The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-02-04
The Rev. Henry N. Mood in COM

The Rev. Henry N. Mood in COM
munication to the Abbevile Me-
dtum speaking of the Churches and
pastorate Of Newberry, makes this
pleasing mention of the Rev. P. F.
Stephens, who has been lately called
to the charge of the Episcopal Church
of this place:
aRev. P. F. Stephens has recently
accepted the charge of the Episcopal
church. We have no personal ac-
quaintance with Mr.. Stephens, but
know him very well By reputation. He
is man Of clear head, good heart,
and liberal sentiment, and is certainly
an acquisition to the church at New
berry. The following well authenti-
Gated anecdote of him I heard some
time ago. During Mr.. Stephens>s ab.
sence during the war bis house was
pillaged and, on his return after the
war to take charge of his flock, be
found it ss6lisd with emptiness"
With the aid of his parishioners, he
procured by purchase and loan, what
was necessary to begin housekeeping
again, but the general destitutior was
such that his house was very scantily
furnished: 4 few Sabbaths after he
had resumed the rectorship Of his
church, he vas in the woods busily
studying his sermon for the day when
his attention was attracted by ne
gro man with his axe, who without
seeing him, knocked a large fat sow
in the aead, ,.and with his knife stuck
it. Mr: Stephens, who was quite
near him at the time, approached,
when the negro in great excitement
raised his axe and threatened to kill
him, saying: "You will tell on me
sir. You will tel on me, sir,
l will kill you" Mr.. Stephens quiet
ly bade him put down his axe, and
with earnest words portrayed the
character of the crime he had just
committed; the loss On the part Of
the owner-a poor widow lady-and
preached to him the rich pardon offer
ed by Christ to the sinner. His hear
or became affected to tears. Mr..
Stephens then proposed prayer and
both knelt over the dead hog, while
in devout eutreaty the preacher beg
ged Gods pardon upon the guilty act
just committed. They arose from
their knees; the negro was subdued,
convicted, and in penitence asked
!:What shall I do, sir ?" Take this
hog to the owner" was the reply.
TEL her that, in the hour of tempta-
tion you yielded, and killed, but that
you now See the guilt Of the act, and
you have come to restore the property
and make amends to- the utmost ex-
tent of your ability. The Regro did
as he was biddcp. Several nights al
ter, Mr.. Stephens was at home with
his family, when he was startled by
the entrance of several negro men.
They declared themselves to be friends,
stated that they had learned Of his
christian dealing with the negro who
had killed the hog, that he had dealt
with one of their race as they believ-
ed no other white man in that country
would, and that they had come to Of.
fer their services to. gather up his pro-
perty, which was scattered among the
eolored people all over the country.
Mr.. Stephens told them that he would
be very glad to get back his furniture,
&c, provided, it could be obtained
without force, but that he could not
consent for any violent means to be
resorted to. They consented to the
condition: and being provided with
wagon and horses, they soou returned
with load, and then another and an
other, aud Mr. Stephens soon found
himself supplied with the comforts en-
ioyed before the war. Among the
furniture restored was a valuable piano
given to his wife as a bridal present
the night of marriage. We scarcely
need add, that Mr.. Stephens occupied
warm place in the hearts Of the
colored as we'll as the white population
of that low country, and many We're
the sad'hearts when he left for his up
country home. The people of New
berry and Anderson will knew how to
appreciate him."