The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-23
CHURCH, COLLEGES, PEOPLE;
DEDICATION OF LITTLE RIVER BAPTIST
CHURCH.
A Brief and Interesting Sketch OF
One of the Oldest and Nest Infien-
tial Congregations in the County.
DUE WEST, S. c., June q, 1856.

DUE WEST, S. c., June 21, 1885,
Some weeks ago the members of the Little
River Baptist church completed new church
building. The dedication of 1t was set for the
third Sabbath In June. Accordl ogly on thai
day large crowd could be seen vending thell
way thither in all kinds of vehicles, and on
foot. The day was a lovely one, and the
crowd, numbering about u thousand, were Ia
their best humor and their best dress. Before
the appointed hour the house was packed
and tile people were kindly ushered In by
Others. After the opening anthem the Rev
]. G. Furman, D. D., OF Greenville, s. g., one
of the editors of the Baptist Courier, and also
President of Furman University, read the lJ
Psalm and a part OF the 4th chapter of Ephe
sians. Then came the soul-strring hymn
"Come, thou f0unt Of every blessings" &C
Rev. ]. Scott Murray, the pastor, then made
some remarks ms to the coming together to
which Rev. r. n. Pratt of Bcnnettsville, s
C.. who Is so we'll and favorahly known III
this county, made the dedicatory prayer
After the singing Of another hymn Rev. DR.
Furman preached the dedicatOry sermon
DaSng his remarks on the portions OF tho
Scripture already referred to. The sermon
was an able one, plain and to The point, and
was listened 10 with marked attention; BY
solicitation we have been kindly furnished
with an abstract Of a history of the church
now in preparation by Its present secretary,
DR.. John a. Robinson, which we here append
The Little River Baptist church was consti
Luteu AUGUST ~, ll6l. IlSN. OeOIBc llliIdt
was pastor of Little River and Turkey Greek
Jointly for seven years, living IN the parson
age which was about midway between the
two churches. Tradition says. the records
for the first fifteen years having been lost
five years that Little River was without .
pastor Rev. Arthur Williams was elected
pastor in 1910, and served faithfully and con-
tlnuously for fifty years. , ,ooo
Rev. Wilson Ashley served from May, 1850
IN January. 1891. Hs pastor.
Rev: Y; Young was was pastor from January
KsS issS wilson Ashley was pastor from Janu
Rev. William Z. Walters was pastor from
January, 1867, TO April, 1873.
Rev. Wilson Ashley was pastor from April
1878, to January, 1874.
Rev. r. w. Burts was pastor from January
Rev. J. Scott Murray who is now pastor has
been serving continuously since lSSO. -,
Little River has had as assistants TO the
Wilson Ashley. Rev. A. Rice. Rev. Robert n
Pratt, Rev. H. w. Burts, Rev. j. s. Murray
and Rev. c. p. Erwin:
The following ministers have been ordained
by the Little River church whilst members O
the same: Cader Cant, Thomas Crawford
Wilson Ashley, and r. n. Pratt.
Tie following have been the deacons elected
by the church: Joseph Culp,, Cader Cant
vile, s. w. Callahan, William Armstrong
Edwin Cox, S. NJ. Callahan, and P. b. Car
vile.
The present Board of Deacons is Hugh Rob-
inson, John NJ. Bryant, and >. NJ. Callahan
| The Clerks have been Cader Cant, w. NJ
Pratt, John Pratt. S. NJ. Tribble, John w. Er
lis. and John a. Robinson the present one.
The Treasurers have been: William Clink
scales, James M. Carwile, T; B. Carwile, ahe
the present one John A. Robinson.
The church has paid for several years pas
three hundred dollars annually 10 the minis
ters supplying 1t for two Lords Days In eacl
month, In addition to which 1t cOntributesan
nually to missions, Sunday School work
&C., about one hundred dollars. The breth
rem, sisters and friends have erected very
neat church, completed the Dist Of May, 1856
alta total outlay Of nearly t%elve hundred 5,dr,a
room l6 feet, vauted ceiling, inclined floor
ceiled throughout, painted inside and out
side, pews grained oak and walnut finish.
Quite number Of our citizens went out II
Little River last Sabbath 10 the dedication y
the new Baptistchurch