Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-05-13
wALHAl.hA. SOUTH cAfsoI1NA. MAY Is.. 1908.
AN INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES.
Presiding Elder Child Writes Of Old Times
and Old Friends.

In the last issue of The Missincer, the
monthly periodical issued by the Metho-
dists Of the Greenville District, Rev. r.
A. Child, the Presiding Elder, has this
following article, which will be of inter
est and will be appreciated by his friends
and the public:
"Sinoe the last issue of The Missioner
we have completed our first round on the
Greenyille District. We found the dis
trict in good shape, and preachers and
people hopeful of the best year in their
history. Everywhere we met with the
warmest welcome, and friends of former
days gave us a hearty hand-shake and o
CHEEKY God bless you.'
cat Pickens, our old home, where for
more than sixteen years we practiced
law, a very largo congregation came out
to hear us preach, and gave the very
closest attention while we attempted to
expound the precious truths of Gods
word. AS we stood up before that splen-
did audience and looked down upon the
upturned faces of the people, our heart
swelled with gratitude to God for His
goodness in permitting us to return and
preach to the people among whom, in
the long ago, wa scattered the wild oats
of our youth. At the same time feel
missed many familiar faces of the 'auld
lang syne.' Some of these had crossed
over the river. While their spirits had
returned unto God who gave them, their
bodies were peacefully resting in the
village cemetery hard by, there to remain
until the resurrection morning, when the
sleeping dust shall again start into life,
at the voice of Him who is the resurrec-
ton and the life, and who has said, If
live ye shall live also.'
"About two miles out of Pickens is
Bethlehem. Here we were reminded Of
an incident that occurred on a quarterly
conference occasion more than twenty
years ago. DR.. Samuel q. Joaes ~as the
Presiding Elder, and DR.. s. p. III. Elwell
the pastor. 1t was cold, dark, rainy
day, and not more than dozen of the
clustered Immediately around the pulpit.
just before services began two goddess,
dissipated men of the world from Pick
ems drove into the church yard, and en-
tering they sat about midway of the.
church. DR.. Jones eyed them closely
for moment or two, and then announced
his text: Turn ye, turn We, for why will
ye die, o house of Israel p And such q
sermonl Though preached at only two
were preaching to thousand. At the,
conclusion of the sermon the door of
the church was opened, and one of the
men of Pickens went forward and gave
his hand to DR.. Elwell, the pastor, as a
candidate for church membership. The
other was amazed and thought his COM
panion drunk. Years passed; the first
of these two young men was stricken
down with fatal illness, and beside his
dying bed stood the friend and compan-
ion of Bethlehem, rejoicing with him as
he shouted the praises of his Saviour.
For many years now this man has been
in heaven. DR.. Jones and DR.. Elwell are
also there. The fourth man still lives
and now fills the place then SO ably filed
by DR.. Jones. His friend and companion
on that cold, dark, rainy Sunday at Beth
!ShhsT was Col. j. c. Thompson, of the
Pickens Sentinel, and at one time pub.
Usher of The Keowee Courier at Wal
halla. Peace to his ashes"