Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-04-19

pastor. Rev. W. w. Ratchford was nominated
and unanimously elected pastor for one-fourth OF
These calls were all made out in the prescribed
form, signed by the elders and deacons, and GER
titled to by the Moderator.
Respectfully submitted.
J. c. MCMULLEN, Chm.
Bullock's Creek church is nowin the condition
i'll which this special committee left it. Since
the lst of January, five appointments have been
made for preaching there, two of which failed:
The other churches mentioned in this special
committees report are served by the pastor
elect Rev. w. W. Ratchford.
The erection of houses Of worship is matter
which begins to claim the earnest attention OF
your committee: Three applications for aid have
been made, by Shiloh, Longtown and Mt. Pleas
ant churches, to the amount of S275. The COM
mittee recommends that this amount be raised,
between this and the Fall meeting of Presbytery,
by special collections in the special churches.
The committee has received from the invalid
fund, the sum Of SS0 Sixty dollars have been
sent to three of the persons receiving aid from
this source, and twenty dollars returned to the
treasurer ut BaltimOre-One of the beneticlarles
having declined further assistance from the
committee.
Presbytery has now under its care two candi
dates for the ministry-Mr. w. B. Mc1lwaine
and Mr.. j. \. Wilson. AS to the former, Prof.
Latimer, of Davidson College, reports: "Mr.
Mc1lwaine stands nell in all departments. His
moral character is as good as any young mans
in the institution,' etc. Mr.. Wilson is now en-
>.
not yet see his way clear to enter upon his semi
nary course.
AS to the Sabbath-school cause, your commit
tee has nothing of special interest to report.
This important arm of the work of Zion is sus-
taned in the different churches under the direc-
ton Of the Sessions.
Nothing has been done in colportage work
since the last meeting of Presbytery; nor does
your committee see the way clear, at present. to
recommend the Presbytery to enter into the
evangelistic work.
For information Respecting the cause of for
eign missions, Presbuerk is referred to the re-
Spring meeting, on Systematic Benevolence
but your committee recommend that next Mon
day evening be set apart for the consideration of
this great work. Religious services to be held,
the same to be arranged by the committee on
Devotional Exercises.
Your committee has been informed that two
or more of the students in the seminary at Co.
lumbia desire work of. some kind, during the
terry, and would be glad, if the Presbytery ap-
proves, to take steps, if practicable, to utilize
these young brethren.
i.... G. A. TRENHOLM, Chm,
for the committee.
Accompanying the above report, is the
draft of set of rules, for the guidance
of the Executive committee, submitted by
that committee.
The report, with accompanying papers,
was placed in the hands of a special COM
mittee, consisting of Revs H. B. Pratt and
d. f. johnson, and Elders w. H. Stewart
and r. II. Glenn.
On motion, Presbytery proceeded to the
examination of the candidates for the min
istry-Mr. S. r. Hope, Of Chester, and Mr..
r. H. DeGraffenreid, of Fort Mill, York
county-taken under the care of the Presby-
terry. The moderator proceeded to examine
the candidates on personal piety and mo-
for l,a t,,ict
aminatiOnS were creditable to the candi-
dates, and by unanimous vote of Presbytery
were sustained.
At the close of the examinations, on mo-
ton, Presbytery receded from business un-
til after worship tonight.
EVENING SESSION.
Devotional exercises were conducted at
7.30 P. NJ, by Rev. c. r. Hemphill, who
based an instructive discourse on the words:
(Which of you convinceth me ofsin? And
if say the truth, why do we not believe
me ?"-John 8: 46.
After public worship, Presbytery resum-
ed business.
The regular order being the report Of the
committee appointed at the afternoon ses-
sion to prepare memorial sketch of the
Rev. S. l.. Watson, Rev. Robert A. Webb,
on behalf of that committee, read the fol-
lowing:
Rev. Samuel Lytle Watson drew the first
breath of this mortal life in the eastern part of
York county, S. c., on the 5th of February, 1898.
And where he was born there he became man.
The same pious mother who sat beside the first
beginnings of his infant life and watched and
PRAYED, was also permitted to lay her shaping
hand upon each subsequent development OF his
unit" it into nnt Weaete b
carried in his mothers arms, on horseback, to
Bethel Church, and consecrated to the Lord in
baptism. This sacrament was administered by
the Rev. George G. McWhorter, the pastor. At
that time his parents dedicated him to the gospel
ministry, Of which, however, he was never in
formed until he had entered upon his theological
studies.
Let us now advance step and take brief
survey of his educational career; let us look
in upon him in the shop, with hammer and
chisel, shaping his mind and heart for that long
life-work which God had stored up for him:
He was quite young when he began his classical
studies. He first entered the school of the Rev.
Robert B. Walker, in Bethesda, where he re-
mained about year. few years later he is
found pursuing his education under Mr.. Low
rance, at Centre, n c. Along here we have only
which he may have made. or the pleasure he
NAV have experienced in his early quest for
knowledge. In April, 1916, he entered the acad-
envy of the Rev. j. McKamie Wilson, D. D.,
located in the bounds of the Rocky River con-
gregation, Cabarrus county, N. C. At this in
stitution he remained one year and a half.
While here, he united with the Rocky River Pres
bvterian Church. We have none Of the circum-
stances incident upon this important step.
After leaving Dr. Wilson's school, he made
his appearance upon the campus Of the South
Carolina College at Columbia. In October, 1918,
he sought and found admission into those vene-
rable halls Of learning. He desired admission
into the Junior class and it was granted. He
graduated in December, 1920, and in January,
1921, he took charge Of an academy near Union
c. H., S. c., over which he continued to preside
for two years. While in charge Of this institu-
tion in April, 1922 he was taken under the care
of the Presbytery of South Carolina; and in Oc-
tober, 1923, he entered the Theological Seminary
at Princeton, n. J. This step he took against
the strong rcmonstrance of the fathers OF the
Presbytery. They argued, if one were aiming
to be some great one in the church, 1t would 90
very we'll to attend the schools ofdivinity but the
church did not especially need such, and the
training for ordinary preachers should be taught
at the hands Of some private instructor IN theol-
ogv On the other hand, Mr.. Watson was con-
sumed with the idea that preaching required the
finest furniture which could be had And reso-
luton meant action with him. He spent three
wears at Princeton, completing the regular course
in theology in 1926. In November of the same
wear, he appeared before the Presbytery of South
Carolina, in session at the upper Long Cane
Church, Abbeville county, S. c., and on the 18th
day of that month was licensed to preached the
gospel. BY the casting vote of the Moderator,
he obtained permission to enter upon missionary
labors in the West. He Immediately set out for
Alabama, and Montgomery city became the
chief seat of his labors He preached in the
courthouse, and his were the first Presbyterian
labors ever put forth in that city. He returned
to South Carolina, after remaining in Alabama
nearly a year. and Tas1ordainod an ovangel1st
March 18th, 1928. 1t was his cherished intention
and desire to return and settle in Montgomery,
and SUCH too, was the meaning of his ordina-
ton; but before he could be gone, Presbytery
Df ,ns1 -