Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The Gaffney ledger. A NEWSPAPER IN ALL THAT THE WORD IMPLIES, AND DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF CHEROKEE COUNTY. ESTABLISHED FEB. 16, 1894. GAFFNEY, S. C., THURSDAY' NOVEMBER 28. 1907. $1.00 A YEAR. METHODISM IN SOUTH CAROLINA SOME OF THE EARLY PASTORS AND MEMBERS. Histor v of the Church Since Its Formation in This State About one Hundred Yeap s Ago. Hy ( has. Putty. The lirst migration of Methodists that settled in the eastern part of Spartanburg county, came from Vir ginia. 1705 to 1770. They settled on Pacolet, not far from Clifton and Cow pens. There were two local preachers, Ellis Cannon and .Mr. Smith. Smith's meeting house, not far from the Waters’ homestead, was the first church. Until about 18110 there was perhaps not a Methodist in the Gaffney neighborhood The preachers traveling from l.incolnton, N. C., to Smith’s meeting house and beyond, established a preaching place at Surratt's school house. Anthony Sarratt and his wife were leaders of the little band of Methodists there. That was about 1840, or perhaps be fore. Rev. Bond English was one of the early preachers, said to be an excellent one. In the forties these circuit riders began to preach in a little log school house; two miles from Gaffney. The attendance was REV. W- P. MEADORS. small. Preaching was on week days. Rev. Paul Kistler was one of the first junior preachers that preached in that old school house. He was young and active with voice enough for twenty school houses. He was welcome in any home for he would cut wood, hoe the garden, go hunting, and make himself generally useful. The lead ing members in that early organiza tion were Mr. and Mrs. James Petty, Mrs. Mary Petty, and several daugh ters, Mr. and Mrs. James Austell, Mrs. Lucinda Austell, Mrs. Doggett, Mr. and Mrs. O. P. McArthur. Of these first members Mrs. Jennie Cla ry and Mrs. Nancy McArthur survive. The necessity for a house of worship arose. They decided to build, and a frame house was erected in 1845 to 1850 on land given by Mrs. Mary Petty. It was neither ceiled nor plastered. There wa s no contractor, but neigh bors joined in, got the lumber to gether, made the shingles, and the houst was built, it was called Klim. At first that territory belonged to the Lincolnton or Shelby circuit, but was soon (ran-fern d to the Spartan burg circuit. The church ur w slowly. About 1ST I, when Gaffney began to be a town it was decided to move the church to that place. The old hous ■ was pulled down and put up at Gaffney, being ■ nlargcd a little. As the town grew th< membership was increased. That brine- the his tory o| the church in that section to 18 5. Tin membership w < then ‘M or 4h. The reason for tin slow growth in the first twenty rear- was that hr, per cent, of the population between Pacolet and Broad rivers were Baptists, o r affiliated with the Baptists. Being brought up in that faiifi and having it preached to them from the earliest settlement, it is not strange that other denominations grew very slowly. Tin week-day preaching did not suit Sunday Chris tians. They could see no good in lay ing aside 1 he spinning wheel and the plow and going to church Tuesda; or Wednesday. By Rev. J. B. Wilson. In 1875-76 Rev. I. .1. Newberry was pastor in charge on the Limestone Springs circuit, which was composed of four churches, Ellni. in Gaffney, and Mesopotamia, Asbury and Geth- nemane, south of Gaffney, rn Union county. In 1877-78 J. B. Wilson serv ed the same charge, composed of the same churches. In 1877 tin* Lime stone Spring; Mission ua; formed and emhraeed the territory north and west of Gaffney, to the North Carolina line. Rev, U G Price was appointed to serve this mission and In 1878 Beulah, .-dx miles north and the church at Cowpens, il miles west of Gaffney, were built. At the confer ence in November, 1878. Mesopotam ia an ( | Asbury were taken from the Limestone Springs circuit and the two churches of the mission were placed In It. with Rev. R R. Dagnall preacher in charge. In 1880-81 Rev. James T. Kilgo served the charge, Mesopotamia and Asbury being placed back on it. At the close of 1881, L. A. Johnson was appointed to the circuit and served it in 1882 and 1883. During his pastorate the brick church on Grenard street was built. At the close of 1883 the name of the charge was changed to Gaffney City circuit, and Rev. J. B. Wilson was appointed preacher in charge. At this time Blacksburg church was in the charge. During the four years that followed the church grew so that at the close of this pastorate in 1887 there was reported 513 members POOCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE A STIRRING ADDRESS BY THE BiSHOP- Reports Of the Presiding Elders and Other Officers Sho w All Districts ainst 3()7 in 1880. At Elim (now * n the Best of shape. Buford Street) there was reported 82 imuiibers against 35 in 1880. From 1888 to 1890 Rev. Allan A Gilbert served tbe charge until, in 1890, he ceased to labor here and went to his reward. The following two years, 1891-92, Rev. N. B. Clarkson served the charge. The preacher in charge in 1893-94 was Rev. George M. Boyd, an,| at the close of this year Gaffney church was set off as Gaffney station, and Rev. J. D. Grout was appointed pastor; 1899 to 1902 Rev. W. H. Hod ges. during whose time Buford Street church was built; 1903 to 1905, Rev. J. M. Steadman; and in 19nG and 1907 Rev. Sidi Browne Harper. In 1890 the Gaffney Manufacturing Company was organized, and one of the largest cotton mills in the State was started. For the first time at this date appeared in the minutes of the South Carolina conference, “Gaff ney Mills with 12 members” as one of the preaching places in the Gaffney circuit. From this beginning, in 1898, during the pastorate of Rev. Sam T. Creech, was built the present Lime stone Street church, a sightly and commodious house of worship, num- b( ring now 132 members. In the territor - from Pacolet river on the south to the Nort/ Carolina lino on the north, and from Broad river on the east to Spartanburg on the west, some 600 square miles, in 1890 there was reported 307 Methodist members. In 190fi there was reported in the same territory 1011 members. In 1880 there was reported 1 church buildings, valuer] at $2,700.00, and one parsonage valued at $600.00. In 1906 there was reported two church buildings, valued at $16,600.00, and three parsonages, valued at $3,500.00. In 1880 there was colected for all purposes $691.40, and in 1905 there was reported $5,853.38. Where thirty years ago there was the little company of those called Methodists, today there is a brave, strong regiment of the Lord’s hosts marching on to victory. It would seem fabulous were we to put down the figures computed on a like ratio thirty years from now. But our hope inspires us to the task and our faith seizes upon It as a reality. SPARKS FROM THE BISHOP'S ANVIL. Presiding elders are my chief coun cilors, but i want every preacher and layman to know that he has a perfect right to came and consult me at any time. Moving is no fun. i know from experience, j neve) move a man unless there is an absolute necessity. I move a man for two causes: First, when there is trouble on the charge with the man. Now, no one whom REV. WADDY T- DUNCAN. the preacher i ii ii- for his in and he gets mad, need come and ask for removal. | won't move f r that. Tin second cause foi- a mov< is the de mand for a man in a larger field. If you are moved don t ask why. It might bo the fiist cause When l>r. A M. Simms was intro duced to tin- eon)Vnee the bishop remarked: “With all the water the Baptists actually have, and all the tire the Methodists ought to have we certainly should v-t up some Steam this week.’’ Iii fixing the bar of the conference, the spectators. lik< th< mosquitos, will ideas*- remain without tiie bar. ANNOUNCEMENTS. Conference regularly meets at 9 o'clock and adjourns at 12:30. Thanksgiving sermons win he preached at 11:30 today at Buford Street church hy Rev. G. T. Harmon: at Limestone Methodist church b> Rev. J. W. Speake. The board of missions will here after meet at the public library. The South Carolina conference convened yesterday morning at the Methodist church. After the admin istration of the sacrament of the Lord's supper, the bishop delivered a short but stirring address on the du ty of the church in paying to God what was His. He read the third chapter of Malachi and said in part: “Our ministers have been looked upon as a set of tax gatherers. I wish to say that our God is not a begging God and our ministry is not a begging ministry. I do not intend to discuss the subject of tithe giving, as that has been well discussed, but I will say this, any thoroughly civi lized man recognizes that one-tenth of his income is God’s, i don't want you to ask your people for one cent: tell them to hand over to God what is His. Come down to bed-rock hon esty. If we quit stealing God's dol lar, we will build all the new church- M. Grier by V .1 Cauthen; S. H. Zimmerman by II B. Browne Bish op \. Coke Smith by Geo \\ Walker; Bishop J. C. Granberr\ by Jnn. O. MTIson; preachers wives by J. L. Stokes. The following vacancies wen* filled in the various boards: Education, A. M Chreitzberg Missions, B. J. Guess. Sunday school. J. B. Wilson. Epworth Orphanage. W. T Duncan The twentieth question wa- then called, and .the folowing preach* ^ answered to their names and v,*'p referred to the committee on confei enee relations for the supernumerH. \ relationship: J. A. Campbell \| m. Furgerson, G. H. Harmon. .1 F Wayland, S. A. Webber and W S Stokes, who held this relation last year, now take work. The following veterans of the cross —the preachers worn out in the sei vice—were referred for the superan nuated relation; G. M. Boyd, !) \ Calhoun. W. A. Clark. N. B Clark son. A. .\f. Chreitzberg, R. R. Dag nail, D. D. Dantzler. R. L. Duffle. G. W. Gatlin, a. W. Jackson. J. W Workman, W. \W Jones. N. K. M*1 ton, E. M. Merritt, I. J. Newberry. J. J. Neville, T. P. Philips. .1. A. Pot ter, W. C. Power, A. J. Stafford, T. E. Wanna maker, ,T. A. Wood. The names of the presiding elders were called and they reported the va rious districts in better shape than ever before. The names of all the undergradu ates were called, and their reports show good work done all along the line. e? needed, pay our preachers .jiving salaries, fill our missionary treasury, and care for every interest of the church. We pray fo r His kingdom to come and poke God's dollar in our pocket and then sleep well that night. God gave man everything in the garden but one tree; he proceeded immediately to appropriate that, and has been appropriating God's proper ty ever since. Teach your pehple to keej books with the Lord. I used u> think I gave a tenth when I gave from impulse, but found when I be- gan to beep account that i had been great a thief of God’s money as anyone.’’ \fte r the bishop's talk the roll was called of the number have died dir.incr the year, viz.: J. G. Beckwith, 11 .1 L. Slfley. W, R. Y'r:g'..r. B M. Grier, and S. IT. Zim merman. E O Watson was * looted secre tary vith W. L. Wait and E. A. lb *•; a.- as.-is-jants; R. E. Turnip- seec] -r.it -tieal secretary, with J H. N dam! R. E Sharp. Marvin \uld. W. c. Owen and B. R. Tnrnipseed as assistants. T e following committee*: were an- iii i .nd ordered; .vorship - - Marion Dargan, .'!)( ■ ,t. B. Wilson. L G. P( t- I Bishop Morrison disposes of busi ness very rapidly, and yet gives ev ery man time to s^y his say. The following resolutions of love and respect were passed in regard t 0 Bishop Duncan, and the same or dered sent t 0 him by telegraph: “South Carolina conference sends greeting, and wishes to give express- i ion to oar loving regard for you in your feebleness, as we have tried to do in your strength. We pray for ! you and yours the peace of God. which pnsseth understanding, and abiding consciousness of the Father’s love. E. O. Watson, Secretary.” Re v. P. C. Garris, at his own re quest. was discontinued as a mem ber of the conference. Alii"- announcements, conference (liourned with the benediction by G. T. Tarmon. ili Annoying conversationalist. The address of Dr. Snyder last night wag very much enjoyed by those of tbe audience who were in the main body of the church. Those vhe wen* in the Sunday school room could not enjoy it for tiie reason that some people in the rear, persistently carried on an audible conversation during the whole course of the loct- O'Dell. ib P. B. Subscribe f 0 r The Ledger; 1$ a year. U< nf* • nee p-bitions—T. C M. B. Kelly. .1. W. Ark In. am R. M. Dubose. ,T. E Rusiiton. •1 l: Trnywiok. M. L. Banks. D. A. Phil p- ’ A. White. S. W Henry. E. 7. James. D -i'ier conference journals—R W. Ba -r chairman; W. H. Cogswell. R. W Humphries. .1 W. King. A. T Dunki!. J. T. \nstin. J. W. Speake, .1 U Wannamaker. R. E. Sharpe. R <'. Wa.Iae.- N. S. McLeod. R. M Lof ton. Book' and Periodicals—W. H- Wal la* ■ chairman; O. M. \bney. ,T. G. Rhode. !. n Eubanks, B. G. Gregg W. L Gray w. s. Martin, K. W Fairy. W. C. Winn. .1. P. Inahinet. J W. McCoy Temperance—J. w. Hamel, chair man: A- M Tvouder, A. M. Fletcher J. T Medlock. W. J. Montgomery, W. J. Snyder. .]. A- Graham, W. A. Fairy, W. W. Williams, D. H. Ellis. J. F. McKelvey. C. P. Hodges. Minutes-T b White, chairman: W. R. Osborne, G. M. Major, O. N. Rountree. John McDonald, C. B. Burns B. M Badger, E H. B*»ckhain. T. O. Caraway. J. A. Rhame, J. C. Snyder. Sabbath observances—Dove Tiller, chairman: R. S. Truesdale, G. W. Gruber. I, B. Haynes, H. Smith. W. M. Duncan. R Hopkins. A. E. Holler, D. H. Golightly, J. W. Daniel, W. N. Graydon, T- W. Boyle. Memoirs—J. G- Beckwith by G. P. Watson; J. B. Campbell by W. B. Duncan; W. R. Vaughn by E. P. Tay-1 lor; J. L Slfley by J. W. Kilgo; B mi - ? -il? ?'-AA V- ip|p r REV. J. W- DANIEL, D- D- tire. Some one informed us that the people who were talking were check ing up books. If it is necessary to do this to the annoyance of those who go to hear and be instructed, we think conference should eliminate that feature, and have no more books sold while conference is in session. These people were politely requested to desist but it had no effect on them. Neither the people who went to hear Dr. Snyder nor the distinguished speaker himself, received proper courtesy at the hands of these con versationalists. THE GREMEST GAME IS THE GAME OF LIFE DR H M- SNYDERS SPLENDID ADDRESS. He Charmed .in Audience that pilled the Buford Street Church Last N iyht. bin \ in il th*> Buford Street M L ( imn h la-t evening was one *•! til* M1*I t delightful ot tbe session Tit i\ that Dr. Snyder's ad- 'b* -- wa thnroiivliL enjoyed by all i- puttiie. t 1 e matter most modestly. Dr Snyibi wa foniie.ly president * * I the lv|\\<iilii L*a;-,ue of this State and wa> therefore, thoroughly con- vorsaiit witfi hi.s suhjoet Tlf ' S' 1 V ic.- was i opened b' R* 1 V. J. (’. R< >p*T. pasl lot of (lie Fir st Mi* t tiod- ist chin eh. VI.I,. Vllle. S . ( • wlio <i,i<iii ■<l tli. - t \ i (• i ■ In l mioiuiicitig tli** iiymn s t.uni up. stand up for Jesu: i.’’ ufte;* \a 11 i* ■ 11 he le, 1 in a for vent petition asl in v divine !>!«*: ssintf upon til*- can: tor u llicli tl; «•> \v« r»‘ g:it li* •red. the i-iUlli •I * lice, tin i* V mum prop! e s in**'. • ll'i'llt and tin >M ■ who vllgn: -*• in il and tin s|i ii 'ii 1 k»T w ho was in a.iiji 111* nit ting \I1 luiil the power of Jesus name w sun;; with good *‘d' ■Ct. Mr • Roper t bell ini 11 m|a< ted b II N. Snyder, president of WPITonl Cu. lege. Spat t mbu; g. wl d the meeting. Dr Sny<h [ tn,i . u part as follows: " t her* U one ntinoutic. u eiit i hat Mr. Roper tlii) not n,;:!.e ami i it is that 1 am a .-ubstituT a : I'ihre ini another man. | i aiuiot but b el that there are others before ni'' who could discuss this question bettei than I There are men here who have been present at the birth and death ol more Eqwoith Leagues than | ever * a ' v - I find myself deeply interested in this point; Why is the Epworth League so short lived? Sometimes it buds, blossoms and dies in a night. 1 do not know why they die. but let us see, at least theoretically, why the league should live. ] begin with an old Roman maxim, “Take the day— seize the hour." The civilization built upon the present does not reach its highest ideal. The most effective way of owning and controlling the tuture is to plant In the youth the proper ideals. The most lasting, per manent institution is the one that plants its seed in the heart of the present for the harvest of the future. We plant ourselves on this basis in the Sunday school. We are fortifying the church by taking up and properly training the youth of the present. Wihat we do In the Sunday school of today is the measure of what the fur- ture church will be. If it is good to train the child it is better to train the young man or the young woman. The Catholic priests claim that If you will give them the child until it is eight years old they will implant in it such ideas as they desire and no one can afterwards change them. This I do not believe. I claim that if you will give me the young men and women I can instill Into them such ideas that will stay with them until the end. You may hammer and mold tiie child but there is a peculiar time when the boy or girl begins to think and choose for himself. And this is tht; time when, if you can get hold of the individual and direct the course be will continue therein. Mankind is the only creature of God that takes so Ionjr to develop and train. This • ' God s message to us of his value. I here is nothing so inspiring as tiie long period of years that reaches table growth develop in from one to ov< r this training. Animal and vege- tliirty-sJx months, but it takes twenty- years to develop a man or a woman, and then the best in them lies in the tuture. i don’t believe that human ' ' ings are more s'uscoptable to org anization during any other period of life than they are between fifteen and twenty-one. i speak with long ex perience with the boy, and I suspect the girl is much the same way. The boys at school have their little gangs or social organizations and tbe girls group themselves into sets. We are dealing with a very natural principle when we try to organize the boy or the girl because they are most sus- ceptable t 0 organization. That is the very philosophy out of which this Ep- worth League grows—the organization of the youth. The league does much to bring the young men and the young women together in a social way—without prayers or the suggest ion of religion. Some of us have ■■i’ ll away because of this and I con- less that i have been one or them. There is no sin in young men and young women mooting In simple social pleasure. You can’t build upon nega tives. We say to the young people of the church; '•Don't go to the thea tre; den t dance; don't play cards: don't, don't, don't,” until they cry out "Tell »i« what to do?” There was a philosophy in the reasoning of the chlbl wlio said that the visitor, a minister, was no preacher because he did not wear a very high collar, a very long coat, and told a joke that brought laughter to the little soul. I don’t believe God Intended that we should impress the world with our sonnies: \\e have organized the children into Bands of Hope, and the ladies into societies until there are no ladles left to organize, but what have \\e done to organize the men- Nothing except to organize them into hoards of stewards and boards, of trustees, oftlmes much against their will. The laymen of our various churches live more in the dark than any othe r class of people. He gives without knowing what he is giving to. Tim preacher goes around and asks the layman for money for home and foreign missions. The layman says, “Well, I’ll give for home mis sions, but I won’t give for foreign misions.” The truth of the matter is that he doesen’t know the differ ence. You haven’t done enogh for the layman. Suppose you open up a >hw society and teach the layman the difference. You can convert a man at twenty-five or thirty, but it is hard to make a leader out of him and teach him to pray in public. Start and educate them when they are loadable. The league Is worth try ing, to develop the leaders of the fur- ture. i see the boys with their base ball clubs, and their athletic games and i try to study them, and what do I see I find that they study the rules until they know every point. But knowing the rules doesn’t make a player. He must put that learning into practice, and that too, with zeal, earnestness and enthusiasm. He puts this in only when he thoroughly be lieves in what he is doing. In ad dition to this he must play as if the universe depended upon his success. Brilliant individual playing Is not looked upon with favor, but there must be team work. I like that phrase ' team work.” It means much. Tli' ii he does his best work, when the uii'ii of the whole takes possesion f !iiu and, forgetting himself, he "erl. r«>r something outside of him- • - This L but an expression of T philosophy of life. The greatest ■ U' a nan plays upon the theatre "i 'he utiiv* rse is the game of life, u ! on ; Ti' so who play it best are ' e-e wini know the rule the best. I v<- tli best rules ever divised (laying his hantf on the Bible). Out oa ila athletic fnId there are side line made up of the crowds who < mi ilie player;, but in the game of life there are no side lines Every in 'ii mu t play the game. No man b v « best life who lives it alone. Ii !. team work that counts. All "" h i peetr> when a man, in the 1 * iim of ii. realizes that he is serving -orniv \\"e work best for ourselves when we work most for others. In m> study of the game of life I snme- tin.e !< o] v at the church from various .'t midpoint- Sometimes I think of tii*' church as a kind of house of re- fuire, a plac* of escape. The enemy of the mil i close after us. but its door -lands open wide \uain 1 look at it as a hind of spiritual hospital, where people drop in perhaps on Wednesday night, and. if not too tired, on Sunday for a little medicine for thei r spiritual ailments But 1 love to loo!;- upon it as a fortress an .ad vance outpost—its door wUb open front which the fighting men advance, staying only for a night to h*> planted farther the next day in the enemy's country. What you put in the heart of the child of the present will de termine how far in the enemy's coun try you will plant the church of the future. Rev. P. B. Wells. pastor First church Darlington, closed the service by annonucing the 183rd hymn “On ward Christian Soldier.” Rev. Marion Dargon closed the meeting with an ernest prayer The Historical Society of the South Carolina conference. The society before which Dr. M. L. Carlisle delivered such an able ad dress f) r Tuesday night is one of the ptost noteworthy organizations a-so- oiated with the South Carolina con ference. it has been in existence for fifty-one years, and has very sel dom failed to meet on the night be fore the convening of the confer ence. Its membership is composed of the regular members of the confer ence. together with any laymen who may feel enough interest in the cause to contribute twenty-five c tits a year. Tit*’ object of the society is “To collect and preserve all valuable in formation in connection with the rise and progress of Methodism within the bounds 0 f the South Carolina conference and elsewhere; also ob- h'Cts of curiosity and inter, st in the form of manuscripts, books, namph- 1 “tp. modals. portraits and anything else that may be of historic interest or value.’’ The property of the society is ' opt at Wofford college in Spartan burg. S. C and is open for inspec tion under prope r restrictions. \t the meeting Tuesday night there were only three contributions made: a book entitled “The Methodist Pul pit South,” presented by Mrs. Jane M. Kirkland, of Barnwell. S. C ; a bound volume of the Southern Chris tian Advocate, containing the issues from 1836 to 1816. presented bv Rev. T T. McFar’ane; a small section of ail used on the old South Carolina railroad when it was first built, pre sented by Mr. J. L. McCarter, city clerk.of Aiken, S. C. The society is always glad to re- c*‘ive those relics that tel! of byeone days, and any Methodist preacher will gladly present anything that nny- mo wishes to give. The attics and old cupboards of South Carolina, if searched, would .' Icld up what tho future generation • amid consider of priceless historical '•alue. Even the trash pile has its share of historical valuables: the above volume of the Advocate was ’•.‘.--cued from one. The orator selected to deliver the ddress next year is Rev. J. S. Beas ley now presiding elder of the An derson district. Tbe Danish steamer Alfred Erland- m*ti was wrecked on the Scotch coast and 20 of her crew were drowned. —Only colored local views at the Gaffney Drug Co. e. o. d.