The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-05-15
THE OLD HUGUENOT CHURCH
One of Charleston's Religious
Landmarks IS to be Closed

u
The most ancient sanctuary in South
Carolina is IN jeopardy of being closed
Tor public worship. For more than
two hundred years the IIugucnUt exiles
OF France, who fled to tins State after
the revocation of the cdict of Nantes
by Louis XIV, and their descendants
have sent up their prayers from the
same sacred spot. Under the bcauti-
full building OF The IIuguenot church
and around 1t III Tie elm shaded GENE.
terry lie the bones of their fathers of
the congregation, who, for conscience
sake, left home and friends and brayed
The pcrlIS OF the sea TO make new
home in the wilderness. Formerly
this church was wealthy, but the war
despoiled IT OF most of its capital, even
tue sacred vessels of the communion
table and the organ having been stolen
by Sherman's camp followers. The
organ, however, was fortunately re
stored to the church and still accom-
panics the praises of the congregation
The llugucnOt church as il stands
to-day is the Presbyterian church
stripped of its badness and raggedness
and the low Episcopal church. Slran-
gers cannot tell which 1t Is. The con
fcssion of faith of the kingdom of
France, which is translated IN French
and English IN the appendix to the
liturgy, is as red hot Calvlnism as any
thing furnished from Geneva The
church has unique personality, a
wonderful history. 1t remains the
only distinctive IIuguenot congrega-
ton in all tins broad land. During
the ccnturiessof its existence it has cx.
pcrienccd fire, flood, INVASION, earth.
quake.
llugucnots were strangely part OF
the very beginning of American his.
tory. The first Protestant settlement
upon this continent was that of Jean
Ribaut within the present limits OF
South Carolina.
In 1850, the date of the settlement
ol the city Of Charleston, Il colony oi
lluguen IS arrived, having been sen
out by the English government to cul
tivatc oil, wine and silk. But tho
larger emigration came in 1856
when French Protcstants II ckcd t.
this State In great numbers. The,
formed four settlements, one in tht
city and three in me country. Eacl
OF these settlements had its church
The three chu:chc IN the country wer
subsequently merged into the establish
cd church of the cplony. The Churcl
of England became established il
l7OG. Too poor to sustain, offerc,
support for their church and minister
by the established church, they gra
, dualIy yielded, but they did not con
form to the Episcopal authority unit
Z after the dcceosc of the IIugucno
D ministers. The Ilugucnot church i
v Charleston retained its autonomy an
: Identity and held it until today.
i The church here is the only churc
Il III America where l!ugucnot hturgc
/ and lluguenot songs are stiA said an
c sung rs of yorc. Its prot type was
{ small upper chamber in Eticnne Mar
y sin's house in Mcaux, in 1916, I'll
u lluguenOt church in front of whic
n the first Huguenot pastor, the fir
l. elders and the leader Of the first Hugu
Is not congregation were burned 10 deaf
to at fourteen different stakes, surroun
'd ed by weeping wives and childre
o cruelty constrained to witness the q
'ir cent to heaven of the souls of th,
re dearest and best. Within its sacr
AT walls in Charleston IS repeated |
gc simple and beautiful liturgy brouy