The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, August 23, 1907, Page THREE, Image 3
CORNER STONE FIRST '
BAPTIST OHUROk LAID
(Continued from page 2.)
the organization, the church did~^
connect itself with any Association
but in the Fall Qf 1833 delegates wer
appointed and ft letter written to th
Heedy River Baptist Association, int<
which body the church was duly an<
cordially received. In March, 1834
three additional deacons were chosei
? \ ' M* T* Mendenhall an<
DiAVton Nance?and, by special reso
lution ot the church, they were ''re
quested to conduct all prayer-meet
mg, trom time to time, and to taki
part in any other religious exercise:
to which they may be prompted b<
the Spint, in aid of the pasto
oi the church." At the end of 1834
the highly efficient and blessed pastor
ate of Mr. Hodges came to a close.
In January, 1835, Rev. Daniel Man
gum, pastor of Bush ltiver Church
was invited to the pastorate and en
tered upon his labors, assisted by Rev
kindsey. At the same time, J)ea
cons O'Neall and Mendenhall havint
shown decided gifts for public speak
ing and the conduct of public wor
ship, were by the church "authoriz
ed to exercise their gifts in any wa^
that, they might deem their duty, eith
er in public prayer, exhortation o
preaching." It was no uneommoi
sight at that time, and a deeply im
pressive one, to see the tall figure o
the pastor, clothed in a long whit*
robe and followed by a number of can
didates similarly clad, attended by i
vast crowd, marching in processioi
to the baptistery in the grove alread;
mentioned, to adminster the ordin
anee of. baptism. And as they march
ed, the pastor would line out the word
of some appropriate hymn and lea<
in the singing of it, in which all th
people joined.
In February, 183G, Thomas Freai
was licensed to preach, and in th
Fall of 1837 he was ordained to th
j ministry. In '37, Mr. ITodges return
ed to the pastorate of the church
preaching, however, only once
month through '37 and a part of '3f
He was succeeded by Rev. Tlioma
Frean, and during his pastorate ii
1840, Rev. J. A. Cliaplain acted a
assistant. Mr. Frean's ministry end
ed with the year '42, and he was sue
ceeded by Rev. Samuel Gibson, o
Greenville, who rode down througl
tne country and filled his appoint
ments once or twice a month. At th.
end of three years?in Jan., 184(5?h
was succeeded by Rev. J. G. Lan
drum, of Spartanburg, and in 1848 h
was succeeded by Rev. M. C. Barnett
also of Spartanburg, whose pastoral
lasted two years?to the end of '4fl
During this period of Hie church'
history?from the close of Mr. Hod
ges' pastorate to 1850?no decidct
change in its eonditioin had takei
place, but it had sustained the loss o:
two of its leading influential mem
bers in the death of Thomas Prat
and the removal of Dr. Mendenhall t<
Charleston.
In February, 1850, after eorres
pondence by Judge O'Neall througl
Dr. Mendenhall, the church caller
Rev. J. J. Brantly, then of Nortl
Carolina, and on the 12th of May, ii
that year, he began his long and use
ful pastorate. On the 13th day o
November, 1850, Y. J. Harrington
who had been the treasurer of th
church from its very origin, and j
deacon from the time of his eleetioi
two months after the church was con
stituted, gave up his owrk and enter
ed upon his rest. Drayton Nance sue
ceeded him as treasurer of the ehureli
and in 1852, G. T. Scott was electc<
deacon. At the May meeting in 1852
the communion set, still used by th
church, was given by the pastoi
through Deacon John S. Carwile, win
presented it in the name and at the ro
quest of Dr. Brantly, "together wit]
the expression of a hope, that th
season, in which it may be called in
to use to remind us of our Redeem
er's death, may afford us a foretast
of that sweeter communion which w
may all enjoy in our Redeemer's pres
enee." In the same year, through th
active efforts of the female members
who had what they called a "workinj
society," money was raised and som
important improvements were mad
in the church building. On the 8th o
November, 1852, just two years afte
the death of Deacon Harrington, th
church sustained another great los
in the death of Deacon John S. Car
wile, the first deacon, and for man;
years the clerk of the church. On th
14th of the same month the vacan
dcaconate was filled by the consider
able religious interest in the commun
ity and a number were added to th
church by baptism. In Septcmbei
1854, Deacon Drayton Nance was sud
denly summoned from the church oi
earth to the assembly of the saint
on high, being the third deacon tha
had died within six years. Tn Decern
her of that year, 1856, John B. Car
wile was elected to succeed him a
deacon, and W. II. Harrington a
treasurer. At the end of 1857 th
custom of extending an annual call t
\
j the pastor was dropped, and Dr.
>. Brantly was called during mutual
pleasure. In 1801, J. D. Nance sueceeded
W. II. II,u rinal on as treasur
er, and that s-imo year Thomas II.
Pope was licensed to preach the gos0
JJ \ ^"nng (he dark and terrible
ay* of the wa>*, the church struggled
? on against thy difficulties and tria's
common to all part* 0f 'he south, an.!
t to al! enterprises, led by .heir faith'
ful and devoted pastor. In 1863, at
the request of Lower Duncan's Creek
! C!"Veh> H. Pope, who was
still a member of this church, was ordaiuco.
In September of that year
quite a revival influence was oxperienccd
in the cl-.utch end i number
v rro io?o0iyed by bai>tis,?- the
r }?ar w to ft closc> two severe
blows fell upon the church in quick
' J"d sharl> succession, in the doath of
Deacon J. B. O'Neall, on the 27th of
. December, and of F. B. Higgins, on
the 30th of the same month. The
1 years 1865 and 1800 were occupied by
everybody in trying to gather up and
repair the shattered fragments left by
" the war. In October, 180G, Dr. Brantly
ottered his resignation, and on the 0th
" of January following his farewell ser~
' mon was preached. His pastorate of
sixteen years had been distinguished
jy steady, faithful, permanent work,
which left its ingress upon the
church and the community so clear
and deep as never to be effaced.
f Rev. J. T. Zcaly was called to the
e vacant pastorate March 3d, 1807, ac_
cepted and entered at once upon his
labors. In March, 1808, John R.
i LcavelI and W. T. Wright were cleety
n d<;at>ons> and in 1870, together with
li^" ^C()" and Carwile, who
. 1,nd previously elected, were ors
dained. Mr. Zealy resigned in Septem]
er? ^^68, and Dr. Richard Furman
0 was celled and began liis pastorate
the last of that year. His health failn
??g, in the spring of 1?09, the church
3 was supplied with preaching to tho
e end ot that year by professors and
_ students of the Southern Baptist The|
ological Seminary, especially Dr. Wil^
liani Williams, who continued to
j preach in 1870, but early in that year
s Rev. John Stont was invited to take
;1 charge of the church and did so, but
s continued his studies in the Seminary
_ until May, 1871, when lie came to
Newberry to live. He resigned and
? left in December, 1873, and was sucj
needed July 1st, 1874, by Rev. F. W.
_ Eason, and he, the first of January,
e 1878, by the present pastor. In 1809
e William Hayne Leavell, a memb?r of
_ this church, was ordained to the mine
istry. Deacon G. T. Scott died in
^ 1^70, and in that same year Jarpes
e McTntosh was elected deacon.
i. The office of clerk of the chnrch
s was first filled by James Divver, who
. was followed in a year or two by Ren
j ben Pitts. Tn 1835 John S. Carwile
1 was made assistant clerk, and in 1843
f he succeeded Mr. Pittst, as clerk,
. holding the office until 1852. He was
t followed by his son, John B. Carwile,
3 who served as clerk for fifteen years,
and was followed in 1807 by Y. ,T.'
, Pope, who was succeeded in 1877 by
a John F. Spearman, and he, in 188i,
I by the present clerk, John S. Carwile.
ti The singing in the public worship
i was, at first of conrse, without aid of
. instrumental music, and was led by
f Reuben Pitts, aided among the fei,
males by Mary Carwile, Mary Ilare
rington, Caroline Fejrnandis, tSrtrah
a Fernandis, and others. Mr. Pitts wa?
a early succeeded as leader by John B.
- Carwile, and Deacon Drayton Nanca
. occasionally rendered some service in
- this direction. Soon something of a
i, choir was formed and, as early as
] 1851, a mclodcon was bought and us!,
rd in the worship. The first performer
e was Miss Bet tie Carwile, now Mrs.
, Minis, and she was followed by the
o pastni:'s wife, Mrs. Brantly, and she
" by Miss Kale Leavell, now Mrs.
Ii Spearman. In 1855 the present ore
gan was bought, and the aid and en
joyment it has furnished, in the wor
ship of God's house for over a quarter
e of a cenutry, must be attributed in
e great measure, to the energetic and
- enthusiastic efforts of the accome
plished and devoted Mrs. Brantly,
through whose exertions the organ
ar was secured.
e Very soon after its organization, in
d the beginning of 1832, the church b?f
j cran the Sunday-school work, organizr
j ing the first Sunday-school in all this
e [ section of country, so far as can be
s ascertained. Tt was, of course, lacking
in the spirit and efficiency that
y i distinguish the Sunday-school work
e j of tho appliances for giving interest
t of the aplliances for giving interest
- and aid lo the study of the scriptures,
- which are so abundant now, and Sune
day-school singing, that delightful
, and efficient agency in the modern
Sunday-school, was, as yet, an unden
veloped science. A collection of th?
s church hymns was used, and such
t tunes as "Old Hundred" were sung
- to them, while the children sat in sil -
once, not being expected to take any
s part in this exercise. But though
s quite unlike a modern Sunday-school,
?| it was as good as any the times afo
forded, and was equipped at the begin
Ming with tho best outfit (lint could be
bought. The first person who nttempted
to tench the children to sing nnd
to improve the Sunday-school music,
was Mrs. Brantly, nnd through her
interest nnd exertions in this direction
marked progress was made. The
Sundny-school of those early times,
deficient perhaps in some things that
belong to modern Sunday-school enterprise,
wns nevertheless distinguished
for the thoroughness nnd fidelity
with which the word of God wns
tnught in it, nnd the grout pains taken
to indoctrinate the voung in the
fundamental principles of the gospel.
The first, superintendent was Deacon
J. Harrington, who filled the office
with fidelity and success for many
years and was suceeded by Deacon
Drnyton Nance, nnd he, after a few
years, by John B. Cnrwilc, who was
followed by Y. ,J. Pope. On the resignation
of Mr. Pope, Mr. Carwile
was again chosen to the office. At
times during its history, the interest
in the Sunday-school has waned, but
it lias never been abandoned, even for
n time, and has sometimes reached a
high degree of efficiency nnd success,
numbering at one time during the
pastorate of Dr. Brantly, and the superintendence
of Mr. Carwile, as many
as a hundred and twenty members,
while a lnrge majority of the converts
who have swelled the numbers nnd
sustained the efficiency of the church
have come from it ranks. The two
young ministers who in recent years
have been sent forth by (his church,
Thomas II. Pope and William Hayne
Ixmvell, were both reared from their
very childhood in this Sunday-school.
The same may be said of Rev. ,7. K.
Mcndenhall, who, though never n
memcbr of this church was for years
in his early boyhood n pupil in the
Sunday-school.
Like most Baptist Churches in the
South, llii.s church had until the close
of the war a large membership of
colored people, numbering most of the
time about as many as the whites, and
with the delicate and difficult problem.
growing out of the peculiar
condition and wants of pw.o? people,
they had early and often to deal, and
to this work they addressed themselves
with their accustomed energy
and devotion. Careful attention was*
gi\en to their spiritual wants and every
effort made to meet them. From
the beginning special meetings were
held for their benefit, and in 1835,
Mr. Mnngum, the pastor, and Mr
Lindsey, his assistant, by request of
the church, held regularly Sunday afternoon
services specially for the colored
people, and this custom was kept
up until the close of the war. Tn
January, 1833, four leaders for the
colored people were apopintcd, thd
first named of whom was Died, afterwards
known as Died Rutherford,
who died at an advanced age, highly
esteemed and respected, on the lltii
day of last September, only a few
days prior to the fiftieth anniversary
of the church's organization.
From its origin, fhe church has
been careful of the want of the fow
indigent members, who, from time to
time, have needed its help. And
there seems never to have been a time
in its history when a fund for the
needy was not provided, and, ax it
was needed, used freely to relieve the
suffering. It is a cause for congratulation
and gratitude to God fhal.
throughout these fifty years, the
church has never approached anything
like a schism, but the utmost
harmony and good feeling have always
prevailed.
No records are at hand of the contributions
of the church to benevolent
and religious objects; but, although
not. for two years, after ils organization
connected with any Association,
it was from the first a constituent
member of the Baptist Stale
Convention, and, as the minutes of
that body show, contributed liberally
to its education and missionary enterprises.
In the person of Judge
O'Neall, this church furnished one of
fhe nunt highly revered of all the
honored presidents of the State Convention:
in Dr. Brantly, its secretary,
a.id in Dr. Meudenhallj its treasurer
for many years, while the present
pastor has been, from the beginning
of his pastorate, the secretary of that
body. Th" Kwmtivp Board of the
Convent son was for a long time located
here, and wns composed chiefly of
members ;?f thi< i-hurch. In the general
benevolent "n>orprises of the denomination,
!l.e church has always
taken an iiuelligfpf and liberal perl.
It remains now only to trace our
way avails through ?his avenue of fif'y
years and call the roll of the heroes
who have made the church's history,
with s-aeh allusion to the life
and character of each as may seem
to be desirable.
John M. Baines, fhe first pastor, is
described as a young man of attractive.
if not brilliant, pulpit '.rifle,
and was an exceedingly popular and
impressive preacher. Little is known
of him after his short pastorate here,
but it is said that he subsequently
moved to the West and became identi
tied wiili another denomination. ?
Hie man who, doubtless Uiore t|,.m 1
any other in those early days, mado *
a blessed ?,id lasting, impression on
the charaeter of the ehurcli and people,
was the sainted N. W. Hodges.
He was a native of Abbeville District,
aild at the time he became pastor of *
this cluirth, was quite a young man.
Of fine native talent and of the best
cultivation the times afforded, a
graduate ui' the South Carolina College
and <?!' tho Furinan Theological
Institution, he was an instructive and
eueetive preacher of the gospel. United
with his ability as a preacher
was a most beautiful Christian char- :K
acter. .lust before his death in 1842
he made a visit to Newberry, and| ?V
though physically unable to preach
he followed the sermon of Mr. Prcan!
the pastor, with some tender and
touching words, in which he referred tc
with modest but confident assurance n
o his coming death. At the close of ^
his pastorate in '35. he became the
agent of the Baptist State Conveu- .
tion. and later was professor in the "
iMirman Institution. Ho diod in
Greenwood in the Fall of 1H42, and
was buried at Mt. Moriah Church, in T
Abbeville County. A monument over q
his grave was erected by this church
and the church nt Mt. Moriah. In C
nil extensive and appreciative notice J
ot his life and death, adopted by the
church in December, '42, he is spoken
of "as the friend whom we lovo
and as the teacher stint from God."
| In resolutions passed the same year
j by the Hoard of Trustees of Furinan
j university, and adopted by the
State Convention, he is referred to as
"a conscientious, laborious, selfdenying
minister of Jesus Christ.
Exemplary lor bis singular devotcdness
to ti,(. interests of religion, and
crowned by the providence of God C
with an uncommon measure of usefuliids.
he has ..one down to the S
grave amidst the deep regrets of _j
many, who loved him for his work's
sake." In an address by Dr. Reynolds,
some years ago, allusion was
made to "his calm, pale face, and bis
eyes, that seemed to look beyond this
world." And one who in his boyhood
attended his ministry says that he reminded
him of "one of the old prophets
and seemed like one who belonged
to another world."
j Daniel Man?um was the tird pastor.
J Six feet hiirh. of large frame, great
j physical endurance and a powerful
I voice, he san<r and preached and prayed
with impassioned earnestness and
zeal. By industrious application, he
improved a limited education and became
an effective and very successful
preacher, sometimes rising to the
j heiirhts ?>f real eloquence. He died at
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