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A Hief History of the Lutheran Church in the "Fork" Section of Lexington County. (By D. R. Hahiwanger.) Lexington, Febraary 27.-Perhaps ihere is no section of the coullu'ry that has a greater church history than that of the famous Dutch Fork section of Lexington county. and, perhaps, too, there are no people on the face of the globe that prize their church more dighly than these same people, who, since the beginning of all time, have been worshipping their God "accord ing to the dictates of their own con sciences." There is no denominaticn in this State that has prospered more than the Lutherans of the Fork, and a brief history of the church in that section will, therefore, be read with interest by Lutherans everywhere. The writer is indebted to the Hon. D. Frank Efird, who discussed this subject at the centennial exercises of St. John's church several weeks ago, fo. much valuable assistance in secur ing the following facts: From what material I have been able to gath-er, I think with the excep tion of St. John's ehurch, the oldest churches in the Lexington Fork are Bethel, on High Hill Creek, and St. Jacob's on Wateree Creek. Mr. Bern heim says that Bethel formed a part of the Saluda charge as early as 1765, which information he gathers from the journal of Dr. Mulenberg. This congregation, along with others, was incorporeted by the legislature of the State on February 29, 1788. The first house of w6rship was located a short distance from where the present building now stands. This congrega tion, it is thought, went into the or ganization called the "Corpus Evan gelicum,'" organized in 1787, at Zion 's church on the 13th day of November, and this charge also connected itself with the North Carolina Synod about 1810, and with the South Carolina Synod in 1824, to which Synod it still belongs. Bethel's Pastors. Bernheim says that the Rev. John Nieholas Martin labored in the Fork between the. Saluda and Broad rivers from 1767 to 1774, when he was call -ed to Charleston, and the churches were probably vacant during the Re volutionary war, as the only Lutheran minister near at' that time was the Rev. Louis Hockiheimer, who lived at Sandy Run and visited these ehoarehes. The first pastors of Bethel church, so. far as I have been able to learn, were: The Rev. John Nicholas Martin, the Rev. Mr. Wallern and the Rev. Mr. Bernhardt, the latter remaining until the.eclose of this life in 1809. The Rev.I Michael Rauch succeeded -him, re maining until 1814. The charge th'en seems to have become vacant for some time, and was served by a num ber of ministers, as follows: Messrs. Winkhorse, Paul D. Henekle, C. A. 3. Stork, and. #erha.ps, others from the~ North Carolina Synod. The Rev. J. P. Franklow was eiected about that church were a-ll German. and about 1817 t'he Rev. God frey Dreher preached in English oc casionally as the assistant pastor. The Rev. Mr. Franklow died in 1820 andi was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Moser. After him the Rev. Mr. Rauch again took charge, and remained un til 1846. Sinee that time the charge has been served by the following min isters: Messrs. Haltiwanger, Stingley, Lowman. Houch. Hawkins, Miller, Berley, Deaton, Ballentine. and the present pastor, the Rev. J. B. Haigler. St. Jacob's, on the Wateree. Mueh difficulty has been expeirene eingetting any information with re ference to the origin of this church. There are rumors in the neighborhoodI that this church is built on the piecej of l-and t'hat was granted to the con gregation about 1760 by King George,! of England, but tihis cannot be stated as a fact. The first authentie refer 'enees to its origin are, that it was incorporated }y the legislature of the State, along with a number of ot.her 'churches, on the 20th of February, 1788. The oldest inhabitants of the neighborhood say that an old lcog chureh was built about the time o.f the! Revolutionary war, near wh':e the present house now stands, which was used for ohureh purposes until the present building was erected in 1852. ,This church seems also to ha.ve con nected itself with the "Evangieli eum'' also with the North Carc1ia Synod and was a part of the Au Kh Carolina Synod in 1824. In 185~2 this churceb connected itself with the Ten nessee Synod, with which Synod, it has remained ever since. In the re cent years a new and commodious house of worship has been built by the congregation. St. Jacob's Pastors. It is not known who were the pas tors of this courl1Vb previous to the or ganization of the South Carolina Sy nod. At that time it wais served 5U(e cessively by the Rev. Messrs. Wallern. Winkhouse. Moser and Dreher. The Rev. Mr. Dreher was succeeded by +.he Rev Dniel Efird. After him J. F. Deal. 0. B. Shearoe and Eniie Iliie. S.Peter'., JPiney- Woods. ThiS can.reTIoZalnmust have been organized as early as 1794. aind the building stands on a piece of land wieh waC. originally grated by the State t:p Peter Shumps and trian MaVor oi February 15. 1794. Soie h:storianz spea:k of this ehurch as having -been in-orporated' in 1794. but that is a mistake, and refers to St. Peter's churoh. near Leesville, for t.:e reason that the information is very reliable that the Rev. James Wallern organized this ehurch in December, 1794, and a house of hewn logs, seal ed on the inside, was built just across the road from where the present building now stands. In 1834 a new building was erected. which is still there, although it has been moderniz ed in recent years. St. Peter's. The Rev. James Wallern was sue ceeded as pastor of this church by the Rev. Mr. Winkhouse, who served until his death in 1818, at which time the Rev. Michael Rauch was elected pastor and continued to serve until 1833, when the Rev. Godfrey Dreher took charge as pastor. From this date until 1839 there were some disturb an.ces in the congregation, the Rev. J. H. Hope being pastor of some mem bers of the church and the Rev. God frey Dreher of others. This difficulty led to the suit of Harman and Dreher, which commenced on April 29, 1839. That suit was terminated about 1840. The Rev. Mr. Dreher servea the con gregation until about 1852, when he rave up the charge on account of failing health. The Rev. Daniel Eilrd was the next pastor and continued in charge until 1881. The pastors since that time have been the Rev. Messrs. J. M. Efird, E. L. Lvbrand. S. L. Nease. J. G. Schaid, A. R. Be-k. B. D. Wessinger and the present pastor, the Rev. E. J. Sox. This harge as sisted in the organization of the South Carolina Synod, and in 1852 connected itself with the Tennessee Synod, in which it remains at present. This charge was a part of the "Evan gelicum.' St. Michael's. Next, in point of time, is St. Mich ael's, or the Blue church. This church was,.organized in 1814 and was- made up of members of Bethel and Zion hurches,abecause some wanted Eng lish services. According to Bernheim, the first ecclesiastical meeting of the Lutheran church held in fh.is State was held in this ehurch in April, 1816. The Lord 's day service was held mn Bethel church, the Rev. Mr. Stork and the Rev. Mr. Miller preaching indoors and the Rev. Mr. Dreher and the Rev. Mr. R.auch out of doors. in English, and the Rev. Shober to the negroes on the subject of Christianity. This conferen.ee was to adjust differ ences that had arisen on the subject of ,-baptism. This ehurch was con eted with tihe North C'arolina Sy od at its formation, and at the for maotion of the South Carolina Synod it severed its connection with that synod and assisted in the formatio~n of 'the South Carolina Synod, which was organized in this church on the 14th of Jan.uary. 1824. The first pas tor of this church was the Rev. God frey Dreher. The Rev. J. Y. Meetze became pastor in 1831 and was s-" eeded by the Rev. Messrs. Halt iwan ger, Stingley. Lowman, Baily, Black welder, Derrick, Houck, Hawkins, Miller. Berley, Deaton, Nease, Riden our andi Kline. Bethlehem. This congregation was organized and built a house of worship about three miles up Broad river, from where the old Bookman church origi nally stood at a point known as Eli sor's Ferry, near t4he river. Informa tion with reference to the organiza tion of this church is hard to get, but* in the diary of the Rev. Godfrey 'Dre er for June 6, 1819, it is found that e preached a sermon in the new hureh. on Broad river on the above ate, and later in the same diary he says "Bethlehem Chureh on Broad river'' and the inference is that this was the Ellisor church, and it was at that time a new building with the harge under his .pastoral care. "This house was abandoned some years lat er, and the old Bookman church was built about 75 {or 80 years ago. to which site the congregation mloved. This church was a member of the South Carolina Synod at its organ ization, but ~in 1852 it connected it self with the Tennessee Synod, to which body it still remains. Within the last few years the older church has been abandoned and a house has been built near the town of Irmo, where the congregation now worships. The following pastor's have served this church: The Rev. Messrs. God er, Dorr. Wyke, Deal. Shearouse and Hite. Macedonia church. Macedonia church was organizedi ab;ut 1842-43, and was originally comoe aimost nelusively of mem-' 1i;-Zt pI-Zt wi -,vas 1he Rev. J. C. Hope. It i- not knowi who -m-eeeded the Rev. Mr. H1pv. bit the Rtev. J. A. II i It nall V eurS after. and le was succeeded b) the Rev. Messrs. J. D. Bowles. J. K. ESrd, S. L. N id (. B. Sl:earou.-e. St. Andrew's Church. I St. .\n'rews' ehureb wa or1anized in 1835 :nd a house was buiilt the same year. From the Soutii Caro lina Synod minute. of 1836 it appear.s that the Rev. Ifr. Uaiel wa- its first o1:lstjr. Other parors of St. An 1-r's have -ee:i ihe Rev. Messrs. Derrick. Henekle. Hawkins, Miller, Berley. Deaton. Moser. Ridenhour and Cline. Other Churches. The other Lutheran churches in the Fork are: Mount Olivet, at Spring Hill: Horeb, at Chapin; Mount Her mon, at Peak. qnd St. Thn!mas, near Hilton. all of which have been orga-, ized wit!hin the last few years. Church Organizations. The first attempt at the organza tion of churches in this country was the "Corpus Evangelicum," organiz ed at Zi-on's churcb., this county, on the 13th of November. 1787. All of the old churches fhen in existence in this section were represented in that body. The object of this ormanization seems to have been principally to ordain preachers. The first man ordained by it was the Rev. J. G. Bamberg. It was an organization that was not confined to any denomination, but all denominations were eligible to mem bership. This body was very sh.orb lived and had only several meetings when it went to pieces. The churches in this territory also connected them selves with the North Carolina Synod so after it; organizition in 1823, and continued conne-tion therewith until the form-iti- of the Sonth Car olina Sviod in '824. On the 30th of Se,tember. 1S25, a Sunday-seocl Union was organiz ized at the in-;tigation of the Rev. Gcd;re-- Dreher. The first joint coancil of churches, under the charge of the Rev. Godfrey Dreher. wr held at Piney Woods church on the 18t) of August. 1849. This council niet annually until some time after the war of 1861-65., when the South Carolina conference of the Tennessee Synod grew out of this old joint council meeting. This confer enee formed a union with the Central Conference of South Carolina Synod at Cedar Grove church, on Hollow Creek, in 1882. LWed' Church. There was an old log structure on DEVOT"PS{OF Ve ti d I . .-1 11 AMERICAN 9EAUIY Style 43 U Katamauoo Corset Co., Makers OR MAID OR M4ATEON I 400 Bushels Pure T oole Cotton Seed For Sale. Bought direct of W. W. Toole, last spring, and handled with SPECIAL CARE since. Price. 75e. per bushel. Also a limited number bushels of Brooks' Favorite. Blazier 's Defiance, Cleveland Big Boll, and Alexander's, Money Maker, all at 90 cents per bushel. Plant good seed and be con vinced. My crop yielded this year 66 bales on 63 acres, on what I consider very ordi nary land. Apply to- J. L. Mayer, Route 2. Newberry, S. C. NOTICE TO TOWN DELINQUENTS The Hion. J. J. L:y. -rd. mayor of the city of Newherry. 1:& placed in mUy hands execu1tions~ for the collee ti m of delinquent city taxes for the vears 1907 and 1908, with instrue +miont collect the same at once. This not far from Bear Creek, which was called in the community, "Lybrand's church.'' Information as to the ori gin of this church is hard to obtain. There is an old rumor in the neigh borhood to the effect that M. Lv brand, who lived near the site of the cIIMrch, became offended at the Rev. Godfrey Dreher becaue ,ie refused to adiminister the communion for some reason, and the old gentleman took his negroes and put up the church. It seems to have had a rather precarious existence, and if there ever was re gularly organized congregation, whieh is seriously doubted, it soon became disbanded and became absorbed by the surrounding churches. The minu tes of the South Carolina Syn9d does not show that this church was eer formally connected with that bo'dy. So far as is known the only pastor this church ever had was the Rev. Godfrey Dreher, who preached there as early as 1849, and for several years thereafter. Wonderful Growth. From the minutes of the South Carolina Synod at its second meeting in 1825 it appears that the communi cants of the churches in Lexington county numbered 545, with the Rev. J. Y. Meetze's two congregations rot re ported. At a meeting of this Synod in 1826, the communicants of churches in Lexington county are reported at 726, the Rev. J. Y. Meetze having these congregations not reported. The communicant membership of the chur ches in the Dutch Fork in the minutes pf 1906 of the South Carolina and Tennessee Synods are reported, ex cepting St. Michael's and St. An drew's as being 1,919. The above only refers to the Luth eran church in the Fork. There are many Lutherans in other sections of the county, and at some future date a brief ihistory of the churches on this side of the river will be given. Note-With reference to the case of Harman and Dreher, referred to in the foregoing under the head of "St. Peter's,'' it will be of interest per haps to say that the opinion in this case was written by Chancellor Job Johnstone, father of Col. George Johnstone, the distinguished attorney of Newberry, and was affirmed by the old court of appeals. It is said th:at this opinion has been cited by all of the most able courts of this country as authority as to how far the civil courts may go in examining into the acts of ecelesiatical bodies, and that it is cited on this point by the recent encylopedias of law and many emin ent text writers on this point. i choosing a corset, ex cise good judgment in ie selection of this most portant article of at re, for upon such choice pends the success of iach that makes a harming appearance id personality. e recommend the (MERICAN BEAUTY CORSET Ai.AMAZOO CORSET CO. Exclusive Makers' s fulfilling all such re uirements and the fas dious woman who de ands the best and latest i corset creations will nd pleasure and pride i wearing them. c., 50c., 75c. and $1.00 very Corset a Bargain. ). K LE TT NE R NEWBERRY, S. C. is to notify all persons of the city who have not paid such tares that they can save costs by coming to me and paying the same at once. M. M. Buford, Sheriff Newberry County. Newberry, S. C., Feb. 22, 1909. 2-23-t-st. STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF NEWBERR5Y. In The Probate Court. The Creditors of the late William W. Spearman are hereby reg'&red- to ender in and establish their deed; ~ ir this Court on or befo;e zie nine teenth (Thy of M1arch, 1909, alnd are enjoined and restrained from enfore ingr threir demands elsewhere. Frank M. Schumpert, Judge of Probate. March 4, 1909. 3-..n-ta STATEMENT. The Commercial Bank of Newberty, S. C., con densed from report to State Bank Examiner Novem ber 27. 1908. RESOURCES. Loans.................... ........... $268,751 87 Furniture and fixtures...................... 3,116 03 Overdrafts .............................. 12,6 a Cash and due from- banks...................... 101,ibi 65 $385,696 05 LIABILITIES. Capital stock........................... $50,000 00 Profits less expenses taxes paid................ 54,677 53 Dividends unpaid. .................... 1,277 00 Cashier's Checks............................. 255 00 Re-discounts .......................... 15,000 00 Deposits Individual........... ....... $261,000.03 Banks................ . 3,486.49-$264,486-52 $385,696 05 The Commercial Bank, NEWBERRY,S. C. JNO. M. KINARD, 0. B. MAYER, J. Y. McFALL, President. Vice-President. Cashier. THIS BANK WANTS YOUR BUSINESS. We confess it. On the other hand, we know we are justi fiedin asking your patronage. We offer you every facility found in a myodern institution. Open an account with 'THE EXCHANGE BANK ON JANUARY 1ST. We Pay Per Cent1, |Iteres in I Our Sayings Departmient. J, D. DAVENPORT, E. R. HIPP, President. V. Prdsidenlt. M. L. SPEARMAN, Cashier. YOUR BANKING! THE NEWBERRY SAVINGS DANK. Capital $50,00 - -O Surplus $80,000 No Matter How Small, rto Matter How Large, The Newberry Savings Bank wiill give it careful attention. This message ipplies to the men and the women alike. <AS. McINTOSH. J. E. NORWOOD, Presldent. Casbler. *The First Cough of the Season, .Rvei tho#ugh not severe, has a tendency to irritate the sensi *tive mrembranes of the throat and delicate bronchial tubes. Coughs then come easy all winter, every time you take the *slightest cold. Cure the first cough before it has a chance to . *set up an infiamation In the delicate capillary air tubes of theg *lungs. The best remedy is QUICK RELIEF COUGH NYRUP. It at once gets right at the seat of trouble and re moves the cause. It Is free from Morphine and is as safe for @ * a childsrforln dult. s5 cents at *MAYES' DRUG STORE.