Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-03-28

2CR 2S, 1888.
several other Thomas Whitesides in
that section, was dubbed "black
Tommie'O. Messrs. Dixon Wylie,
John J. Wylie and Alexander Har-
binsOn were singing clerks. A large,
intelligent and orderly congregation
attended this church and the hour
or hour and a half necessary for the
minister to deliver his sermon, never
became irksome to his hearers. On
sacramental occasions I have seen
the spacious new building crowded
with eager listeners until every avail
able spot Of standing or sitting room
was occupied; while fluttering fans
partially drowned the speakers
voice.
DR.. Ross, can now, after minis
tration of nearly, if not quite, forty
five years, look back to three gener-
ations he has served in a ministerial
capacity, with the satisfaction Of
knowing that his labors have been
crowned with success.
Rev. Robert Latham, in his Histo-
ry of the Associate Reformed Synod
of the South, antedates our reminis-
cences, and for the original history
of this church, as we'll as the moral
growth of this section, we refer the
reader to it. Suffice it to say that all
matters coming within the jurisdic-
| tiOn of the church session since our
recollection has been promptly at
tended to and permanently settled by
it, and that the church to-day is as in
tact as body as it was forty years ago,
with much largerand still increasing
membership. The work of the pas
tor and the congregation has not been
confined to the locality in which the
church is situated. 1t has spread its
influence out upon the western and
northwestern States, where large
and respected congregations have
been built up who owe their exis-
tence in great measure to the Asso-
ciate Reformed Synod of the South,
of which Western York forms an
important factor. j.. S.
THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR 1000.
1t was believed in the Middle Ages
that the world would come to an end
at the expiration of one thousand
years of the Christian era. This ex-
pectation in Christian countries was
universal. The year 1000 was a
period of suspense, terror and awe.
The histories of this dark period
give vivid accounts and incidents of
the state of the people under the in
fuence of this awful apprehension.
A writer in the Sunday at Home re-
produces the picture with much dis
tinctness and relates an incident Of
the manner that the hours were
numbered on the supposed final
night of the year, which might apt
ly suggest dramatic subject for a
poet:
When the last day of the year 1000
dawned, the madness had attained
it's height. All work of whatever
kind was suspended. The market
places were deserted. The shops
were shut. The tables were not
spread for meals; the very house
hold fires remained unlighted. Men,
when they met in the streets, scarce
ly saw or spoke to one another.
Their eyes had a wild stare in them,
as though they expected every mo-
ment some terrible manifestation to
take place.
Silence prevailed everywhere, ex-
cept in the churches, which were al
ready thronged with eager devotees,
who prostrated themselves before
the shrines of their favorite saints,
imploring their protection during
the fearful scenes which they sup
posed were about to be displayed.
AS the day wore on, the number
of those who sought admission grew
greater and greater, until every cor
ner of the sacred edifices, large as
these were, was densely crowded,
and it became impossible to find
room for more. But the multitude
outside still strove and clamored for
admission, filling the porches and
door-ways and climbing up the but
tresses to find a refuge on the roofs
which they could not obtain inside.
A strange and solemn commentary
on the text which binds men to watch
because "they know not whether
the Master of the house will come at
even, or at midnight, or at cock
growing, or in the morning." was
presented by the multitudes which
filled the churches that night.
Watch in very truth they did.
Not an eye was closed throughout
that heightened vigil; not knee
but was bent in humblest supplica-
ton; not voice but joined the pen
itential chant, or put up fervent
entreaty for help and protection.
There were no clocks in those days,
but the flight OF the hours was mark
ed by great waxen tapers with metal
balls attached at intervals to them.
Those fell one after another, as the
flame reached the strings by which
they were secured, into a brazen
basin beneath, with clang which
resounded through the church.
At the recurrence of each of these
warning sounds, the awe of the vast
assembly seemed to deepen and in
tensify, as each in terrible suspense
supposed that between him and the
outburst of divine wrath only the
briefest interval now remained.
AT last the night, long as it was,
began to draw to an end. The chill
which precedes daylight pervaded
the air, and in the eastern sky the
first pale CLEAN of the morning be-
gan to show itself. The light grew
stronger in the heavens, and the
flame of the candles paled before it,,
and at last the rays Of the risen sun
streamed through the windows on
the white and anxious faces of the
watchers. The night had passed
away. A new day, new year, a
new century, had begun. The text
that says "No man knoweth the day
nor the hour" had new meaning.
CULTURED GIRLS.
Sometimes it is thought that if a
girl has been educated at a high
school. she must be cultured, but some
such girls are the most rncultured of
persons. One need not be rich, or
educated, or travel, in order to be
cultured: but Ouly sure that all sides