University of South Carolina Libraries
^ i $> <s> <?> ? .. lHSTUUICAL SKETCH OF v KiM* s ('KEEK ( Hl tU Il y < > }> !>v Dr. W. (. Brown. y o ? V To go back 1">0 years, ;'or so early as 17no. we ha; e found some disconnected dura relating to Ue earliest '.Irish settlers of Xev berry county and their affiliation with the religious societies which existed prior to tne iounding or organization of the Associate Reformed churches and the decendants of some by the same names, such as Martins, Spences, Wilsons, Dugans, Caldwells, Glenns, Calmes, Sloans, Chalmers, Chambers, Carmich, aels, Renwicks and Browns, are active members now of churches organized 4 from the earlier religious societies, and from these facts we are led to believe that tue factors, wMch made possible the organization known as dndian Creek church, Kings Creek churca, the Irish church, now King's Creek church, also often referred to as the White church, existed 10 or nure years before the recorded dates of any paper or books with which I have been able to sonsult. The sessions' records of King's Creek church, unquestionably, would be of interest and invaluable could they be had, but 1 have been unable to find them, if they were kept, even in late years. Xor is it strange that the history of our churches in their infancy was not preserved when we think of the difficulties and embarrass ments coiiirommg tne pioneer seiuers in this new and wild country, with its unbroken gigantic forests, bridges, streams, roadless and pathless and uncleared lands, with religious and political dissensions, with war clouds gathering in the East and the threatening invasion of the British army. Is it. not rather exceedingly commendable that amid all,and thr:ugh all tliese trials that the spirit of the maryred fathers survived and gave us the church o." their faith, even though the exact date of her birth is not known in recorded history. However, I feel sure of the sympathy o: all who are interested, if I * fail to gather together the fragmentary facts relating to Kings Creek church connectedly and harmoniously, for I 'Will very nearly give the exact quotations as I have culled them from the several authors of reference. My specific task is to speak of Kings Creek?but her relation and cooperation were soon intimate and interlinked with Cannon's Creek in her young days and with Prosperity and Head Spring later, t'~at it is well nigh im 'P^ssiDie to mention one \\ii..'oui tne others, hence, my references often w'll be conjointly. From the years 1763 to 1775 the elements of Cannon's Creek a?ld King's Creek churches, from which grew Prosperity and Head Spring, came from County Antrim, Ireland, #and settled between Enoree and the Dutch F:rk .centering nera the creeks from which the churches took their namefs. ' A porticn of Rev. John Ren wick's congregation came from Ireland, in the year 1767, and settled in Newberry county. In 1770. a larger portion, with their pastor came over and settled near the ot&ers; and in 177^ tnere came a third colony. f.rrom the foregoing we are safe in concluding that the first Associate Reformed preacher and pastor of the church in Newberry was the Rev. John Ren wick, born in Ireland of Scottish ancestry. His son, Rev. John Renwick, was born at sea on the passage over, December 31st, 1770. The Lord's supper was first administered to these Christians in Newberry, iu Patrick Carmichael's barn, near what is known as Boyd's Crossing between Xewberry and Prosperity. This Rev. John Ren-wick, the first, is believ ed to have been a descendant of Rev. 1 James Renwick, the last martyr of Scotland, who suffered February 17th, i 1688. . ! Rev. John Renwick preached at Cannon's Creek and King's Creek churches, which were founded at the , same time in 1772, until his death August 20, 1775. He was never in- ! stalled as pastor of these^ churches. ' After his death there was almost no ' preaching owing to the activities of , the revolution, until the year 17%. i King's Cieek church was a log build- j ing in the cemetery near the old oak j on the east side. The pillars which 1 were rock are still there. The church j was moved to this place later and 1 located 125 yards in rear of the pres-| ent buildisn. according to O'Neall's ~ I Annals. In that year, 1790, or the year be- ; fore, the Revs. David Bothwell and j James Rogers arrived, and they were ! "both present at Ceder Spring, Abbe- 1 ville county. South Carolina. February 24th, 179o, when the Presbytery o: the Carolinas and Georgia was organized. There were present, and took pari j in the ceremonies, and entered into > the organization, Tiiomas Clark, Peter , i i McMullan, Joim Bozse and David Lothwoll, ordained ministers; and .James M< Ilride and William Dmilap. rulii-ir elders. James Rogers was present as a probationer?but his name was not entered on the roll. ' K,.v Inin, ^ Rr>5>crs missioiiaied among the churches until the -3 oi February. 1791, when he was ordained and installed past r of Little River, in Laurens, Cannonfs 'Creek and Indian Creek and King's Creek congregations. i This was the first ordination ana In stallation services in which the presbytery of the Carolinas and Georgia engaged, of which there is a record. The ordination sermon was preached by Rev. Peter McMullan, and the charge, probably to both people and pastor, was delivered by Rev. Thomas Ciark. At which church tnese exercises were held we have no knowledge. Rev. .J^mes Rogers served these ^ ' V .-V 'Congregations zi or \z-> years; although the pastoral relation had been formerly .dissolved in 1 SOI, he con tinuea to serve them until the year 1814. i In 1814 Rev Josepn Lowry wafc called by t:.e Newberry churches, but . failing to secure his services, they tendered a call and obtained the service of that great and g^od man, Rev. Charles Strcng. He was installed pastor of Cannon's Creek, King's Creek and Prosperity in 1816.. Prosperity having been organized in 1S02. Rev. Strong labored faithfully in these churches for 8 years. '< Some of the elders were, .John Cald well, Capt. iirice, .James s. sioan,Robert Drennon and Samuel McQuerens at (. annon's Creek, Abram Car michael, Robert Brown, Abram Young; at Prosperity and .John Dugan, Capt. Spenie and James Wilson at King's ' Creek. it will be noticed, these are the first elders mentioned in those churches. Other good men, private members of t.:e churches were of great help in t..is commendab e work, among whom were the (Flemings, Fairs, Reids, Caidwells, McConnells, Youngs, Calmes, Thompsons, Spences, Enlows, Xeels, Hunters, Xeeleys, Glascows, D r\ o o t- a r? o T aIi n _ rttJir A ICliS, i>iai uiiia, i caotci o, uv?ust:nes, Chapmans and Browns. fThe pastoral relationship between IV. r. Strong and his churches was ended by his death July 20th, 1824. i JTiie Associate Reformed Synod of the CaroTinas was organized at E'benezer church, Fairfield county, S. C., May y, 1803. with James Rogers, King's Creek irastor as moderator, who preached xiroiR the text, "I will give yod pastors according to.mine heart, which shall feed y.u with knowledge and understanding"?Jer. 3 15. The sermon being over, Rev. Rogers constituted the synod with prayer. There wer#> present seven ordained ministers, James Rogers, {William .Blackstock, John Hemphill, James McTCnioht Alpv^ndpr Porter. .Tames ^lc Gill and Robert Irwin; and Isaac oiier and James McAuley, probationers, and Charles Montgomery, Alexander Stewart, Andrew McQuiston. Henry Hunter, Arthur iMorron and i Duke Bell ruling elders. Tradition ' gives us this o: McKnight. He would preach all day?Rev. Porter interrupted him and asked him to close before night and let the pe.ple go home? i ! Another time ue congregation one by one left because it was getting dark. The sexton said when you get through close the door. He rode in j gallop and often had a black horse j following for a change if his horse j , he was riding gave out. To the synod o: the Carolinas, at i i its meeting at Little Creek, on the 2 'of April, 1821, the first Presbytery rei ported that, "It is the opinion of a 1 majority of this presbytery that the j I relation which has hitherto existed between the sub-synod of the Caro-! linas and Georgia and the general sy-1 nod should be dissolved." The general synod consisted or the synod of New | York, synod of Pennsylvania, synod of i Scioto and synod of the Carolinas and Georgia. i On the next day (April 3rd), this report of the First Presbytery was j toton ir>+r> cprirms consideration aiter ! which tne following resolution was i offered by Rev. John Hemphill, and seconded by John Xesbet, ruling elder . from Mr. Blackstock's charge in Lan- j caster county, S. C. "Whereas, our distance from the . place of synodical meeting is so great | that it is altogether impracticable to i maintain a full representation in gen- , eral synod, and whereas, It is sup-. posed that the interests of truth and i godliness may be promote/1 as sue- ( cessfullv in a State of separation from 1 eeneral svnod: therefore. '' Resolved, That Revs. .John Hemphill and John T. Pressly be appointed a committee to write to general synod requesting permission to form ov,r-[ selves into a sister coordinate synod. Xot a question of slavery. The above resolution was adopted. 'The committee prepared a letter, j which was unanimouslv approved by i the synod and sent the general synod by Mr. Henry S. Wilkins. a probationer in <: nnection with the presbytery oi' Xew York. In rt'ply to this letter, tile following resolutions were adopted by the general synod on the 1 i*th of -May. following: 1st. Resolved, That the synod of the Carolinas be and tney nereuy arc authorized lo erect themselves into a separate c..urc.i, if they continue to judge the interests of t.'.e redeemer's kingdom, in that quarter of the country, to call or such a measure. 2nd Resolved, That in the event I of the synod of the Carolinas bee ming a separate sister church, this synod will continue to clierish, as etoTore, a Christian affection, for all members and ministers of said church, and be ready to keep up the most friendly corresp ndence according to any plan that may be mutually agreed on between t.ie two churches. On the first of April, 1S22, the synod cf tlie (jarojinas met ai Mngs reeK, Newberry county All the ministers except Mr. McKnig'Jt were present and a ruling elder from all t.ie pastoral charges except those of Revs. Eleazar Harris and Joseph L'wry. On finding the members of the synod unanimous in their opinion that the present State of the church justified such a measure it was therefore moved by Messrs. Memphill and Rogers that the synod act on t'^e permission of the general synod and resclve ourselves into an independent coordinate synod. On motion of Revs. .Jo'.in Hemphill and William Blackstock, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: Res.ived. T..at this synod be hereafter known by the name o: the As sociate Reformed Synod of the South, adhering to the constitution and standards of the Associate Reformed church, in that sense, in which they were received when adopted at Green1 castle, in the year 1709, and uniformly acted upon until the year 1811. Such was the origin of the Associate Reformed Synod o:' the South and was done at King's Creek which event took I lace 32 years after the organization of t-e Associate Reformed Presbytery ! of the Carolinas and Georgia, and ! i.? ? + *i-,Q I i i? yecii s uiitiZ" nit; ui tut 'synod o: the Carolinas. Between 1803 and 1S22 John Renwick, Jr., -ihe son , cf John Renwick who preached for King's Creek, Joseph Ix>wry, Charles Strong, John T. Pressly and Eleazar Harris had been added to the synod. ^During the year 1824 a church was built at Head Spring, and on the third Sabbath of July of that year Rev. William Blackstock preached the first sermon in this house. The organization was effected soon after with James J. Sloan and Capt. James Chal! mers elders. Rev. Samuel P. Pressly, or' whom it has been said that he had no saperi:r in the presbytery, became pastor of the four united congregations of Newberry, King's Creek, Cannon Creek, i Prosperity and Head Spring in 1826 or 1827. Upon Mr. Presslv's election to a professorship in Franklin uni-1 versity, Athens, Georgia, at a meeting at presbytery held at Long Lane, March 2Sth, 1834, he. asked and obtined dismission or trnsfer to connect himself with . a 1 sister denomination, leaving his congregation vacant and somewhat torn and distracted with internal dissensions, due to Mr. Presslv, advocating and practicing more liberal measures t'jan had been the custom. ; While the eldership and a great majority of the membership adhered to their former faith, and practice, j yet some good, prominent and in-1 + ? ?/-\ 11 ~ itt /-?,4 fVi a nvotttrvlo nf llUClltmi lIICll 1UUVWCU LiiC ^AUixi^iv v/i. their pastor. , I lAmong these may be mentioned j Chancellor Johnstone, Dr. Glenn, Es-: quires Keller, David, Cleary, George Boozer, Dr. Alexander Chambers, the Footes and others with their families, 1 through whose instrumentality and influence sprung Aveleigh church, now , the Presbyterian church of Xewberry,1 and Smyrna above Bush River; ' Gilder's Creek seemed also to take on new life, and subsequently Mt. Bethel 1 was called into being. I 'Hence, these churches, Cannon's, Creek, King's Creek, Prosperity, and j Head Spring may be regarded in a ? great measure, as the parent of all > the Presbyterianism known in New- ( berry. T'.ie presbytery met four seccessive | years towards the close of Mr. Press- j ly's pastorate in one of the Newberry churches. At Head Spring, November 3, 1S29; at Prosperity November 3, 1S30; at Cannon's Creek, November 10, 1S31: at | King's I'reeK, .vovemDer 8, lSo^. Kev. i Jonathan Galloway succeeded Mr. ' Pressly as pastor of these churches and was installed bv presbytery a: Head Spring April 10. 1836. pastor of t/.ese united congregations, havincr been found sound in doctrine and consistent in practice. i A rew years later the people oi his charge desirei} more preaching u.;d so / I !>y lu'utti;]] consent and arrangement Rev. J. 0. Lindsay preached one year, lb4S, at Cann n's Creek and Kind's C:eek churches. \ The next year, IS*! . Kins'.- Creek was supplied one third of the time by K< .. 1). F. Haddon and two years subse u:e:itly by R-v. A. Ransom. in the meantime Patrick Martin was added to the eldership at King's Creek?-Capt. Spence still surviving :o discnarge the duties oi the office which he had long held. An Associate Reformed Presbyterian church was organized in the town of Xc-\\ berry in the year 18r>0. Dr. Wm. Mc.Morris and L>r. Thomas 1 A\ Tompson were ordained elders?to i whom Prof. Wm. Hood was soon afterwards added. This church, known as Thompson street church, united with King's Creek in calling Rev. H. L. 'Murphy, who accepted the call and was installed pastor at Newberry in 18f>3. Here he preached with acceptance I - - - . . until tlie close of tne war in i*b.>. ? Becoming discouraged after the war on account .f the death and removal of some good men, Mr. Murphy gave up his charge and went to West Tennessee. I Five years afterwards, in May, 1870, Rev 10. P. McCiintock began to preach . at King's Creek and Thompson Street churches regularly and was installed | pastor in May, 1871, with J. S. Ren- [ wick, H. S. X. Crosson, Joseph Cald- j well, D. A. Crosson and J. C. S. Brown I elders and Dr. M. A. Ren wick and ; A. J. Gibson and C.ilvin Caldwell deacons in King's Creek church. That* pastorate continued until 18S3. At taat time Mr. McCiintock remov- 1 i ed to Xewberrv town and became nas- : tor o: Thompson Street church exclusively.. In September, 18S4, Rev. \V. W. Mc- ' i Morris was installed pastor of King's j Creek and Cannon's Creek churches? ! with Jos. Caldwell', Col. Jno. S. Ren- ' i wick. J. C. S. Brown, H. S. X. Crosson, ; and J. E. Caldwell, John Franklin, i J. C. Brown, Dr. M. A. Renwick, J. G. j Price, elders and A. J. Gibson, Jos. | Caldwell, Jr., and W. C. Brown dea- j cons at King's Creek. v This pastorate cf W. W. McMorries j with Cannon's Creek and King's Creek : ~ j .. ? + ; 1 10?: uunuiiucu until jlo^u. In 1898, King's Creek and Head j Spring called Rev. J. B. Hood, who ' continued to minister to these pso- ! pie until 1902 when he resigned and | went to Tennessee. The King's Creek church suffered j many losses in officers and lay mem- j bers between the pastorates of E. P. j McClintock and J. B. Hood by removals and death. Col. Jno. S. Ren-wick, , H. S. X. Crosson, Jos. Caldwell, D. A. ; Or sson, Jno. C. Brown, elders and | Jos. Caldwell, Jr., deacon by death. In 1902 Rev. C. M. Boyd was called , by King's Creek and Prosperity and Unitv and was installed at Prosperity * ... ... ,c... i as pasior or mese c-mrcnes in .viav, . 1903. This pastorate was bleeped with fine ! congregations and quite a number of i accessions. Rev. C. M. Boyd gave up this charge in November, 1905. In May, 1906, Rev. I. S. Caldwell ; was called and began work in June, one month later, with Prosperity, I Unity and Kind's Creek.' The officers ; of King's Creek during Mr. Caldwell's j ministry were: J. C. S. Brown who j died October 25, 1910; Dr. M. A. ften- j wick, T. B. Carlisle and W. C. Brown j elders. Jos. M. C. Brown, G. S. Ruff, | Hubert Carlisle and J. C. Baker dea-1 cons. This building was completed in April. 1909, during Rev. I. S. Caldwell's pastorate. Mr. I. S. Caldwell laid off this work in November, 1911, to Joecome the field j secretary of the synod. These churches were supplied until j October, 1912?when Rev. J. W. Carson j began to preach for King's Creek and is at present ministering agreeably and successfully in this congregation. I In the words of another: Would that Kig's Creek's unity j of purpose will ever be to exert an i influence that will not be a hindrance 1 but beautiful and edifying to others, a sympathy and love that will not be limited in her forgiveness, a faith i that will overcome all obstructions ! and a faithfulness that will look for no recognition of service." Rev. J. W. Carson dedicated this new church June 21, 1914. For this preservation of a long and useful life, let's in the quiet melody, of our sbuls, h:nor and praise our God with the beautiful song of David: | Lord, our Lord o'er earth's vast fame, j How exalted is Thy name! Who hast set thy glory bright Far above the heaven's height. i From the m null of children young,1 From the infants lisping tongue. Mate-/.less str.-ngtb thou hast ordained, , Thus Thy vengeful foes restrained, i When thy heaven's I survey, Which thy finger's work diplay, When the moon and stars 1 see. Ordered all by thy decree. i What is man that in thy ia:nd, H" a constant place should find? What the son of man that he. Should i)*' visited by thee. June 3, 1014. Death of a Young1 Lady. Miss Leora Wallace died of pellagra at the Columbia hospital uii Wednesaf.ernoon - o'clock, and was buried at Prosperity on Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock by the Rev. J. P. Knox, of Columbia, and the Rev. C. H. Xabors. of Pr sporty. Miss Wallace was 23 years old, and lived in Columbia. Her fate.ir died just one week before. Barbecue Notice 1 will give a first class barbecue at my residence, near the fill on Broad river, on Saturday, "uly 18. In addition to the barbecue there will be boat racing and other features. B. M. Suber. JUST BACK FROM I VENTION OF THI ERS OF Which met in Atlai ^I^^Ej : nJI?PSK M: "To it In o Y\r\\T? -LO CVUJUUUJ . we were, happy, but didn1 many interesting demonst going on all the time; too the big Auditorium just from throughout Americ moment of the time loadii things. All the latest an< Art Phol or>rl nrnf \rnny* ol CLILKA gj U JTV/lAl. UJ We are having something dav now. o.& I * ti? d;?u4 | 1 IIC JLMglll | Gilder 6 A $ ~ | FOR SAFE PRESC I REASONA1 * ^ We employ two licei 4? y will always find at least V % prescriptions. ? I FOR SATISFACTORY ALL BRANCHES C I f We absolutely do not i what you want, we will j f possible, without any e: | tice, we generally have | FOR AN ABSOLUTI 1 EVERYTHIN ? 1> If it is not what you % get your money without S * -o-?? <s> % i Can you get -more 4> ! Can you get as mu V <s> r Death of an Infant. T'nc Kvo months old infant daughter jcf'V.r. and Mrs. W. B. Baliard. of Oax, la:;(1 ;i: o'clock and \v.?s sont to'Clin! ton Tr.ursriav :'or burial. NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT : Notice is hereby given that :he undersigned as pxecutors of the last wiil and testament of Henry Samuel Graham Hor>f>n?;pd will make a final settle meni on the esta'e of said deceased ia the probate court for Newberry County, S. C., on Monday, July 6th, 1914, and will on said date api-ly for a final discharge as executors as aforesaid. . Olin B. Graham, B. C. Matthews, As Executors of H. S. Graham, deceased. i May 30th, 1914. 6-2-4: Invigorating to the Pale and Sickly The Uia stanaara jfenerai sireuKincuiux wmv., GROVK'S TASTELESS chill TONIC, drives out Malaria.enriche? the blood .and builds up the system. A*true tonic. For adults anH. children. 50c HmMKam aaMaHRanaHMBaHHMMHBi HE "NATIONAL CONE PHOTOGRAPHAMERICA" nfo fli a nopf U7AaI/ uia uic jiaoi ncwi. ' ; i Then Sing." That's what 1 * * m__ t nave time to sing. 100 rations and great lectures many great pieces of art; full of the best, selected :a. We were busy every ig up to bring home good i newest in the line of hncrranhv. *wO 1 v * iiare of it while if. IS new. ; new to show y. . every T. E. SALTER, East Main Street. i ? W ' ? Drug Store , I t Weeks | f t RIPTIG. WORK AT S 3LE RATES , | A >?;erl rlriipxnsts. and vou <g> ?-oo , , ^ one on hand to fill your ? f DRUG SERVICE IN I )F THE BUSINESS. I substitute. If we haven't $ *et it for you as soon as xtra co.ct; but, take noit. | i GUARANTEE ON J G WE SELL. | $ want, bring it back and f any argument. J i anywhere else? | % ch everywhere else? f % t