The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-03-09
Press and Banner.
By Hugh Wilson and II. T. Wardlaw.
Wednesday. March 8. 1881.
4 Remarkable Organization.

This week we present many interesting
facts in reference TO one OF the oldest. IT not
the very oldest. organizations in the State
lie Timer Long Cane Society. The columns
arc set in wide measure from the fact that we
shall usc the type in printing the same in
pamphlet iGrm.
As far back as 1893, cighty-two years ago. the
good citizens of .Abbcrille county formed this
society for the purpose OF providing Il pcrma-
ncnt fund "ior the support Of the Gospel In
their congregation, and for works OF bcnevo-
!encc among themselves. so as to place these
Crea, objects above the difficulties ana HlciSSl
;udes .vEich the tluctuution in society and the
Inconvenience Of 8 new country then occN-
sioned.' The annual meetings of that Socic-
~ has been held regularly ever since. From n
very small beginning, less than Il hundred
dollars, the funds Of this Society had In
March, lSs2. increased to SS.9o9.S2. Between
lSG2, ard 1859. when the records were destroy
ed by fire, the Society bad distributed over
$4,000 to the benevolent objects rs contem-
plated by the constitutions, and the Pcrn1a-
ncnt fund had increased to nearly Sl',NU.
From 1858 to ISL, owing TO losses by the war
which reduced the capital of the Society be-
low $500 no appropriation was made Tor
benevolent purposes between those years.
Since 1871, the Society has appropriated Tor
the purposes for which 1t WAS organized,
$500.
This wonderful work has been tho result OF
accumulated interest, rs the Society has had
no addition to its funds beyond the accumu-
latlon of interest and the annual contribution
by members for fifty years, except contribu-
- nl1r Sr mi
John II. Wilson, and Il contribution OF 50 from
James II. Ba>kin.
AS the citizen OF .Abbevilie county recalls
the fact that this Society was organized Only
Il few years after we had achieved our nation
nj Independence, and while the country was
very sparScly settled, AMI before the court
House was moved from Cambridge, and when
there were only three buildings on the ground
included within the corporate limits OIL what
is now known rs the town Of Abbcviilc, ana
when he reads the names of those VINO nave
been members and officers LIS mind Will IN
voluntarily turn to the things Of the paSl'
aud he will not fail to hEd occasion ir Sc
rious thought. and profitable reflection.
In the history OF tho Society six members
have held the office of President, SIX ave
filled the Office of Nice-Prcsidcnt, seven nave
served as Treasurer, and most remarkable OF
all, in that long roll Of years, only W. men
have acted as Secretary-jamcs Wardiaw, the
father, and Robert II. Ward,aw, the son. Dur.
Ing the long period Of half n century Uncle
Robert has failed TO be present AT but one am
nual meeting. and OF all those who were
members In 1880 or Joined before 1916, he alone
is prescrved-a solitary sentinel on the dis
49,. .oe. ~ fip,n &rhnSn rbparS voice in
the seizcs and struggles Of the past has acted
rs the beacon light that infuSes new hope ana
leads us to greater efforts and nobler deeds.
The influence which this organization has
cxcrtc for good in forming the character OF
Abbevilie county cannot be computed, and
II the citizens Of other communities desire TO
organize In q similar way, they may learn
something from the reading Of the Constitu-
ton and By-Lawsof the Upper Long Cane So
cicty. which corporation has been perpetual
cd for nearly 4 ~ccntury-even during that
time when the country was involved In q war
which swept away a majority OF the estates
that were held in trust.
Abbcviile County has always been distin-
guished for It's endowed institutions. BE-
sides the Long Cane Society, we have mad
what was called the "Boiso Fund the pro-
ceeds Of which were to be expended In haV-
ing the gospel preached 10 the poor, but this
fund is now very near extinct; for more than
fifty years the Abbeville District Eible Scc!I-
u has been organized, ana during all that
timeIt has never failed to hold an annual
meeting, and no year has passed without its
having made contributions for the dissemina-
ton of the Holy Scriptures; the De La Howe
estate of perhaps $500, besides the farm,
but which has OF late been reduced to about
$4,000, the proceeds Of which were for the
maintenance, support and education Of twen-
ty-four boy and girls, has been q pride to the
county for more than fifty years; and now
Erskinc College, at Due West, Is the richest
and most powerful of them all. Besides
owning q most valuable tract or lot OF ground
in the town Of Due West, on which there arc
four elegant brick structures. tho College au-
thorities have an endowment fund, which is
available to an amount exceeding $4,000.