The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-02-26
Editorial Visit to Long Cane.

morning, driving one of Messrs. A. NJ. Hill &
Sons the editor OF ns ne pss' SSrch ana 6qs ds
tance OF fourteen miles south Of Abbeville
Court House, to attend the Centennial exer.
cises which were to commemorate the organ
i1ation at that place of the first Associate Re-
formed Presbytery in this part Of the country.
When Within a mile of the place, and IN
front. q the sta,e IN msnsien 1sn ancoS which
were hailed by our old friend, the Hon. John
E. Bradley, who invited us to halt, and talk
q cup Of coffee with him, as, he said, he knew
iage, needed a cup OF that drink which cheers
but not inebriates. II a man is to receive re-
ward for giving cup OF cold water, what
should he receive for giving cup OF hot.
had risen long before our accustomed time:
and our eyes, II not red, felt as If they had
salt OF sand in them. Whether the coffee re-
moved the incident redness of the eyes,
the salt disappeared and We forgot all about
the subject Of eyes. In fact, new feeling
soon came over us, and we really forgot that
we had been an early riser @ on on that M DAY. VI, 7,
Bradley, deceased, prince OF the good men
who lived in that section many years ago,
and the sons manner has about 1t much OIL
the same characteristics which distinguished
his father. and though his own voice has long
since been stilled, 1t may yet be heard III the
voice Of q worthy son.
from his house to the church. In doing so, we
throughout the county as "Bradley's Old
Field" where the militia companies OF that
section met to muster at stated times.
The field is now In cultivation, and the only
thing that marks the scene OF so many Incl
dents of note In the past history OF Abbevillc
county, is the post from which the rings were
hung for the Tournaments which were often
held at the same time OF the musters, an,
where as gallant knights as ever kneclcd TO
lady.love or crowned honored queen, contest.
ed in generous rivalry.
The post is of cedar, and stands to. day as
erect as ever. We are not informed when the
post was set, but 1t has now been thirty years
since any muster was had at that place. Let
Arriving ut the church, great company OF
people had already assembled, and the roads
In every direction were filled with approach
ing vehicles. bearing worthy descendants OF
noble sires who had years ago made historic
this church and this community.
Gods acre had been newly fenced around,
the church had been beautifully decorated by
woman's loving hand, and the adjacent
grounds had been placed in readiness TO re-
ceive kind friends and honored guests.
Guests and friends from II dlStance-neigh-
bors and loving friends a. home. They were
all alike welcomed to this historic spot, where
they might catch something Of holy inspira-
ton, aud where the rehearsal of the heroic
deeds OF our forefathers, might forify and
strengen their own efforts In renewed zeal
and greater courage to labor in the cause OF
God and humanity.
II Virginia may be termed the mother OF
cd the mother OF churches.
Wherever there is an Associate Reformed
Presbyterian church, the influence OF Long
Cane has been felt.
Wherever the Church has called for men O!
money. Long Cane has never faltered.
Her money and her member preachers and
her Bibles-are co-extenSive with the utter.
most bounds Of the church itself, while her in.
fiuence for good Is spread abroad everywhere
In all this land of Christian civilization.
Long Cane was one OF The earliest settle
Ia 40 ,trya n nd n IA
band Of brothers. united in the grand effort To
bring about this beautiful civilization, which
contributes It's sweetness while purifying and
ennobling the civilization of the people.
Whether in the sciences or the learned pro-
fessiops, Long Cane has stood at the front.
Her lawyers, her doctors, her judges, her
preachers, her teachers, ana her scholars,
hosts of busy workers in the active scenes OF
peace and war, have reflected the highest
credit on the land OF their birth, and added
lustrs TO history Of which any people Oh the
face Of the earth might we'll be proud.
While her influence has gone abroad to the
uttermost parts, there is not village or ham
ed by q descendent of Long Cane.
In perfect kindness and In loving friendship
for each and every speaker on this occasion,
cellence OF their speeches. AS speeches, es-
SAYS, or. papers, in themselves. they are an
honor TO the authors, and well worthy OF the
attention OF those who listened to them. AS
Cnnfcn papers tney can nav e ho suPcIiois.
II seems to us emlnently proper that
chapter should have been given to those lay
men, and christian women, who by their un
swerving devotion to the cause of christian
ity an6 good morals. and who, by their
prayers, sympathies and material substance,
Contributed SO largely to- the perpetuation
and steady growth Of the church whose GEN.
tennial anniversary was celebrated.
In summing up the agencies employed In
making character for the Associate Reformed
Synod Of the South, we must recognize all
IL 1bov md lob Of u n n
an nnostentatious and perhaps unofficial
way faithfully served their generation and
contributed to the glorious history.
Every member OF the body of Christ has It's
proper functions, is entitled to share with all
other members, praise tor well.doins. THE
eye can not say unto the hand, have no
need OF thee: Nor again the hand to the
feet, have no need OF you. Nay, much more
those members Of the body, which seem TO be
more feeble, are necessary.