The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-09-18
REV. ROBERT KING.
A Sketch OF his Lsfe and Labors.
Baptist Courier.

The subject Of this sketch, the Rev.
Robert King, was born of humble parent-
age in Anderson County, then Pendleton
District, about two miles southeast of
Belton, on January 1st, 1871.
The society in which he was reared was
uEfavorable to the development of the
mental and moral powers Of his youthful
mind. He enjoyed no advantages, either
educational or religious. In the year 1909,
being disheartened by the dissipation OF
his father, and having heard many favor
able reports, through travellers, of the
productiveness OF the lands of Tennessee,
he determined, without the counsel or
permission of his parents, to seek his for.
tune among strangers in a strange land:
thitherward he wended his way, much of
the distance boing an uninhabited forest.
He arrived in Dickson County in the
spring Of 1909. He served that year as o
hireling, and sometime during the year,
or the following year, while attending the
preaching OF the Gospel, administered by
the Rev. Daniel White, was deeply and
senslbly impressed with his hopeless con-
dition as lost sinner. After much men,
tai agony and heartfelt sorrow for sin, at
late hour of the night, while all nature
was slumbering in darkness, this prodigal
youth, agonizing with en- offended God
for forgiveness, had distinct view of the
plan of salvation through the atonement
of Christ. From that time until tho day
OF his death he was impressed with the
thought that it was an unusual manifest
atlcn. His soul was thrilled with the
music of Heaven. He dates his call to
the Gospel ministry simultaneously with
bis conversion. He was baptized, at the
hrat opportunity, by the Rev, Daniel
White, and received into the fellowship
OF the Turn Bull Baptist Church, located
In Dickson County. In the latter part of
the year 1910, he, in company with his
father in the Gospel, returned to the land
Of his nativity. Previous tc his leaving
Tennessee he obtained, by the advice of
his pastor, letter of dismission from his
church, which Immediately after his re.
turn he deposited in the Meals Creek
Church, Anderson County, 8. @. In March
OF the succeeding year, he found COM
panion for life in the person of Miss Fran
ces Holland, daughter OF the Rev. Moses
Holland, at that time pastor Of the Meals
Greek Church. Like many other Chris
tlans ne became cold and careless, neglect
ed the house of God, which is a sure in.
dication of backaliding condition. and
thus he continued, step by step, to decline
until May, 1914, when his religious de.
clension was 80 great that he was, after
much admonitiou from the church, ex-
cluded, in which state he continued till
July, 1920. When, IN bis 10th year, he
was asked by an eminent divine If he did
not think he might have been deceived
as to his conversion in Tennessee, he re-
piled: do not think could have been
deceived from the fact: If the prodipaI
sou had never been at his fathers house
he would not have known the way back.
knew found peace with God through
repentance and faith in my blessed Jesus
when was in Tennessee, and, as q back
slider. knew the way to seek and to find
Him." The minister replied: "This is
the best comment ever heard on the
parable of the prodigal CON-"
Soon after his restoration to he church.
his purity, humility and Christian deport-
mene began to attract the attention and
admiration of all who knew him. Such
confidence was inspired by his piety that
he was frequently called upon to lead wor-
born zeal for the salvation Of man now
warmed up his soul, and he began to ;ift
up his voice, p0rtraying the wondrous
love of jesus. Uncultured Us he was, his
appeals were touching, powerful. and, in
many instances, irresistable. Impressed
with the love of Jesus and the value of
souls, he now determined to consecrate
himself wholly to the work of the Gospel
ministry. a great obstacle presented IL
self; he knew not letter of the alphabet.
80 strong was ria desire to preach that he
resolved to overcome this barrier. His
wife taught him his letters, 10 spell and
to read. The Bible at once became The
book for his life-study, and he was emphat-
ically q Bible preacher, drawing from il
his faith, doctrines and practices.
80 deeply and favorably were his breth-
rem at Neal'o Creek Church impressed
with I,is power in prayer end exhortation
that on The 9th of March, 1894, they Ii.
censed him to preach. In the latter part
OF the year 1927 he received call to the
pastofate of the Washinton Church, in
Greenville District, s. c., and on the oath
OF May, 1873, was ordained by the impo-
sition of hands by q Presbytery, composed
OF Elders Moses Holland, Sanford Vandi-
yer, James Burroughs and Arthur VIII
liams. This call removed heavy burden
from his mind, for during the interval be.
tween his license to preach and ordination
he was much pefplexed upon the subject
OF being called 10 preach with no field of
labor presented. While Satan was thus
tempting him, God was preparing him
Tor great work. This call gave q new
impetus to his zeal and humility. he
entered upon this, his first passorate. win
only one male member, (Amos Eskew.
who 10 still liying), which pastorate con.
tinued eight years. Many of the first
families of the community were converted
through his instgumentality,a among whom
was the late lamented Rev. A. Acker.
In September, 1929, he and Elder Viii
liam hicGeo were called Jointly 10 the
care of Neaps Greek Church, and during
the next year they baptized leo converts,
among whom vera two Indians, Hesea
and Francis Morgan. In 1881, by o Pc
tition, he moved his membership to the
Big Creek Church. Anderson District, s.
O., in view of becoming its Pastor. Here
he continued nearly eeven years, during
the first three or four of which his minis
terial labors we're most aignally blessed.
the membership b OF the church having
been increased from fifty-six to one hun.
'lred and sixty-three. Under the ordi-
nary ministrations of his labors, numbers
of applications for membership were re-
ceiyed at almost every church meeting,
and the church, practically missionary,
was planting aud building up churches
In destitute neighborhoods near it.
During his ministry at this church his
usefulness was completely jeopardized,
ana the spirituality and success of the
church wholly inpaired by an anti-mis-
sionary party which controlled the
church, but God saved his chosen servant
from the influence aud errors OF that:
party for after this until hia death he