The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-06-30
Another History OF Flat Rock.

south of Anderson city on the Leather
deal road. 1t is not without history and
usefulness. Some 200 yards west of the
public highway is large fiat rock show.
ing surface of one fourth of an acre
from which the church derived its name.
On the 18th of November, 1882 the
church was organized with sixteen mem.
bers, ten males and six females. The
Rev. John A. Davis was called to the
pastorate and Aaron Hall, clerk, all Of
whom have passed away. The church
| was organized with members from Noun.
tain Greek church.
Aaron Hall, Joseph Hall, Jesse Davis,
and others were at a log rolling on Ger.
| tain day, and that day tie conversation
came up as to the Importance of having
church in the community. Doubtless
the spirit of God suggested the IDEA to
these humble believers as they were en-
gagged at hard labor for the temporal sup.
port of their families. 1t was determined
either that day or soon thereafter and
settled down upon the site near which
the present house Of worship now stands.
Mr.. Joseph Hall, father Of Aaron and
Sanford Hall, was the oldest settler in
the community, and owned all the land
in and around Flat Rock. He agreed to
give two acres of land, and Jesse Davis
and David Tate agreed 10 pay him for
two more acres. However, no measures
we're taken TO secure title for the said
four acres of land. Time passed and the
above-named property fell into the hands
of MI. Joab Hall, who made warrantee
title to Mr.. Grief Tate for four acres OF
land on which the log house of worship
was built. MIR. Grief Tate holds the IT,
tie until this day.
Nothing was done towards building q
house until they were through working
their crops. The above named brethren,
together with many others, then went to
work and built large log house of wor-
ship which lasted until the year 1856.
Joseph Hall and Joel Davis were the first
delegates to the convention.
The church went to work at once for
the Master with that love and zeal that
always characterizes the true followers Of
Christ. In January, 1888, Elder John
Vandiver was chosen pastor during that
year. The church attracted the atten.
ton of the entire surrounding country
and the sympathetic eye of other church
es was anxiously looking to the interest
of the church. Members would visit
them to encourage them in their work
of labor and love. Nothing of this kind
is done nowadays. AS general thing
preachers do not now like them meddling
with their pastorates. The church at
Flat Rrock wss sbarer in the mission
ary troubles in its first few years. In
1889 petition from the church was sent
to the association asking letter of dis.
mission from that body. The petitioners
were in the majority. They were all op.
posed, not so much to the spread of the
gospel, but to the giving Of their means
to accomplish the end. They, like
thousands of others, believed that the
gospel would spread itself at it's own
proper time. The minority also sent a
communication explaining the reason
why the petition was sent and asked for
counsel. A committee composed of Ell :
der a. Williams. VIM. McGee and NJ.
Gambrell were appointed to investigate
the condition of the church. At the next
meeting of the association the committee
reported that serious troubles existed in
the church which they could not recon
cile. They found that the majority had
declared non-fellowship for the associa-
tion, but the minority, who consisted OF
the deacons, clerk, aud other prominent
members, were recognized as the church,
and were advised to keep up regular
church services, which counsel they heed
ed, and we're fnally victorious.
From the year 1888 to the close Of
1910 Elder John Vandiver eerved the
church as pastor. At this time the mem
bership numbered rs. Iu the year 1S41
Elder VIM. MCGEE succeeded Elder Van.
diver. MCGEE continued until the close
of 1874, at which time from come cause:
we cannot tell, the membership had gone
down to20.
Elder B. Burriss YVES the next pastor
aud continued until the year 1860 when
the church numbered 3S. The church
worshipped in the log house until the
year 1856. The church assumed neH
attitude, not through any point of doc
trine which was unbaptistic, being very
few in number and some becoming old
and feeble, felt themselves unable to
build new house of worship-s thing
that had to be done or very soon th ey
would be out of q house. There we re a
this time several good Presbyterian fsmi
lies in the neighborhood, and the late
Andrew O. Norris being an elder among
them. he acted for the others ane
made proposition to the Baptists tt
build house of worship jointly. After
some consideration and the place agreed
upon, the two denominations went tc
work and built new house of worship
which is now standing.
Elder B. Hays preached the first ser
mon in the new house, March %, 1856
The baptists continued their organization
and church work after they entered th'
new house. The Presbyteriaus never or.
ganized until the year 1883. The Pres
byterians purchased ard donated fou
scres of land adjacent to the first fou
acres in the year 1856.
kBy an act of the Legislature th'
property WAS under the management o
| a hoard of trustees Eoual riphts an(