The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1903-06-18

but from the records their efforts
were never very great nor their
operations very extensive. We
trust that the small beginning may
have large ending, that the seed
planted by our fathers may multi
ply one hundred fold and more.
The first mention of. Missions was
in 1847 when resolution was
passed to organize a Home Mission
Board, the duty of which "shall b.
to employ a minister or ministers
to preach the gospel in such fields
as they shall designate, having first
in view the more destitute portions
of this association. ~ The Boaro
was not appointed and no further
mention is made of Missionary
work until 1863 when a report was
made showing that the Board had
received $4,000, and they with that
money employed five different
brethren who performed fifty-five
days work (preaching,) and was
paid fifty cents per day. These
efforts continued at intervals
sometimes Missionary work would
be done and then again there would
be years elapse and nothing done.
In all this time nothing was said
and no efforts made to send the
gospel beyond the bounds of the
association. In 1875 great Mis-
sionary rally took place at Cathey's
Creek church in North Carolinn,
for it was there the association held
it's meeting that year. I say "great"
because it was the longest step
taken by the association during its
existence for the spread of the
gospel. And f surmise that Rev.
A. w, Lamar had great deal to
do with infusing such zeal into the
brethren. At that meeting the
association decided to aid State,
Home and Foreign Missions and
they appointed committees to look
aftsr and report upon these inter-
ests. The first year after this the
sum of $94, 95 was raised for State
Missions which shows that the
spirit which took hold Of them at
Cathey's Creek had not diminished.
The association has never done
what she could do along this line,
indeed I do not believe that she
has done one-tenth of what she
could or should do, for besides
being the largest denomina-
tion in the county, they are the
wealthiest. But in the early years
there was opposition to Mission ary
work, indeed there we're members
of the churches who did not believe
In supporting the pastors. They
were in this sense hardshelIs and 1t
was great draw back to the Cause
of Christ. And I am ashamed to
say that we have some among us
today who believe tie same way,
because there are many who do
not contribute from one end of the
year to the next one cent for any
purpose. And If we take the re-
ports of the churches a large per
centage of the members do not be-
lieve in supporting the pastors OF
contributing to Missions. Christians
can have their honest differences as
to methods Of work, but this should
not lessen our interest in the cause
Of Missions. While we are wrang-
ling over methods and plans souls
are going into eternity unsaved,
and their blood will be required at
our hands. The watch word and
great cry Of this year should be
Missions. No matter how you
send the money SO it gets there.
Another important matter the
Baptists of this section was q little
slow in--education. They have
manifested some interest along
tins line, but have been and are
now in some respects behind their
brethren Of other sections OF the
State. The first effort to establish
a denominational school was in
1884, when the Tuckaseige Asso
citation sent delegation to this
association requesting that the
two bodies meet together by their
representatives Gin counsel to con-
suit upon the propriety or impro.
priety of establishing literary
school." The request wss not
granted, for what reason is not
known. Nothing more was done
along this line until 1875 when the
members became 90 much inter-
ested in the cause of Missions at