The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-17
DEATH OF A FATHER IN ISRAEL.
Tho Rev. VIM. Martin, the Oldest Metho-
dist in South Carolina, Gone to His Re-
ward-A Sketch Of His Long and
Use.cl Career.
Especial to News and Courier.

Especial to News and Courier.
COLUMBIA, January 70.-There will
be pain, in many homes far distant
from Columbia when the news which
follows is read, for he who passed away
to-day was pioneer in his Church, g
long and patient worker in all good
things, and an example in blamelesS
living to the thousands who knew him
The Rev. William Martin, the oldest
Methodist minister in South Carolina
died at his home in Columbia, shortly
after o'clock this afternoon. He had
been Sc: iously i'll for three week, but it
was not thought that death was near
until the last hour arrived.
Mr.. Martins life work is summed up
in the minutes of the South Carolina
Annual Conference for 1858.
"Joined Conference in February 1928:
was five years presiding elder, eleven
years on stations, nine years on mis-
sions, twenty years in college service,
hospital service, ETC., one year super
numaryand four years supernumerated,
making sixty years in all Of connection
with the Conference"
Mr.. Martin was bo: u March 9, 1907,
in Mecklenburg County, N. c., where
his ancestors had been signers Of the
Mecklenburg Declaration Of lndepcn-
dence. Members of his family had
! fought under Braddock and served in
every subsequent war in this country.
In his semi-centenaial sermon preached
before the South Carolina Conference on
December -, 1887, and printed by the
Conference, are found interesting
"reminiscences of Mr.. Martins life. His
family were Presbyterians, but having
been converted while a lad, at a
Methodist camp-meeting, be joined
that church in 1925. He was soon
licensed to exhort, and on December1 l.,
1927, became a preacher befole he had
attained his majority. He was recon-
mended 70 The South Carolina Confer
ence at Camden, and was admitted On
tlial and appointed for 1928 to the
Broad River circuit, now the North
Georgia Conference. In 1929 he went
to an Alabama circuit, with headquar-
ters at Columbus, Ga, town then
without church, Thence he visited
the Asbury mission in the Creek
Nation. IN this year he aided in clear
ing the ground and settling up the
| wooden pillars for the first church in
Talbotton, Ga. Returning toSSouth
Carolina Mr.. Martin was, in January
1890, ordained deacon by Bishop
Scule. His long and varied service
subsequently cannot be described in de-
tail, but one fact will show how great a
space of time his ministry has encom-
passed.
In 1928, when Mr.. Martin was ad-
mitted to the South Carolina Con
ference on trial, that Conference en-
braced the States of South Carolina,
Georgia end Florida, large section Of
Norvh Carolina, and the Creek Nation
in Alabama. Some of the works of
Mr.. Martin were the following: He
assisted in building every Methodist
Church in Columbia. He was the
founder Of the famous Wayside Hospit-
al, where so many Confederate soldiers
| were tended, and devoted himself to
its charge. He was for three years the
president Of the Columbia Female Col
lege, for one year chaplain of the Lu-
natic Asylum, and for eight years
chaplain of the Penitentlary. Eight
years he spentin mission service among
the negroes.
After the destruction by Sherman OF
the Washington street, Methodist
Church. Mr.. Martin lal ed for years
to raise funds for its re, ;id:ng. He
collected and paid out ev y dollar foI
the erection Of the Ms on Street
Church and founded th Columbia
city mission, which is now the Assem-
bly, Street Church. For fifty-two yeals
ne has been Unidentified with Colun-
bia, and in all these yeas he has illus
trated in his blameless life, his labors
of love and charity, his broad benevo,
lence, the highest qualities of the man
OF faith and religion.
NJ. Martin leaves a widow, q
son and daughter. His eldest son
| was one Of the first victims o;
the war, dying in Fo:t Moultrie at
the very inception Of hostilhies.
On Saturday, in the Washington
Street Gnu :ch, where he was ordained
and married, the funeral services of
| Mr.. Martin will be held. and he will be
buried in its churchyard.
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