Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-04-06
Mi5erllaneuus 8@dins.
CLOVER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Short History of the Career of Healthy
Duurbte of Old Bethel.

-NOt long ago, lhr iNSNihrh ""N9"
Rev. :. H. Hay for certain information
about Glover Presbyterian church,
and in reply received the following
which, though as Mr.. Hay explains,
was written hurriedly, tells the whole
story in Il straightforward and inter-
esting style:
Many years ago, during some period
of the time when the territory OF
Bethel church extended "from Kings
mountain to the Catawba river" a
preaching point was established about
a mile south of the present town OF
Clover. At this place the pastor of
Bethel church held religious services
on one Sabbath Of each month for the
benefit of the western section of the
congregation, many of whom could
not attend services at the church.
This point was called "Cemtre," be-
cause it was supposed it to be midway
between Bethel and Beersheba, the
Presbyterian church nearest OH the
western side.
The building erected at Centre was
Il simple log house. 1t became neces-
sary to enlarge this to meet the needs
of the growing congregations. This
consisted of frame extension of one
end of the old log house. When the
present church at Bethany was built,
the Centre congregation bought the
"arhor," which had been used at
Bethany, and put it up a Centre.
This furnished q pleasant place for
services in suitable weather, and they
were held in it principally. This old
structure, in its original shape, is
now the spacious barn and stable of
Mr.. John w. Lawrence, who bought
and moved it to his place.
Some families buried their dead at
Center, and quite a number of graves
are now there, enveloped in a langle
of bushes and briers.
In 1876, the town of Glover was be-
gun by the establishment of post
Office on the Narrow Guage railroad,
and a considerable community was
soon gathered. Mr.. J. a. Wilson (now
Rev. J. A. Wilson, one of the synodi-
cal cvangeliSts), who was teaching the
school at Glover, begun Sabbath
school, which was taught in the school
house. The community generally took
part in this Sunday school.
Rev. w. G.. White was at that time
of the Female college in
Yorkville, and the people of Glover
engaged him to come up two Sundays
in the month and preach for them in
the school house.
Sumo few occasional services were
held at Old Center after services were
begun in Clover; but these were soon
given up, and the Center congregation
merged into that of Clover.
The land at Centre had been given
for church purposes with the provls-
ion that if it ceased TO be used as such,
it would revert TO its original owners.
The spot where the building stood is
now covered by a cotton field on the
Of Mrs. =. l.. Jackson.
Mr.. White continued to preach at
Clover up to the time of the organ'za-
ton of the church, which took place
July %, 1881.
The commission appointed by Beth
el presbytery to organize the church
of Rev. J. Lowrie Wilson,
Rev. S. l.. Watson, Rev. T. i. English,
with Ruling Elders DIR. y. 7. Camp
bell and S. Leroy Adams.
The commission met and discharged
its duties in the academy. There
were ST charter members, nearly all
from Bethel. The elders elected were
DR.. a. 7. Campbell, J. ID. Gwin, }. }.
Smith and J. \. Wilson. The deacons,
J. W. Beamguard, J. W. Lawrence, r..
Il. smith, }. II. Barron and J. B. Pc
gram.
The early history of this church was
so identified with DR.. A. i. Campbell,
that any sketch of it is imperfect
some special mention of him.
He was the leading spirit in lis estab-
lishmenl stood as its pillar up to the
time of his death, and is missed by lis
every interest up to the present time.
Immediately after the organization,
the building of the present church was
begun. 1t was completed during the
year. The original contract was for
81 200. The steeplc was aiterward
added to the plan.
Rev. =. l.. Watson had retired from
the charge of Bethel, and was engaged
hy Glover as lis supply. The vencr.
able old man had preached hut few
times under this engagement, when in
from the pulpit, he STUN
hlcd and fell. Although apparently
not very seriously hurt, he never
preached again, nor entirely recov-
cred.
The lirs. pastor was Rev. NJ. Il.
kirkpatrick. He was installed May
). 1883, and served until March !,
1891. The church was fortunate in
having him at its head during lis for.
native period. BY his strong convic-
tions and his fearless and persistent
pressing Of them, he did much to
shape church habits into good form.
This is notably the case in the general
participation of the people in the
sunday school services. He waged
unrrlcnlng war OH "outSide classes. "
There are not many churches in which
50 few hold aloof from the Sunday
school.
Glover church begun with employ
ing the pastor for three.fourths of his
time; the remaining fourth being en-
ployed by the church at Blacksburg.
This arrangement continued for some
length of time. 1t was found, how