The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-02-19
A Relic Of Colonial Days.

On Sunday, the I'd Of January, st.
James's church, Goose Creek, s. O.. was
reported for Divine worship, after having
been closed for nearly quarter of cen
fury. This old church is an object of love
and generation, and is one Of the most
interesting Of all the relics Of colonial days.
The parish was laid off in 1905, and its
boundaries were defined by an act bearing
date December 10, 1908. Previous to
this, South Carolina was missionary ground.
The present church building was erected
in I'LL, together with parsonage, which
was afterward partly destroyed by fire and
rebuilt by subscription. One hundred
acres Of land were given as glebe. The
church is built with brick, ornamented
within with tho heads of cherubs, the
royal arms Of Great Britain, and with fan
tastic memorial tablets The floor is of
stone, and set in this near the pulpit is
the tablet concentrating the Rev. Francis
lie Jau, the first rector. Upon tho wall
hangs Ratchet with the coat.of.arms of
the lizards, which was borne before the
body of Ralph lizard at the funeral servi-
ces, and which is said to be the only hatch
ment existing in this country. Alter the
Revolution the changes wrought in the
land, the Inauguration of new industries
and the decadence Of the old, with unfa-
vorable alterations in the health of the
locality, all tended to diminish its impor-
lance. The old shrine at which the lizards,
Middletons, Glovers, Gibbeses, Smiths,
and Coachmans worshipped, gradually fell
into disuse, and as far back as 1920 il had
no regular rector. For almost quarter
Of century its solitude has remained un-
broken, save by the visits of wonder-scek-
ers, and those who love to recall the
memories of the past. Its broad approach
was grown over with trees, its graveyard,
surrounded by ditch and embankment,
was a wilderness, with moss and leaves
covering the last resting-places of the
heroes who gave our State proud history.
Skilful fingers have repaired the ravages
of Time, and the I'd of January, the one
hundred and sixty-ffth birthday of the
church, was appointed as the time for re-
defeating it. Fully thousand persons
attended from Charleston, and several
hundred from other places. Never before
has there been such congregation at this
church. A long procession fled through
the entrance OF the church yard, over
which had been erected a rustic arch with
the motto, "Thy gates shall be open con-
tinuously." Over the western entrance
was the sentence, ga temple shadowy with
remembrances of the majestic past. -
Under the gallery was the sentence, "Arise,
shine, for thy light is Gomez" and over the
pulpit, "Gently, without grief, the old shall
pass into the new" Upon the walls, be-
side the old tablets, were three, bearing
the names Of the Rev. Francis lie Jau,
l7O6; the Rev. Richard Ludlam, 1873; the
Rev. Thomas Mellichampe.
At the appointed hour, after volun-
tary, "With one consent let all the earth,
sung to the grand old tune of Old Hun
dred, the services were opened by the
Rev. Mr.. Gregory Of Summerville, who
assisted the Rev, J. G. Drayton. After
the conclusion Of the service the congre-
CATION repaired to the open air, where,
standing upon the base Of massive mon
ument and beneath a magnificent oak, the
Rev. Mr.. Drayton delivered the sermon.
Divine worship was then closed by singing
the long metre doxology. After this the
congregation spent some time in viewing
the antiquities of the place. Among
these was the record of the parish of st.
Andrews, bound contemporaneously with
that Of st. James. 1t contains list of
marriages, births, christenings, and deaths,
from the year ITO. A beautiful silver
communion service and baptismal bowl,
inlaid with gold, was shown, bearing the
inscription, From Eliza Bonsall Trenholm,
1876, st. Jamess church, Goose Creek"
There were also handsome Bible, Prayer
Book, and Hymnal, presented by Mr..
VIM. Il. Dodge, Jr., of New York city,
and u Prayer Book, given by st. Michael's
church on the 165th anniversary of st.
Jamcs's, Goose Creek
After services, the large concourse dis
persed to their homes, and the old church
was again left in silence. Great credit is
due to Professor Francis s. Holmes and
the other parishioners, for their rescuing
from ruin one Of the most interesting land
marks Of old South Carolina. Charleston
Neaos and Courier. s...I