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C K\ t H ' V J ^V'y^rr-yvjVJ'V'-y. ^ U1 ■ ■ T;.-. . '-'r ■ CLINTON, S. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26,1929 )Ctee!ee«c««te«ctecee««eee«««ctecMB«c«^««cte«««ee«62e@s!ee@e««««e««e«ctciitecffe«««^ec«e«ee«eiee«et ’ . t * ' s- •• ♦ Merry Christmas To Everybody, Is The Chronicle’s Sincere Wish CHfpNlCl^ StriTcs To Bo $ popor/ Coiipiete, Newsy* « ! tad RelUblo NUMBER l)ESTROYED BY FIRE TKe CKristnaas Generous Glintonians FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The First Presbyterian church of this city, was destroyed by fire short ly before mid-night Sunday while lo cal firemen labored faithfully to get the flames under control but waged a losing fight. Only the bare walls re main standing to tell the story of the disastrous conflagration, and the en tire furnishings of the building were destroyed. Shortly after ten o’clock Sunday night, two electric poles fell in front of the church and between the resi dence of W. D. Copeland and the high school due to the heavy ice and freeze that had enwrapped the city. Mr. ing held to determine the wishes of the membership. The total insurance on the property v.'as $44,000, with $34,000 on the build ing, $3,000 on the pipe organ, and $7,000 on furniture and fixtures. It is expected that the new building will be larger and more modern, an(| will embrace a complete Sunday school de partment. In 1855 what is now the First Pres byterian church was organized by Rev; Zelotes L. Holmes. A frame building was erected and there were thirty-one charter members. For nine years, until 1864, Mr. Holmes ministered to the Copeland, who resides just opposite i church. the church, gave a call for help to the I On May 28, 1864, a young licenti- power house and soon Supt. / stin ate, William Plumer Jacobs, was or- and a member of his crew arrived to | dained and installed as its first pas- cut the charging wires that had fallen' tor, and served the congregation until to the ground. After the wires were i 1911 when his advancing years caused disconnected, Mr. Copeland and Mr. j him to tender his resignation. Austin discovered that the church was The old frame building waa. later on fire and immediately endeavored i struck by lightning and destroyed. In to give the alarm but were unable to 11901 the cornerstone of the beautiful do so on account of his telephone be-'granite church building destroyed Sun- Ing out of commission. ' day night, was laid, originally costing Supt Austin went immediately to i $20,000 not including the organ, car- the fire department with the alarm and in a few minutes Fireman Ramage arrived with the truck but without any assistance and found the building locked and was unable to gain admit tance until one of the front doors was kijocked down. To add to the difficul ties under which the men labored, the siren at the station had frozen and the truck was unable to arouse the community due to the freeze and se vere coldness of the night. After a call for help had been sounded all over the city by telephone calls, a number of firemen and citizens soon arrived but the fire had spread so rapidly that the firemen were unable to make any headway ether than to keep the flames confined to the church. The fire continued until nearly six, o’clock j, Mrs. R. C. Black passed away early in the morning with only a small por-'Friday mornmg at the home of her pet and pews. The building was com pleted and occupied in 1905, with Dr. Jacobs as pastor and architect. The interior was remodeled in 1924, and during the past summer a new and adequate heating system was install ed. Through love and sacrifice on the part of the community’s oldest fami lies’, the church now lying in ashes, was erected, and its work has been greatly blessed of God during the sev enty-four years of its existence. Many hearts are saddened by^its destruc tion. am a Christmas tree. 1 am not the kind that is all aglow one day in the year and then is cast aside and forgotten. 1 am a sturdy evergreen which took root in this community long ago, grew as it grew slowly, then flourished in its days of prosperity until now I stand as a landmark for the community throughout the ' year. But as a Christmas tree I bear upon my branches gifts for all of you. My gifts are these: News—all the news for all the people all the time; clean news, wholesome news, news of hope and not of despair; the kind of news that you ^ can read and talk over around the family circle; Ideals and Faith and Courage—ideals toward which to strive to make our community a better place in which to live, faith in the essential righteousness and honesty of our people, courage in upholding the cause of justice and condemning the wrong; Leadership and Progressiveness and Service— leadership in those causes which make for the good of our community, progressiveness in seeing beyond the immediate need and the immediate fulfillment of that need; service to the community in protecting its people from danger and fraud and sorrow. These gifts I bear for all of you—for your schools, your churches, your public institutions, your homes, your children and for each and every one of you as individuals. All these gifts that are freely i yours to' have ' - throughout the year, 1 offer you again at this glad season of peace on earth, good will and happiness to all. For 1 am a Christ mas tree. 1 am your HOME PAPER. -THE PUBLISHER Death Claims Mrs. R. C. Black MINTER NAMED AS POSTMASTER tion of the city’s population awai*e of what had happened, due to the quiet ness and severity of the night. daughter, Mrs. J. S. Crapps. The fu neral service and interment was held at Shiloh church in Lexington county. The cause of the fire is unkno»u. 1 “"Saturday afternoon. The theory has been advanced, how- ' B'"-* "aa hej 77th year of ever, that it may have been caused by " W“man of many lovable a short circuit in the lighting system --baracter who was loved by following the collapse of an electric line near the building. all who knew, her and appreciated her worth. She was a devoted member of . , , , , .... St. Paul’s Lutheran church of Colum- Following the complete loss, a .joint j meeting of the elders and deacons j deceased is survived by one w,as called Tuesday morning to con- daughter, Mrs. J. S. Crapps of this sider the situation now confronting ^ ^ the congregation. The schools, orphan-j ^ ^ ^ Macon, Jl V A/at If ' Nomination for Laurens Office Is Con firmed By Senate. Brings To End Lcttg Contest. Laurens, Dec. 20.—James E. Min- ter’s nomination for the postmaster- To Hold Services In School Building Beginning next Sunday, the regular services of the First Presbyterian church will be held in the Florida Street school auditorium. Following the complete destruction of their | bers of the night school at the Joanna The response to the appeal for Clm> ton’s Neediest Cases and for Chriat- mas stockings for the poorer children of the community has been'spontan eous, generous and gratifying. Four teen people, ten o^ them children, have been kept from starvation and freez ing— the other family had already been partially provided for. Many pairs of young yes will be brighter and the hearts of a number of par ents struggling against adversity will be warmed Christmas day by these gifts, and all will know that “the Christ spirit’’ is real. The generous response we have had shows that Clinton has some — and they are not few—who know what practical Christianity is. They know what John the Bapt’zer said — “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat (food), let him do like wise.’’ What Jesus said—“It is more blessed to give than to receive.’’ What Paul said—“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ’’; “We ought to support the weak.’’ What James says—“If a broth er or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto Ihem, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled (better, ‘warm yourselves and fill yourselves’); notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit’’ What John the Evangelist says —“But whoso hath this world’s good, i and seeth his" brother have,^need, and ' shutteth up his compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” What Christ says again—“Depart . . . Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” Much more to the same effect. Some salve their consciences for not helping the needy by saying “If the people were not so trifling and im provident they would not get into such shape,” but that does not necessarily - follow; and it is noticeable that such do not take the trouble to investigate cases of distress for themselves, arid they will not accept the reports o£ those that do. Whether the grown p - pie are blameworthy or not, what shall. we say of the innocent children—Ijct them suffer in order to punish the parents for imaginary worthlessness? Surely God, who taketh note of the fall of a sparrow and feeds the yo”ng ravens when they cry, frowns upon man’s hard-heartedness and inhumani ty towards blameless children who are allowed to shiver in the cold and go ! hungry till they are emaciated. It is well that there are some that know better what the spirit ot Christmas is. What has been cieariy demonstrated is the need of some centralized orgam- zation that will prevent overlappir.g and greater concentration at one focus of need than at another. Through a AT* {tOLDVILLE I charities organization, through our police department under the fine Membvrs of Joann. Night School I Chief Holland or Gather at FesUl Board. Address ''l™"*'’ " »f .‘he By Dr. A. E. Spencer. ' Commerce or the Lad.es Civic club, our efforts shouid be ar- On last Saturday evening, the mem-' ticulated and unified. BANQUET HELD ship at Laurens was confirmed today, building Sunday night, the , Cotton mills, together with the over- „ * orraU/YOXT according to a telegram received this j Presbyterians had several kind offers i seers and several other invited guests, iVllv» 1 OttUKlN afternoon by Mr. Minter from Senator officers in session Monday , a.ssembled'at the school building for | HIGHLY ESTEEMED Blease. Thus ends a long drawn out! rooming accepted that of the school ^ an enjoyable evening. contest which in its ramifications cut-1 trustees to use the Florida Street minated in a recent heated debate on ! building, the floor of the senate following the Following a delicious four-course dinner served by the members of the Pec’ile of Joanna .Mill Village Feel age and college offered their facilities until the church can be re-built, the‘ Ga.; one brother, W. B. Taylor of Co- ,, - lumbia; one sister, Mrs. Frank Ful- officers accepting e o er o ®lnier of Wagener; and ten grandchil- school trustees and services beginning i Sunday will be held in the Florida | ‘ . Street school auditorium. The officers after considering the congregation’s loss, decided to re build at once, but nothing can defi nitely be decided upon until an ad confirmation of Minter’s nomination ; and its subsequent revocation at the instance of Senator Blease, whose re quest that the Minter nomination be ^placed back on the calendar for fur ther consideration was acceded to by i the senate. ', The main contention, it seems,was over the status of Stanley W'. Crews, Dr. D. J. Woods, pastor of the . Girls club, P. E. Strickland as toast- Keen Loss In I’assing of New church, has asked The Chronicle to master, took charge of the progarm rp, j '.4 u *1. r express the congregation’s apprecia-; and extended all present a most cor- If ^ tion for the offers made until the de-j dial welcome. He then introduced Dr.' ^ of Goldville earned stroyed building can be replaced. He ; a. E. Spencer of this city, who gave appreciafion the past also requests that all members bring ; an inspiring address on the subject of H. Hartshani, song books to the services since the ! “Growth.” After his thoughtful ad-1 church’s supply were all destroyed in j dress, Mr. Strickland told in a few' s^nortniiis, in. j,. the fire. [ words of the work of the night school, 1 explaining that the very spirit of the TAKE HALF HOLIDAY A petition was circulated Monday and signed by the garages and filling . , stations of the city, agreeing to close justment is ma e wi e insurance pjaegg of business at noon Christ- company and a congregational meet- I morning. County Ginnings | —: Under Last Year I incumbent, who as an applicant Plaims i school is growth. Those enrolled in the ‘ 'reappointment had made the highest tx ] school, he said, are there because they j Mrs* W. C* Rasor < want to grow to be better, bigger and . 1 more useful men and women. j Cross Hill, Dec. 23.—Mrs. W. C. Ra- i Miss Leila Norman added much to The cotton ginned in Laurens coun ty up to December 1 amounted to 21,- 786 bales, - according to the report M the census bureau. This compares ''waih 23,009 bales ginned to the same date last year, showing a decrea.’ejbf about 1,300 bales for the period. 'Oie total ginnings for the year’s crop were nearly 25,000 bales, so it is esti mated by local cotton men that this year’s toUl will be several thousand bales slKirt of last year. The shrink age’ is ascribed to the drought in the late summer and the frequent rains cf tjie faH nronths. Chri3tmasl Lights Are-Beautiful W. H. Shands, local Seaboard agent, received the following letter yesterday from Supt. R. W. Rogers of the Atlanta di vision: “I noticed, in passing Clinton yesterday, the Christmas decora tions on the square. This is by far the prettiest effect that I - have noted. I will be glad if you ' will convey my compliments to the mayor.” J c rating of the three certified eligibles. The resignation of Postmaster Crews early this week probably was inter preted to mean that he had vacated the field. Minter will likely take office by January 1, it is understood. Margaret Jones Wins D. A. R. Medal “On last Sunday morning oui hearts were saddened to hear Iliat Mr. Stew art Hartshorn, Jr., one of the directors 0* the Joanna Mills, haJ passed aw.ay at his home in Short Hills, N. J. He was the son of Mr. S. H. Hartshorn, Sr., who is president of the company that owns our mill. “During the past few years Mr. sor, 68, died at her home in Cross Hill the enjoyment of the evening with this morning at 3 o’clock. several vocal and instrumental selec- . a , • . . Before marriage, Mrs. Rasor wasltions. Decorations suggestive of the. Jf^^tshorn had made several visu? to Miss Ellen Clardy, and has many Clwrotmas season were used in the j made trierds of tiiose friends and relatives throughout this' reception and dining room, and in >whom he came in contact. section of the state. “She is the sister- in-law of J. B. Rasor, of this city. She it survived by her husband, W. A medal is offered annually by theiC. Rasor; four sons, Henry, Earle, local D. A. R. chapter to the pupil in the high school who stands the best History examinUtion on the Revolu tionary period, ^he questions this year were prepared by the History teacher of the Laurens high school, and the papers corrected and graded by the History instructor of the Thornwell orphani^e sdhcTOls. First place an^ the medal was awarded to Miss'Margaret Jones, sec ond place to Mist Ella ^ttle McCra ry, and third to Hugh Deneon. Banks To Close their Christmas dress they were unus- ’ “Although he had been ill for some ually beautiful. lime, he did not lose ntere.U in the 1 j welfare of others. A- little more than a week ago he sent a check to the Goidviile Sunday school. Thinking of For^Two helping others t-o the last — L [what a beautiful testimony of a use- h Charles and Jake Rasor, all of Cross Hill; two daughters, Mrs. Mamie Moore, of Greenwood, and Mrs. Oscar Simmons of Laurens. | The three banks of the city will maturing .prime of Funeral services were held at Graced closed Wednesday, Christmas day, and wh.ch he had been called home. Hill Baptist church Monday morning! Thursday, in observance of the holi-, survived by his wife, one at 11 o’clock, interment following in days and will re-open for business at daughter, his father, Mr. S. the church cemetery. | the usual time Friday morning. Cus-; Hartahorn, Sr., ana one sister, I tomers are asked to make a note of Miss Cora Hartshorn, all of Short- Miss Katherine Blakely, who is j the dates. < hills, N. J. teaching at Calhoun Falls, is with her j “During the funeral our mill ceased parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Blakely,} Joe Mason o:MSMeca, is spending operation and our church bell was for the holidays. the holidays wi)« his parents; jtoUed.” V