The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-28
OFFICIAL NARRATIVE.
Being the Paper Which Was Read ut
the Request OF the Session, and
Read by Elder A. B. Wardlaw Inn
mediateIy Before the Religious

Within the memory or some now present
the Presbyterians Of fAbbeyllle village we're
church. An urgent demand for more conven-
lent church facilities induced them, though
greatly attached TO the old place, to consider
result was the Abbeville Presbyterian church,
which was completed in the fall Of 1854, and
on the Oath OF September OF that year, dedi-
Gated, by DR.. James n. Thornwell.
Tuesday, the nth Of April 1887, brought disf
aster toAbbeville. During the afternoon O.
that day, the elegant residence Of Judge Nc
Gowan and the Presbyterian Church were de-
stroyed by fire. The latter was plain build.
ing, and Of contracted dimensions; sorrow
filled many heart when, after vigorous ef-
forts to save 1t from the devouring flames,
hope yielded to despair. We grieved not
Church hovered sweet memories, and cluster
ed hallowed associations. There. we had wor-
shipped for more than thirty-two years
there, most OF us had first named the name OF
supper of our Lord-there, our children had
been baptized-and thence, after the last sad
rites, we had borne our dead to Upper Long
Mourning the desolation Of our Zion, we
could not sit still In our ashes. 1.-THE people
gathered themselves together as one mar" :" at
the Baptist Church. on the evening Of the sew;
'.The God OF heaven, He win prosper ms;
therefore we, his servants, will arise and
build" Animated with this spirit, and feel.
Ing the urgency Of the situation, the first ac-
tion taken was the adoption Of q resolution
in these words: ut Is the sense of this meet
ing that, with Gods help, the Abbeville
Church must and shall be rebuilt at once" A
committee Of fifteen-subsequently enlarged
the work Of the honse Of the Lord" and q
congregational meeting called for every
Thursday evening, 80 long as necessary, to
hear reports nom this committee, and TO con.
Our oldest member and senior elder, unable
from physical infirmity to be present, sent o
message, heartily In accord with the general
SEN sentiment, and made the hrst subscription to
Whilst our old Church was yet in flames,
our Episcopal and Baptist brethren had gen.
WSen HeedeS o%n
gregations. Appreciating most highly that
brotherly love and kindly sympathy, which
thus drew them TO us In our time OF trouble,
q heart
cere, IN that we deemed 1t best TO use the
Court House for our regular services. Need l.
add, that this, our first meeting, and each sub
sequent one. whether Of congregation or com.
mittee, was begun by an earnest looking to
support7 .a.-a 5+
tee commenced It's work; first by raising
subscription amongst themselves, and then,
BY arranging for canvass to secure funds.
One other action was taken-the ladies Of the
congregation S1 were requested @ d 70 aid us lin n
Of the love OF the Saviour and Of His Church,
and now, as ever, foremost In every good
work, they not only wrought themselves, but
inspired ed the men VIII somewhat Of their own
nestness and repeated contributions. Totheir
selfsacrifcingy unremitting efforts we are In
debted for very much that adds TO the beauty
The windows, the peWs, the cushions are
tnelr sRsclal guts.tnelr wulng nearted oner-
iipgs. Iney are not less zealous now. IMAM es
tne Deglnnlng, IN tneir lapors iof Inc Masters
mains to be done.
our Pastor proposed 70 the ch1idren That
tney 100 should 90 something Tor the LORDS
House. He told them that 70 be truly accept
able their gifts must be the result Of self.deni
81 and earnest work; and suggested that, for
their part, they would undertake the pur.
chase OF bell. They took with the idea-the
up
went promptly and heartily TO work, and it
was indeed gratifying to the older ones 70 wit.
ness the many expedients adopted by them TO
maze si,s me ne money Rr9misea, snd equally SO 10 70
each In "our bell" Every child In the CON-
gregaMon now reels that ne or she has done
sometningS PersonaI interest," thus a. eonnecg
they only, have paid for our sweet sounding
bell. 1t 1s their free-W1ll Offering, and now,
When we hear It's musical tones, we seem 70 be
listening - 70 the voices OF L ne 9 little ones sum
Ths propsr osstSn ss of q the % Church claimed
our serious consideration during the month
Of May. About this there were honest and
decided differences OF opinion; and various
gravity Of the sltuation-there was much and
earnest prayer for Divine directton-the har-
mony OF the congregation remained unbrok-
anS sfhue h of sh n s st
In the meantime, goodly number OF our
neighbors had cheerfully responded to our re-
quests for aid-some friends at distsnce had
been f, not less gsne9ouSsra S- t1uGaing letter
followed by liberal contribution rom MS
charge the Alabama Street church, memphis
our first Pastor, the venerable Pr. .. Mcneil
freely gave bis labors that our present Pastor
might be absent on business OF the Church.
The Presby yterian congregations OF EdEedeld.
Darlington and Chester IN ibis state, OF Cnar-
Knoxville, Tennessee, had made brotherly Of.
ferings, and the Seamen's Bethel OF New Or-
leans had sent Its little GIT, Which, ike the
a @ sight having I been &c I'D determined upon, and all
done that was practicable towards securing
outside assistance, 1t was felt by all that,
henceforth, relying on ourselves, We must
powered fw TO select design for church, and to
lake all steps necessary TO its completion. a{
From number OF plans submitted TO rs,
chosen. AS the work progressed, the beauty
and completeness Of the design became moro
and more apparent, and now, that his concep-
ton is realized before us, we are more than
satisfied. II was decided not to build by con-
tract but to employ q superintendent to take
charge Of the whole work. The man selected
~ Rant 0Rfn recofnmended as q good me.
chanic and one having had experience with
the WORKING plans of Mr. Snyder. We esteem
ourselves fortunate in having secured the SER
uOny 70 ulS lhltuiuineeo tsIu shiA.