The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-07-30

ecclesiastical connections. In view Of
these services at that time, he was regard.
ed as an acquisition to our Presbytery.
Some circumstances having tran>pired
which led him TO judge that he mig lit be
more useful in another field, he Gem,ted
his charge at Shiloh on the Goth Of MAY,
1885 years after his connection with
the Associate Reformed Church. In t.re
next five years he performed much itine-
rant labor. Finally he was called to n
congregation in Winnsboro, formerly un
der tue ministry of the Rev. Mr.. Lyles, an
able but unfortunate minister and was in
stalled there in the Spring of 1914. In
the mean time he was not without domes-
tic atfiIcton. Before removing from Ian.
caster to Fairfield, he lost his wife by
death, leaving him with the charge of six
children. This vacuum in the family cir.
Gle was supplied in time 10y marriage
with an estimablc lady Of Wnns5oro, who
now mourns the loss of that atlectionate
husband.
lie continued his ministry with the
Winnsboro people eight years, at the cx.
piration of which time he resigned his
charge, April, 1852, and Renewed to
Clea, Gland County, North Carolina,
where hc divided his time with Knob
Creek, lutte vacancy in the meighbor.
hood Of his residence, and the vacancc,
around him ip every direction where his
IaborS were desiIed.
Al the September meeting of his Pres,
hytery, 1855, the idea WAS happily con-
celved 10y lay member to assign to this
venerable man an api oinlmcntto vi>i, all
the churches, to preach on the subject @,
''bcraIi'y in general, and especially minis.
teriaI support. The motion was uuan:
mously and cordially responded TO, and
'Ae apppIntmeht Was gNca. Rut his
work was done. On the 2Glh or Sept.
20 days after the meeting Of the prcshyte.
ry, he died III his own house, after Il short
Illness. Literally he died in hancss, tYr
he was engaged in composing Il sermon
On the widow casting her mltc into the
treasury, when he was smittcn with the
maiady iha. carried him away. He WAS
sorely wrought from SATURDAY morning
until Monday, when he enjoyed Slight
mitigation and WAS up lirtIe III Tuesday
and Aat ip his study. On Wcducsdn,
morning 2Gth Of Sept, he grew wur,rand
suffered much unit about r-oor, wh-u hc
died." lie had been foIty years in the
min slry.
We think we may safely say Of the de.
ceased that lie was an indcf.ligab!e min.
'ster o: tie gospel. Of long rides and
hard preaching he never coupained.-
Perhaps no man whose lie was not bro.
iessedly and necessarily i,iucram,, has per
formed SO much hard, and, we would say,
nnrewardcd service, SO lar aS pccYniary
compensation is concerned. Even UP to
near three score and ten, lie was accus
toned to go out in taliguing journeys
among the churches. a number of wears
ago the writer had taken lodgings in the
house Of friend on SATURDAY night nca,
vacant church where he had an appoint
mcnt to preach next day. Late IN the
night MIR. keichen dropped in, apologizing
lor hiS intrusion upon the family at that
late hour, 10y saving that he had made a
Ia;e start 10 come 20 or 80 miles and
that he must be at n vacant church some
- or 20 miles farther en- to preach on
Tomorrow at an carly hour. Long he
fore day next morning, he was up and
gone on his mission. lie has been known
20 preach after travelling some % or 80
miles on the morning of the same day.
In our American churches, long rides,
even on the Sabbath, are necessary 10
meet engagements, but i occugs to us
that ministers may err in this matter, by
suIjec,ing themselves through their injn
diclous arrangements to journeys Of an ex-
ceedingly questionable propriety. All
agree III awarding TO Nr. ketchen chris.
tan poIiteness and courtesy. No man
could be more tender or considerable i'm
reference to ;he feelings OF others. lie
was not one of those torpcdos that Shock
every one who comes in contact with
them. lie was not rcpuisive III his man.
nerS, nor sarcastic in his conversation
Though lie was not what the world would
call The polished, fashionable gentleman :
though he WAS a stranger to ParisiGn eti-
queltc, and 10 tine artificial forms and
rules Of the more iasiidious circles, as min.
listers may very well AFFORD to be, yet he
was kind, atiable, entertaining as a com.
psnlon, and model Of genuine, christian
politeness.
In stature, he was below the medium
height, possessing stoutly built, but not
corpu'ent framo. lie has adapted con
stitutionally aud by habit to the endu-
rance OF hprdshipss-biS complexion was
dark-r-his eyes were small, but keen and
expressive. As to his haDils Of study and
modes Of preparation for preaching, we
are not acquainted. We here give way
20 brother minister who visited the
house Of Mr.. Gctchen Immediately after
his death: 81 have just been surveying
the library, and ransacking the pann.
scripts Of this deceased father. Ills libra.
~ IS we'll supplied with standard thcolog.
ical woiks, such as Wilson, Boston,
Newton, &c. And judging from the
number and character Of his manuscripts,
we conclude he has made use of his
books and pen. We have changed our
views in regard TO our deceased friends
mode OF preaching. We thought, lie re.