Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-02-05
STORY OF BULLOCK'S CREEK.
[Continued from First Page].


DR.. Alexander relinquished the pas
torate Of Bullock's Creek church, on
March 27, 1901, and Rev. w. c. Davis
became pastor in 1906. and continued
his labors for four years, and until ne
preached, published and advocated GER
tain views of Christian doctrines which
were not in accord with the doctrines
of the Presbyterian church as set forth
in the Confession of Faith, and for
which he was deposed from the minis
try by Concord presbytery in 1911.
We might here give a history OF this
matter, but for the purposes Of this
sketch it is unnecessary.
Mr.. Davis went west after this, and
so far as we know still continued to
hold the religious views he advocated
which caused his withdrawal from the
Presbyterian church.
In 1917 Rev. Aaron Williams, IL
centiate of Concord presbytery was
called to the pastorate Of Bullocks
Creek church, and in August, 1919, he
was ordained and installed pastor.
At that time the bench Of elders were
John Dickey, Joseph Feemster. Stew
art Brown, John Smith, Henry Plexico
and Allen Dowdle.
Rev. Mr.. Williams served Bullocks 8
Creek church in connection with Sa-
lem In Union county. In 1925. these
two churches reported under his min
istry, ITO communicants-elev Of
whom were received within the last
twelve months. In 1926 they reported
173, seven Of whom were newly receiv-
ed. In 1928, 1S0, nineteen Of whom had
been received during the preceding
year.
Rev. Aaron Williams continued to
serve the church until 1888, when his
pastoral relations were dissolved.
Rev. w. B. Davis then served the
church as pastor once a month until
1885, from and after which time he
preached twice a month. The MEM
bership Of Bullocks Creek church was
greatly reduced and the harmony OF
the church disturbed by the trouble
arising from the affair Of Rev. w. c.
Davis. So far as we are informed the
bench Of elders then were: John Dickey,
Joseph Feemster. Stewart Brown, John
Smith, Henry Plexico. Alexander Dow
die, Charles Gilmore, John FeemsteI,
David Leech, John King and Henry
Dowdle.
Under the ministry Of Rev. VIM. B.
Davis Bullock's Creek church was
grouped with Beersheba and Mr.. Davis
continued to serve them until the en1
of his active ministerial life.
In 1910 the membership Of Bullock 8
Creek was 121. In that year four
members were received upon examina-
ton. 1t was eighty-one the following
year. From 1912 to 1S45 1t was So.
From 1S46 to 1S49 it was fifty-two, and
in 1850 it was fifty-one.
At this time and for some years af-
forwards the bench Of elders were: j..
p. Hood, ]. Simpson Hemphill, Givens
Gallagher and John Davidson.
To complete this sketch now Will be
to trespass upon the patience of our
readers, therefore we will be compell-
ed to omit the last half century. The
records we have are so incomplete we
might do unintentional injustice to
some deserving" man or woman VINO
has figured in its history.
However 1 trust I will be pardoned
for referring to Rev. R. P. Smiths pas
torate from 1887 to 1890 inclusive, AMI
incidentally to himself. I have already
mentioned that it was his work with
that of his congregation, which erected
a beautiful and substantial monument
to the grave of Rev. Joseph Alexander,
the first pastor Of Bullock's Creek
church. For eighty years the grave OF
this eminent divine had been neglect
ed-marked only by a cheap soap
stone slab, and 1t covered with moss,
until Rev. Mr.. Smith made search for
it among the hundreds Of graves.
Scraping the moss off and decipherinG
the inscription -hs- -iacated the place
where Precious dust Of DR.. Alex
nder sleeps and began the work OF
erecting the monument which was fin
ished and unveiled on the 18th Of Octo-
Der, 1890, with imposing and appropri-
ate ceremonies. A full report Of which
proceedings were published in THE
YoRKv1LLE ENQUIRER, Oct. %, 1890.
The shaft speaks for itself.
God greatly blessed the labors OF Mr..
Smith in that the young people espec-
tally, were drawn to the church and
trained for the work Of the Master, and
in the members was developed the
grace Of giving as an act OF worship
From a long personal acquaintance
with Mr.. and Mrs. r. P. Smith the
writer feels that he can speak OF them
as the inspired writer did Of Zacha-
rias and Elizabeth: "They were both
righteous before God, walking In all
the commandments and ordinances OF
the Lord blameless." For years and
years to come, no doubt, the finger
points of these Christian people will
be seen and felt in Bullock's Creek
congregation. And we now have the
satisfaction Of knowing that they are
doing for the mountain section of
Western North Carolina what Rev.
Joseph Alexander did for this country
nearly $50 years ago.
There are many Others both men and
women, of whom I would be glad TO
speak, but I have made this sketch too
long already.
Therefore I close with an apology to