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Oldest Newspaper In South Carolina. EDGEFIELD, S. C., WEDNESDAY, JULY 12,1911 MT. CREEK CHURCH. Historical Article of Great Val ue From Last Week's Is sue of The Green wood Index. As stated irr these columns some time ago, Mr. II. L. Watson, the versatile editor ,of the Greenwood Index, is making several automo ' bile tours of Greenwood county and is writing a series of valuable ar ticles for his paper, giving much hitherto unrecorded local history. The following is what Mr. Watson has io say of Mountain Creek church, which is an important fac tor in the Edgefield association: "Mountain Creek church is only a short distance from this house. The building is back a few hundred yards from the road we are in, sur rounded by what appears to be a rather extensive forest. The still ness is impressive at the time we reach it late in the afternoon, and tends to the development of solemn thinking. The church building is large and substantial, the third building of the name. The ceme tery is large and here one will find many familiar names and some un familiar to those not well acquainted with this section, yet any one who has lived or visited in this commu nity will recall them as acquaint ances or has heard of them* from others. Among the names noted are, Sheppard, Holloway, Self, Kemp, Durst, Schenck, Aiton, De Yore, Still, Hughes, Clegg, Trapp, Harling, Ouzts, Holmes, Wilson, Harvely, Garner, Gardener, Street, Burton, Dorn, Minor, and others. The grave of chief interest here is that of Rev. John Trapp, who serv ed this church 42 years. On his tomb it is stated that he was born Oct. 2Uh, 1798 and died June 27 th, 1876. Also tL ' he served Moun tain Creek church 42 years, Little Stevens Creek church 38 years, Bethany church 21 years and Bold Spring church 20 years. He preach ed indeed all around this section, churches having him as a pastor for less than 20 years are _jt enume rated. * Among the older persons buried here as noted were, John C. Garner born Dec. 3, 1802; Gardner, stone broken, born 1778; Michael Schenck born Nov. 13, 1810; Wm. H. Clegg born Dec. 29, 1816. "One thing that will even im press a casual visitor is the frequen cy of the Masonic emblem on grave stones here. This is due to the prominent place held in this com munity for so many years by Friend ship Masonic Lodge. It will be noted later. 1 As to the church itself, it ap pears that before the church was established or organized there was a school house on this site. In a sketch of this church prepared some years ago and published in Chap man's History of Edgefield county, so-called, it is stated that the rec ords of the church had been lost but from the best information obtain able the church was organized in 1798. A few sentences further on it is stated that the church was or ganized by Rev. Nicholas W. Hodges, a missionary preacher of the Edgefield association, who had been preaching in the school house which stood where the church is now. This is the same Rev. Nich olas W. Hodges whose grave was noted at Mt. Moriah and the state ment here that the church was or ganized through his efforts cannot be a fact for the reason that it is stated on Mr. Hodges' tombstone at Mt. Moriah that he was born Jan. 1st, 1787, justa year before, accord ing to this statement, he organized ?he church. According to the data i his tombstone he was not bap tized until May, 1826, which was at Horn's Creek church and was li censed to preach at Edgefield in June, 1826. The statements as to the origin of the church are in good faith, however, and there is in all likelihood ground for the belief that there was a church here at the be ginning of the nineteenth century, though there is no proof of it avail able at this time. Someone ought to go into tho matter thoroughly and ascertain the facts. Mr. J. L. An drews who took a deep and active interest in the church when he lived at Kirksey, being superintendent of the Sunday school, set down the statements first made as having been given to him by older settlers, but he did not know of the discrep ancy proven by the date of Rev. N. W. Hodges birth. The sketch is printed in Mr. Chapman's book, but to this extent it is an error. 1 his is merely set down here to show how easily we can run into grave errors in making permanent records. The care and caution which needs to be exercised is sometimes very foreign to those who write down such things for posterity. In these sketches we are trying to be careful i i and submit almost everything verification, then cross verify a: then sub verify, but it is too late do much of that sort of thing no The records have disappeared f< ever. "Well, anyway, Rev. Nichol W. Hodges, the great pioneer Ba tist missionary preacher and labor in a wide section of country, preac ed and labored for the |Cause do\ here at Mt. Creek in the then scho *>ouse and afterwards had charge it when a church building was bui of logs at this site. Some rnembe from another church that he serve Little Stevens Creek, came over ar joined in with this new congreg tion but owing to the fact that M Hodges had his hands full with i many other churches, the preachir was not regular and the church d: not thrive. In the year 1829, tl same year of the mysterious voi< over at the Isaac Burnett house n< many miles away there was quite revival led by Mr. Hodges and number of people were converte( among them being a young ma named John Trapp who had con into this neighborhood from Fai field District as a school teache: He was a young man then, but man of power and influence and h disposition to enter- the ministr wis strongly encouraged by th congregation. However, he coi tinued to teach school for a fe years, but in 1833, he was ordaine to the Baptist ministry and lay in aside all other work he threw hin self heart and soul into the ministr and Rev. John Trapp literall wrought his name into this and a( joining neighborhoods by his mini; terial labors. He must have beer indeed he was a wonderful man. H was a school teacher when a youn man and therefore grounded in th foundations of an education, thougi owing to the conditions existing a that time he had had no opportuni ties for what might be called a clas sical education. Had he been & trained he would have himself ; place as one of the leading men o: the denomination in this state. "In 1840, Rev. John Trapp ha< his first revival at this church. 1 number were conyeited and joinei the church. Tire second building,? large frame house was put up tha year. In the sketch in Chapman i is stated that in this year, 1840, ? number of members secured thei letters and withdrew to organizi Damascus church, about ten milei further north. This is an error because Damascus was organized ir 1833 by Rev. James M. Chiles. Th< present Damascus building was pu up in 1854 and it i3 very probabh that what was meant was that i number of people went out fron Mountain Creek in 1854 when Da mascus was moved where it is now it being of course some nearer tc possibly some members of Mountair Creek. 4 Continuing this sketch sa,} s that the church continued to grow and in 1852 there was another revival in which as many as 80 persons were baptized and a number ol memberswere restored.Among those baptized was Theophilus Williams who was soon ordained to the min istry. He died ten years later. "At this time the church was one of the largest and strongest in the northern part of the old Edgefield Association, the membership (col ored iucluded) being over five hun dred. In the year 185(3, there was quite a deflection of members, a number of them withdrawing and organizing Olive Branch Church, already mentioned. This church became extinct in 1878. "In the year 1859 there was another great revival and sixty per sons were baptized into the church. The power of Rev. John Trapp among these people cannot be ex pressed more emphatically than their mere statement of these addi tions all under his preaching. "During the War Between the States, the church suffered greatly in a financial way and in loss of members, but in I860 there was another great revival and ?8 per sons were baptized by Rev. John Trapp into the membership of the church and five were restored. This meeting lasted seventeen days. A Methodist minister living near the church was all the help Mr. Trapp had in this 17 days of preaching. "In the year 1878, the 27th day of August, Mr. Trapp died. He had been pastor of this church con tinously since 1834, with the ex ception of two years only, 1855-56, and no wonder he is regarded as the man who did more than any one else to build up the church. "He was was succeeded by Rev. R. W. Seymour who was pastor for four years and was followed by Rev. J. K. Fant who was also pas tor for four j ears. Mr. Fant re signed in February 1885. The next pastor was Rev. J. F. McMillan of North Carolina. He resigned in 1888 and Rev. B. P. Miller was called. He was compelled to re SUNDAY AT REHOBOTH. Missionary Rally. Two Exccl Sermons by Dr. Derieux. Large Attendance. Be autiful Hospitality. The good people of Rehoboth have never been found wanting. It matters not how great the demand or what the occasion,thefr resources are limitless and their hospitality unbounded. A missionary rally was held at Rehoboth Sunday with the Woman's Missionary Society as hostess, and in spite of the showers at the dinner heur and the over flowing condition of the church, everybody was well received and royally treated. All of the members of the society, forty-odd in number, wore badges of yellow ribbon bearing the word "Welcome," and above the pulpit in large letters of white and gold the same word met the eyes of the people as they entered the church. This kindly greeting, together with, thp hearty hand clasp and cordial hospitality otherwise manifested, made all feel that they were indeed welcome and among friends. There were two sermons, both being preached by Dr. W. T. Deri eux. Rather we should have stated that there were three sermons. While Dr. Derieux preached in the church in the morning, Rev. J. T. Littlejohn preached to the over flow crowd out under the trees. Dr. Derieux's theme in the fore noon was "The Lord' is my Shep pard." In the afternoon he preach ed the annual sermon before the members of the Woman's Mission ary Society, all of whom occupied seats near the front. Dr. Derieux's text in the afternoon was "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Both discourses were well received. At the. close of the morning ser vice, a collection was taken for mis sions, amounting to $14.18.' Im mediately after the inspiring ser mon in the afternoon Miss Carrie Burkhalter, the president of the so ciety, arose and with characteristic modesty ana gentleness, Jianked Dr. Derieux for his presence and for his excellent sermons of the day. She also stated that the mite boxes were distributed among the mem bers of the society in which were to be placed regular weekly offerings for missions, the understanding be ing that the boxes would be collect ed at the annual meeting in July. The boxes were collected from all the members who were present and after a careful count the announce ment was made that these noble Christian workers had contributed $25.55 by this means. The. Rehoboth society has done excellent work this year. Its offi cers are Miss Carrie Burkhalter, president; Mrs. Charles Strom, sec retary, and Miss Kittie Lou Hughey, treasurer. All of the apportion ments have been met for the year and there still remains a balance in the treasury. Notwithstanding the large atten dance Sunday, possibly the largest ever seen at Rehoboth, the well fill ed baskets supplied dinner in great abundance for all. It was spread upon a long table under the oaks and everybody was invited to par take. In viewing the table one was impressed with the great variety as well as the quantity of meats and sweetmeats. Certain it is that the good women of Rehoboth can not be excelled in providing a feast for a greit throng. For Cotton Weigher. I hereby announce that I am a candidate for the office of Cotton Weigher for the town of Edgefield, and respectfully solicit the votes of farmers who market their cotton at Edgefield. If elected I will give my entire time to the duties of the office and will do my utmost to give perfect satisfaction. J. G. Byrd, Pleasant Lane, S. C. sign in April 1891 on account of ill health. In July, 1891, Rev. J. T. B. Anderson now pastor at Elber ton, Ga., was called and served the remainder of that year. In 1892, Rev. J. P. Mealing was called and served during the year. In 1893, Rev. J. L. Ouzts, a native of this section, now living at Inman, in Spartanburg county, was called to the pastorate. He waa induced to study for the ministry through the influence of a former pastor, Rev. J. K. Fant. Mr. Ouzts was grad uated from Furman University that year. "The present pastor is Rev. J. E. Johnson, a native of Newberry,, but who has been living here for a num ber of years. He has made himself secure in the hearts of the people in this section and is deserving of the high esteem in which he is held." JOHNSTON LETTER. Union Meeting at Johnston. Convention and Association Consolidated. Sermon to Odd Fellows. Mrs. Mattie Cassels has gone to Columbia, to make her home with her mother Mr? W. G. Kernaghan. Misses Ven> ^Trotter and Louise Wharton, of Columbia, are guests at the home of Mr. Jake Smith. Miss Ellie Mite Miller is spend ing awhile witfa her aunt,Mrs. J. A. Lott Mrs. E. G. Morgan, of Auguita, has been visiting Mrs. Fletcher Boyd. Miss Antoinette Denny has gone to Pine Viewi;?Ga., to visit rela tives. Mrs. H. A.-^plsrk, of Aiken, is visiting here. 1 Mr. W. H. Whitlock has gone to Jonesville where he will serve as operator. Mr. J&hn Brown is filling the place here .and his friends are L'lad to have hi*i back, as previous ly he was b?re as operator for about 8 yeax&Jjfc The union meeting of the Ridge association wirabe held here on the 5th Sunday ia ;$hi8 month. It has been decided to consolidate the an nual association and the Sunday school convention, as the last men tioned i f W&l attended, and the time not |eem seasonable for thc AO wow come in from the c /y. The' association is to be dnesday and Thursday after i : ad Sunday fa-September, and the Sunday school '/convention will oc cupy Friday. On Saturday, July 15th, at Dry Creek church,: there will be a mis sionary rally of the missionary so cieties and young woman's auxiliar ies of the Ridge division, and it is urged that there be a large attend ance. The cradle ioU j class of the Bap tist Sunday school has grown quite large, now numbering 93, and is under the management of Mrs. J. II. White who is an indefatigable work ervOn Friday t?oon a general re ception waah\jf.. ^r'iihe^renisa?? the little tots,' in die Sunday school room, and it was both interesting and amusing to watch the class varying from ages, of 9 months to 3 years. At 3 years the promotion certificate is received and a number were given out. A little white cradle, amid the decorations on the ros trum, held these certificates. The grown ups enjoyed the program which had been arranged, and es pecially did the little folks enjoy the quantity of ice cream and cake served. The centre of attraction was the large birthday cake of the class with lighted candles. Souve nirs were cards with the likeness of Robert Raikes, the founder of the Sunday school. He established the first Sunday school in 1780, in Gloucester, England. Miss Weinona Lewis entertained the Pi Tau club with a 4th of July party on Wednesday afternoon, and besides the regular members, there were lady visitors of the town. Flags were used effectively in the decorations. A contest in which the answers pertained to the 4th, gave a very busy half hour and Mrs. Edwin Mobley was presented with the prize a piece of hand embroidery, and Miss Nell Wallace the consola tion, a verse picture of the liberty bell. During the afternoon sweet music vas enjoyed, and at the con elusion ices and cake were served. Mrs. B. T. Adams and Misses Bessie Ford Turner and Frances Turner are at home from a two weeks' visit to relatives at Summer ton. Mrs. H. C. Bailey and Nellie Vera Bailey are visiting relatives in Columbia. Misses Mertie and Lee Williamson of Leesville are guests of Miss Win ton Lott, and on Thursday the young folks enjoyed a picnic in their honor. Rev. and Mrs. Bascom Hardy, of Blackstock, spent last week at the home of Mr. J. W. Hardy. Miss Lula May Oxner, of Hephzi bah, Ga., is the guest of friends here. Miss Marion Mobley spent last week in ridgefield as the guest of Mrs. R. A. Marsh. Miss Frances Strother is at home from Dothan, Ala., where she has conducted an art school. On Friday, Mrs. J. L. VValt^r gave a luncheon in compliment to her fair cousin, Miss Carrie Spear man, of Newberry, and the affair was one of great beauty and pleas ure. The home presented a cool and inviting appearance and the hostess passed the hours away most happi ly. A four course luncheon was served upon a table beautiful with a centerpiece of red dahlias and the place cards were done in red and (Continued on last page.) N. Y. PUBLIC LIBRARY. Second Largest Library in The World, Contains More Than Million and a Quarter Volumes. "Whether they be literati or not, those who visit New York should spend several hours in the great Public Library, which since its completion several months ago has been the pride of the city. In cluding its several branches, this in stitution is the second largest of its kind in the world, being surpassed only by the Biblioth?que Nationale in Paris. The library is located in Bryant Park facing Fifth Avenue between Fortieth and Forty-second streets. Magnificent Building. In marked contrast with the gray and brown skyscrapers down in the financial district is this long, broad and comparatively low bnilding of white marble up on Fifth Avenue. So beautiful are its lines, Renais sance being the style of architec ture, and so striking the general ef fect of its exterior that very absent minded indeed must be the pedes trian who passes without t iking at least a hurried glance at this marble structure, which is so colossal in its proportions and so thoroughly and richly finished in all of its details that $12,000,000 were expended and ten years consumed in its construc tion. Library for th? People. In consolidating the Astor Libra ry, the Lenox Library and the Til den Trust in 1895, it was the pur pose of the trustees to establish an institution which would be patron? ized by the middle and uneducated classes, as well as by scholars and those who use libraries for research. That this has been accomplished, in part at least, is indicated by the large daily attendance upon the li brary. A record of all who enter the building from nine in the morn ing till 10 in the evening is rigidly kept The maximum attendance has been 20,000 persons in one day and the number has never fallen lower than 6,000 in a day. Of course, a large portion of these are visitors who merely go to see in stead of to read or make research. System and Order Prevail. Notwithstanding the fact that teeming hundreds and thousands cross its threshold daily, many al most aimlessly strolling up and down its marble corridors and peer ing through every department, yet there is no noise, congestion or confusion in the building. The placards lasted at intervals, re questing silence here and forbid ding entrance there, are scarcely needed, as the very atmosphere of the place is such as to command and inspire proper decorum andan observance of order on the part of visitors. Readers who sit in the spacious reading rooms absorbed in the book that is being read or in the heap of massive reference books ordered for making research are never disturbed by the passerby. Immense Proportions. As one passes through the build ing, which seems to be sufficiently large to accommodate the accumu lation of books for the next thou sand years, he is almost lost in the maze of stairs and endless marble halls that lead from room to room, department to department. Some idea of the immensity of the library proper can be gained from the fact that at present the building contains 63 miles of steel shelves which will be increased from time to time as the necessity arises, and there are at preaent more than 1,250,000 books in the library. Compare or contrast in mind the few dozen or few hundred books in your home with these al most inconceivable figures, then at least a faint idea of the immensity of the New York Public Library can be gained. As compared with these millions of volumes, the writer's few books are but a grain of sand upon the seashore, and our few feet of shelves are but a hairbreadth as compared with the 63 miles. Especially Inviting to Foreigners. Carrying out the original purpose of providing a library for the use of the masses, making it easy especial ly for foreigners to avail themselves of its benefits, the trustees in laying their plans provided a separate sec ?:on or room for the books and lit erature of each of the leading na tionalities. Not bopping at this thoughtful consideration of .for eigners, the management has plac ed a lady in charge of each section who can speak the language of her people. For example, the Hebrew literature or room is in charge of an intelligent young Hebrew; the Italian room is presided over by an intelligent woman of that nationali ty, and so on. By availing them selves of this provision, foreigners I who come to New York who aspire to better things and who really de sire to broaden and enrich their lives, have access to the literature of their native tongue. The Public Library of New York possibly af fords these "strangers in a strange land" better advantages than were accorded them on their native heath. No End to Books. If there were a sufficient number of books in existence three thou sand years ago to cause Solomon to exclaim, "Of the making of books there is no end," what world he say were he to take a stroll leisure ly through the New York Public Library? When to Begin to Study Music If your boy or girl is old enough to go to school she or he is old enough to begin music. Many have the mistaken idea that a child must at least reach the age of 12 or 13 before he can begin music les sons. I have heard mothers say, "When Mary gets through school I mean for her to have a thorough course in music." By the time she ls through the tenth grade her hand will have received its growth and the muscles become set. Other par ents say, "I let John take music through the summer vacation as he has so little to do then, but some how he does not get on well." No. And I dare say that dear father or I mother would not get on well either | if they were to try to eat enough in two months to do them the remaind er of the year. Where John loses out is that he forgets what he learns in two months by not seeing it again for the next ten months. It requires as much time for a thor ough musical training as it does for a thorough education along any line and for that reason music should be begun with other school work and be just as systematically taught as any branch of study. It must be started when the child is young to let the .growth be slow and deep rooted. In the best public schools of our j land vocal music begins in the kind ergarten and continues through the different grades', through the high schools and even in the universities. A child ten -years old who has had the advantage of music as taught in the advanced public schools, knows the different clefts, all of the key signatures, note values, time, and can read at sight (first sight, too) simple melodies. This applies as well to instrumental music. With j the many splendid kindergarten or little beginner courses a very young child can be taught music as he is taught other things and the founda tion for further study laid in the j beginning. It is a well known fact that the beginning of the study of music in j mature manhood or womanhood has never produced an accomplished musician. A certain degree of effi ciency may be attained, but, even with the best teachers and faithful work on the part of the student, very rarely does he get beyond the fourth or fifth grade in instrumen tal music. That brings up the I question, "Would you advise a| grown person to study music?" Yes. I do advise a grown person who can spare one hour a day and is willing to try to make as much of himself as he can to begin the study of music. Why? Because it will be a relief from the grind of the every day duties; because it will give more culture and refine ment to the individual; because it will lead to knowledge and knowl edge of music creates appreciation of the works of others; and lastly, because even a little music makes a nome happier. B. D. W. A Young Plant's Growth. Musical education, like all other mental progress, is of slow growth. Do what we will the rose bud takes its own time to unfold. This is true of the human mind. We may press the rose bud and force it open, but the flower will not be as beauti ful or as fragrant as it would have I been had it unfolded in its own [ slow process. Neither will it be a healthy or enduring flower. Moth ers, do not become* impatient if your little boy or girl cannot 'play something" after a few months of lessons-wait patiently, talk it over with the teacher, and never, never by word or look discourage the child. Give the child time for de velopment. Too much work is of ten as injurious as too much water | and heat for the plant. B. D. W. The Pastor-I was not acquaint ed with the deceased, but I heard that she was divorced twice prior to her marriage to you. Now, I hardly know what to say of her in way of | eulogy. The Widower-Er, could'nt you say that she was faithful to the last? i POT" WORKS ROAD. Writes of Needed Work on Public Roads and Suggests Way of Paying Road Well, Mr. Editor, after reading your issue of this week, I by chance got hold of the Edgefield Chronicle, and in it I found some thing and that was a "Skillet." "Pot" now wants to raise his hat high in obesance to the utensil that is neither biped or quadruped. Tis true Anon, one of your correspon dents, got on trail of something sev al weeks ago and now "Skillet" has treed the coon, and we Faifa dogs are barking at the tree, for in deed most of we fellows had about forgotten there was such an officer in Edgefield county as the one "Skil let" treed. But give him a fair showing and possibly he will come - our way and fulfill some promises to we poor devils who have no; more sense than to pay oar road and oth er taxes and if we go anywhere in safety better take along a pick and shovel. Why, Mr. Editor, old Pot actually took a grubbing hoe, shov el and a weeding hoe and went and did some work on the public road, because he loved his wife and chil dren and did not want their necks or backbones un join ted going over very rough places. He also fill ed in a bad mudhole right at the end of a bridge where you could not shun, and wound up by filling in some ruts that were so deep that it was unsafe to drive a horse or mule along there, or his hind knees would come in contact with the crossbar in the buggy shafts. Now, Mr. Editor, the above is no exaggeration, and if old Pot had known, or, in other words, had not forgotten, that he voted for the coon "Skillet" treed I doubt if that rough place mudhole or ruts would have been touched. But I hear this a. m., that the long looked for gang , is actually coming this way. Now, about a year or a little more ago a certain man said not a great while before the election that, if he was, elected, he would give the clay roads his attention during the spring and summer months, which the writer and numbers of other voters think the thing to do. Spring months gone, but summer yet remains in which to make good. To work up our clay roads after July in my judgment means light loads the coming winter. Better let some more Pots get to work and leave the clay roads alone till anoth er spring as it will not add but one more year to the already skipper. But now is it right for the tax-payer (I mean the commu tation tax) to be required to pay his tax and be out of his money two years or even one year before he gets any of its benefits? Couldn't there be a law passed in which no road tax shall be paid till the gang is on the taxpayers' part of the road? Why, sir, down in Georgia a few years ago, I learned that the roads were laid off in sections and the road workers were not required to pay one cent till the Superinten dent of that section called them to do their work or pay their road tax. The Superintendent gave re ceipts to all who paid, and those who did not pay had their six days to work, and the Superintendent hired Hands with the money paid him or turned it in to the proper county official to be used by the county gang. When we hear the muttering of the thunder in the distance we are at least hopeful of rain, and "Skil let" has begun to mutter, and Pot seconds the motion, and good bye John if something is not done in some way to get justice done the road tax-payers. Now, Mr. Editor, all the^beve4* written in a kindly spirit* not in-N^ tending any reflection whatever on any one, but asks that justice be done. No rain to amount to much yet, . although cotton is about holding its own and forming well. However, a few more hot days without a good deal of rain will wind up the old corn. Had a very good rain last Sat urday, but the clay under the work ed up dirt is so very dry that no'th ing short of a ground soaker, a trash mover or potato soaker, can save the old corn. Mr. Frank Sharpton who has been quite sick we are glad to say is much better and Sammie Doolit tle we learn is doing fine since the operation for appendicitis. Mrs. J. C. Bussey and little babe are about 0. K. and the husband and father now has a broad smile, if he does have to do some of the cooking yet F. P. Baily is the author of the report that his neighbor's cows are climbing trees to get something (Continued on page 4,)