The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1901-10-10
"REMINISCENCES AND IMPRESS
SIONS.
REV. Mr.. ROCKS OBSERVATIONS.

EDITOR THE COMMONWEALTH -
Alter an absence of twenty-tour years
1t was indeed pleasure to be able to
visit your town once more. This
privilege became possible through the
generosity and kind invitation OF the
Baptist saints of your town to attend
reunion of the pastors of the Scotland
Neck Baptist church.
Scotland Neck has always occupied a
consecrated spot in my memories OF
the past. It was there that the first
years OF my married life were spent.
It was there that God gave to us our
first born children. 1t was there that
with but little or no experience en-
tered upon what / may term my first
pastorate. The universal kindness re-
ceived at the hands OF your citizens,
and the loving forbearance exercised
toward me by the members OF the
church will ever be a source OF grateful
remembrance.
When / arrived in your town
few days ngo, I found that time
had wrought many changes. The
kindling eye, the hearty hand-grasp,
the words and tones OF friendly
greeting from many I had known in
by-gone days, were missing. Many
gap had been cut by time. Many a
link in the friendship of the past had
been broken. Brethren Shields, Gray,
Lawrence and others we're not there.
Where were they? God had willed
that they should lay their burdens
down. They had ceased from their
labors. They had crossed over the
river and entered into rest.
But while so many were gone, 1t was
a Joy to find that many still remained.
And it was a sweet and sacred pleasure
to feel the vibrating chords OF the
memories OF other days as I mingled
in Christian fellowship with those
whom had known in the days gone by.
But turning from these reveries, l
would speak of other things. Again
and again through the years l had
heard of the prosperity OF your town.
But all that had heard had not pre-
pared me for the changes that had
taken place. Memory carries me back
to q village of about three hundred
population. There was one long street
running through 1t, along which the
houses we're so thinly scattered, as to
barely suggest the possibility that they
we're Joined in one corporate existence
Along this highway there was tram
, road on which there was a pretence OF
a train, whose trips; were attended with
90 much uncertainty that the citizens
3 in terms OF derision called 1t the "t}y'
: weekly" meaning thereby that il
s would "try" to make the trip to Hail
. fax one week, and "try" to get back t.
! Scotland Neck sometime in the next.
: There were not moro than three O
-four stores in the place and no manu-
y featuring industry that 1 remember
! Az / walked over the town on my re
d turn it seemed that some magician
l. must have cast his spell upon tho
y to blight but to bless. On every ham
!, were marks of prosperity. From ever.
n standpoint, educational, material ant
= religious, her people seem to be beatinl
1t time with the restless activity an
- progress that mark the age. SUI
r rounded by fine country, the outloo
Y TOR Scotland Neck is bright. Her clti
y zens by well-directed and intelligen
q industry seem determined to meet tn
II demands of the occasion and to max
" the most OF their opportunity, both fe
d. themselves and these with whom the
e are brought In business relations. Th
! numerous stores, stocked with good
and filled with courteous and attentiY
10 clerks, show their determination
Of meet the demands that may be mao
~ upon them. And the crowds til,
., throng the streets show that her me
chants are in favor with the people.
Her people have always been int
~ ~ ested In the subject of education, Al
no the schools of high grade which thu
er maintain show that their interest
ng this matter has in no way dlminishe
y And as you mingle among her Poop
=. the elegant hospitality, gentle courtes
is- and refined culture which meet "
M on every hand, show how much the
81, Institutions have done and are st
&. doing for this town.
,ar The material, educational and !
'9e ligious prosperity of the town, seem
= 70 hand in hand. can only SPEAK
nc the church with which was associ.
ed. I remembef it asa weak and feel
band surrounded by much to discor
ago it. The hand of our God has
or deed been upon this church for got
lug He has multiplied its membership a
I'M. blessed its work until 1t is q power
,rs. good not only in the town but throue