The Clinton chronicle. (Clinton, S.C.) 1901-current, August 21, 1952, Image 9
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Volume Llll
Clinton, S. C, Thursday, August 21, 1952
Number 34
DUNCAN’S CREEK CHURCH
By Ben Hay Hammett, in Magazine Section of The State
Rural churches have given much
of the strength and character to
South Carolina’s proud history.
Near Clinton—amid plowed fields
and pasture—stands . one of the
Piedmont area’s oldest examples of
these indomitable little Rocks of
Faith.
It is Duncan’s Creek Presbyte
rian church, founded in 1764 with
in a few years after the first set
tlement in Laurens county. The
church survives today after 183
years, with its old cemetery bear
ing testimony to the historic times
thah have swirled about it.
Although it has never claimed
more than 60 members at any one
period, the church has nurtured
numerous churches now much larg
er—including Clinton’s strong First
Presbyterian church with a mem
bership of 600.
There have been rough days in
the past, including discord among
members which resulted in both a
Methodist and Baptist church
sprouting from its source, but the
Duncan’s Creek church now faces
a problem which threatens the very
existence of many rural churches.
Today, the mounting shift to ur
bane centers and the speed of mod
em transportation are pushing
these little churches into obscurity.
Churchmen deplore the losses, for
with the rural churches go a unique
part of America. Mostly rough in
appearance and serving small com
munities, they have of necessity
laid stress upon the individual knd
given to him a rugged identity with
religion and a sense of his own
importance and moral worth.
These qualities have contributed
to South Carolina’s and to the na
tion’s greatness.
Duncan’s Creek church is located
off the Clinton-Whitmire highway
some six miles from Clinton. Most
of its present congregation now
live in Clinton and make that trip
for services. The nearest family is
three- miles distant. Even so, the
church still opens its doors two
Sundays each month, and the faith
ful followers assemble. Some still
listed on the rolls have long since
moved to other sections of the
country but have never transferred
membership because of sentiment
of family tradition.
Old Duncan’s Creek Presbyterian
church is well-steeped in tradition.
In its cemetery are tombstones
commemorating sons who fought
in the Revolutionary War and the
Confederate War. And within the
church hangs a marble tablet in
memory of the men of that congre
gation who served in the Revolu
tion. These 16 soldiers, whose
names live on in Clinton today
through descendants, are listed as;
Joseph Adair, Sr., Joseph Adair,'
Jr., Thomas Logan, Robert Long,
Leonard Beasley, John Copeland,
George Young, Sr., Joseph Ramag£,
Thomas McCrary, Thomas Holland,
Robert Hanna, John Craig, J. Bell,
A
Adrtc* U given u* by our friends
' 1 - •
with oil possible sincerity, but
often we ore opt to give advice
that Is far from what it should be.
Doe't be too quick in accepting
the advice of a friend as to how
you should treat an ailment ol
yours. The only person qualified
, to diagnose illness is a Medical”
Doctor. See him first his advice
will be based on knowledge hand
ed down through years of scien
tific study in the field of medicine.
Write Your .
Congressman
“NO”
on Socialized
Medicine
McGee^ Drug Store
Phone No. 1
James Adair, Sr., and William Un
derwood.
Duncan’s Creek church had been
founded 11 years when the Ameri
can colonists ignited the fires of
revolution in 1775. 4 It was estab
lished within a few years after an
influx of settlers from Virginia
and Pennsylvania had established
a settlement in Laurens county at
the juncture of Duncan's Creek and
the Enoree river in 1752.
Shortly after the revolution,
church members became involved
in an internal dispute over whether
to use Rouse’s or Watts’ version of
the Psalms and over one of its min
isters. The eventual outcome of
this strife was the secession of two
groups from the main body, one of
which formed a Baptist church,
and the other a Methodist group.
Apd as communities and towns,
through the years, grew up within
the general vicinity of Duncan’s
Creek, it served as “mother
church’’ to several others.
Ministers prominent in the Pres
byterian church and in South Caro
lina history have ministered to this
little congregation at various times
in their careers. Some of these in
clude: The Rev. John B» Kennedy,
ancestor of a long line of capable
ministers and teachers, who served
intermittently for 50 years begin
ning in 1796; Dr. William P. Jacobs,
who later founded Presbyterian
college and Thornwell orphanage;
Dr. W. S. Bean, minister, author
and educator; and Dr. F. Dudley
Jones, prominent minister, histo
rian and Presbyterian college pro
fessor. .
The present minister to the Dun
can’s Creek congregation is no less
remarkable than his predecessors.
Professor James S. Gray of the
Presbyterian college faculty, who
serves as supply pastor, is an or
dained Presbyterian minister. He
also is a learned teacher In numer
ous fields including Greek, philoso
phy, German and physics.
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furnished in a quaint utilitarian
style typical of the plowed fields
surrounding it. It lacks modern
conveniences and only in recent
years has the old slave gallery been
removed from the rear. But prob
ably few other churches its size
have received a more distinguished
group of ministers through, the
years, some at the outset of their
careers and others as supply pas
tors. Probably few others have
surpassed its religious impact.
Duncan’s Creek Presbyterian
church, like many other little rural
churches, today is fighting a battle
for survival which may easily be
lost. But whatever the outcome,
the mark of this church—and of
hundreds of trthers like it—is for
ever stamped upon the nation and
upon the spirit of fhe people.
Six-Inch Sermon
; By REV. ROBERT H. HARPER
In The Time of The Judges.
Judges 2: 3-17; 21-25.
Golden Text: Psalms 33: 12.
During the present quarter we
study Israelitish history in the rise
of the Kingdom, the period cover
ed, being that which began witn
the Judges and closed with Solo
mon.
After the passing of the mighty
Joshua and all the generation of his
time, there arose a new generation
that did evil in the sight of God.
And the Israelites were often dis
astrously defeated by surrounding
nations. These drasters were at
tributed to God’s displeasure and
regarded as punishment from God.
In the first part of this troubled
period there arose a group of men
known as Judges. Soane apparently
exercised authority over a large
section of the country which had
jurisdiction in only a limited sec
tion. They were called to save the
people and lead them out of their
distresses in the time of some great
criis. Sometimes a man would be
gin his career as a popular hero
and the people woqld gladly rally
to his standards. Illustrations
among them were Deborah, Jeptha
and Samuel.
The present quarter sets forth
the Israelitish philosophy of his
tory ' that disobedience to God
Drings ruin into nations and in
dividuals. Neiher nation nor indi
vidual can transgress God’s law
and “get by.” So may the judges
of the heart deliver us from all evil
things and lead us day by day in
the way of life.
Dr. Fred E. Holcombe
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