The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-05-17
"REMINISCENCES OR OLD BEAuYYSpQIYI ii

ossVuN WV 5tnovttUR VI bn0 81 SUNDAY 60nOOl
Conference at Beauty Spot, on Irtlday, Tho
fret day Of the session.
In writing about Il, it Sis not my put. !.
poso to give an account OF tho proceedings
that gill bo dono by others. I feel that
can venture to spy this much beard tho
discussions ( Of the different topies that
woro on the programme for that day and
the speeches, considered good.
The business OF the Conference aud tho
maine Of the place where it was assembled
awoko ip my mind reoollectlons Of tho
long ago. Sixty seven years ago With
others walked three miles to old Beauty
Spot to attond Sunday School, and oan-
not recolleot any who were scholars except
my kln5nan Robert II. Hamer who Is q
little older than myself, and Mrs. Julia
Watson aud Mrs. Druollla stubbs, do not
undertake to say that they arc all who
aro now living who belonged to that Sun.
day School, they are however all I can
reoolleot Mono Of these named were pres
ent on Friday, had they been could have
enjoyed q Reunion with them.
Eli Thomas was superintendent. The
male teaohors were John MoOollum. VIII
liam Dudley, James II. Bolton aud Col
William j, Cook.
We did net have any International Les.
sons then. Our lessons were ia q little book
with the title "Sorpture Questions" It had
nothing 10 It except the questions, there
was no comment. no explanatory notes, oil
the help one could get was from tho Tes.
lament, and this re were under the neS
cessity of having In studying tho Lesson. I
committed TO memory verses Of Scripture
which havo noves forgotten. In those
days 1t was common to teach spelling and
reading in the Sunday School. The primer
Webstere blue back spelling book and the
oateohiam wore all contained In the Sunday
School Library.
Singing was not speciality, thers was
no other bssi6es the Methodist Hymn book
Col Cook and James II, Bolton raised the
tunes, nm excellent order for that day, but
the childien did not sing, not because they
could not sing, but thoy seemed to think
tho singing had to be done by the grown
people. The children could alng, FOR when
ct home they might bo often heard eingng
tho Camp Meeting songs, which they had
learned at thoae annual gatherings.
But alap! however large the nohool how.
ever interesting, as the fall Of the year
came on and the mornings became cold It
he'd to be suspended for the winter. There
were no stoves used In churches In those
days the churches in the country gener-
ally were not noiled aud It was best for all
concerned to suspend.
It had been said by some that s,stovea
are q meana Of grace" I don't know 40
we'll about that but do know from exper.
ieuce that they are means Of comfort.
They contribute to the welfare OF the
Sunday Schools, and OF tho congregations,
and largely to tho welfare Of tho proaoh-
ers
I now have vivid ,reooleotions OF how I
used to suffer In the early part OF my min.
istry, whom the Sunday mornings were
Geld and It was necessary for me to travel
eight or ten milen to my appointment,
whom reached the place was suffering,
6ngers aching, feet cold, my body chilled,
and no place to warm, oxoept the Sunny
side OF tbs church, and that would only
warm mo enough to help me ahake like a
man with ague, and If started with any
qualifications for my iuty, 1t was mostly
thokcn out, lint how different now. Yhc
Ml,llhse afs Gcne,ally ceiled or plnatorcd
thc most a lhem .are furnished with
9toyeG eod whou tna nr,ther ie oold the
Windows aud dooya atu ccncd, good tiras
arc kcptin tho stoves, and The Sunday
Sohoois can eoufcne oyen in mid winter
and oYof! body comfortable, tlo preach
r afcor ne hae ridden lew niles cnn
warm hsmseif Ds the FIRE, aud tho ooux.o
cation can quietly sit and hear his message.
Tho,rh u |, ~ ,u.,..,. 4,
49,. % Co.,. I' ,,, t.om ouo
;.o,,.a -, ~" uo'o 80
;a.o.;., oa.aa. III. y m'u
an appointment aoout eight miles f,om
homo, on bitter cold day. When reaoh.
ed tho church somo four or fve persons
were around llghtwood knot fire. After
warming little ! said TO them: Breth.
reu this is very cold day and IL we go
into the church aud attempt to hold
regular service we ahnll suffer, ani l think