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

many instances were cOmpelleQ U0 acknOWleQgt
that it was the finger of God The caviler was
silenced: the hardened sinner, and even the bold
blasphemer were melted, subdued and changed
Many who had once been, leaders in sin, now re-
sembled the man in the Gospel, who, from wild
dsmoniac, was seen clothed in his right mind and
sitting at the feet Of Jesus The Church made
much advancement. For in addition TO- its large
accession of members, the people Of God were re-
freshed and invigorated, and took a higher posi-
ton in the community; religion acquired an ascenr
dancy over the public mind, which it had not pre-
viously held here, and which, to some extent, has
continued to this day" =, 9,r,., Z: ia. ~ ..ee
To this, the writer of this historical sketch may
add, that he has list of names Of persons, who,
at the commencement Of this religious interest,
signed pledge to one another, that they would
not yield to the influence now developing so extern
sivey among the people, but as the result proved,
all of these were, during the meeting, made genu-
Inc converts, thus evincing the power of ehcacious
Grace and Gods making the wrath of man to
praise Him. " .24,.,s -. .t-.... -,
In 1917, another precious season of Divine Grace
was experienced by this Church. Concerning this
Rev. R. B. Walker wrote, in one Of the periodi-
calls of the day, as follows: .,.'. ...-...
'The Communion at Bethesda was held on the
second Sabbath in September, five weeks after that
of Bullocks Greek, and two after the Salem meet
ing, (both of which he describesin fulD. Bethesda,
once remarkably favored of the Lord, was now sunk
into state of languor as to Divine things Many
had begun to fear that the Lord had forgotten to
be gracious that His mercy was clean gone forever,
and that the harvest was past and the summer end
ed, and many were not saved. The services OF the
sanctuary commenced on Friday. Almost every
brow appeared to indicate deep impression of mind
and desire to hear the word Of eternal life. The
words of eternal life were delivered, heard and felt
in their awful importance, and forty joined the
Church and partook of the Lords Supper for the
first time. The weather was unpleasant; rains
poured down in almost incessant torrents, which
were exceeded in nothing unless in showers Of Di-
vine Grace, in the awakening, convincing, convert
ing and consolng influence Of the Holy Spirit
To this we add, the crowds in attendance were
not so large as on the former occasion, and so, the
number of persons under the influence not 50 ex-
tensiye but in the judgment Of eye-witnesses,
father Walker among them, the Church received
more real strength than in the great revival, ft-
teen years previously. Not 80 many professed
conversions proved spurious, and physical excite
mept not 80 prevalent or controlling. The precise
number brought to the Saviour, during the occa-
sion, cannot now be ascertained but it far exceed
ed the number mentioned as first admitted to the
Sacramental Supper. Upon good authority, We
may say that two hundred, at least, were gathered
| in as the fruits of this revival. CO.,
In 1882 the showers Of Divine Grace were again
copiously poured upon the people. Rev.. Daniel
Baker, who was, OF the time, acting Eya1gchsI IN
South Carolina, was the favored instrument, under
God, of arousing the community to an unusual ap-
probation of Divine things. Unpropitious as the
time was, being upon the heels Of most calami-
tous political excitement in the State, yet it is one
long to be remembered by this Church, The pre-
else number Influenced or added to the Church
cannot be estimated, but besides numbers then ad-
mitted to communion, large numbers Of others,
applying for membership years after, pointed back
to that as the time of their conviction, it not COM
version .r.-. ..
Again, in 1852, DR.. Baker renewed his visit to
Bethesda, and with him there returned rich et-
fusion of the Holy Spirit. About thirty were i'm
mediately admitted to fellowship in the Church,
and numerous others who dated their impressions
to this OCCASION afterwards took their stand on the
Lords side. Thus it appears that previously to
the existing Pastorate, there have been four occa-
sions constituting marked eras in the Church, and
from each of which, the Church has reaped har-
vest which, if not unmixed, was yet substantial
G. L. H. ,,,,,o of God opd raliuiou
Since the period of the present Passionate, there
have been no occasions recognized as OF general
revival but the additions to the numerical and re-
ligious strength of the Church have been regular.
The annual reports have shown never less than
twenty members added, and never more than thir.
ty-6ve. The aggregate of additions, in six years
of pastoral labors, is one hundred and sixty eight
members, and by this augmentation, the member
ship has been lifted, over and above losses by death
and removals, from one hundred and eighty to
three hundred and Ave members. This being the
present number.
By this strictly religious survey, we can pass, by
easy transition, to speak of the agtations and con-
hicts to which the Church has been subjected.
In some Churches in the land, a division be-
tween patriots and loyalists, In the Revolutionary
war, created sad chickering's and confusion in the
. community But, to the honor Of the Presbyte-
rian Church iu general resistance to British ty-
ranny was well nigh universal, and to the honor Of
Bethesda, in particular, her membership and the
whole community, may be pronounced unit on
the question; for the hafloyalists were not iden-
tilted with the Church, although living within her
bounds; and besides they were only neutrals, Ia
king no part whatever against the patriots, and TO-
day there are not dozen persons who know what
families belong to the class Of neutral oyasts, 80
little variance did their conduct generate. Thus
the peace of this Church was not, for moment,
mperiled by what was prolific in troubles to other
Churches and denominations. A few years after
those political strfes, there occurred that dissen-
sion, already alluded to, produced by McCawar
but this, although it dissolved the harmony of the
Church for few years, finally subsidized, and the
disafected party, who did not remove, asquiesced
I in the summary condemnation executed upon him
who, besides having loose morals, (beng guilty Of
drunkenness and fornication) added the sin Of crea
ting feud in Gods house at Bethesda, accustom-
ed to dwell together in unity
The advent of John L. Davis, disguised fol,
! lower of Barton W. Stone, who came about 1918
and remained until 1925, made no permanent i'm
preston Although he lived in the midst Of the
Il Ioonprepafion and in private and publc made