Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-09-09
CAPTAIN WILLIAM McGILL.
A Former Pastor Speaks of His Many
Virtues.

deceased friend may have been in
some way connected with the mine
However, this may have been, they
were both fond of the sport of deer
hunting, and met occasionally for that
purpose.
In later years, after I became more
intimately acquainted, and age and
had incapacitated him fol
manly sports, he would sometimes
entertain his friends by relating Incl.
dents in connection with his adven.
lures as huntsman, when deer and
other wild animals abounded in the
forests, and when the country was
only sparsely inhabited.
I remember distinctly of bis relating
the number of venison hams he had
taken to market, which amounted to
a considerable sum of money and
supplies. At that time, their market
was Charleston, distance of two
hundred miles. But, as is we'll known,
he did not depend on hunting for a
livelihood, like many who are fond
of this sport; but by industry, econo-
my and skillful management, accumu-
lated a handsome estate.
Although he possessed only an or.
binary education, such as the private
schools of the country then afforded,
yet by diligent use of what he had,
he acquired a stock of useful knowl-
edge which qualified him for filling
positions of honor and usefulness in
the community and the state. He was
SO highly esteemed by the citizens of
York county, for his intelligence,
sound judgment, and uprightness,
that they entrusted to him the honor
of representing them in their state
legislature. I may state here that
although Captain McGill was cousin
of my father, 1 had only such acquain-
tance with him as boy would &C.
quire by occasionally meeting with
an old man, until the commencement
of my ministerial services in Smyrna
congregation in the fall of 1851.
And what shall state about him
shall be from personal knowledge and
communication with him during six
years of my ministry at Smyrna. For
several years he had been debsrred
from the privilege of full communion
| in the church on account of a law ex-
cluding all members of secret, oath
bound societies from church member
ship. But after the modification of
that law he was restored, for which
he seemed to be profoundly grateful,
as he never could get his consent to
connect with any other church than
that with which his family was identi-
fed, and to the doctrines of which,
so far as I know, he was in entire
harmony with the above exception.
There are some habits and features
of character of Captain McGill wor-
thy of note and imitation to which 1
wish to refer.
1st. AS Bible student. He was q
habitual and diligent reader of the
Scriptures. His reading was not of
that superficial character that never
retains a thought of the truths con-
sidered. His reading afforded him
subjects for meditation and conversa-
ton. During the last two years of my
ministry in South Carolina, I enjoyed
frequent opportunities of becoming
acquainted with some of his daily hab-
it's. The Bible and Dicks Theology
were his companions. And what he
had been reading was often the SUBJ
iect of conversation when I would
visit him. To relate an incident show
ing his familiarity with the Scriptures.
While at the legislature, in private
conversation with some of the men,
bers, the subject of Gods DEGREES was
introduced. A member remarked that
there was not such a word in the Bible
as ordained. Captain McGill opened
a Bible and promptly turned to Acts
xiii, 4S, and read. GAS many as were
ordained to eternal life, believed" I"
Note this feature of the happy man as
described in 1st Psalm "His delight
is in the law of the Lord and in his
law doth he mediate day and night" I"
I'd. In this connection, I feel it
would be ungrateful in me, as we'll as
unfaithful in q "reminiscences of our
departed friend, ifI did not refer to his
benefcence. 1 take pleasure in refer
ing to personal acts of kindness to my
self and family. My pastoral services
commenced at Smyrna during the
war and continued till after il was
ended. My salary for half time was
only 5000. Confederate money was 80
deprecated that it was almost worth
less. Pork was worth dollar per
pound an ordinary cow sold for 800,
and other things in proportion. Per-
sons dependent on salaries at that
time, at the above rates, would have
suggested to their minds the though hts
of the Prodigal Son with regard to the
bountiful supply ofprovisions to which
the servants had access. 1t was at
such time as this that Captain Nc
Gill proposed to move US on his farm
and give us house and 80 much land
as one hand could cultivate free Of
rent. And many other fayors were
conferred while we remained with him.
We were as comfortable as Mephibo-
sheth who was fed at the kings table.
We are willing to give him the credit
for these favors, not so much for ours,
as for Christ's sake. "Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least Of
these my brethren, ye have done it
unto me-"
3rd. My recollection is that he was
noted as a peacemaker in the commu-