Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-04-21

came celebrated.
The next time Mrs. Gears and Mr..
and Mrs. Wampler met they barely
knew each other; and the next time
sfter that they knew each other not at
all. Then it became impossible to in.
vite them into the same companies,
and through the circle of their COM
mon acquaintance there began to steal,
like line of split oil across floor,
separation out of sympathy. By the
time the separation became fully de-
fined, Mrs. Gears's umbrage at the
Wamplers had come to positive
grounds. She did not scruple to
think and to freely say: "We have no
direct proof; but it's very singular
that the spoon should be found in
their possession, and they never of
ferea any explanation.
The difference grew into ON open
feud. Finally it was carried into the
church. A document was laid before
the session urging it to summon Mr..
and Mrs. Wampler to an explanation.
Their conduct, the document set forth,
in thus far refusing an explanation,
was neither brotherlY nor Christian;
it savored, if not of guilt, at least of
self.righteousness and pride, and in
either case they were amenable to the
session. There was prolonged argu-
ment in the session, and some plain
speaking and strong feeling. At the
vote the lay members divided evenly,
and 1t devolved on the pastor, the Rev.
Cornelius Holt, to decide. He was
man of rare humility, bnt of steady
sense of justice and an obstinacy IN
following it that no amount of as-
gression could outwear. He decided
against the petition and in favor OF
the Wamplers.
There was moisture in his eyes and
half sob in his voice as he concluded
with "Let us pray" and in the prayer
he offered brief, fervent prayer for
gentle counsels and confding hearts.
He was checked several times by his
emotion. The other members OF the
session were deeply touched, and re.
paired to their homes with pure and
exalted feelings and with mind re-
solved, every man of them, to do his
utmost to keep the congregation in
harmony.
But, unfortunately, the congrega.
tion had not come under the spell of
the pastors moving Judgment and
prayer, and divisions of such magni-
tude ensued that the laymen of the
session forgot their good resolutions,
and the session itself became seat of
war. Mr.. Holt had served in his pres
ent pastorate ten years. Ten years
service in no Office lessons the number
of mans critics, unless he be man
of supreme talent !; and THAT Mr.. Holt
was not. From his installation there
had been in the congregation dissat-
is6ed minority, and it had grown,
with the passage of time, moro num-
erous and more outspoken. 1t now
found, in his vote against having the
Wamplers before the session, what,
unconsciously, it had long been wait
ing fora point of union and onset.
The pastors friends, however. were in
main stanch, and open opposition only
intensified their ardor. The session
divided again about evenly; but the
opponents of the pastor were the more
cunning faction, and finally persuaded
two of his supporters to disregard per-
sonal preference and join them in vot-
ing request to Mr.. Holt for his resig-
nation.
With his session thus become prac-
tically unanimous against him, and
good third of the congregation fercely
urging the session on, the minister
would gladly have yielded up his
charge and fed. But this, it seemed
to him. would be moral weakness,
clear violation of his duty to the larger
fraction who devoutly besought him
TO stay. So he refused to comply with
the sessions request. Appeals fol-
lowed to higher bodies, and q tedious,
complex, cxhausting contest, ending
in defeat for the opposing minority,
which thereupon withdrew from the
church in body and organized new
society.
And this is the origin of what is
since known in Osceola as the New
church, the church which IN recent
years has been so marvellously blessed.
But it had hard struggle in the be-
ginning. 1t began to prosper only
after the Rev. Mr.. HolIiwe!l took
charge. He is q natural pulpit orator,
man thoroughly abreast with the
times. He began by prefacing his SER
mons with q familiar talk or current
topics, and every three months he
preached sermon exclusively for men,
and another exclusively for women,
and one for the young people. and by
these and other novelties he soon
awakened an interest which has con-
tinued, until now the New church
congregation is much tho largest and
vealthIest in the town. Then Andrew
Jarboe, rich old bachelor farmer,
died and left the church $40, 200, and
that was great help to 1t. In life
Andrew had not been q notable sup.
porter of churches, but Mr.. Holt had
once rebuked him rharply for failing
to supply due weight of butter, and
it is supposed that this had somewhat
to do with determining his surprising
bequest to the New church.
Mr.. Holt. after the New church be-
gan to come up SO conspicuously, Suf-
fered certain decline in the regard
of his congregation. The members
were still free in expressions of devo.
tion to him; but it became evident
that in their feelings they had little
cooled, and Mr.. Holt finally sought
another charge.
There was woman known As Gypsy
Ann; keen-eyed, dishevelled, shrill-
voiced, half-mad creature, held, as
her name betokensd, in certain sus-
nicion md fpor and often n wor1 in