The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-28
M embership R0ll-List of Committees
Historical ENTHUSIASTICALLY
OF the Building.

Historical NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
of the Building.
The erection and dedication Of the new
Presbyterian church at Abbeville, odds an
other chapter to the bright history OF our
town, and raises another monument to the
public spirit, liberality and religious zeal OF
our people. Other towns and other people
may surpass US In the rush and eager pursuit
of material wealth; may build more railroads
and factories-these may come in good time
but in the appreciation and cultivation Of all
that makes life desirable and comfortable; in
the development of the beautiful and orna-
mental, and Of all that ministers to the aes-
thetlcal, the moral and religious elements OF
our nature; in the erection Of elegant dwell
ings, tasteful gardens, spacious stores, and
commodious public buildings, Abbeville chal-
lenges comparison with any Of her sister
towns.
Fire after fire has swept away the frail tene-
ments Of wood, and left brick and mortar q
mass OF crumbliug ruins; but like the Phoe-
nix arising from its ashes, she has put on
again, new and more beautiful garments; has
built more costly dwellings, more spacious
stores, more elegant and we'll proportioned
churches; has aspired to be, and has realized
her her h,ope-'a thing Of beauty; "a Joy for
Compare the Abbeville of to-day with the
Abbevllle OF forty years ago. Instead OF the
fine range Of brick stores, which extend from
the corner OF the White Block to the Nell
vain corner, along the Western side OF the
en- buildlngs-the Allen and Posey ranges
even then having an antiquated and unsight.
ly look; mere tinder boxes, liable to be swept
away by the first fire which should break out
fot ifa,i In 70
posite side Of the square, were the McLaren
residence and the Old Post Office; wooden
shanties; the Jackson Carriage Shop; some
unpretending Law Offices; and the Old Court
Where the New Hotel now lifts its fair pro-
portions, stood the Alston House, now rear
appendage to that building. There was no
Presbyterian church in town. The Old Meth.
odist church, now in the rear OF the present
fine structure, stood where that church stands.
There was no Baptistchurch for the congrega-
tion, which now worships in Its commodious
building. A small wooden building, after.
wards removed to Wellington. and falling q
prey to fire there, was all that the Episcopa-
fians could boast OF, instead Of that monu-
ment Of architectural design, the present fair
structure. The Roman Catholics had nothing
TO set off against that gem Of architectural
beauty, which now ornaments. the town.
There were no fine gardens and elegant resi-
dences; no fine stores with the largest and
best selected stocks OF dry goods, millinery
no Bank-even no Railroad, no Telegraph.
1--WE have changed all that" and to-day for
It's size O more beautiful town does not exist
In Upper Carolina-a finer Public Square,
larger and more commodious stores, larger
and finer stocks Of goods, q finer Court House,
q more imposing and better kept Hotel, bet
ter arranged Bank building and more prosper
Gus institution, more beautiful residences,
more tasteful gardens, and to crown all. more
commodious and better proportioned church
es, from whose heaven pointed spires the
sweet toned bells call together the worship.
ping congregations, TO ofter the incense EN- GO OF
ming sacrifice"
Among her fair sisters few can compare,
and none surpass, the beautiful and impos-
Ing church 6niang wnose p to
commemorate. Standing on the East corner
of the old parsonage lot, once the property Of
DR.. Joseph Wardlaw, within stones throw
Of the Methodist and Roman Catholic
the most beautiful portions of the town. Its
presence is monument to the l16erality and
Christian zeal of those who built 1t. No con-
gregation ever Iaoored more zeaIously or
building for religious worship. For nearly
two years they have literally worked as one
man. There has been no laggard In the busy
hiye. From the oldest to the youngest, every
man, woman and child, has contributed, &C.
cording to his or her ability, full share IN
the work. From the aged patriarch, stand
ing at the brink Of the River, al! the way
down TO tender childhood, each and all did
The unanimity of the church, the hearty
work OF each and all, Is an example worthy
Of imitation. Although there was on the
against the removal OF the church 10 Its pre-
sent location, yet when the act had been de-
termined upon, those who objected, yielded
and work ed with zeal which was mot sur
passed. There was no contention among
fIop there generous
who should best work and best conserve the
interests Of the church In our opinion, much
Of this happy condition Of affairs is due to
heart of their much-beloved pastor, Rev. j.
Lowrie Wilson, d. D.
The Abbeville Presbyterian congregation is
one of the largest contributing Presbyterian
terry. 1t pays more money per capita for
church work than any other congregation
within the bounds Of the South Carolina
ing nearly Sl4.OO0, has been. built within the
last two Years, mainly by the members Of the
congregation, and although they pay their
pastor larger salary, and furnish him
in any other congregation in the Presbytery,
vet they have not allowed their Strengthened
circumstances to abate one Jot or one little OF
their zeal in any department of church work.
sions, and in ali other ben eflcent work OF the
church they to-day as in former times, stand
at the head OF the list, and, as before the fire.
they make their regular chureh corrections
as when they had no ochurch-bui!ding TO do.
Their contribution to the building has not
interfered with their individual charities,
nor has the congregation neglected any Of the
the ueedy as ever.
Our people are not rich, yet they seem not
to grow poorer by giving most literally to
SSe hs o the we works chat
go. by lending o helping hand to all enter
prises which have for their purpose the spir-
itual and temporal welfare OF mankind, they
No congregation in the Synod has given as
much aid to other churches as has the Able
willie church, and no people ever built as fine
a church as that which was dedicated last
Sunday, who did not ask for more aid from
Iothers.
upon each member gave large SUBSCRIPTION.
When that money was exhausted, instead OF
going out into the hedges and by-ways for
more money, they simply held meeting Of
themselves, when many subscriptions were
Increased, and some were doubled. In this
way was built the church OF which Able
willie will be proud for many day:
A peoples civilization Is marked by their
public buildings and by their churches no
less than by the walnut, the marble, and the
mirrors, within their homes.
Good houses in which to live, and splendid
temples in which to worship the Lord our
God, are factors in peoples civilization, and
furnish the best evidences Of their refinement
and Christian zeal.
Fine churches cannot be built without Ia
Dor and selfdenial, and In some instances
the world will never know the effort and the
self-denial which was necessary TO enable
some Of the poorer members Of this congre.
cation to make their subscriptions, which
were not large In amount, but which are re-
corded es was the Widows mite. All did
well-acted their part nobly-and the church
.l,n So 10 xnIth kNn ,nnpn tnn1
ousy in any heart. All are justly proud Of
the church, and have reason to give thanks to
the Giver Of good gifts and graces. Their
work has been accomplished, and they can
n fri