Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-08-28

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REV. ROBERT CA
Grier, on this occasion, was founded on Mat
thew, 81 :: AZ, 43.
The congregations over which the Rev. R.
G. Grier was, in 1841, settled as pastor, had
their origin about the year 1889. At this
time, the Rev. Peter MCMILLAN began to
preach in the region of country embraced in
the counties of Chester, York, Abbeville and
Lancaster, S. c., and Mecklenburg, Lincoln,
and several other counties in North Carolina.
The Rev. Peter MCMILLAN had been pastor
of the Secession congregation of Ahoghil,
Ireland. In 1888, very large number Of
his congregation, emigrated to America. They
took passage in the "Irish Volunteer" and
landed in Charleston. The majority of these
came Immediately to the upcountry, and set
tied in the counties of Abbeville, Chester,
Fairfield, Lancaster and York, South Carroll
ma. Shortly afterward, Mr.. Mcmillan de.
mitted his charge in Ireland, and came to
America. For about one year he mission.
ated among the people Of his recent charge,
who had preceded him to America. At va
rious points, he preached and baptized chill,
dren. These preaching points became the
nucleuses that ultimately grew into large and
Aourishing congregations, which remain to
the present day in prosperous condition.
Pisgah, one branch of the pastoral charge OF
the Rev. R. c. Grier in 1841, and now part
of the pastoral charge Of the Rev. E. E..
Boyce, had its beginning through the instru.
mentality of the Rev. Peter MCMILLAN. The
place of worship was at that time several
miles southwest Of the present place, and
was then called Kings Mountain.
Bethany, the other branch Of Mr.. Grier's
charge, was brought into existence in 1895.
During the spring of that year, number Of
persons, members of Beersheba Church, in
connection with the General Assembly Pres
byterian Church, became dissatisfied on &C.
count of the introduction Of Watts version
of the Psalms into the worship of the sanctu-
ary. These persons, who were neither few in
numbers nor weak in influence, united with
the friends of the Secession cause, and in due
time organized church which they called
Bethany.
THE predecessor of the Rev. R. G. Grier,
was the Rev. William Dixon. In 1874, he
came to America. At that time he lacked
but one year of having completed theolog.
ical course. This he finished under the Rev.
Peter MCMILLAN, who at that time had set,
tied as pastor of the Associate Reformed con-
gregation of Due West, kbbeville county, S.
G. In 1895, Mr.. Dixon was, at Long Cane,
Abbeville county, S. c., licensed to preach by
the Presbytery of the Carolinas and Georgia
On the 9th of June, 1897, he was ordained
and installed pastor of Kings Mountain,
Bullock's Greek and Turkey Creek. All these
names we're changed. Kings Mountain is
now called Pisgah; what was then Bullock's
Creek, is now Bethany; and the name, Tur-
key Greek, was changed for Sharon, new part
of the pastoral charge Of the Rev. R. A.
Ross D. D. Mr.. Dixon's ordination took
place at what is now called Sharon.
When first organized, both Bethany and
Pisgah placed themselves under the care OF
the Associate Reformed Presbytery of the
Carolinas and Georgia; but they both changed
their ecclesiastical relations twice, before the
days of Mr.. Grier.
About the year 1SO0-perhaps 18O1-Revs.
Mcmillan and Dixon withdrew from the As
sociate Reformed Church and joined the As
socate Church. Mr.. Dixon's congregations
made similar change In 1881, Mr.. Dixon
died, and was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph
Banks, in October, 1881. Again, in 1884,
Bethany and Pisgah, together with a number
of other Associate congregations, Joined the
Associate Reformed Church, and so remain
up to the present
The Rev. R. G. Grier continued to be the
pastor of these churches from 1841, to Octo-
Der 1S47, period of about six years. In No.
vember, 1846, the Rev. E. E. Pressly, D. D.,
resigned the presidency of Erskine College.
The Rev. John T. Pressly, D. D., Of ALE
gheny, was chosen his successor, but declined
to accept the position. At the meeting of the
Associate Reformed Synod of the South, at
Prosperity Church, Lincoln county, Tennes-
see, in October, 1841, another election was
held for the purpose Of selecting President
of Erskine College. Mr.. Grier was chosen,
and having accepted the position, entered
upon the discharge of its duties as soon af-
terward as was practicable.
In 1858, he resigned the presidency of the
college, but served until the fall Of 1859,
when he went to Nashville Tennessee, as
principal professor in the Associate Reformed
Theological Seminary, which the Synod had
transferred from Due West, and located in
Nashville. The country was soon after torn
assunder by war, and during the year 1860,
Mr. Grier returned to Due West The order
of the Synod, locating the Theological Semi
nary in Nashville, was revoked, and the Sem
mary was brought back to Due West.
In 1866, Mr. Grier was again elected pres
ident of the College, which position he held
until the time of his death, in 1871.
On the 9th of November, 1860, Mr.. Grier
was installed pastor of the Associate Reform