The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-11-03
THE PSALM SINGERS.

HistOry-The Route Which Sc.
eders Go to Heaveu-The Found
ng of the COlIeges-Why John q.
alhOun Sent His Sons to Due
Words From DIR.
acObs.
be religious descendants in this
&tryof the old Scotch Covenants
The Psalm-singing Presbyterians.
use of the psalms as the only compo-
hs proper to be sung in church wOr-
was one of the peculiarities of the
byterianism, and that popularity
ted in all the types of Scotch
that came to Ameri-
] 1858, however, the psalm-singing
Sbyterians of the Northern and
3tern States coalesced under the
lie of the "United Presbyterians,"
the psalm-singers of the Southern
es did not enter into the coalition.
" continued under their former
he of "Associate Reformed
bbyterians," or, as more Familiarity
3D." Seceders," This latter term
word that runs back to the origin
he religious movement of which
are a part, to wit, the secession
b the established church Of Scot
in 1888, that secession having
! a protest against the supposed
eneracy of the established church
b what it was in the days of the
kmn League and Convenant. So
as doctrine and practice are
serned, the "Seceders," ofthe South
e retained more Of the Scotch type
fresbyterianism, as it existed prior
he reign of Charles II, than any
(r branch of the Presbyterian
[rch in America, and in this re-
kt they are in striking contrast
d all other Christian denomina-
8 in the South.
be Mecca of all good "Seceders'
be little town of Due West, in
th Carolina. Indeed, it is
monly said that the loyal "Seced-
looks upon Due West with feel
of love and veneration much
b to those of the ancient Jew for
lsalem, and some have even said
when a "Seceder" dies he goes to
Ven by way of Due West. The
e is certainly embalmed in the
etions of the Seceders. They
blished their theological seminary
|ein 1889, and Erskine College, at
same place, was of their founding
twenty one years after the founding
Erskine the Due West Female
5ege was established, and so the
3e town contains the alma mater
host of the men, and women, too,
he Seceder denomination of colleg-
classical training. When toast to
skine College" is given at the
mencement banquet of the alum nj
Due West Female College is
hys rem embered, the one institu-
being regarded in the Seceder
sehold as supplementing and
king whole the other. In the
gery of the POSTMASTER, God
he first the man and, finding
lot well for him to be alone, he
(e Eve also and placed her in the
len, and thus Due West is describ-
Is the happy home of these two
titutions that 60 hand in hand, one
batting the young men, the other
young women of the church,
Ter whose fostering the institutions
b planted.
lt the patronage, not less than the
E, of Due West, through the
thern country, as place of educa-
for young folks, is not limited
he church under whose auspices
institutions were established.
b G.. Calhoun, if a Seceder in
zion, and, in sending his two
bgest sons to Due West in 1S45, he
expression to the reputation then
Rdy attained by the little town.
Ting to his brotherin-law under
of October 2, of that year, he
"James and William 20 down
the intention of going to Erskine
Iege at Due West. l have selected
institution because it is situated
ire there will be nothing to divert
attention from study, and where
morals will be safe" And,
he way, in the letter here referred
Mr.. Calhoun said concerning his
):
fhey are disinclined, I find, tc
n and Greek, so much so that it
Id be In a great measure loss of
to continue them at it, unless
e should be a change of inclina-
and 1 have accordingly written
1r. Pressly, the President of the
tuition, not to force them to their
y unless he should find them
e Inclined than I fear be will, at
until 1 could see and talk with
after my return from Alabama.
sh you would speak to them as to
Importance of the study of those
1ages."
pd the Rev. DR.. Jacobs, of the
hodist Episcopal church, in an
lie in the last issue Of Our Month
bout colleges that are cherished by
ious denominations, says of
line College and the "Seceders ~
che history of the college has been
pany respects a most remarkable
for it's founders were pioneer in
work in South Carolina, and yet