Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-01-03
with them to America. They distrusted all
because few were not trustworthy.

with them to America. They distrusted all
because a few we're not trustworthy.
We do not say that there were individuals
among the first settlers of the Bethel country,
who held the doctrines of the Belfast Society
This, we suppose, was not the case; but there
were individuals in that region as early as
1852, who suspected all Presbyterians of So.
cinianism, who had not made deliverance
against the Belfast Society. This State OF
things, no doubt, retarded the organization OF
Bethel Church. 1t will be remembered
too, that ministers of the gospel we're very
scarce at that time. These things, together
with many others, no doubt, delayed the or
ganization of Bethel Church until 1854. 1t
! is thought that this is the date of the first
preaching at this place, as we'll as of the or
ganization of the church. This is scarcely
credible.
Previous to the defeat of General Brad
dock in 1855, but especially after this unfor'
tunate affair, the country was settled up very
rapidly. III 1852 grants were taken out which
cover nearly all the land on both Allison
creeks and Tooles Fork. Even supposing
that in some instances grants were taken out
before the settlers arrived it is known that in
most cases settlements were made before
grants we're obtained. This being the case, ii
is barely possible that people whom all ira
ditions concur in representing as emnently
pious, would have remained for period of at
least fifteen years, without any preaching at
all. The Rev. Hugh McAden passed through
York county in October, 1855 From james
Loves, on Broad river, he passed through the
country to Old Waxhaw Church in Lancas
ter. It is highly probable that he crossed the
Catawba river at Landsford. SO far as we
have been able to discover, it is not stated that
he either visited or preached in the Bethel
congregation. Still we have not complete
account of his missionary labors, and fol
anything that we know certainly to the con-
trary, be may have preached to some of the
people who, in 1854, entered into the organi'
zatiou.
There is tradition, handed down through
trustworthy persons, that prior to the organl
cation of the church and building of the first
house of worship, the people were accustomed
to worship in the grove near the spring tlrs'
used by the congregation. The names of the
preachers have not been preserved.
The first Elders of Bethel congregation
we're John Gullick, James Campbell, David
Watson, John Jordan, Thomas Neel, and
George Denny. Ifall these we're ordained by
the Rev. Richardson, on the occasion of or
ganizing the church, it would indicate very
plainly that the number of individuals enter
ing into the organization was very great for q
new country. The exact number of the mem
bership we have no means of ascertaining.
From 1854, the period of its organization tc
177O-about six years-Bethel was without
pastor During this time, it was ministered
to by supplies sent by the Synod of New York
and Pennsylvania. During this period the
Rev. John Cosson, who was sent to Americs
by Lady Huntingdon, the friend of the cele
brated George Whitfield, ministered in word
and doctrine to the congregation. In ITO
the Rev. Hezekiah Balch became their frs
pastor. His ordination as an evangelist, was
on the 9th of May. 1770 by, we suppose, the
presbytery of New Castle. Mr. Balch wat
horn in Hartford county, Maryland, in 1741
In his early childhood his father moved tc
Mecklenburg county, North Carolina
During the pastorate of Rev. Balch, some
changes took place in the congregation, and
great changes in the country. Joseph Brad
ner, Colonel Samuel Watson, John Howe
Samuel Craig and John Baird, we're ordained
to the eldership. The war between the colo
MES and great Britain, now began. Soon
after the beginning of the Revolutionary con
test, Mr.. Balch resigned his charge and re-
moved beyond the mountains, into what is now
the State of Tennessee. A series of unfortu'
nate events befell him in after life During
his stay at Bethel, he was married to Miss
Hannah Lewis, lady of rare personal
charms, and remarkable for her intellectual
endowments. After they removed to Tennes'
see, her mind became deranged. This was q
source of sorrow to her husband. Mr.. Balch
was accused, by his resbytery, of certain ir'
regularities in church government, and oi
holding doctrines contrary to the standards Of
the Presbyterian Church.
During the progress Of the Revolutionary
war, Bethel congregation was, in the Ian
guage of Presbyterians, vacancy. In other
words, it was without pastor. During thi.
period occasional ministrations in the word
and ordinances were afforded the people by
the Rev. John Cosson, James McRee and
Francis Cummins.
This is the proper place, perhaps, to notice
the position which Bethel congregation took
in the struggle which the colonies were now
making for liberty. One short sentence will
suffice to state what they were in politics, but
volume would be necessary to contain a
history of what they did. They we're Wings
to a man. One of the first elders-Colonel
Thomas Neel-led, in ITS, a regiment Of
men against the Cherokee Indians. He died
January Goth, 1873. One of his sons was q
captain and another colonel. The former
was killed by the Indians, and the latter by
the tories. Another elder, Samuel Watson
the grandfather of the present pastor of Beth.
el-was colonel in the Revolutionary war.
He died November 25th, 1910. The regi.
ment commanded by Col. Thomas Neel, in
the Cherokee war, rendezvoused on the night
before it's departure for the scene of conflict,
at Clinton's, the present site of the residence
of Mr.. j. L. Adams. Their camp was under
the shadow of the house of God. Numbers
of the members of Bethel, during the Revo.
luton, deserve a more extended notice than
is compatible with our present purpose.
After the close of the war and the return
of peace, the congregation Of Bethel made
arrangements to secure pastor. According.
ly, in the spring of 1882, call was made out
and presented to the Rev. Francis Cummins
The call was accepted, and late in the same
year, or early in 1888, he was ordained and
Installed pastor of Bethel Church. The con.
gregation still continued to grow and ex'
pand partly from immigration and partly
from accessions from the inhabitants of the
country. Again the number of the elders was
increased Joseph Mckenzie, Alexander Ea
kins, William Davis and Andrew Floyd were
in duo form accordnu IN the rnles of Pres