Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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i I 4. .v. ? l__a?^_: . ^ " _ ^ ^ e? iUtoppa: IfaW f^nm 7% $tfiM, Sotkl, Igrhtinrai m> Commetml jtotroto of tfr Sjjl| ? i.. ,,. .*, . ^ . ' ' * j *T. I ..- ' ' ., ^ 't^ ., . . ' 1',^.r'iJ ?(!? t'.f y.Krit>-'v;T'> icr~!_: :>.? *** ' ;'; "' . f'vi iv * ^ j* >^r Jtl iy?) 'H, *J 1 !: T :'W fv..,!^,j W mWU-Al at|} VOL. 14. o YOKKVILI.K. .?. C.. THtRSnAY, NOVKMBKK 1?. Wi?. J . .... JS^4.Tr" Some patotg. HISTORICAL SKETCH ~~ : j OF . .i BETHESDA CHURCH. : ? bt rev. john 8. it arris. # ~ * . I Bethesda originally gate name to a region ( country about sixteen miles square. The Chore3 is located in York District, eight miles a littje Eat of South of Yorkville; thirteen miles, a little Eat of North from Chesterville; twenty milee frot Broad River, on the West, and seventeen milf from Catawba River, on the East; and is betwee two public roads, leading North and South, an less than a mUe from either. ' ' j Its original population was chiefly constituted c immigrants from the north of Ireland, and toe TV majority of them were.Pfesbjteriaps, % edooatio and ehoioe; a few, leas than six families, were R< man Catholics. The most of these early settltf came directly from their native land?Ireland others, from different parts of the United States but chiefly from Pennsylvania, strfvRHk lower part of Sooth Carolina. The fhmiHes wh composed the community of Betheeda, between to years J 765 and 1780, numbered about one handle and forty, end are a&fpUows; .. . , t-gnev i Jobs and William Adair; Adams; Akins;,Rol ert Asb; Adrian; Arthur; Baird; Barry; Wi liam Berry; Thomas Black; Thomas Boggs; Co William, Hugh, Thomas, Samuel and RobertBrai ton; William Burns; Robert Brown; Edward Bj ere; John and Thomas'Carroll; John, William an Thomas Carson; Capt John Chambers; Thome Clendennin; Charles Cony; John Cooper; Wm Davidson; Dickey; John Dennis; WiIHttn Erwin Robert and-Elijah Fleming; John Feoderon; Gai lagher; Gibson; Robert, James, Thomas and^ thur Gill; Daniel Givens; William Gay; Gk>lw James Givens; Joseph Gaston; David Gordon William James Hanoa; Jamea and. Job Hemphill; Hillhouse; Robert Howie; Jlethering ton; John Harris; William- Henry, and four son ?William, Maloom, John mad Ahner; Keenan Samuel Kehey; John Kidd; Kirkpatrick; Mai thew and SamuelKoykeadal; Latham; Genert Edward Laosjr; David Leech; CoL Andrew Love William Lewis; James McElwee; "William Mana han; John, Captain James sod Jttvard fflarun McLain; JohnMoCaw; MoGroiy; James and Ed ward Meet; Captain June* IfitpW^.John Mi] ler; James McEIhanejr; Jbhn Murphy; Charle Miles ; Marley; James McNeei; Captain Job and Reuben McConneD; James McLure; thro families of Moores?1st Major James. 2nd. A1 exander and William. 3rd. John and sons?John Samuel, Nathan and William ; Norman; Saturn and Thomas Neely; Pagan; Palmer; Porter;It win; George Ratchford; Robeson; James an William Ross; Thomas, Samuel and Benjamii Rainey; Henry Ray; David and Richard Sttdler Silliman; Joseph Steele; Christopher Straight John Swann; Arthur Starr; Smith; Stallions Trail; Capt James, John and Thomas Wallioe Waters; Williams; James Williamson and, fit sons?John, Adam, Samuel, George and Jamee Wylie; Young. ' Of these families, so far as we can learn, th most, if not all, resided within the bounds of th congregation, or were accustomed to worship atth Church, and buried their dead in the commo cemetery. There were, doubtless, other nauif that should be added to this list, but they cannc now be recovered from the unrecorded history < that day, and concerning them tradition is silei to the present chronicler. Such a community c families, with their religious instincts and eduot tion, would, very naturally, seek early for a local ty, at some central point, for a place and a hous of worship. Accordingly, we find that some tim in 1760, there was reared a Church edifice?a plai I but substantial wooden building?about a mile eai of the present house of worship, and around i were deposited the dead, traces of whose torn! stones are visible to this day. This building ws consumed in 1780, by the accidental firing of tb adjaoent woods. Subseouentlv to this, another building was erecl ed a few feet South of the house now in use fc worship. It wfts a framed house, with sides <xn ered with split boards, and stood for nearly fort years. In 1820 the present house of worship wa reared, at a cost of five thousand dollars. Afte about twenty years, on account of some defect i the original construction, two of the walls wei taken down and rebuilt About 6even years sina in 1857, additional repairs were made upon th Church, to the amount of one thousand dollar So that to-day, the congregation hare a beautifi brick building?sixty by forty two?neatly plaiste ed and painted on the inside, with three aisles an three galleries, so that six handled worshippers ca be comfortably accommodated within the building The primeval forests on every side; two exeehei springs near at hand; a large cemetery, encloiie with iron-railing, and densely populated with th dead; a dozen or more tents for the annual ei ) campment, as practiced for sixty years; and a larg< neat and substantial arbor, having capacities fc two thousand persons, all combine to declare thi Bethesda Church was happily located for its pu poses; has many and universal facilitiesfor acoon modating worshippers, and that around h mui hang precious and sacred memories and associ tions.* T* Organization and first ministerial supplies of 0 * Church.?The period at which the church was o ganized is, upon good authority, fixed in the yei 1769; although without definite historical data, is impossible to say, with absolute certainty, as I the precise year. The same difficulty exists as f persons by whom the organization was effecte< There was a preaching station here for some tin anterior to the organization, at which missionarie ~ - traversing the country, occasionally stopped an preached. As nearly as can be approximated, tl organization lies between Rev. Wm. Richardsoi at this time stationed at W&xhaw Church; Re1 Hezekiah J. Bolch, a Missionary sent out by tl Synod of Philadelphia and New York, in 1769, an Messrs. Azel Rone and John Cloee, Misstonarii from same body, supplying destitutions in the CV . olinas, in the year 1770. We incline to the opii ion that Rev. Wm. Richardson performed tl work of organization, and are supported in th opinion by Rev. John B. Davies, who, twenty-fn years ago, wrote a historical sketch of some of tl churches in Bethel Presbytery, and, although omi n il J. ; p ; ting .Deiuesua iu me series ui ai ucico, uuutco iuv dental allusion to the question in hand. Of M Richardson, we may add that he was an Englisl man. On coming to this country, he entered tl family of, and studied Philosophy under Rev. San uel Davies, of Virginia, (afterwards President ( Princeton College.) He was lioensed by the Pre bytery of Hanover, January 1758, and ordaine July 13th, 1759, as Missionary to the Cherok< tribes of North Carolina. In 1761, he connect* The origin*) tract of land on which Bethesda Church static was donated to the Church by John Fonderon, who lived east the Church, two hundred varde. To these original aeven acn there li.tve been added, five bought of Richard Straiaht; fi ' ??/, a Ann red bv Dr. J. R. Bratlon, ai OOllglu li joiin on.mu, ?.*. - ? _ . _ _ _ fivi- donated h> John M. Lindsay; total, 27 acres. John Swan Sr., father of the alove named, was architect of the first buildl on the present site. Abner Stewart and Nathan Moore weret % contractors for the building erected in 1890, whilst Dr. John Bration. hoot. Cooper, John SUtrr, Samuel itafney and Sams M "re were the congregational committee on building. Andre McCnnnell, Dr. John S. Bratton, Samuel Moore, Samuel Raine K. M. Love, Mansfield Gordon and A. 8. Williamson, were t! committee on repairs in 1840. And Samuel Rainey, Robert Hope, John S. Bration, 8. G. Pong, Dr. C. P. Sandlfer and R lander Moore were the committee on repairs in 1857. himself with the South Carolina Presbytery, and began his ministrations in Wax haw Church, where - he labored nntil 1771, extending, in the meantime, j his ministerial duties to surrounding communities, f and among them Bet head a. Who may have supplied the Church for some years after being organized, it is difficult to ascertain. The late Rev. R. B. Walker gave it. as h? opinion that a Bolch? whom we take to be Hezekiah James Bdloh, al-' ; ready referred to?and an Alexander, who Is eyi>f deotly Rev. Dr. James Alexander, were among b the earliest ministerial supplies of Bethesda. it - Copoerning Mr. Bolch, we may here reeord the t facts, in the language , of Dr. Sprague,* that he had a somewhat brilliant, though brief career, He ? was borq a( Deer Creek, in Hartford County, Md., n then the residence of his father, in 1746 'r, was d graduated at the College of New Jersey, in 1766; f was. lioensed to preach by the Presbytery of Done>f ga^ in 1767; and was ordained by the same>'Pre8it byte it, in 1770. "In 1769, he went on a mission to o the Southern States, and shortly after became >? pastor of Rocky River and Poplar Tent, in North OmwKm nkinWa oorva/i fill Ilia dMfh Tn lllA 1; famous Mecklenburg Convention, (May 19,1775,) he was present and had an important agency in e framing the well known "Declaration of Indepenb deuce" issued by that body, ffe died, unmarried, e in the summer of the same year. He is said to d have been a,man of fib? personal appearance, an i accomplished scholar, and to haye disappointed, >. by his death, many hopes of extensive usefolneas $ in the chunk . I. OfDr. Alexander, by whom frequent visits were t- paid to B&&esda, dp< to^is-death^ nnd^^ labors r- remembered/ hy the oldest citizens, it is proper to d make also4 brief record. He was graduated at 8 the CqHege.-of New Jersey, in 1760; was licensed u to preach the Gospel by tha Presbytery of New; castle, in 1767, and in October of the same year, I- joined Hanover Presbytery, and accepted a call f- from Sugar Creek Church, N. C. Was ordained ; at Bufblo, on the 4th of March, 1768, and the ; May following was installed Pastor of Sugar Creek. a He subsequently (probably about the year 1775,) moved to Bullock's Creek, 8. C., where he exet^ s cised his ministry, and taught a school of a high ; order, as he had done in North Carolina. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the il College of South Carolina* in 1807.' He died e; bout 1808. A volume of seven sermons was published by him in 1807. Ho was a man of small ; stature, but of fine talents and accomplishments, [- and an uncommonly animated and popular preach1 er, (before the infirmities of age took away his s power of distinct enunciation.)^ He was an ardent q patriot in the Revolution. His wife was a daughe ter of President S. Da vies. ! In the year 1774?five years after organization? i, the Church was without the means of Grace. It A was at this time that Rev. John Simpson, who - had been preaching at lower Fishing Creek, in 1 Chester District, afterwards known as Richardson b Church, and the. Tipper flawing Ureer unurcn, ; gave up his labors in the ibraier, and engaged to ; supply Bethesda half his tithe,-which he did until ; about the close of the Revolutionary war. } In 1783, after a short vacancy in the Church, a e man by the name of McCarr&r, from Scotland, was ;; engaged as a supply. He was pronounced a man of oousiderable brilliancy of mind, pleasing and e fascinating manners, and, at times, truly eloquent e in the pulpit; but, as the event proved, a stranger e to converting Grace. After laboring here a year n or more, developments of his character began to ss be made, which excited the suspicion, and then >t caused him to forfeit the confidence of a large seo>f tion of the Church. But by the misplaoed chariit ty of some, who still adhered to him, and his own >f ambitious efforta to retain his position, even after \r his character was under censure if not actual blight, I- there were apples of discord in the congregation, e whose bitterness was felt for many a long year, e After hiafinal dismission fVom tho Church, which n occurred hi 1786, this man sunk from view and it nothing more is known of him. "The name of it the wicked shall rot" ?- - 1 _ _ _l >- Jttev. John aitnpson was again invueu ana sets cured to supply them until another minister could e be obtained. Bat so wide was the breach in the congregation, created by the wranglings alluded to, t- that all efforts to secure a Pastor were unsuccessir M Hence, for six years more, Bev. John Simpr son continued his labors here. This man of God, y whose name was so precious to the past generation, is and after whom many were named in the oommo>r nity, was born in New Jersey, in 1740 ; was grad uated at Priooeton College, in 1768; married Miss e Mary Kemer, in 1765; studied Theology privately; 5, was licensed to preach in 1770, at East Town, in te New Jersey; came to Fishing Creek, in 1772; ors. dained by Orange Presbytery, in 1774; and occuil pied the field above indicated, until 1701, when he r- removed to PeDdleton District, and took charge of d Roberts and Good Hope Churches. Here he finn ished his earthly labors, in October, 1807. Of his j. ministerial character, all his cotemporaries and biit ographers, speak in terms of highest commendad tioo. Was greatly beloved by the people to whom ie he ministered, and was highly successful in buildi ingnphis Churches. Of the active part he took in ;, the Revolutionary struggle, and the privations and >r losses he sustabed at the hands of the British, it who pursued him with the most malignant fury, r- this is not the time nor place to speak, for history, * " 11* /? _ J. i- laminar to all, Has canonizea Dim as one or me aest voted patriots of 1776. Of his family, consisting i- of seven sons and one daughter?let it suffice to say that they all, except one, who died in infancy, early embraoed and professed their father's God, r. lived to a good old age, exemplifying the power of u- true religion, and rewarding the fidelity of parenxt tal training. to For the three years foDowing the removal of Mr. to Simpson, we have no intelligence as to who may i have preached for Bethesda. In all probability, le the supplies were only such as the Presbytery s, could furnish at intervals, and among them, Dr. id Alexander, of Bullock's Creek, was prominent. ie Thus, for twenty-five years, the Church had ena, joyed the ministrations of many men, but as far as 7. can be determined, had never been blessed with a te Pastor. Now we have arrived at the stage when d the Pastors of the Church may be named. ? The first of these was Rev. Robt. B. Walker, r- In 1794 he was licensed by the Presbytery of South 3- Carolina, and called immediately to this Church, >e over which he was installed Pastor, in the same i? ?? THiIo rolotinnsViin mntinued for fortv vears. re and abundant testimony is at hand to prove that le his pastoral labors here were fraught with manifold t- blessings to the whole congregation. He was i- brought to the pastorate in a dark and ill-omened r. hour of the Church. The demoralizing effects of i- a long and bloody war were yet visible among the ie people?spiritual languor and internal dissensions i- had played sad havoc with the spiritual energies of ?f the people. But from this prostrate condition, he h- was instrumental in lifting the church to prosperi<1 ty and rapid and extensive growth. For twenty* five years, in connection with Bethesda, he minis^ tered at Ebenezer Churob, with the same degree k, of acceptance and success as here, in his pastorate. Without now detailing the history of the Church ** under his ministry, (this being another branch of n, our subject) we may remark that few men have he ever lived and .labored so long among our people, ?j few have been so universally beloved as was he, w and few have been permitted to influence and jVj mould so many characters for God, and few have 3. contributed more to the up-building and spread* Annals of American Pulpit, Vol. Ill: 417. ing of true religion and "enlarging the place, lengthening the cords, and strepgt&eniugth'e stakes of Zion.*n This, the first Pastor of Bethesda, was born in Sonth Carolina, in 1776. Educated in the State, he began and closed his ministerial labors in this Church. He married the daughter of Dr. James Alexander.' In 1834, at his own request, Bethel Presbytery dissolved the pastoral relationfather Walker pleading that age and a ttendant infirmity, unfitted him for the discharge of pastoral duties. Thestepwas regretted by his peoplerwho held him still in the highest regard?which continued unabated until his death. From his release from the Church until 1847, ho resided among his married children. He then removed, wi&hisaDn, to jDeSpto County, Mjasbrippi, where he remained until ljia death, rfhich occurred April Iftri, Thna-Anffod the earthlv nilcrimaffe of this servant of God, intheeightj-sixth year of bis age. Of him, our late and lamented brother Bishop said: "Father Walker possessed, naturally, a robust constitution, and was blessed with good health during the greater part of his active life. . His mind, by nature, was much above the ordinary grade, and was improved and oaltivated by an education such as our Southern country at that time afforded. He was well versed in the Calvinistic system of Theology, so ably illustrated and defended by our old Divines. These, with the essential prerequisite of decided and unquestioned, piety,, certainly qualified him for a life, of usefulness in the Gospel Ministry." * * * And (he further adds) "taking into view the powtr of his example ; his influence in the school room; his pastoral visitations; his influence in the house of mourning and at the funeral; and the effects of his public preaching; and .remember these labors continued without ceasing for forty years, in the same community, but to an everchanging population; 1 say, take all these things into view, and I frankly confess, that when I thus contemplate the man, there appears to my miod to be a grandeur, nay, a moral sublimity conneoted with his life and labors, which I cannot describe. Arid had I never heard of the results of * hie labors, from, what I know of the power with which God has clothed the Gospel ' * A .11 ?.1 xuintsuy, XBDOaia suppose iiab useiuiucse ytus ?cijr greatand this supposition is abundantly verified in the whole history of his connection with the Church, which he served for nearly half a century. Mr. Walker was sucoeeded iu the Pastorate of Bethesda by Rev. Cyrus Johnson, whose labors here began in 1834, and extended to the Pall of 1839. His labors here seemed to have yielded the fruits of strong manly piety in the! membership, and a thorough indoctrination of all the congregation, in the great troths of the Gospel and-those doctrines as interpreted in the Confession of Faith, he being oharacterked as an able, persevering and efficient expounder of Calvinism, in not simply its distinctive, but all its vital features.. The records of the Church, under him, show that in the absence of any extensive outpouring of the Divine Spirit, there were still additions to the Chnrch at nearly every communion, and there was a thorough, systematic instruction of the young in the oateohisra, by dividing the oongregation into wards, which were regularly visited by the Pastor and Elders; and all, old and young, were subjected to a process of dose questioning by the Pastor, who bad a ftmiliar tact at imparting instruction in this way. The weekly prayer meetings, with the elders participating, and all the benevolent schemes and charities were kept a live and rigorously maintained by him. Thus, the period of his pastorate here may be denominated one of substantial benefit to the Chnreh, deepening the foundations of religion in the pious, and preparing the minds of the young and the middle-aged for a future Gospel harvest, and, at the same time, gradually making additions to the membership. Mr. Johnson was a native of North Carolina; prepared for College under Dr. Mo. R. ilson, of Rooky River, and was graduated with the first distinction in Hampden Sydney College, in 1821, under President Cushing. He studied Theology under Dr. J. Robinson, of Poplar Tent Churoh, at the same time teaching in the family, and using the Library of Rev. John Williamson, of Hopewell Churoh, was licensed to preach in 1823, and ordained by the Presbytery of Concord in 1824. He was Pastor of Beereheba, in Bethel Presbytery, for several years; he thence removed to the lower part of York District, where he taught a large academy? organized and preached to a Church called Mount Pleasant, neftr Where Zion, in Bethel Ih-esbytery, now stands, and also supplied the Church of Cedar Shoals. In 1834 he entered upon his labors as Pastor of Bethesda?not, however, remitting his connection with his school. In 1839, the relation was dissolved and Mr. Johnson removed to Mecklenburg County, N. C., and the spring following, was installed Pastor of the Churches of Providence and Sharon, in the bounds of the first of which he lived, and conducted a very flourishing classical schooL In this new relation his usefulness was very great, his services as Pastor and teacher both being highly appreciated. After six years he was induoed to leave this field and repair to Charlotte in 1845, where he became Principal of the flourishing female academy, and in the following year became Pastor of the Charlotte Church. A few years subsequently to this, he abandoned the Acad emy and sold out bis tarm. Having, at tms period, been greatly chastened by the hand of death removing half his children, he devoted himself exclusively to his pastoral work. Prom this time to his death, every impulse of his heart and energy of his life, were consecrated to the high purpose of winning souls to Jesus, and building up his Church in faith and holiness and good works. The results were soon happily visible in his charge. In the years 1848 and 1852 his people were visited with the outpourings of Divine Grace, in the first of which, several dozen were added to the communion of the Church, and, in the second year mentioned, nearly a hundred souls professed conversion. His labors in Charlotte were greatly contributary to the growth of the Church. He found a feeble Church, with twenty-eight members and two Ruling Elders, but through his instrumentality it arose to have one hundred and sixty-four members and seven Elders, and a full bench of Deacons, and became one of the most active and efficient Churches in the Synod of North Carolina. On the morning of the 25th of January, 1855, he was suddenly stricken down by apoplexy, and died in a few minutes, in the 58th year of his age and 32d of his ministry. Of him, one who knew him well and long, says: "Dr. Johnson possessed i l t.i 1 _ ? a strong ana acuve mina?somewaac siow in lis operations, but always true to its purpose ; taking a firm grasp of whatever subject he had in hand and pursuing its investigation with untiring patience and perseverence. He was an indefatigable student His perceptions, whether as a writer or speaker, were remarkably clear, and his argument ' connected and conclusive. His style was somewhat diffuse, but impressive. In manner, he was : earnest and energetic. Having been a classical ' teacher all his life, he became distinguished for his classical and mathematical attainments. Few Pastors were his equals in these branches of literature. He was also a sound and discriminating Theologian, of the strictest old school C'alvinistic order. Received the Doctorate in Divinity, about four years before he died. Whilst his piety was deep, evangelical, growing and working, his preaching was characteristically doctrinal and didactical. As a strictly oonscieDtious christian, a faithful friend, a devoted husband, a wise father,' I *- - - - .J . 1.11* JJ A-? ! a humane master, a laborious Pastor, a punctual Presbyter, a xealous ad vocatefcrevCTy good^oA and a benevolent, liberal minded eitiien?be Bef'in bis life, a practical example Which, is worthyof .this imitation of alL" * ... ? ,>? .,.} In January, 1840, Andrew Harper Caldwell,* licentiate of Concord Ptoebytety, irte ioiited to preach at Bethesda for opeyetf'lh Ofefober"ofr the same year, he was ordained /and: installed Pas- i tor. The time covered by his pastoral services may be prononnced the period of Bethesda'a af- i dictions. During almost Oft entire pastorite, the j chastening band of God * w|? upon- the congrega- I tion. The four yeareofqoutin^ttsrichiess through- I out the Church, causing tbedeath of such a, mul- ! titude; the severe drought of 1945, and subse- i quent emigration to the West,are facts painfully 1 familiar to the old by experipaoi, and to the young j by report Under theseadgmfties, tbeybnthful J Pastor's labors were greatly mj^dpiied aujembarrassed. Having endured, thesa^ toils amidst dis- l MM. &.1CM k.mn? ' UUUIB^CllliCUU} 1UI 0CTGU JTpdlDj UK?) <11 1U7V) imyiu^l I caught the spirit which toaoeferred so many -df his i flock to the West, removed to Marshall County, ! Mississippi, and took charge of two Churches; 1 where laboring with! his wonted fidelity he remain- . for nearly a dozen years. He A en removed to < Lamar, Mississippi, and became Pastor of a neigh- < boring Churchy?nd: was 'shortly .afterwards ap- 1 pointed agent for the Bynodical College at La- 1 grange, Tennessee, in both of which capacities he j vraa eminently successful, ^bopt a year sipce, he I changed his location to Panola County, Mississip- | pi, and .has charge ofSardis Church, and is to-day , recognized as one of the most practical, active and i useful preaehere of the West, . I In Janiaiy, 1847, Rev. Pierpont Edward Bisb- i op, who had .just removed from Ebpneper to,. Yorkville, began his labprs as stated supply, at i Betbesda. Thai alternating Sabbaths with. York- ; ville, he preached on here until 1851, when he was : installed Pastor of Betbesda. Here he continued i to labor, both preaching and teaching, with unex- ji ampled fidelity, aoceptabQity and snooess, until the 2 spring of 1856, when his relation being .dissolved, with much reluotanee ou the part of his flock, he i went to Benaettsville, where he closed his work, 1 in bis Master's vineyard, on the 5th: of March, 1 1859, in the 56tb year of his age, ami the 30th of < his ministry. That he was born in &mherst i County, Virginia, April 1803, the child of pover- < ty, but also of piety and prayers; graduated at Hampden Sydney Collie in 1829, having: profee- i sed religion when about eighteen ; studied Ttaeolo- i gy in Union 8eminary, Virginia; Heented to preach by thpPreshytary of West Hanover in 1833; ; that he camp to Booth Carolina, immediately, and i engaging in July of that year, to preach ofc Unity i and Ebeneser in York District, of which, he was < made J^astor in 1834, Dot closing bis labors to trie i former, Jo 1845, and,.in the latter, in .1846! .removed to York villa in the Fall of 1846, labored at . this point until 1850; occupied Bethesda for nine ; years; reaching from January, 1847, to January, 1 1856; preached at ZionChoich also, finmitsfoond- ] ation in 1852, until his removal from Bethesda; j and that he spent his last days in anoeasiog labors . in the Churches of Bennettsville and Great Pee j Dee, are facts still fresh in the minds of the Synod i from having been published three years ago, in the i several memorial discourses called forth by hi" de- . cease, and in the tribute adopted by the 8ynod. \ As to his character as a man, constituting him one 1 of nature's loveliest and noblest sons; his fervent, ] consistent and ever active piety ; a pattern of true i godliness; his ministerial eminence, success and j unexampled devotedness to the work of winning ] souls to the cross; his conscientious fidelity in all 1 relative and social duties?in the family, church, > and church judicatory?in fine, as to his unexpect- < ed death, for which, however, he was ready, to a ' degree such as few reach. He sleeps in the grave 1 yard at Bennettsville, and the universal wailing 1 that followed the doath of the good man and be- j loved servant of God, and exemplary minister oP ] the New Testament, the writer need not enlarge, i for each member of the Synod has the knowledge i in his own mind, and the image of the departed 1 father, with all the excellent features of the char- j acter and.habits of his useful life, is graven upon i the tablets of all our memories. TheChureb of Bethesda, now deprived of her fourth Pastor, < j v.j i? v:_ j 1 a i wrciiieu cruButru ujr U10 ucpsrtuic nvui uui ( ouu . was vacant for several months. In August 1856, John S. Harris, a student of Colombia Theological Seminary and Licentiate of Concord Presbytery, in compliance with an invitation, began to supply the church for six months. At the close of this period, a call waa made for him as a Pastor, and being looepted, he was accordingly ordained and installed Pastor on the 15th of April, 1857. Ho still remains in this relation, constituting the fifth Pastor of this venerable Church. This brings us to another branch of our history? and with a more rapid survey, we prooeed to name and remark upon the Elders of Bethesda. As the reoords of the Chnreh, anterior to 1834, were lost a great number of years since, the writer has only to rely upon traditions. He feels assured he has recovered the names of all who sat upon the bench of Eldership in Bethesda, bat as to dates in a few cases, and details in others, an approximation to accuracy is all that is pretended. The first on the catalogue is a man by the name of Neely. We have the testimony of father Walker, as to his occupying this position, but his full name, or family, or histoiy, oannotnow be disentombed from the sepuloherof the forgotten past His official service, however, began with the or* ganUution of the Church, 1769. ( ? .i J _ A. x John loung, another .urner, nvea in me eastern part of the congregation, and served from 1769 to to 1790, when he died. More than this is not now known of him. * ' i Robert Fleming was elected in 1769; lived until about the close of the last century, when he died, leaving his mantle to fall upon his sons, of whom he had four, viz: Elijah, who was an Elder in the ChuJoh, also; Alexander, who died in Camden jail, of small pox, daring the Revolutionaiy war; Robert, who moved to Franklin County, Georgia, about sixty years ago, and died there a few years since; William, who also moved to Georgia, was for a long time an Elder in Hebron Church, in Fr&nklin County, and died in Texas, whither he had moved, about 14 years ago^ Of the daughters of the patriarchal Fleming, one married William Ash, in Franklin County, Georgia, and the other an Adrian, who assisted in founding, and was an Elder in New Lebanon Church, in the same County in Georgia. John Murphy, elected in 1780, was, for a time, a prominent Elder in the Church, being also the leader of the music in worship. But through misplaced confidence in the impostor, McCarrar, he was led to adhere to him after the popular verdict had gone forth against him. Thus was his influence greatly diminished, but he remained in the church until about 1803, when he removed to the bounds of what was known as Edmond's Church, on Sandy River, in Chester District, in which he served as an officer for seven or eight years, then went West, where he died in 1838. John Cooper, called to the Eldership in 1780, was a very devout man, a zealous christian, ready for every good word and work. After a long and faithful servioe, he died June 22d, 1824, and lies in our cemetery. Elijah Fleming was a son of J^kler Kobt JHem- j ing; entered the Eldership in 1780, and died June 14th, 1804, at the age of fifty, and sleeps near the } * 051103(7 notice by Rev. D. A. Peslck, Sr. Church he served. Had it daughter married in the community, who died years ago. His son*? A*ro?*odR#bert Walker?lived, at last accounts, near ftton, MjewHsippi, in uhich Church the latter was an Elder. CoL Andrew Love served as Ruling Elder from 1780 to about 1801/When be removed to Kentucky/ leaving a" eony.who afterwards, succeeded him in the Eldership here. > Arthur Starr entered this office about 1794. Was a man of more than ordinary inteffigeuoe, and of great ooosetentiousness. - His official term was brief, hut active and usefoL Aeillustrative of the tamea^ We may add, it was objeotingly arid upon btauomiuation for the Eldership,, "that he waaooti a substantial man," audtbeexpkuattou was "that be-dkiiidftQsrwadiataBery/f He died about the does of the oentary* but left an honored name and sheriihedmemory. .-. ' Thomas Blade was made au Elder in 1794, audi resigned (he office only at bis deaths in June, 1811. He .was a man of fine business capacities, diligent lb bis spiritual calling, and faithful as an officer. He lies in onr grave yard, and had a son to succeed trior m his office. <. . J . ' Elias Davidson was . born in Pennsylvania and stnigeated; to this community about 1780. He instituted an Elder about 1794. He was clerk of the congregation tor many years. Three years before hia death he ceased, to act as an Elder. His death occurred October 21st, 1816, at the age of 56, and bis body was entombed in onr burial ground. - , Andrew McCreary was chosen to the Eldership in 1796, and served until his removal to the West) about the dose of the last century. Of. bis characteristics, the present generation know nothing, o Samuel Williamson's name is in history as having resided on the battle ground of Hock's defeat, md having killed the first man slain in that battle. He was devated to.the Elder's bench in 1795, and in. a-most .commendable manner did be exemplify the spirit of bis station. He was gathered to bis Eather'tf October 8tb, 18-16, and at 56yean of age. He laft two sons for the Ministry, two Elders and ) Deacon for the Chnrchof Christ, and five daughters, all exemplary members of the Presbyterian Church. His ftitbfcr/JamCs WiRiatfason, Sr., serv?d awhile as EUderin -Purity Church, Chester, but id hid latter days returned to Bethesda, where be lied March 3d, 1806, at the age of 93. William Clinton began to exercise the duties of tbo^office of Elder, m 1799. He married a daugh! :i> T> . 1 vl . J .L j ; J _f TT_ _l 1 1 KT oi i^avra iruruun, a resiuent ui .ctiigimiu, uy irhom he bad several children, one of whom was Robert Loftsmg Clinton, to' be spoken of again, ivd two sons, prominent lawyers in Lancaster District. He was buried at Bethesda, but the period of his death is not known to the writer, as no totnbstohe marks Ms grave. Robert Harms, a native of Meoklenburg County, North Carolina, was brought, in early youth, to Bethesda,' of which, he was made an Elder in [799. He married Miss Mary Moore, of Spartanburg District, in 1783,/ by whom he had four sons rod three daughters. Removed to Green County, Alabama, in 1840, add on March 25th, of the year Iblloiring, died.' His dame Is perpetuated in our Church, by an Elder who walks in the ways of God's commands. --Da?ul Oadtei was bum In Pennsylvania, August 30, 1862; was brought to South Carolina when a boy; in 3783, married a daughter of Col. Wm. Bratton : professed religion in 1802, and constituted an Elder in 1804. For eleven years he Faithfully met the duties of his office, as a man of his remarkable oonscientonsness would do, and upbis removal to Anderson District, in 1815, was relented in the fJhnroh of Roberts, where he served If'YVYt -VV "*r Yf-TfTT -f 1 ? with great fidelity until his death, February, 1848. IVo of his Bons were also Elders in Anderson District, and another a Deacon. His daughters adherred to the faith of their father, and God's Providence has returned one of his grand daughters to be the with of one of our EldeTs. Among all her Numerous sons, Betheads cherishes the name of none more dearly than the venerable man of whom ire have just spoken, and closely allied with it, and lust as fragrant with precfops memories, is the name next'to be mentioned, James Moore was born and reared in Bethesda, son verted in 1802, and made an Elder in 1804. Pot forty years, he was leader of the church musio, ind for fifty-three years, be bore th? responsibilities of his Eldership; The writer must be parloned in saying that no Church ever had a more Faithful and beloved officer. With a temper naturally kind and lovely, and a piety deep and glowing, he was the idol of the church which it was his hiolwxs. ffoliffHt. tn serve in everv wav. His love jf souls; his charity and oft-repeated attentions x) the poor or afflicted; his prayers asocndingwhererver there was occasion; his consuming zeal for he prosperity of his Church, and his happy christian eiperienoe, under vhioh he declined no doty, nake his name a sweet savor, long to be remembered in every household in the community. Of lus sons, two sit upon the Elder's bench, in the place of their father, another serves in the same capacity in a Church in North Carolina, and the est of his family are all followers of Christ Wide ras the breath in, and pungent the sorrow that imote the heart of the oongrcgation when this man >f God asoended to his rest, January Slst, 1857. But considering his patriarchal age, seventy-three, his lamentation soon gave plaoe to gratitude, that i pillar of the Church, friend of Christ and servant of his people, had been spared so long. Samuel Givens, Esq., was converted about 1785, ind added to the Eldership in 1804. He adorned lis Christian profession and office until June, 1851, vhen, as a sheaf ripe for the garner, he ascended ? bis reward, dying full of faith and good works, n the 86th year of his age. He left many descenlants to perpetuate his name and influeuoe, and hree of his daughters are with us still, boing "derout women," and mothers in Israel. Robert Love was born and reared io Bethe?da, irhere he also died, and was buried December 7th, [827, aged fifty-five years. He professed religion n 1802, and was introduced into the office of Elder n 1804. Was a good man and good officer. He eft a large family, and two or three of his sons jeing officers in different churches, and his daughers having fair names for their religion's sake. Wifliam Robertson was a native of North Caroina, and oreated an Elder in this Church in 1809. 3e was an energetic and enterprising man, effisient in his office, as far as bodily infirmity?a woodm leg?would permit After a life of consistent jodliness, be passed from earth in the year 1822, ind was buried at the Church. Frank Erwin, born in York District, was received nto the Church hrl802, and promoted to the EIlership about 1812. After several years of official iaty, in which he exhibited more than ordinary reigious fervor and zeal for the cause of God, he voluntarily demitted the active exercise of his ofIce and partially withdrew, owing to some change n his doctrinal views, from the communion of the Ihurch, but afterwards returned and died much amented, February 8th, 1839, aged 79. Of his shildren, one is an Elder amongst us, and another, n a Church in North Carolina. James Black was elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of his father in 1812, and hithfolly did he execute the duties of his office, mtil he removed to Alabama in 1820. He died - MJooJ ???*?; whither hp had cone & few Years u xmooujfwpytj nuiVMv* ? c w rinoe. He married a daughter of Richard Sadler, ind has left some descendants to live after him. [conclusion nzxtwtek.] fp$ccUaneutis fveaftin|. THE WAT OP THE WOBtK ''1 Jn< a fable. ./ ! Once on a time there wis a man W|t6 went into Urn woods tp cat hoop poles, but could find no trees bo long and straight and slender as he wanted, till , he came high op under a great heap of atones There he h&rd gtoahs aati moans tk thotf&H some one were at Death's deorJ So he went nfj to ate who it was that needed help, and then he betrid that the' noise camefromunder a great flat atone f which lay upon the heap. It waa^o heavy that it . would have taken many a man to hftii- But the f man went down again into the wood and cut down " ft tWn. whtoh Vi* tnrrMv) imfn Wr tntl vitKiW r he tilted up the stone, and Id! out from underH crawled a dragon, and made at the man to s#il-' low him up. But the mas said he had raved the 1 dragon's lifc, aud it was ahaaeftilthankleaeuees'm \ him to want to eat him up. * v ? "May be," said the dragon; "but yoti might , very well know I must be starved When I havfe . been here huudreds.of years and oever tastedrntet Besides it's the way of die world?that's how it J pays its debts." ^ The man pleaded his cause stoutly, and begged . prettily ibr his life ; and at lajst they agreed to take ^ the first living thing that came ibr a daysman, and j if his doom went.the other way the man should Hot t lose his life, but if he said the same as Urn dragon, t the dragon should eat the man. t The first that came was an old hound, who lain * along the road down below under die hilkide. Him they spoke to, and begged him to be judge, C "God knowB," stud the honnd; "I have served ' my master truly ever since I was & little whelp. , X! have watched and watohed many and many a night f through, while he lay warm asleep on his bed; and I have saved hoa.ee and home from fireand thieves ' more than trace; but now I. can neither bear nor j see any more, and be . wants to shoot me. And so , I most run away, and aliok from house to house, . and beg for ay living till I die of hunger. Noi it is the way of the world," said the hooch; ' "that's how it pays its debts," s7; r.:. i "Now I am ooming to eat yon," said the dragon, ^ and tried to swallow the man again. Bat the man ^ begged and prayed hard for big life, tiH they agreed ^ to take the next corner for i judge, and if be sud . the same as the dragon and the booiid, the dragon * was to eat him, and get a meal of man's meat, "bof if he did not say so, the man was to get off witi|i ^ his life. '.7. So there came an old horse Kmping down along g the road whioh ran nnder the hilL Him theycall- f ed out to oome did Ihe dispirtfe. Yes; he j was quite ready to do that 1 ' -- 'u -'nT . ' "Now I have served my master," wid the hone, g "as long S3 I could draw or cany. I have slaved t and striven for him till the sweat trickled from.ev- g ery hair, and I have worked till I have grown lame, s and halt, and worn oat with toil and age; now 1 j. am fit tor nothing. I am not worth my food, and ^ so I am to have a bullet through me, he says. Nay 1 nay! It's the way of the world. . llat'f how the world pays its debts," ?. j "Well; now I am going to eat yon," said the j. dragon, irho gaped wKle, and wanted toojwjftpt; the man. Bat he begged again hard for ms hf^ t But the dragon said he most have a mouthful of ^ man's meat: he was hungry?couldn't hear it any longer. "See. vonrler comes one who looks as if he were sent to be a judge between as," said the man, as , he pointed to Reynard the fox, who came smiling j. betwen the stones of the heap. "All good things are three," said the man; "let ^ me ask him, too, and if he gives dobm like die ^ others, eat me np on the spot" "Very well," said the dragon. He, too, had j heard that all good things were three, and so it c should be a bargain. So thie man talked to the fox as he had talked to the Others. , "Yes, yes," said Reynard; "I seo how it all t is :" hnt as he said this he took the man a little to g one side. " " " "What will you rive me if I free you from the dragon ?" he whispered into the man's ear. * ' ^ "You shall be free to come to my house, and to be lord and master over my hens and geese every r Thursday night," said the man. "Well, my dear dragon," said Reynard, "this ^ is a very hard nut to crack. I can't get it into my head how yput who are so hig and oughty.a Jbeast, , could find room to lie under yon stone." , "Can'tyou" said the dragon; "well, Hay under the hill-side, and sunned myself, and down came a landslip and hurled the stone over me." , "All very likely, I dare say," said Reynard; hut j still I can't understand it, and, what's more, 1 won't believe it till I see it." So the man said they had better prove it, and j, the dragon crawled into the hole again; but in the twinkling of an eye they whipped oat the lever, | and down the stone crashed again on the dragon. ^ "Lie dow there till doomsday," said the fox. "You would eat the man, would you, who saved 0 your life?" . . . , The dragon groaned, ai>d: moaned, and begged * hard to come out; but the two went theirway, and left him alone. tt? i jq The very first Thursday night Beynard came to be lord and master over the henroost, and bid him- 0' self behind a great pile of wood hard by. When j the maid went to feed the fowls, in stole Beynard. j, She neither saw nor beard anything of him; but ^ her back was scarcely turned before he had sucked j blood enough for a week, and stuffed himself so ^ that be couldn't stir. So when she came again in the morning, there Beynard lay, and snored and _ slept in the morning sun, with all four iega.streck- ,ed straight; and he was as sleek and round aa a German sausage. - i ? Away ran the lassie for the goody, and she came, and all the lassies with her, with sticks and brooms ^ to beat Reynard; and, to tell the truth they near- ^ iy banged the life out of him; but, just as it was ^ almost over with him, and he 'thought his last hour a had come, he found a hole in the floor, and so crept out, and limped and hobbled off to the wood. 0 "Oh, oh," said Beynard; "how true it is. 'Tis the way of the world; and this is how it pays its ^ debts." : A. BULGARIAN BANDIT. jl The Mowing interesting story, which reads like ^ a sensational romance, is told in the PdH Mall Gazette: "Dnrino'the Crimean war a body of Poles, known t, as the 'Cossacks of the Saltan,' was attached to the " Turkish contingent This corps was retained as * part of the Turkish army after the dissolution of , the contingent, and has reoently been stationed in Bulgaria, where it has done good service in checking the depredations of a formidable bandit named ? Koushtchou Ogkra, who has for some time acted e in connection'with the insurgent agitators on the " other side of the Danube, and is said to have to- 4 ken a prominent part in the revolutionary expeditioo which lately entered Bulgaria from the Daira- ? bian principalities. An account of the history and ~ adventures of this bandit, interspersed with valqable information on Bulgarian life and oharatofr, ? has been contributed to the Recw Coniempoj#me n by Madame Caroline Suchodoiaka, the of an | officer in the 'Coasacks of the Sultan.'.. . I "Many years ago, when Koushtohou was a jj young tuan, hie personal beamy, and skill in all ? athletic exercises, made hiaa a universal favorite, w and the village girls used w. their arts to attract i lani to of an adjobing sfflage, 4w approWtm. nul(o?A]Lseotmli for &;Um^^od imDsrstioiis r^r "^nir*1 j 11,11 ttt fi "jtiv ."lijFWwr. ' " " Mm iHfwnc *>?vkr >nt unfortunately Kooshtehoa wm i'dtttwt a> i|bA?e^ iphK 4nkk SouAtobuui haribg mUi anftseai mnt.t&M*\M 4fk? V mfcfTy," WtoW*-?6 lifii'tflia aa*I^iqjed cToittofh?r *tfle mlm&mxig to eonftfc'it, ?to pqny of betrotha^.l^Mcli ,ui3ui^ ^ to be ? Jmost as fci( as tint tf mirage, ns pa-, brined BUbepitetrofall tfce?ikll|?l IMMfc fthfl viifa^ 1^.?1<| molt tot loig nmfKiil hnr Kagrfcoa' Theoomequeaee* wwe ftmMetBm ether died otahtttae ?ad grift# r?hte fcwaiw* nfl?> lilc, and still winders about, the hilk aq objeetof ear and/adoration-to tfi? OTperafitfoaa'tfeftaafata, Ao look upoo idiots as stored; sod Kodshlclp*' led to die ttlNMMiiieet.lK Park** Siaqotheu ho baa led tbehfe^aqartof klgaridn FwDiatdO. Arnwapaniad^r hiwai[ ed fend of fbflower^'Kh ewwedthe wheUatoa* !y, *xiuug eTwyrI alx TO met,* IBOr nnpOHBg tfbofedwr 6<rtiIeT aen contributed greatly to -tbe inpnuty ifcjbh be owned , on hia depvedatMt*. liereiy iflspe tbe? w (? ftd.rvfcaetod,** bis aoon? 4ioe, ioforaiing hka- whetierer a rich Turk hastened to be paawegf Jgokgh, ttak' warning hi? rfihe troops. He eooo obuned raob a reputation atoottg die rUbifen thai / hey oev<* tiooibt of / lji|| rr 11 ft "if / t wu known that be anuopruted A <x>oeiderit* ?opoitioi?:tef his booty the, jnainHmern el hurches, the relief of the poo?>aitd,ttliifr dttrifc ibleofajepte;; Ahattempt Senior ttatt fryAe tltrjamdd Hom^a ui t Darkish prison. r Husseinw&1traaM rod proniSS? taThe^b mdheing captured a seotWimeyirasbaiae alia yr thotrodpe. .-(vr: p-/.1 iids% iJT ? tqd oaptwnag Uspnowpal qbieteKbst taiiod ? catch. Kanshtehou' iraofecifL; sum 'owwriau m old Turkish womaheambto then with a Bat raritn priest) siyih^'that flW ktww ^ handrt's* itcrog-pface, ftild ^ ame tp the spot .the Kjtf had 'fiown. %waaaE . erwsiwqB^thstiCooehHhowhs^ho^ ?amtt? hen escaped to 'Bucharest; :Whe^? he has sime leen employed with the 'Bulgarian Committee.' " THE FIBST KISS. Among the arrivals in Cincinnati by the Louiaille packet was a young oouple who it was evident, tore a more tender relationship to each other than irother and sister, and yet, as they occupied diferent state-rooms, it was certain they were not lnsband and wife. As soon as possible after reachug the landing, they repaired to sfeotal, where, a conversation with a social gaatkmcn, the youth onfided the secret that they were an eloping senile ; that the bride's pare ate, who resided below Louisville, being, like: many other pCpanefwrSf he female she; crpCh ^eryWMe'autd' hardhearted, s possible. He had harfi^ aade the stateeaeat, reahaid featured, middle aged gentleman eoter4 the office, and- without oheerving the young mh, walkedopto-the register boo*. ? * * nother room, where heiemaaksd Wut&lbe ridaef gehtleaian) having got ihrengh the hattf amah, totted upon his heel sod walked rapidly aray; . "Tint's^un,""exclaimed our hero; "be must wye come tip by railroad, and is searching for ua. Tm. ImVv tbof T did tint tint Artwn nor riffht tattea. ; Bat what shall we do?" "WeU,'? mplied his newiy-fbund friend, "this j father an awkward fee; I expect you'll have to ofrMhn up^river and get married at Gretna rreen, for the old chap has a had countenance bat means mischief, and . he'll he sore to go to the ourt bouse, sayou woa't be able to get a license." Tflgo npfetalmaod hurry EmiHne off at once," ? * * Afii ' i *. n t Mfii . ictsnmea tc6 now aunoss despairing mml "Yen nan' fc get away befere 12 o'clock,'' retnrod the -other, "and the uoreseooahto parent will e aioe to,^ aboard of jtfte boat," ji^Hold on, my lad," exclamed his good natural ounaellor. "By Jove, I begin .Co feet an mtersst a this matter. You go upstairs and teU the young idy to be prepared for a start, and in the mean* ime keep a sharp lookout, and don't let the oburate father catch yon; I'll be back within an ?? 1 -1 V, A ' And off be started, leaving the bridegroom in roepective to wonder in what manner be was goSore enough, within the bonir be tetniped, ?s ompanied by a certain gentleman who was duly uallfied, legally and ecclesiastically, to bind togethr "hearts that beat as one,", and the bride being uly notified, they ah made rapid tracks for the iver side, where they found a staff in waiting witn brace of oarsmen. "Get in and be quick about it," said the master f the ceremonies; and, , without a word of inquiry, i they went, and, when seated, a few losty palls wk them to the middle of the stream. "Now, then," oontinoed he, we are oat of the irisdietion of Cincinnati, and there isn't anything ) prevent the ceremony being performed, so go bead." And there in the tiny boat, floating lasily down tieam, in the midst a cold hasy atmosphere, -? ?"m AcUlwahwl im) Mthfln] wnvri TO inipVUUO WUIV Wtvvswww | ana*. . ^ - ... ?, .. *s spoken, the ingenious manager' of the affair x>k his reward from the roey figawf the bride, by bearing the bridegroom out.of the ftrst ? i-'e'i? ? Stonewall Jackson's Fame.?The Kansas !itv (Mo. j Journal says: Jl 'few weeks sfooe, Genral Shieldsj the Danracrette candidate for Congress 1 this dism^jdt^aeg-a mgring a| New Garropernbb' the meeting was organised{and the tygftih introduced Shields in the following man"l^ellow-citixeDS (applause; few of them could 0^,^-Permit me to introduce to you a man whose ante is a household word ah over the land; a pariot of two hemispheres; a statesman; the oom moutfChy ana Benton; a soldier; the hero of Jerro Gordo; the man who poured out his blood Iea Mhtr far lug M?tu4ru : the hCTO of tlfe PotO IMC-j the mSunrW came nearerjrluppiM Stonerall Jackson than wy, oth?jpa*-Ut he did not rhip him by a d~~d sight!