'aith in the person of Christ, brihgs the soul c ind God together, and so settles the soul in 11 Ight relation to its true centre, and gives it ? jeace, and Joy, and completenessk To Christ, P ,heu, and not to theolonlw, men must come r' f they would have God as the portion of P heir souls. He is the door into the loving f loine of the great Father. Thus our doctrine is enforced by all the ]' leeds of the souU It is also implied in the 11 crand demand made upon us by the Gospel, .n more than thirty passages of the Gospel iccording to St. John, we find with reference o Christ, "believing in me," "believing in ilm," or "believing In the Son." The same ariKuagei:- employed by the other evnngeists, and by Peter and Paul. The Scriptures ? vDrcsentfaith in Christ as the "work of God," is the grand condition of salvation, as the nean&of usefulness. "He that belleveth on no, the works that I do shall he do also, and rreater works than these shall he do." It is ilinself, and not doctrine, which Is made the 1 fraud subject or Christian commemoration. Do this in remembrance of me." How slgittlcant! Not of my death as an abstract act, noL of any event in iny life, hut of inyelf. Recur to my history only to learn what . am now Jn love and In power to save. He, ; iot abstract doctrines, is represented as the r ;rand subject of the Christian ministry, t, 'Whom we preach, warnitig every man and ?! eaching every man. that we may present ay* ry man perfect hi Christ Jesus. He is tn<* ob- ?' net t'd which all true Christian teaching ? mints. When the Saviour walked and talked J5 Pith the two disci pies on the way to Em mans, 11 beginning at Mo<es and all the prophets he xpoundeu the thl-ngs concerning himself," L' nd thus he did through all his ministry. n 'euchintf the nature of God, he declares, "he ?r hat hath seen me"?me. the personal Christ? {> hath seen the Father." Teaching the salva- H ion of man, he makes himself the object of ,j bought, of trust, of love. It. hus been well 11 aid, "If you develop a human soul, you must ? n some way develop its feelings to another " " Piirsnnnl u<laphinpil f tn thfi nefSOlial I f. Jhrist is the Saviour's method of salvation. 11 Salvation Is the right relationship of our w Ife to this oneabsolutely perfect person. l)o el te, 11 ke the bewildered youth on Jit, Morlah A sk. "Where is the iamb for the burnt offerng?" The Scriptures direct our eye to Christ.. -1 lie gave himself lor our sins." "He np eareil to put away sin by the sacrifice of J5' ilmself." We leurn to say, ''He gave himself J* or me.', The personal Christ is not only our nwiiiver. but also our law. No decalogue ei rill suffice as a law for us. We want a life, a * Ivlng example, a mighty personal louder 11 n Jesus Christ, himself we behold obedience r< resented In an attractive form, and so that we re encourazcd wild won to imitation. Tie tl ilmseir hiit.b suffered, belnp: tempted. The t< on vert of tho Church in all sorrow is to be unnd in the personal Christ. "Lo. I am with cl on always." The power and life of the tt ,'hurch Is not In creed and rituals, or in elo- ir luence, music, or architecture, but the pres- g nee of Christ present in its assemblies. There s no Church if lie Is not present. He is the si hief corner-stone, and in ancient archl- o eetur?? the chief corner-stone was essential P o the building. He is the head, and If he be ft emoved, there is no body, but; a decapitated b runk. Jesus Christ himself is the Hevelation a; if God, the salvation of men, the Lamb of ioci tnat mucin away me sin 01 iup wunu, he embodiment of divine law, the comfort of " he sorrowing, the life and head ol the u 'hurch. In Jesus Christ himself as Hp is pre- n entedinthe Gospel also we have the best ' vldenceof the divinity of the Scriptures that w an be presented to the world. And sinner, he personal Christ is your final judge. Your r( ife is lived under his eye, and in the end you I t-ill be conscious of your responsible relation \ ohim. We must all appear before the Judi;- fe nent seat of Christ. Christianity is a revela- u ion of personal relation. tt A lLL MEN ARE RELATED TO JESUS CHRIST, y IF NOT AS A SAVIOUR, CERTAINLY AS A JUDGE. tl luflflcient has, I conceive, been advanced to tJ how, that the true faith of the Gospel means d tilth?trust?In Jesus Christ Himseif, and not h nilief in propsitions, what ever the character, nd amount of doctrine, such propositions ? nay represent. I would now conclude by using tne suojeci c< o explain three remarkable facts, and loan- j wer au important question. It Is a fact that t< nany reiigious professors make sad complaints concerning their faith. Who has not ti teard in every religious circle expressions u Ike these: "I leel that my faith is very fee o ile, I cannot take hold upon the promises. )h, how weak our faith is! How difficult it it s to believe!" What do these prevalent com- jj ilaints indicate? That the faith of those who iTho make them is directed to propositions ^ ather than to a person. No one feels any y, ifficulty in bellving in a person of undoubt- jf d goodness and integrity, who is known to n lave the will and the power to help, and the a oustancy necessary to secure unfaultering riendship. I)o you ever hear the child of paents whose love is genutne, and honesty in- o orruptible, say ; I have great difficulty in beleving in my lather or my mother, and in p inx-iiicr hnld nf t.heir nromises." Do you ever oi icar u wile say in relation to a husband, who a las ever appeared to her Incapable of doing a n prong act: "I am distressed that I cannothave h stronger faith in him." No, and It the lalth t,< if religious people were directed to the 8aiour Himself, we should nut- hear all this eutlmenlal lamentation. Indeed if you beieve in Him, you will accept his doctrines, ven though you cannot understand them, equiesceiu his procedure, although you fail 0 appreciate or even to discern its wisdom. 1 1 believe in a man, I take his word. C f I believe in Christ I accept His revelations. Jelief in Him is In fact necessary in order ightly to believe His words, and duly appreitnd their meaning. Our doctrine explains also >1 THE WEAKNESS OF THE CHURCH n its efforts to Christianize the world. When Christ descended from the mount of transligiration lie found that his disciples had been rying to cast out a demon, but had failed; .I1Q OH ineir U-SKing IIIIU, uiu uuunc ui uiuu allure, he said, "because of your unbelief, or verily, I say unto unto you, If ye had faith is a uraln of mustard seed, ye shall say unto his mountain, remove hence, unto yonder dace, and it shall remove, and nothing shall >e impossible unto you." The visible church las talked much about its faith, has fought for ts faith, has bled for its faith, has eveu perseuted for its faith, but alas, too often its lalth *: las meant some verbal articles, some logical ? ystem, some honored human tradition, rath- * :r than the living, loving, personal, present, n ion of Man and .Son of God. Faith in Jesus " ;hrlst Himself would enkindle enthusiastic " ;eal,and beget heroic self-devotion, till the luty of ministers would be not to urge men " o more labor and liberality, but to restrain hem from efforts and offerings beyond their 1 ibility. Even the best cause needs to be rep- " esented in a glorious leader, worthy for hhi ? >wnsake of all admiration and all love in or- * ler fully to enlist men's hearts. The third .\ act which the subject explains Is the dlvis- I! ons which lesson the strength and mar the " lymmetry ol the visible church. JT nil 1116 memuera ui mi uicuciiwuiiimuwiin jelleved with a living faith iu the personal f Jhrlsl, divisions would oea.se. Christ would }' ie the centre,and all toould flow to Him, and J, >o flow together. There would still be dlversi- * :y of opinion, but a common love would rule J1 ill, and cause this diversity only to brighten 1 he harmony of holy fellowship. Intheiami- ? y/ where ull hearts centre in the same pa- v ents, diversity of opinion docs not lead to r separation. I can conceive that there is di- e msity ot opinion in heaven, and that it may ? ae one of the great charms of celestial confer- .K 3D ce. FAITH IN JESUS IS TIIK FAITH THAT WOKKS U ?y LOVK, ^ ind this working is able to fulfil the Saviour's fc paryer; for all who shall believe on him f through the word of his witnesses: "that they t ill may be one: as thou Father art in me and I r ?1 H.?t M.ntr mov Vif? nrta In lie Thllt. \ I in liieuj tnau viivj f ...? the world may believe that thou hast sent \ me." If the people of God ever unite in one r solid phalanx, and so are ever saved from tiie s waste of men and money involved in main- t tainlng denominations and avail themselves ? of the strength which is found in unity, it t will be, uot by means of belief in a system of c church government, or, in certain ritualistic t forms, or any creed of human construction, i Nay, nur even by belief of the .Bible ltbcll, \ mt by faith in .Testis Christ. This alone can C ivethat powerful affinity whose attractive si .nd cohe3lve force, riolhlni* cnn hinder. h Belt I must hasten to tne important ques- b inn, to which I desire to present our subject w ,s M?fe answer. a What is the true method of relieious tench- tl np? If Christ is the .great object of faith the ir ;rand work of the preacher should be to pre- H enttiie personal Cht'ist, so as to inspire the i*r>ving confidence of men. The whole Bible il hould be to the preacher the biography of tl esus Christ. Every text should be treated as ?i tvin?v snmn nnpH?l view of the Redeemer it tlmself. He should always be our snhject. t'< Ve should preach not the resurrection and fi he life, as abHtrnctloilS, but Christ theresur- tc ectlon nnd the life, not justification by faith b< s a speculative dogma, but Jehovah our r< l<?ht.eodsness, not wisdom. Or righteousness, v: r sanctlflentlon, or redemption, but Jesus 'hrlst made of God unto us, wisdom nnd n: Ightcousness and sanctiflcatlon and redemp- ai Ion. w w r IS NOT ENOUGH TO PREACH ORTHODOXY, tl OK WHAT A HE CALLED THE DOCTRINES OF GRACE. j* he world needs the truth as It Is In Jesus ns a y< 'erenn?not., as It Is In the books of the theo- n )gians. Oh, come the day, when the aim of hrlstian ministers will universally be not If tie exaltation of creeds, or the peculiarities oi f sects, but of him, whom God has exalted. ?i A' rlnce nnd a Saviour to give repentance and o1 emission of sins?the love of whom Is the ex- cr lanatlon of the Apostle Taul's devotion and tl enl?and to present mm not ah ne is canca- ?" tired in the ttiurk.v studios of literatures or ro "jg-lcians, but rts he lives through the pages of fc lie evangelical records. e( ti INVESTED WITH HIS OFFICE. 3 U el OHN LOWRIE WILSON TAKES THE SOL- yt EMN VOWS AND IS DECLARED PASTOR. J] , y< d< 'he People Promise to Receive the B Word of Truth from His Mouth rc with Sleekness and Love. ^ It. belongs to the reverend brethren who are tc i follow me to make more pointed upplica- ly ion of the great truth 1 nave tried to enforce. K I is my privilege to administer the pastoral M avenant between this beloved church and is tie beloved servant of God.jyhom they have pi hdi&A.lo be their guide in holy things, The rderly proceedings leading up to thisauspl- m lous moment have been generally staled cu lere. Tills congregation met in due form re nd elected the Rpv. John Lowrie Wilson of th je l'resbytery or Bethel to be pastor or this fo ock. A call for bis services was duly ini?de iu ut and signed by representatives of the conregation chosen at tbe meeting just menoned to do this. The call was submitted to ? ethel Presbytery with the request that w , give It* assent, and approval to the removal f Mr. Wilson from the church he was pastor f, to become pastor of this church. The resbytery, after much hesitation, caused by ie unwillingness of the fiocfc the brother T as serving to givehlm up, and other considrations, did finally yield to the request of .bbeville church and dismiss Brother WIN >n to the Presbytery of South Carolina, his Presbytery was ealled to meet in refernce to the matter. It met last night and real ved Brother Wilson Into membership, nnd K)k order to Install him this morning as pasjr of this church. I now proceed to ask of w icli party the questions, respectively, by v< nswering which they acknowledge on earth be iid assume before tlio Presbytery the sacred ?htllou already recorded in heaven: P> 1. Are you now will!off to take charge of h, lis congresulion as tnclr Pastor, agreeably > your declaration at u<-ccptin< lt? cull? J" 2. Do you conscientiously t>clicve und de- v lare, as far as you know your own heart, (r lat, in taking upon you this charge, you are lflueneed by a sincere desire to promote the * lory of God und the good of the Church ? 3. Do you solemnly promise, that, by the as- , * stnnee of the grace of God, you will eudeav- ' ur inlthfully to discharge all the duties of a astor to this congregation, and will be care- y ll to maintain a deportment, in all respects * ecominga miuifiier of the gospel of (Jurist, greeably to your ordination engagement? Havlngusked the pastor these questions and aving received uflirmative distinct answer bi > each, the officiating minister, comtemlating the minister who was being'invested pi ith office, with great interest, said: h! "I sympathize with you, my brother, I have ^ :ood in the same poslilon you now stand in. j * ohn imagine now you icei. junownuwi i?h. ou are a better tnuti than I am, und you ;el uiore than I did. But courage, brother, c [o who has sent his servants forth, has not f' illed to give them ground of hope. He said, .11 power belongelh unto me; lo, I am with ou always, even to the end of the world." ^ Mr. Wilson stood during the time the queslons were being asked, and also during the tc me which the Doctor was addressing him hectly. When the Doctor hod concluded is remarks to the new pastor, he addressed irnself to the people : T< 1. Do you, the people of this congregation, ontlnue to profess your readines* to receive a< ohn Lowrie Wilson, whom you have called i be your Pastor? 2. Do you promise to receive the word of ? :uth from his mouth with meekness and tr >ve, and to submit to him in the due exercise " f discipline? hi 3. Do you promise to encourage him In his if ibours. and to assist his endeavours, for your tr istruction and spiritual edification? tr 4. And do you engage to continue to him n: 'hlle he is your Pastor that competent tr forldly maintenance which you have prom- b; ;ed, and to furnish him with whatever you w lay see needful for the honour of religion lo nd for his comfort among you? Ul Having in like manner received the answer ^ f the congregation, Dr. Mullally said: le "Dear people, and you are an especially dear leople to me, may Goil give you grace to re- t? ?ive this precious ascension gift with true " nd lasting thanKfnlness.and with all thefeel- ^ igs corresponding to the goodness of God in i* avlng thus answered your prayers for a pas jr.'' m THE PASTOR AND THE PEOPLE, jj L HARGE TO THE NEW PREACHER BY DR. * FRIERSON. tr in 'he Pastor Must Feed His Flock?lie ni must Eucourag-e the Faint?Hcart> di ed?lie mu?t 1.1ft up the Fallen, ^ the most Degraded of whom Should Receive His Care?The I1 di Little Children Should Receive ct ills Illessinir?Earnestness. Watch- Is ~ " ir fulness, and Fervor Should Char- hi acterize Ills Holy Work. It might seem to bo almost unnecessary, bi ly brother, t o add to the obligations which al- ai 3ady bind;you,to ministerial duty, seeing that y< ou have exercised your office already many it ears and so efficiently and successfully as to ai ave won the contluence of your brethren w nd no less the very tender regards of the a( eople of your former charge. h But it is not unnecessary, and to charge you ow again is not a mere official and perfunciry act. It is perhaps more necessary now pi linn when you were charged belore, at your v< rdination. Yoii may have grown wotry and h: ureless; you may he disposed to recline upon m our laurels; you may begin to covet this le rorld, and may relax your ardor in the mln- cr itry. It is the more necessary to remind you tf f your obligation for the reason that you pi ave acquired experience and ability in the ir uinistry, that your responsibilities arc cor- tl es-pondlngly Increased. For to whom much tl i clven of him shall much be required. And hi I is yet more Important to remind you that ii re have come to an age when the minister of it he gospel needs a higher grade of spirit ual- tt ly, earnestness and intellectual power than 11 vcr before. W'e have come upon an age pi irhcn men are pursuing the advantages of a st naterlal civilization with marvellcus carnstness, and it calls for ministers of marvel- yi his earnestness to overtake them with the st ilessings of the kingdom of heaven. We n; invi. onmotnuniiTO whnri an lmmpn?i> nut- Ii ide pressure from populur opinion demands li< .i) ethical gospel, one that shall treat the great loot r I ties of the faith n-s obsolete or hs theoogical crotchets for ministers to fight about. t< iut no longer of practical value, and only the Idellty and earnestness of ministers can save hem from being laid upon the shell. We lave come to an age when vice lives nnd p; mlks under the most plausible disguises; hi vhen the multiplied pleasures, entertain- n nents, sports, and enjoyments of the age ai eek to laugh all gravity out of countenance il md to invest the gravest subjects with n m atmosphere of pleasantry. We have c< :ome to a time when something more ctii- c! :ient must be done than has yet been done to si :heck the increasing encroachments upon .lie Sabbath or sutler that institution to be cl vrcEted from its place and position in the a hurch of God; when the Church must re-1 jine her powers of rule and discipline over er adherents or suffer her intlueuco 10 fall efore a dominant popular opinion; when it wild seem to be absolutely imperative that Christianity of fact shouln take Its placo by ie Bi le of a Christianity of argument both i our Church courts and in our Chrlsttuu i'h and conversation; we have come to a incture in the history of God'8 Church when je masses of mankind are calling for a pr.iccal gospel as contra-distinguished from an rgumcnted gospel. The demand has sprung i Germany; in Ireland; it exists here in this )Untry, and the great want of the age is to nd men to meet that want. We have come > a.juncture when somehow more life must s infused into our fluancial methods or some ivolution overtake them, or we mu9t fall astly in the rear of an advancing nge. . II. I 1 .?. ... V. I..V, Ar. I i uicac uiu pj csMii^ ui^uuuiuo waivu uv land stlI the earnestness und all the alafcrlty nd nil the spirituality of a man of God and hich fbrce every earnest man to exclaim 1th Paul, "Who Is sufficient for these >ings?" In these general demands you must take a eep Interest both hh h Presbyter and a inlnter, and by the Influence of your voice and our peri seek to assist the Church of God to leet them. But In addition to all Ihetlc great questions i which you must bear yoiir part in the care r all the churches, I charge you to feed the r>ck of God over which He hath made you an k-crseer: Feed them with the doctrines and insolations of the word of God. Feed with lose cH?(it themes which concern their eteral wellbelng. You are not a moralist but a ilnlster of the Gospel. Itlsndt yours to reinn and refine, but to present tlie great remly for sin, pardon and salvation; 1 charge ytili look after the poor. Go into iolr little dwellings, take them by the hand, isure them of the sympathy of Htm whose srvant you are. 1 charge yon look after od's poor. It is the great characteristic and ory of the gospel that it Is preached to le poor. The rich of your flock will go after au and help you. I charge you do not look ter your support. It Is God that employs du and It Is he that will pay you. I charge )ti turn not away from tii? wor?t and most ?graded men or consider them forlorn cases, e sure you stoop down and bind up the ounds of the man by the wayside whom the >bberof the world has left half dead. I charge you observe and cultivatechildren. e the mnn of the children. Gather them in your Sunday School, talk to them frequentpreach to them as part of your audience, alse np, if possible,a fallen family religion, ake it one of the preat efforts of your mintry to restore to the household .its ancient :ivl leges. All the fcarnfeHtness, attd nil the watchful?ss, And the fervor yott can command are illed for, my brother* to meet the uolemn sponsiblllties of your position, and to meet lem will require much of your time to pray M IiaU TUa 1 ncol v* rr rtf rr>ct ll i^An VHll I* 'i iicij-'i 1 lit; uignoiu^ \/i vuu < vuv u^vh ^ w?*? ilnlstry and your charge. IARGE TO THE PEOPLE BY EEV. W. T. 'MATHEWS. he Preacher must have Moral and Material Knpport - - - People and Preacher Alike Have Important Duties to Perform?A Holy En* thnslawm Needed. By the nppointment of the PreRbytery, hlch met last, night in this church, It dolives upon me now to charge yon. ttic mem;rs of this church, respecting your duties to lis brother who Is being Inducted into the iJitorateof this church. You have called him to be your pnstor; he is accepted that call, and hy this solemn and iterestlng servlcc the relation of pastor and ;ople Is officially mid legally established, wan undershepherd he Is to lead on, and in his flock are to follow on to victory at?d ory. His duties are urgent, and trying. HIr ten.niiiwuiiud wmiro. snlpmn and awful. He Is ?re to wntch for souls und at last give nn acnint of hla work. But your responsibilities are also great, on have a work to do. The success of this istorate depends Jnst as much upon you-and mr labors us upon him and bis, und God ilds you responsible. This brother is a servant of the Presbytery. it Presbytery, at ycnr request ha" consented hi? serving yon in his ministerial office. It jvolves upon the Presbytery to see that the omlses which you have made to her and to Im are fulfilled, in whose name I now >eak. Let me here sny, that my limited nowledge of this church places me Jn such ? isltlonas to bo unable to know exactly hat to touch upon in this charge. There is much difference in churches. >me starve the pastor, some discourage hinj > death, some fall out with him without a luse, and then there are some that, in every mse. give him the encouragement, support id obedience tbey promise. Perhaps the better plan for me to adopt, is > avail myself of my ienorHnce of your treatlentof pastors, and thereby be enabled to >eak the more lreely. I. I charge you: 5 GIVE YOUR PASTOR ALL PROPER SUPPORT. L Support the gospel he preaches, so fur as It :cords with the Vv'ord of God as interpretted I Will OLi]ilVUIIU.lt He Is ? Presbyterian minister and It Is to be cpected that he preach Presbyterian doclnes, and yon as members of Hie Presbytean church are expected to defend and upold that doctrine. He cannot and will not take a compromise of what he believes to be le truth, but Is to preach the truth?Me whole nth. No man's presence, whatever his views lay be, will color j'our pastor's view or uth, or affect the presentation of the gospel y him. You have promised to receive the ord of truth from his lips In meekness and ive. Why are so many sermons preached to 0 purpose ? The fuu11 Is ntf always in pircah s, sometimes the hearer, being prejudiced ?ainst t he truth himself, renders It powerss over the minds of others by our careless smnrks. Your duty Is to speak for the truth, stlfy to It and hold It forth as the word ol re, that this brother may rejoice in the day f Christ, that he has not labored among you 1 vain. 2. Support his ministerial and personal charucr. irtinur flint. a. mnn's fiharactor Is his ioat sacred possession. But In a peculiar suae and to ji greater degree is the character tbo Lord's anointed sacred and inviolable. ; fs the easiest thing in the world to destroy, ikea. sheet of white paper, when once staln1 you can never remove It. From to-day forth we entrust his character ito your keeping?it Is a sacred aud high ust?and I know thai you wllJ not prove n wort by of the trust. You may think this a eedless charge. llut not so. You will be called upon very soon to uphold id defend your pastor's reputation; for if he ;>es his duly, which I know ho will, the orld will be ready to abuse and wickedly ander him. Put under your feet, as that which is low id wicked, every whisper or insinuation irogutory of the ministerial or personal laracter o! your pastor. If I were to trans!nd the bounas of propriety I might tell you i what condition we place him into your unds to-day?with a reputation as a preaeh wherever known that is hurdly surpassed with n character as a pnsior mm u cunswii rother that is inferior to none. Let him feci jd know that you stand by him and t^iut [iu are supporting his preaching. Chemists til us that a single grain of iodine will tinge id color seven thousand times its weight of atcr. it is so In other thliixs. 0&e word jainst the pastor or his preaching may color is life, or tinge all the gospel he can preach. 3, Support him by your Prayers. He Is to pray for you. .Shall there be ?f> raying done by you lor him? In no way esin ju aid him more, than by placiug beneath Im the mighty prop of prayer. Prayer is i{/ht. Archimedes, having discovered the ver, said, that if he could but have a fuluui, it would raise the very foundations of 10 earth. Such a mighty instrument Is rayer placed in your h?nds and fulerumed i God, by whloh you can raise day by day ie church and with it your pastor to the irone of divine grace. Let him come to the use of God bedewed with your benedicoiir, and your fervent supplications aseendig 10a throne of jjrnce iu his behalf, and I ill you the Gospel will be in his hands the 'iglily power of God. Deliver us Iroin a rayerless church. There la no blessing in ore for It. I feel that It is hardly necessary to charge ou to support this brother by your sub;?nce. As honisst and truthful men and w?>ten you will do as you-promised?furnish im with whatever you see needful for the onor of religion and his comfort. II. I charge you ; 3 GIVE YOUR PASTOR ALT, PROPEll ENCOUR AGKMENT. Now I believe that comparatively few peole ever think ubout such a thiuu us encourilntc their pastor. They say, "why he has othlng to discourage him; he doesn't need uy encouragement." Well just let them try ic pastor's place lor a while mid they will ot talk that way. Every pastor needs en>?ras?ement and every member of the aurch can give it. Do you ask how? I anver: 1. By your presence nt the services of the lurch. I don't know any thing nbout your ttendancc at church, whether good or bad. I hope It itf ?ood.- But. I know the tendency in tliia direction; Newspaper rending, buggy riding, srtm ribclal visiting, ill inany places are reKoftwiHo o<i the Sabbath*,' rather than the house of ?od. You to-day make with this brotHpf a'Aoteran compact. He Is to preach and you aro Id, near. Every time then "that be is in the pulpit* ^ou must he in the I'ew. , Ana so far as inecftU' in concerned, i;e wu Just m well stay at homo on the Sabbath as you can,, or go off to some place of public resort to spend God'* holy day a? you em. If he fulfills his part of the covenant formed between you and hi in, and ratified by this service, he has a right to expect you to do you'r part. The church member surely knows nothlne of the feeling of the pastor who has to preach to the walls and empty pews. It, you know, is Impossible to hear without a preacher, and it is jtiHt ax impossible to preach without a hearer. A sermon to empty pews is no sermon at all, so far as the end of preaching is concerned. Let your presence at the church, at the Sabbath school, and at prayermeetlng encourage this brother. 2. Encourage him by laying hold, with, enthusiasm, every eiucrprisr of the church. "What we need to-day In our membership is a holy enthusiasm. The fault with us, is not in government or in doctrine, but in practice. If our membership were possessed with a divinely inspired enthusiasm, that would cause theiri to lay hold of our grand system und work it; Presbyterian ism would soon make rapid strides. It is very discouraging to a pastor for his raemners 10 ooject 10, ur irent wjiu muiucignce any movement that Is fdr theproglws of the church. I believe that you will lend a helping hand in fevery good work. It Is wlthlu your power to make this pastorate a grand success or a great failure. Which will you do? Last of all, I would urpre you not to neglect the growth of personal religion 1 n the heart. Take care of your own soul*. This after all Is the great business of life. And yet you may miss It. The oares and vexations of this lite or the fascinations and employments ot this world muy cause you to fail. The worldling of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Program, busily gathering the straws and sticks together, with au unclean crown vt glory above him, is a picture of many a man upon the role of the visible church. Be dilllgent to nfuke thy calling and election sure. My thoughts glance beyond tblsassembly and would peer Into the future. As I look upon youivnd your dear pastor I seem to behold above himaiiiilo of glory; and rays of light coming down Upon you and a tongue of fli'e that telJd of .glorious victories. May you press on with him Itt the conflict against satan and sin. Now the God of peace that brought ngalit lrom the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that greatshepherd of the sheepthrough the blood of the everlasting covenant make you perfect in every good work to do Ills will working in you that which is wellplenAlng In his sluht, through Jesus Christ, to whom bo glory for ever ana ever. Amen. Prayer by Br. XInllally. 0 Almighty God, who hast built thy Chnrch upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesns Christ Himself, being the chief corner stone; grant that by the operation of the Holy Ghost, all Christiana may be so bound together, in unity of the spirit and by the bona or Peace, that.they may be an holy temple unto Thee. And espocially to this congregation present give the abundance of Thy grace, that they may walk In the ways of truth and pesice, mid at last be numbered with thy saints In glory everlasting. We thank Thee 0 God, for all the blessings the preaching of the gospel In these, Thy courts lialh brought to immortal souls. We give Thee glory for the tinal triumph of those who having labored here are departed this life and asleep In Jesus. Grant that we m?y follow their lalth considering the end of th6lr conversation, Jesus Cnrist, the same yesterday, to-<lay. and for ever. And upon those who have broken to tills dear people the bread of life, ?nd are now serving Thee In other fiolds we humbly and earnestly invoke n" ? rr?K?* nrnenori nrr ri ny ptryce. nun i u.> iihwmii; n.uu p. ...B grace. O Lord our God, who doi'st more than I we can ask or think, (111 us all with Thy srace. 0 Thou God of peace, sanctify us wholly, that our whole spirit and soul and body may he preserved blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Chrh>t. These things we ask in Thy name, 0 blessed Jefius, Thou gracious Bishop mid Shepherd or our souls, who art with the Fathor. and the Holy Ghost oue God world without end. Amen. The 571st hymn as follows, wa? then sung: Shepherd of Israel, Thou dost keep. Wltn constant care, Thy humble sheep: By Thee inferior pastors rise, To feed our souls, and bless our eyes. To all Thy churches such impart, Resembling Thy own gracious heart*. Whose courage, watchfulness and love, Men may attest, and God approve. Fed by their active, tender care, Healthful mrty all Thy sheep appear; And, by their.fair example led, The way to Starr's pasture tread. Here has Thon listened to our vows. And scattered blessings on Thy hous*: Thy saints ?re succoured, and no more An uhoon luit.hniit. ?. Cllhlfi dfiDlore. Completely henI each former stroke, And bless the shepherd and the flock; Confirm the hopes Thy mercies rise, And own this tribute of our praise. When Thou chief Shepherd shall appenr, When nil the flock assembling here, And small and great before They stand, May they be found ou Thy right hand. The Conclusion. Dr., Mullally then said: I now prononncoand declare that John Lowrie Wilson has heen regularly elected, and Installed Pastor of this convocation, agreeably to the Word of God and nccording to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the United States; and that as such he is entitled to all support, encouragement, honour, and obedience in the Lord. In th?< name of the Farther, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen,") THE ABBEVILLE CHURCH. YOUNG IN NAME, BUT IN REALITY OLD AND HONORABLE IN THE HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIANS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. The Erection and Dedication of the Building1 in 1854?The Subsequent Petition in 1868 to Presbytery for Antlaorlty to Organize a Separate Cong:relation The Dismissal of Sixty Members from Upper Long I'nnc The Organization of the Church?The Election and Instal* lation of a Pastor?Incidents Per* tain tag to the C'hurCh. The JVesbyterlan church at Abbeville, as a part of Upper Lontr Cane church, bears a prominent part in the history of Presbyterian Church iu Abbeville county. Immediately a'fier me close 01 mi; rovimiuiunm j ivm uiri Presbyterians of Ihls county organized four eongresrhtions, viz: Upper Long Cane, Lower Long Cane, (now Hopewell), Bull Town, (now Rocky Itiver,'; and Saluda, (now Greenville.) In 1703 a society was formed chiefly by members of Upper Long Cane church, whose object was to provide a permanent fund for the support of the gospel in their congregation,, and for other purposes of benevolence. The "Upper Long Cane .Society'' was chartered in 179^. The annual payment of a fee of one dollar entitled the individual to membership. Thirty-five members constituted the member gnipoi l IlU hUUlC Ljr UU ll? XIIC society commenced with no other capital tlmn money pnid in ?>y membership fees.. Tlie by laws of the society required this money,.anil any future funds that mtehtbe rccc.Lved, 10 be placed at interest? neither principal nor Interest to l>e used for any purpose?untiil the capital of the society should exceed SliyXW.. That society is still in existence. In 1HT>2W the capital had reached to Slij.oofl, notwithstanding . the fact that more than 511,000 had boon paid from time to time, to the salary of their preachers. The society lost much money as a result of the war, and, in consequence of the by-law which forbids the appropriation of money for the support of the pastor or for | any other benevolent purpose,, until the capital should exceed 510,000, all payments to! preachers or other benevolent purposes were j suspended at the close of the wurviintll afew| years axo, when the fees for membership and accumulations of interest had restored the j aggregate capital to the necessary sum, when j monies might be appropriated.. The churches at Upper Long Cane and at Abbeville now Jointly receive from this source a sum approximating one thousand dollars annually. This church and this society wjis organized long before the location of Abbeville village, and when the Upper Long Cane church vras organized, the building was-located with a ylew to the convenience of the members, ' After the location of Abbeville Court Hnos?, people began to nettle around it. and thercr was a demand for more convenient church facilities. The Methodists put up a house of worship first, and afterwards the Episcopalians built a church. The Presbyierlans were 1 , sft not long In realizing the inconvenience of1 worshipping at so great a distance as Upper' ' I/ong Cane church, and saw plainly the dlsad?vantage at which tliey were placed. Owing to that many of the Abbeville people J felt.a-^great,,attachment for the old cnurch, and owing 'ro that other fact, the difficulty or raising the mon^ with which to build a sep- J ?,i: a rate house oi ' worshiw, the work, of con structlng a bonding* for.thejr :oWu u*?v, wa* : I not conimenced^timU.^1853. when devout bt ^ public spirited citizens subscribed cotisldej'i able sums ot money ft>r purpose. Thi# work was led by Elders David kessly, T. Ci 3 Perrln, J. P. Livingston anil R;' H. Vf ardlat?. In this good work these gentlemen were hcarlily supported by James M. Peifln; Isaat? ' Branch, fi. A. Fair, Thomas-Thomson, and 'i others. Dr. J. F. Livingston and David Less ly took the subscriptions and built thecburch* which whs finished in the Summer of 1854. ;i'.% From public notice published in the ttaWpHpers, we learn that the pews were let on the 20th of August, 1854. The great revivrillst, - ;t Dr. Baker, was in this country at that time. ! v. and the fact is noted in the newspapers or $ that day that he commenced a ten day's meeting In this church on the 14th of September. ; Doctor Baker is therefore, supposed to be thq first man who preached in that building, Public notice was also given at the same time .,. .? that the dedication of the church would take Slace on Sunday, the 24th of September?Dr. ames Hi Thornwetl preaching the sermon. At that time the Upper Long Cane church ; hnd no pastor, and tne congregation, whether worshipping at Abbeville or Upper Long Cane, depended upon silch fiiippiy as they could secure irom time to time?KfiVi A. D. Montgomery supplying the pillplt moat ?. of the time. In I860, Rev. T. Aj Hoyt Hnvl Qsoiimr>r1 t.hp nonmnitfl ?f llnnm* Long Cane church, of which Abbeville was it part, and on the 19th day of May, 1855, he \va3 installed, being the first regular pas- x tor to preach the gospel al this house. The ^ reader will bear In mind the church organization at Abbeville village up to this time, and until the Spring of 18t>8, was identical with < that at Upper Long Cane?the building at Ab- beville however, beiug the property or the In- ; dividuals, in which it was agreed that tho -'--fy pastor should hold services at stated times tor the convenience of such member* as might live in the village. The church organization! including members, deacons, elder*, atiu preachers, were one people, with two houses x of worship. By agreement, after the coinpietlon of the new house of worship at Abbe* ville, the time of the pastor of upper Long Cane church, was equally divided as to Bab* bnth day service, but the Abbeville church hnd preaching every Sabbath night. '-Ws -The subject of a division was- agitated for 3 many years but there was a bond of union, ' ii which could not be well disregarded. The , . ^ citizens of the village had an equal interest in the Upper Long Cane Society fund, and as a matter of course, were not willing tosurrender their interest In this large sum of money which was so useful in the liquidation of church dues. The members of tue Upper vl: Long Cane church who were not intes*steu in the village church, were, as a rufe, opposed to c a division of the funds, however willing they - ;:J mni? Knan /Wh fhol? hvDlhran f A vlt Pit XXJ themselves and organize as aseparate church. After un agitation of the question for many years, the trustees of ihe Upper Long Cane Society, consented to a division of the net profits accruing from the fund, with the understanding, whether expretwetf or implied we do not know, that the peoole of the vll* lane would, us heretofore, give their aid auu support to the society. The final step then toward a division of tfio church was made in March, IMS, as will ap- ' pear in the following petition to the Mouth Carolina Presbytery, in Which the prayer is 1 formally made, includiug the reasons moving * them thereto. petition to sever existing bjtlatiohs pand to fokm a kew atmakcx. Abbeville Village, March, 1868. 7b the Prfixbt/lery of South Carolina: '/:'#> The undersigned, members of Upper Lone: Cane church, in Abbeville District, respectfully petition your Christian body to authorize thein as a colony from Upper Long Cane* 0 to establish a separate and independent Pres* byterian church in tbe village of Abbovllle. In this application your petitioners would ask the attention of Presbytery to several particular*, and 1st, That the application does not spring from a factious or unchristian spirit, by any ,bj means. We feel that we can truthfully say the spirit of friendship, brotherly love aud kindness pervading our entire congregation was never better, and is of the most cordial and Christian character. 2nd, That the motives of your petitioners, i.ntwklif *ova ia ntw I'llCjr IIUIUUIJ bi M0V| Oiiiwivij ?| ?| ?V . *"-5W mote Presbytertanisnt In their comipunlty, and to secure to themselves the privilege and convenience of worshipping God on every Lord's* Day in the use of the forma and doctrine* peculiar to their own beloved Church. They regard the locution of Upper Long Cane church, one and three-fourths miles in the country, as having been from the first greatly against the promulgation and diffusion of the principled of our denomination in this community. For a number of years ?upwards for half a century, there were no services in our villnge, by ministers of onr Church, except at long, Irregular or chance in* tervals. In the meantime other denoininit' Mons, the Methodist and Episcopuiian, established Churches here, furnishing the peo- ^ people with the convenience of public wor-? ship, and familiarllzlng .their minds with thn ' doctrines and practices peculiar to these ohurchesrespectivcly. .The conscqnence ha* been that some, probably many, born and reared in Presbyterian fumilies, have Joined these churches, whilst others, actually memhers of the Presbvterian-ehurcli. locatlns in our village, for ihe mere sake of convenience, have connected themselves therewith. The butldlnsrand openiogof a house of worship In the village In 1854, though furnishing great relief in the promises. Is bat an 1nsufft~ clent remedy. Under existing arrangements In the congregation, we have morning *ervices in the village but two Sabbatlw in the month, with night service every Sabbath, the tilth Sabbath being usually given to Long Cane or elsewhere. Our people jwt, having the means of conveyance to reach the church In the country, nor being able, especially sine the war, t? keep them, aud the distance being too creat for ladies and enliven, as a general thing to walk, either In the winter or summerinoraths, worship in churches of other denominations; in some instances and frequently, tamilies separating, htisbands and sons walking to the conutry, and wives and daughters and little ones remaining behind. Brethren, these tilings ought not so to be. We feel them to be grievances, but we nro helpless In the premises. We appeal to you to apply the remedy?to give relief. 3rd. The granting of the prayer of the pe " tltloner8 will notabridge, but on the coutrary promote, the church privileges of the country portion of our congregation. This portion of the congregation consists of upwards of seventy families, living on their farms, thrifty ?t. .t? U..vi.? aKIa at* I < it 4U<% Ill lIJCll IJit U i I c> UUU auuuuuuilj rtUJC, Willi iU'? old to which thoy would be entitled from the funds of the "Upper Long Cane Society" to command the whole time of a first-class minister. 4ih. Your petitioners leel and submit, that with the utd to which they think they would be entitled from a division ol the interest accruing from ihe "Uppt-r Long Cane Society," they would lie enabled, under the blessing of the adorable Head of the Churwh, to support a minister abundantly eompe tent to edify them in the great Using jertuinine to our holy religion. And, 5th. That alter the separation* If allowed, there would still remain several bonds of union, between the w?tl?er church and her infant and tender colony, to wit: Tie "Upper. Long Cane Society" which wHl retain ittf present organization, holding its funds lor the'; benefit of each; tht? old graveyard, around which cluster a thousand hallowed memories and sweet affections ; and tho frequent opportunities ?f commingling in worship, upon communion and other occasions, as lu other and brighter days. Brethren, for the reasons above assigned,, your petitioners ask,.t-hat you bear and grant the prayer of their petition, and as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray, Ac.. R. A. Fair, Robt. H. Waidlaw, MvA. Fair, Elian Wardlaw, John L. Fair, Kliai I* Wardlaw, Jas. Y. Fair. Kliza Bowie, Mary T. McDonald, Win, C. Wardlaw, 1). R. Sondley, M. J. Ward law, M. FunuleSondley, G. Mcl). Miller, Tone Smith. M. V. Miller. Sallle A. White, J.M.Jiles, J. M. Richmond, Lucy White, Mrs. E. T. Richmond,M. M. Thomson, Mrs. A. E. Cox, Janle Thomson, F. J. Marshall, N. J. Bowie, Mrk, M. Lvthgoe, E. Buchanan, J. J. Wardlaw, S. M. Wler, M. A. Wardlaw, Mrs. M. C. Miltw,. M. W. Wurdlaw, Geo. White,. Isaac Branch, Lucy A. White, Mrs. Dr. J. Branch, 1* W. Whito. L. H. Branch, Nannie A. White,. John T. Owen, J. 8. Cothran, Sarah E. Owen, Emma C. Cothran, Robert A. Archer, Tbos. C. Perrin, Mrs. Fannie E. Archer,Jane E. Perrin, Lucie Calvert, Hannah E. Perrln, Fannie Allen, Saille E. Perrm, Ida Allen, M. F? Livingston, EIbIm Allen, SallleLl vliiKston, H. C. Perrln, Jul in C. McOaw, Thos. Thomson, Mary J. Perrln, ? ?<rConcluded on Fourth rage, . I ki . zl