Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-27
Misfellanep1s &sading.
MEMORIAL Of DR.. LATHAM.
BY ORDER OF SYNOD.

1896, at MS nome In Bradley, .. u,
DR.. Robert Latham fell on sleep and
was gathered to his fathers. Sleep is
sweet after the labors of a long sum-
mer day !; so sleeps this servant of
God. Though the event had been for
sometime expected, yet it came sooner
than was anticipated. Yet not sooner
than he was ready. His had been a
busy life, much work had been done,
yet much more carved out by himself,
remained unfinished. Like faithful
servant death found him at his post ;
having borne the burden and the heat
of the day, he is still in the field when
the sun goes down. And his regret is
that he had not done more. Only two
days before his death he remarked to
the writer, 81 grieve that I can no
longer write"
Robert Latham was born in Fairfield
county, S. c., December 9th, 1929.
He was of Scotch-Irish lineage, that
stern material which has given to the
church and the state some of her great
est heroes, as we'll as fed the fires of
martyrdom. He gave his heart to God
at an early age, since when in his l9
year we find the desire to become a
minister of Christ stirred his bosom.
His father was not rich, and thus
difficulties confronted him on the very
threshold of his fondest wish. Yet
these did not discourage, they only
stimulated to greater effort. He was
prepared for college by Rev. James
Gilland, Presbyterian minister. He
entered Erskine college in 1853 and
graduated from that institution with
distinction in 1856.
For the next two years he studied
theology privately under Rev. w. R.
Brice, pastor of Hopewell, Associate
Reformed Presbyterian congregation,
in which congregation his father was
for many years a ruling elder, and in
which be himself found q spiritual
home in early life. During this period
he maintained himself by teaching
school in connection with his studies.
At the end of two years he returned
to Due West and finished his theologi-
cal studies in Erskine seminary and
was licensed in 1858. That fall was
spent in Virginia, and here he did his
first preaching. About this time Mr..
Latham was called to the pastorate of
the joint congregation, Tirzah and
Yorkville. Having accepted the call
he was installed in the early part of
the year 1859, and Yorkville became
his home. On the 10th Of May of the
same year, Rev. Robert Latham was
happily married to Miss Fannie E..
Barron, daughter of the late DIR. A. l..
Barron, so long and so well and so
favorably known in that community,
and now after a journey of almost 40
years together, the devoted wife is left
to make the remaining part of life's
journey alone. This pastorate remain
ed undisturbed for almost 25 years,
terminated by the action of synod in
1884 in his election to a professorship
in the seminary. This latter position
he held until the fall of 1894 when he
resigned to take charge as pastor of
the united congregation of Cedar
Springs and Bradley. AS professor in
the seminary, DR.. Latham was labor.
ious and conscientious in the discharge
of his duties; and eternity alone will
reveal the impressions made and the
good done.
In two other departments of work,
DR.. Latham was a decided success, a
teacher and historian. The years
spent in Langham academy were years
to which he might look with feelings
of honest pride, for there noble work
was done, fountains opened which are
still sending forth streams of blessing
to the state and church. In the lam
guage of another, "Today these scat
tered pupils of old Langham bring
their tribute to this beloved teacher
and today many of them could testify
that they caught from him the first
noble impulse to do and to be the best
that was in them" Years after the
doctor remarked to the writer, eff l
have had success in any thing, it was
in teaching" No doubt his thoughts
were then on the time spent in the
school house on the branch in the
suburbs of Yorkville.
As a historian he holds no mean
place, and certainly deserves to be
held in greater remembrance by the
Associate Reformed Presbyterian
church. He loved the church of his
fathers, not because of his early train
ing simply but because of honest con-
viction. He studied her doctrine, and
fully acquainted himself with her his
tory, and has left as legacy to her a
history of which she may we'll be
proud, and which her children in the
coming generations will read with
pleasure and profit. DR.. Latham was
specially gifted in the matter of histor-
ical research, and his mind was full of
such facts. He wrote much. In his
own self-depreciative language, IL
have been scribbler all my life" "
How like the man! He was truly
humble and never boasted of his men,
tai attachments. AS q result of this
habit, DR.. Latham left unpublished
many scraps of history which may yet
be blessing to the world. In recog-
milton of his literary attainments the
degree Of Doctor of Divinity was con-
ferred upon him in 1881 by Westmin-
ster college, New Wilmington, Pa.
While DR.. Latham discharged his
duties as professor in the seminary
with care and fidelity, yet l doubt
whether he was fully satisfied with
himself for having accepted the posi-
ton. His heart was in the pastoral