The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-06
NOTABLE CHURCH WORK.
Some Notes of q Young Preacher's
Wonderful Success Oh the Able
Vile Circuit.

Rev. S. ]. Bethca. under Deacon's orders
from the South Carolina Conference, is labor
ing In the AbbeviIle Circuit, where his sue.
cess has been remarkable. In this Circuit
there are six churches, MS follows: Zoar, Sa.
lem, Shiloh, Sharon, Bethel, and Bc!ls-the
last named being new congregation, recent
ly organized. LII February Mr.. Belhea com.
ncnced q series of special meetings on ms
Circuit which resulted in additions TO The
church as follows: Zoar, .; Salcm,2: Shiloh,
81; sharon, 25; Bethel % His work for The
bers, including the organization OF n new
congregation at Bells, where divine worship
is conducted In the open air until their church
can be built.
der Mr.. Bethea'S efforts, and they have given
substantial evidence of carneStneSS ana ueV0-
ton to tho cliSc of Christianity, by their lib.
eral contributions for church work. which Is
greatly in excess of anything that has been
done in that Circuit during any previous year.
a new church Is being constructed at Bells {:
n new church at Mt Carmel Is well under
way: the Salem congregation are renewing
and fixing up their house OF worship, putting
in new floor, new sents, new allnr, new pull
pit Besides this the people OF the Circuit
have paid 5000 on the new parsonage, leaving
now a debt of only $2?5 on the build
liberal payments Oh their preachers salary.
Every Methodist has already contributed
something this year for the church work, and
it Is expected that each one will give some
individual member Is expected to do his part.
Mr.. Bcthea Is Il hard worker. Besides the
pastoral work, which IS n difficult duty to
perform in n church where the members are
so widely scattered, and besides preaching ev-
cry day In the week at special meetings he
has preached every Saturday and every Sun
day, at some point in his Circuit Sunday
Schools are organized Mt every Church, and
the people seem 10 be thoroughly awakened
as to the necessity OF supporting this hand
maid of the church.
That we may better show the work which
Mr.. Bcthea has done, VIC will give some other
figures.
The CokeSbury District is composed Of some
fourteen or fifteen circuits During the year
about COO persons have been ndde to the
churches which are embraced In the District.
OF this number about l29 were received into
the churches which are now m rlstered to by
! Mr.. Bcthea. This fact alone shows how sin-
cuiarly his work has been blessed.
Mr.. Bcthea Is native of Marion county,
and his success so far, would lead lis to believe
that he will make Il most useful member OF
the Conference. He received Deacons Or
ders at the Annual Conference in 1888. This
Is his first year in Abbcvillp. He declines tn
believe the great revival, in the churches OF
which We have been speaking, is due to his
oyn efforts. lie says that his good Brother
pritchard, who preceded him, deserves the
praise. 1t is generous in him TO give his he.
loved and honored predecessor the credit.
We leave others to adjust the honor for the
blessed revival which has taken place in the
Abbevilc Circuit.