The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-04-29

Charleston, before taking leave OF tnlS region. n
wear or two ago. the members of the Presbyterian
Church in this place were few, and some OF char
acter and standing did not attend any place OF
public worship Rev. D. W Humphreys was invi'
ted 20 preach to them, 5ut living at a great dis
tance from the place, (60 miles on the rallfoad,)
he only gave them one Sabbath in the month.
Obtained assistance and held several meetings;
being encouraged to continue from day to day, oy
the interest manifested, the numbers added to the
little band continued to increase. Some became
reg ular attendants who for years had manifested
no interest in these matters. He met with great
kindness from those outside Of the church, as we'll
as from the members. From the increase in num-
bers and the general increase of interest manfes-
ted by the community, he was encouraged in his
labors Now, they have large, commodious
house built and hold the services in it, but In an
unfinished condition: They have subscription
quite sufficient to complete it. One benevolent
gentleman in Ohio has promised them hne bell
for their church. Now, kind feelings and united
action seems to prevail. All now seems to pro-
mise bright future. They presented call to him
to settle permanently among them. He was la
boring larger portion Of his time among kind
people, where his labors had been crowned with
blessing from on high, and they desiring his con-
tipuing among them. He submitted the case to
the Presbytery, and they made extensive enquiry
during a meeting Of their body while in session in
Charleston. They gave their opinion unitedly
that he ought to settle there. In accord
dnce with their expressed opinion, he has
now settled among them and gone to work. There
ore number of intelligent, influential men in the
place, and if they give that intellect and influence
they possess to the Advancement of the church,
with the blessing of God, they may have grow
ing church, and may exert an increasing influence
for good in the community. He has the prospect
of comfortable support, that will enable him to
devote his whole time and strength to his appro-
pirate work as minister.
Here would just say that churches lose much
when they place young minister in position to
compel him to divide his time and energies be-
tween the church and some secular employment
for the support of family. 1t taxes all the time,
intellect and resources to do the whole work of the
ministry. No man can hope to be permanently
useful to an intelligent people without time to
read, study and mediate, to be able to right
ly divide the Word Of Truth, and adapt his SER
mons to the varied wants and necessities of the
masses; and when man is young, his mind IS
more vigorous and active, and he retains knovl-
edge when acquired far better than when hs passes
the meridian, when most of the time his head and
hands aud heart are filed with the cares of this
world. How can he continue through long life to
interest on intelligent community without time to
beat the oil well for the lamp Too many fear take
the same view of the matter that on old lady did,
once met with. She saw no good reason for con-
tributing to minister, to assist him in the sup
port of his family, for it took the people as much
time to go to church and hear him preach, as it
did him to 60 and preach And most of them she
heard often said in the pulpit that ''the text just
dropped into their minds after they went up to
commence the sermon" The old lady, in honest
sincerity, seemed to believe that they had nothing
more to do in reading the Bible or study than
Balaams ass, but just open the mouth and give
vent to what was presented. But if this plan was
generally adopted, think some of them would
find themselves in the predicament Of young
minister 1 heard spoken of by young man
from the Emerald Isle. He said, young
man went up into the pulpit, and after singing and
prayer, stood up and opened his mouth wide, and
looked over the congregation and said nothing.
After little while he came down. and some per-
SON asked him. why he held his mouth open? He
said that he wished to give vent to it, ii anything
should occur to him, but as nothing occurred he
came down. To avoid such state Of things as
this, ministers must adopt the Apostolic direction.
The Apostle gave Timothy such direction that, if
properly carried out would require different use
Of time than the old lady referred to would have
advised fifty years ago. "Meditate upon these
things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy pro-
filing may appear unto all" l heard en- old Bap-
list minister say he knew of minister who al
,yays used the same introduction to all his sermons;
and he repeated it, and it made such an impression
ON me that have not forgotten it to this day,
and expect it was forty years ago. 1t was short,
'sAIe friends and me fellow -travelors 10 q bound
less eternity, Tle tell you what nm going to tell
you." When boy heard new text and IN old
sermon that did not differ from this one referred
10, and continually repeated This old minister
was Bible reader and an interesting minister for
rhe times. This kind of preaching would not be
Ms highly appreciated now rs it was half a centu-
~ ago. But enough of this dgresson; the fault
is sometimes On the minister and sometimes on the
people.
After attending meeting. in Charleston pleas
lntly, and hope profitable to some, it became ne
cessary, after visiting few families, to take leave
of that community and of that beautiful country.
We returned to Grenada and spent pleasant
night with Presbyterian minister and separated.
D. W. Ii. returned to Carroll and took the Gen.
trail railroad to Grand Junction; there found the