The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-11-29
DEDICATION OF THE NEW PREsBYTE-
R1AN CHURCH At T0wNVILLE.

TowNyILLE, S. c., Nov. 26, 1877.
Editor haeuigencer: Somewhere between
seventy-five and hundred years ago q
small body of Presbyterians built little
house for their worship three miles from
the present village of Townville, and chris.
tened it Nazareth Beaverdan, the append
age being the name of a creek close by. Its
founders and early members have long SINCE
been gathered to their fathers, and now an
other generation is already totterinig op! the
verge of that river beyond whose other shore
there stretches an illimltable e4panse we
call eternity.
At the time of its establishment the church
was quite centrally. located, but with the
changes which half century works, the old
building had become isolated as well as de-
cayed almost beyond reparation, when dur
ing the past summer it was determined to
build new house at Townville, where 1t
would be more accessible and advantageous
generally. But there were obstacles IN the
Way. The membership was weak both IN
members and means, and had it been asked
two wears ago: ,Can there any good come
out of Nazareth ?n the reply could have
been read in the negative air the very men
who subsequently were to be so active In
bringing about the desired end.
The little congregation has happily de.
ceiyed itself. The work is accomplished.
A handsome wooden edifice Of modern yet
unostentatious design looms up very tri-
butte to the great High Priest, and a striking
illustration of what christian energy and
devotion can accomplish.
And this house was dedicated on yester-
day; consecrated to the Most High; set
apart for the worship of the meek and lowly
Nazarene. The church, with capacity for
seating two hundred and fifty persons, was
crowded to overAowing. The pastor, Rev.
]. B. Adger. D. D.. preached the sermon,
basing his discourse upon John 1:46-"And
Nathaniel said unto him, Can there any
good thing come out of Nazareth p Philip
saith unto him, Come and see.'. The
speaker dwelt at considerable length upon
the original application of the text, and an
swered Nathaniels query in the affirmative,
citing the advent of the Messiah and the
spread of his holy religion over the whole
world. and corresponding decline in all
RELIGIONS not founded upon the doctrines
and precepts inculcated by the Saviour
He then adyerted to the fitness of the
text to the present occasion, and said that
good had come out of Nazareth Beayerdam
in that O new house had been built and paid
for. amid surroundings Of peculiar embar-
rassment, and that the energy displayed by
the church had to some extent stimulated
the Baptists of this town to o similar work,
that of tearing down their old church and
Nerecting large new one. And still further,
|6t could scarcely be doubted that much
spiritual good would result to the eommu-
iiity in view of the stimulus engendered by
late successes. After the sermon the dedi-
latory prayer was offered by the Rev. w.
/. Pearson, of Due West. This petition and
Eese,afaGon was eminently fit, and solemn
arnestness pervaded the entire assembly
dhiing its delivery. The meeting was con-
thued and concluded to-day, Monday.
SEen persons, principally young ladies,
uiited with the church.
Ehis little town justly deserves to be
stAed 'the village of churhcs" Without
Srporation, and with q population of less
tha a hundred souls, it has two new and
elesant churches, Baptist and Presbyterian,
and third, Methodist, in actual prospect.
Heice, in point of religious advantages,
,andview of the size of the town, it may be
saidthat Townville is without parallel in
all tie up-country. -,