The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1903-06-04
"REMINISCENCES g. sa5fist Pfi fTS;s sssiitie5 a 5st

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of God and each other. No othe
conclusion can be drawn when W
consider with what difficulties they
attended their meetings, the dis
tance traversed and the modes o
conveyance.
Think cf the membership of
church being scattered miles aroun(
and from their church, md ye
when the meeting days came al
went afoot, or horse back or in OF
carts; and they would go two, three
four and perhaps five miles to b
at "meeting." Especially was thi'
SO On Saturday, for this was the
day of great moment. AS they
would wend their way through the
ntain Businesses, through val
leys and over hills to reach the lit
tie church (perhaps built Of logs
GO hear Daddy Cobb, or "EIder'
King or brother" Blythe nothing
could prompt to so act save the
pure and undefled religion Of
Christ.
And as with the Individual
church member so with the "Mes-
seugers" to the association. They
would travel mostly horseback;and
it was necessary that they leave
home a day or two before the as
sembling of the body in order to
reach the place in time. The coun-
try was not as thickly populated as
now, the roads not us good, for
then it was up a hill and down,
they did not have the buggies and
carriages to ride in and the distance
frequently was twenty, thirty and
forty miles.
The business of the body and
the order IN which it was conducted
was quite different to that of to-
day. About the only rules ad-
hered to by the present association
that was pract:oed by our fathers
is the preaching of an introdutory
sermon the first day and at the be-
ginnlog of the meeting, enrolling
the delegates and reading the con-
stitutlon, Bylaws &c. After
these preliminaries letters and
messengers from other associations
would be called for. And there
was always "Messengers.' Thev
would bear q personal letter from
The association to which they be-
Ionged which would be fraternal
IN spirit and tell of the blessings
bestowed upon the churches in that
particular body and urge the breth.
rem to 60 on conquering sin and
working for the Master. It would
be- q letter of exhortation and
orotherly loye and would consume
some time in reading. It would
be prepared by some one specially
for that purpose and by
him carried to the association and
read. frequently there would be
several Messengers from the same
association and each perhaps
would have something to sayof the
spiritual condition of the churches
IF the association they represented.
And there would be several Asso-
Citations to send Messengers ahd by
the time each of the letters. were
read and talks made considerable
time would be consumed.
After this the association would
appoint a number Of brethren,
about three to each Association, to
bear like greetings and messages
from this body to those who sent
Messengers to this. This would
usually constitute the days work,
and the day would usually be on
Saturday.
Sunday would be devoted to the
worship of God. Services would
usually begin at 9o'clock and con-
tinue until late in the afternoon.
There would usually be four SER
mons preached by four different
mon, two in the forenoon and two
IN the afternoon, and these services
were usually attended by large
congregations from far and near
and the meetings conducted in the
spirit OF revival. There have
been in these meetings many con-
versions and great showers OF bless
ings upon the people. Indeed it
was made an occasion Of spiritual
feasting. These worshipers were
noted for their deep piety and rev.
erence for things not earthly.
They were generous and kind, large
hearted and hcspitable. They