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12 PACKS; PART 2 PAGES 9 TO I? LAURENS, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1910. NUMBER 18 !! BRIEF STORY OF A NOBLE PEOPLE !! < > < ? i> < > jj Some Accounts of the Beginnings, the Struggles, and the Triumphs of the Laurens Baptists, by ?? X the Editor of The Baptist Courier. ? ??++??8 9ft >+?-ft-??-ct-<r-? H)nnin?e<iH?>MiMtnM $WThe State Baptist Convention meets | Hin Lnurens this week, meeting here ^.V'ifor (ho first time. Many times hnve 1he delegates to the : tat" Convention passed through Lauren^ enroute to ?Kne annual meeting, for it has been Venter tallied in towns on every side. fCiNewberry, Greenwood, Anderson, Greenville. Spnrtanburg, Union, Ches ter. During those year;? Lnurens lias ? :$5>een growing, the Baptist? here hnve been quietly lengthening the cords end ,';V?trengther.ing tlio slakes. Like most (rfof the towns in South Carolina Lau fens has made rapid strides within ?the past fifteen years r.nd today il is , ono of the best and most substantial commercial centers In the State, h has good railroad connections, large cotton mills, wide-awake business i men, and a good farming country on every side. Hhptlsts have beoiv working in Lau-1 re* 8 sin(!0 lS3:i. when the village was j / luado up of a few hundred souls, it: Ik said that Rev. N. W. Hodges was, perhaps, the first Baptist preacher to make an impression on the communi ty. He was an excellent man, promt, nent in his day, and ho loft behind ,i blessed memory in the region now covered by Laurons, Abbevlllo, Green wood and Newborry counties. Mr. Hodges held a meeting lu the village of Lnurens about IS33, which resulted 111 six baptisms. Not long afterward, n I834, a church was constituted with six mombers. lie supplied the church for a time, preaching once n month. The Baptists In thofce early days were kindly permitted to uno the house of worship of the Presbytorian?, who were already a strong and influential body. The early records of the Baptists of Lnurens are lost, nwtl those few mem bers who knew much of th<- early struggles of our people here, have long since passed away. The first house of worship, a small wooden building, which stood not far from the present beautiful structure, was erect ed about 1850. The minutes of the Reedy -River Association as far back as 1 sr? 1 mention this church among those represented in that body. In some capacity the following ministers preached for the little flock in thoi e early years, some as pastors. other. as supply, perhaps, some as passing visitors: John J. Barnelt, J. C. Glvons, W. B. Carson. I. I). Wurhatn, J. M. C. Breaker. Up to 1800 there Is no connected recorded history of the church; but somehow through these years the church lived against great odds. The past .summer the editor of The Courier mot at Clifton Springs, New York, a former pastor of the Presbyterian church in Laurens, Rov. Dr. Edmund Wills, now a retired United States Army chaplain, who has a remarka bly clear recollection of places, per sons and events. A number of years previous to the Civil War ho was pas tor in Laurons. He recalled many of the families of the village and county, and could speak of the men of that ?aeration, acquaintances ftnd friends a:; Of yer.tcrdfiy. Tim family names of SlmpsOll, Hall. Watts, Trby, Karle. Farley, Farrow, Bnrksdnle, Shell, were yet. familiar to this remarkably well preserved and venerable minister and soldier, now over eighty years of age. Or. Wills says that In bis day. al though weak numerically, the Uaiirons Baptists had among them some of lie hest people of the community, and some of the "salt of tin? earth." and that no Influence could be brought to bear that moved them to forsake their principles, and consequently the faithful little flock contfriued true in their struggle for an existence. He was greatly Interested In the present dav Lnurens, and was especially grat ified to hear of the growth of the Rap lists and was surprised to learn that the State Convention would meet in Lnurens this week. During the waf-perlod service; were kept up by the Lau rone church some what Iregularly After the war we hoar of Rov. .T. K. Mendenhall as sup ply, and aided by tho Mlsrfon Board. Hoy William Hayne I<eavclL a young mlni8ter from Nowborry, held occu Slonnl services During this period, .?Did a few lime* previous to this Dr. I 0, Fur mau drove f?oin Greenville and gave ihem occasional services. From some time in the . ixii -s till late in the seventies the church was al most extinct, the light burned vorj low. but there was light sotnowhore, and (hid had ko|>l a few faithful ones to let it shine. September IV IS76, marked u new era. and from that good day the church has grown and prospered. On that day a rc-organlzutlon of the church was effected. Dr J. C. l?den, then pastor of the church In Green, vllle, presided over the mcoting. There wore not a dozen names on the church roll, and <?f those only live wore pres ent, vlx, ISnoch West, Martha Grim es, Anna Gnrrett, Martha Harksdale, and laz/.i" May. Four others joined by lotter, making a total of nine. That was thirty-live years, ago. As we look aboul us today, and seo the now beautiful house of worship, a largo membership, whose piety, devotion, and liberality marks this as an excep tion among Ihe llnptlsts churcht i of the ontiro Southland, is it i :?; nge thai wo exclaim, "Whal hath Mod wrought?" It Is Wonderful, it i p;;st Unding out, it cannot la- explained in any way that would leave oul Cod's loadings and the devotion of his people. Calling ov er ih" names of the men who wire pastors iron1 November. IST?',, to Octo ber, 1HU7, in part 'at least, we can un derstand how the present beloved brother found himself the pastor of such a noble people when lie ncepl ed the call of the First church of Lau rens. Who were bis predecessors in nfr.ee? Dr. James ('. Furman becume pastor in November, 18'ifi; he served the church till February, i<7s. and was succeeded immediately by Rev Oeo. II. Carter, who resigned In October, isso. Soon after, in the fall of 1880, Rev. J. 1"). Pitts was called. He en tered upon his work at once, and con tinued pastor until October, 1907, twenty-seven years. IP- was succeed ed by the present pastor, flov. \V. K. Thayer, That is the brie record, three wo respect his reelings. Briefly, the 111it in facts are: Dr. Pitts was born and reared in Newberry: Ibo oldest child of a widow; be attended Furmnn University and subsequently Trinity College, North Carolina: be went, through the war. where he saw hard Bervh e, and was badly wounded. Af. ler the war be fanned, and engaged in merchandise. Preach" d to churches in Lnurens county for several years, ev en after becoming pastor at Laurons, lie Is now the beloved pastor of the Blackvlllo Baptist church. it was during the pastorate of Dr. Pitts t?.nt the church nro's? and built) the hew house of worship, recently enlarged mid Improved. After the i year> of prayer, preaching, struggling, it was during his ministry thai the membership caugbl new vision of the Christ as the Supreme .Master, and rose up to a new plane of spirit uality and heavenly-mlndedness, a new sense of obedience to their Lord 1 in the matter of bringing offering In to his house lor iii> service, tin evah j-'olization ?>'' iho world So it came to pass :!.;it In hnsWei to prayer, under his preaching and with the loving co operation ol ri united liberal people. Pastor ritt-, before bis resignation, saw.tho ???ns church contributing more lor Foreign Missions limn an; church in the State, lie gives Cod the glory, When he entered upon his pnslprntd al Lnnrens the membership of tin chui cii was twenty-three, five malet and nlghterni females and when be resignoci, tin men bor.sh.lp was well on toward two hundred and lifty, with two other Baptist churches in town, at. t: ? mills. In th ? beginning of his ministry the church could subporl preaching only on. ;. month, hut long before Ids resignation they had grown to every Sunday preaching, During his,ministry about t'?"0 members were brought into tin- church. During the years of its history the church has enjoyed fellowship, and the pastors were sustained by men and women of noble bearing and conse crated spirit. Some of them are pre omlm m. known tar and wide for their love ot the Master and their devotion to his cause. It would he out of place to single out by name these truly loyal men and women, for like the men un der whom Cod trained them, they prefer to hide behind him whoso they are and to whom tiny lave dedicated themselves and their all. Into this goodly heritage, (he pas torate of tills noble CllUrCh, Id V. W, REV. W. R. THAYER, Pastor of tlic First Baptist Church, Lauren*. S. C. pastors from ISTli to I:?<>?. a period *<f thlrly-ono years, litiI <!i'i :i church ever enjoy iho ministry of throe more dovotod, consecrated and saintly men? It would ho u pk isure to write of Dr. J. 1). Pitts, who, under God, wrought so wisely, faithfully nnd nor Borvlngly for twenty-sovon yoara i" bUlld up the cause at Lnurens bUt he would not hnve anything written and K. Tlinyer came n tow years ago, tlie Immediate successor of tho beloved Dr. Pitta. His is. ' fl id, a goodly liorllngo. !!?? was ivnught u>) in a beautiful, charming ( Istlnn homo in Charleston. His father. William Thay er w.'s a deacon In the Citadel Square church for many years before dla di ath ami was one of tho most substantial ami successful bhBinoss mon In Ii:?' cHl city, lie was a regular attendant upon (lie State Convention tor many years. Pastor Thnyer's mother still lives to hless his home and to rejoice in the continued usefulness and grow ing inffuenee of her only child. The members ol the Convention will appreciate li>inn a few days in the midst of a noble people stich as are now found in Laurons. They will en joy the eoiu^ir;a ol the beautiful house of worship and as they think ot the ?lays of lie" little voodon building that sheltered that devoted, struggling l band in the years gone by. let vis lilt our hearts in thanksgiving and raise our vetoes in an " 1-he'nezer. hitherto hath the Lord helped us." This beau tiful house built by His people and giv en to God, with its recent Improve ments, cost $25,000, It will seat tihoul Too people comfortably. The thirteen Sunday school rooms will amply ac commodate this school which was or ganized .March 20, 1877. and which is one of the best to he found nuywlu re. Brother c. IL Hop? t is the be|ov<il superintend) nt, ; This splendid church now has a m< nibership of :102. The last at socin tlonnl report shows that the church contributed for the year ending with s. ptcmher, 1010, s:".!''??_?.... for all pur poses. Of thi? amount $3,810,98 wat given for missions and benevolence, and ol j"cts lostered by the Convi ntlon. That i.i :i remarkable showing, and [ Umso who were present nl the re-or gniiix.ntion of the church September 15, 18.70, could not, by Iho wildest stretch of the imagination, have fore seen such results Shall we recall lie s" w.v !?? !?' ? iln so nine uiembers who formed the church th: i 'ay must have been men und women of gr< ai faith and who knows how closely related are the works of this day to the faith of that day of small thing: ? God only knows. This brief sketch dot ? scant justioi 1 to the faithful men and women of the past so many of them now resting frcm their "abors Of their faith, their prayer. Iheir hopes their disappoint ments, their struggles, their days of gladness?of the men who preached and labored, who were cast down but not deslroved, of those faithful people Who labored together and into whose labors we of today enter, the fruits of whoso labors we enjoy, much more might he said, hut lime and space tail us. This imp< i feet story must < nd, but in closing lei us write the names of some of those who are serving us: The deacons of this church are. John M. Hudgens, L, s. Fuller, lohn v Franks, J. S. Bennett. C II. Roper, A. .1. Chris topher, H. A. Cooper and ('. B, Hobo. The committee on hospitality for this Convention: C. B. Robo, C. II. Roper, A. J. Christopher, L, s. Fuller, c. i;. Brnmlett, M. L. Roper, D. A. Bavls, H. I>. Mahaffey. C A. Power, J. A. Clardy, M. .1, Owlnga, R. A. Coopor. Brethren of the First church and I people of Lnurens, wo anticipate the happy days so soon to be spent in your midst. Our hearts already begin I to respond to the friendly greetings and the Cordial welcome you Will ex tend us. May many hearts even now he joined in prayer for Cod's presence in our Convention, and the influence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and over our deliberations granting us a gra cious meeting. HOW TO CURE RHEUMATISM. It Is an Internal Disease ami Requires an Infernal Kcmcdy. The cause of Rheumatism and kin dred diseases is an oxcoss of uric acid In the blood. To cure this terrible disease this acid must he expelled and the system so regulated that no more acid will bo formed in OXCOSSIvo quantities, Rheumatism is an internal (llsense and requires an internal reine ! dy. Rubbing with Oils and Liniments will not cure, affords only temporary relief at best, causes you to delay this 1 proper treatment, allows the malady to get a firmer hold on you. Liniments may ease the pain, but they will no more cure Rheumatism than paint will change the fibre of rotten wood. Science has at last discovered a per. feet and complete cure, which Is call ed "Rhoumactdo." Tested in hundreds of cases, it has effected the most mar velous cures; we believe it will cure you. Rhoumacldo "gets at th i joints from the Inside," sweeps the poisons out of the system, tones up the stom ach, regulates the liver and kidneys and makes you well all over. Ithcu maolde "strikes the root of the dis ease and removes Its cause." This splendid remedy Is sold by druggists and dealers generally at .<or. and $1 a bottle. In tablet form at 25 and 50C a paekngo. Get a hottlo today. Rook let free if you write to Bohbltt Chem ical Co., Baltimore, Md. Trial bottle tablets 2Ro by mall. For sale by LAU* RENS DUFG CO. l)ONT NE1LECT VOUR EYES \ ?AT $ ONC Don't think they'll "pot be! tor" or "come nround" them selves assist thorn in cor recting tin- trouble with the proper eye-glasses. Down*to*Datc Oplomeiry. i ' We correctly tit the most difficult eases of refraction better have an examination by us to-day. Reasonable prices. WILLIAM SOLOMON Reliable Jeweler, 1 f Fred VV. Green h< use and lot on We: I Main Street. Formerly owned by J. II. Boyd. One House and Lot, North Harper Street containing one-half acre, more or less, fronting on Harper street 50 or (>0 feet. The Harriett Mills House and Lot SR N. B, DIAL, President. C. U. ROPER, Sec. ?: Ti eat Home Trust Co. LAU RENS, SOUTH CAROLINA ob' m W ] Oakland Heights j Realty Company j I i i w With cotton selling for i.| cents and increasing dnily? ? Q there's no reason why Panning Land shouldn't in ? ist ii 2 value in the same proportion as cotton; therefore take ad A vantage of the bargains we arc offering in various sections f of Latums Connly. We offer a tract of land one and one-half mile front Water loo. This is a splendid pie ce of property, ].v.\-~ < nc t ight room dwelling in good condition. Three lenani houses, ! barn and stables; will make liberal terms, .: 11 acre . { j? Ninety Three acres seven mile West fi in Laurei ... 1 liberal terms. :>. |S acres in Abbeville Connly?lhrc< miles w " from Lonndsville, 75 acre under wire fence; :\" '. S 9 Limber, 75 acres in heavy pine liinbcf. One 6 room I $ ? ing complete; our .; room house, barn and stable. Tl ?< ? place rents for 2500 lbs lint cotton, price $.| 000 cash. We || | have other lands. We , re having inquiries for small ti . 1 0 of laud from 5010 100 acre. List with us we a 0 time to the handling of real estate. g S Oakland Heights Realty Co. { B. A. SULLIVAN, M^r. Sales Dept. Latirens, - - South Carolina, j ? Clinton Garage and Machine Shops Will do any kind of machine work at i I reasonable prices, on Engines, (ins fin | J pities, Automobiles, and all kinds of farm V. machinery. :: Clinton Garage & Machine Shops. Telephone 119 Clinton, s. C.