Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-11-26

condition OF things act upon the Pastor. , Wher
be goes forth on pastoral erands, he can enter thf
house with ease and confidence, for he knows theil
sympathies and attachments are with him and hi
Church. And be can preach any message or doc
trine the Gospel may authorize for his own people
are in attendance, and he knows they are rooted
and grounded on the true fifth. 40, .-' !, = : i.
After looking at this portrait Of the Church, an
interest must attach in each mind to the enquiry
What contributions has the Chawch made to tn
interests of society at large, and the ,oedre of til,
porld? 1t were impertinent to seek for the bene
fetal effects e1ered By the Gospel as preached and
exempifed, in restraining and .eleyatipg. those
whom it did not save but for this, there is nc
measure or gauge beyond the morality which has
ever characterized the community. So, too, il
would repay attention and labor, could've estimate
the number of souls who have lived and died here
as trophies of redeeming love, and the amount CIV
en-, in varied forms, to all christian and benevolent
objects and enterprises, but as no data exists fol
ascertaining either we leave them to the infagina
ton As some, however, Of the palpable fruits
yielded by the Church. we shall proceed to name
and characterize the ministers who have been nur
tured within and gone forth from the Church's
bounds. .-''."'.' '..-l,.."-'t ',a
We mention Rev. jas McElhaney Although
he was born in Waxhsw Church, he was brought
to Bethesda when ten years old, and here lived
until he began the ministry. His Classical educa-
ton was conducted under Dr.. Alexander, of Bul-
locks Creek He married Miss Jane Moore, Of
Bethesda, who lived but short time and left him
but one child. He we believe, studied Theology
after his marriage In the outset of his ministry,
he went to Johns Island, where he labored for
some time, and there married Mrs s. Wilkinson.
Subsequently, he bought plantation in old Pen
dleton, the late residence of the Hon. John G.
Calhoun, and there having charge Of what was
popularity known as the 'Stone Church, minis.
tered until bis death, several years ago. Rev.
Price preached sermon upon the occasion Of his
death, and that of Rev. John Murphy, conformity,
and it was published but it has never reached the
eye Of Che writer. : :
Rev. John McElhaney, D. D., brother Of the
above, was the youngest Of ax children, and was
brought to Bethesda when only few months old.
After prosecuting his academical course under Rev.
r. B. Walker, in Bethesda, he repaired, in the
year 1900, to the large academy, taught by Rev.
James Gilliland, in Spartanburg District, and
joined the Church, probably Nazareth, near that
Academy. In 1902, he entered Washington Col
lege, Va, having left home for Yale College, but
did not 20 that far because OF suspension of Col
lege exercises, on account of Yellow Fever. Sta.
died Theology and was licensed to preach by Lex.
ington Presbytery, February 18th, 1908, at New
Providence Church, Roekbridge County, Virginia.
In April following, he received q call from the
Churches of Lewisburg and Union, Over these
Churches he was ordained in Aprl1sOs. Laborad
In the united charge until 1884,. when he ceased
to labor in Union Church, being confined to Lewis,
burg. In this Church he preached his semicen.
tenary sermon, June 5th, 1853. To-day he stll
abides, performing pastoral work In Church
where he has stood as noble and devoted herald
of the cross for ffty-fve years. He is emphatlcal'
ly the Patriarch of Presbyterianism in the whole
region, and is held inhigh esteem by all who know
him. His labors in the Lord have been truly a.
bundant ........ ..
Rev. Francis Fl. Porter next claims attention.
During his infancy and youth, his father, David
Porter, lived in Bethesda, where Francis received
his primary education, under Rev. r. B. Walker.
At proper age, he repaired to the high school Of
DR.. Jas. Hall. He also studied Theology. When
licensed by Presbytery of Concord in 1872, he had
charge of Mount Zion College, Winnsboro, 5. T.,
and for time preached in that vicinity. Subse,
quenty he supplied the Churches Of Purity and
Concord, in Chester and Fairfield Districts. DE
afterwards removed to Ashevile n. O., where he
ministered to Suwanno and Ruins Churches, OF
the same time conducting fourishing Classical
Academy. After the lapse of some years, he
came back to Cedar Spring, in Spartanburg Dis
trict, where he also had an Academy, at the same
time preaching to Fair Forest and, perhaps, Naza.
reth Churches He visited Alabama as early as
1918, held a two days meeting there and admin.
istered the Lords Supper under spacious oak,
and repeated his visit in 1891, and held another
similar meeting On both these occasions, parents
carried their children thirty miles to have them
baptized. He removed from South Carolina, in
the Spring of 1928, and joined the Presbytery Of
Southern Alabama. He labored both as amin
structor of youth and preacher, and supplied re-
spectively the Churches Of Fiat Greek, In Monroe
County, Good Hope, in Lowndes County; Pisgah
and Selma, in Dallas County, and Hebron andNeW
Hope, in Greene County. As preacher, he was
solid, sound practical and instructive. As teach
er, he had many peculiar qualifications, and was
emineptly successful-having been the educator Of
many distinguished men, among whom are ex.Gov
Swain, of North Carolina, and ex-Gov. Gist, Of
South Carolina. His earthly labors ended in lS45
when he passed to his rest in the 5sth year Of his
age. He was buried at Bethsalem Church, IL
Greene County, Alabama. What heritage is left
to the Church, is known to those who, few
months since, read the obituary of his now sainted
widow, who was the daughter Of Rev. J. D. XII
patrick, of North Carolina, and who know the
characters and positions sustained in the Presbyte
rian Church, by his four SONS in the ministry.
Next in order, is Rev. John Williamson. He
was son of Elder Samuel Williamson, and wat
born and reared in the Church, where he was clas
sically educated under Rev. r. B. Walker. He
was licensed to preach in 1872 and settled in North
Carolina. Married Miss Mary Elizabeth Dolby,
and of his daughters, one is the living wife Of 8
former Pastor, and another was the wife Of q ru.
ling Elder in Bethesda. He preached the greater
part, if not all, his ministerial life, at HopeWel
Church, in North Carolina, where he diedinls4l.
He was a man of brilliant and vigorous mind
fluent and chaste in his style and delivery, polished
and agreeablein his Manners anda highly esteemed
attractive and useful minister Of the Gospel. He