Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1905-02-08
centennial Of old BETHEL.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS FROM THE
RECORDS OF THE PAST.
THOSE WHO SERVED THE CHURCH.
Proposed Celebration Mex! Summer viii Be
Both Interesting and Profitable.
[For the keowee Courier ]

1T Is now one hundred years since
the organization of Bethel Presbyte-
rian church, which is situated about
six miles north of Walhalla, and as
we want TO hold centennial celebra-
tion at the church the coming sum
mer, we have concluded to give few
extracts from the records of the
church book to awaken some interest
in the celebration, and ask the CO.
operation of every one who feels an
interest.
From the church records we find
that
In the year 1906 Bethel church,
Pendleton district, South Carolina,
was organized. The first house of
worship was built of rough round
logs. Rev. Andrew Brown was
the first pastor, and Gen. Andrew
Picks ans, Nathan Lusk and Robert
White were the first ruling elders.
Afterwards hewp log house was
bYit.
The families comprising the congr,-
CATION were as follows:
On Little River-John McWhor-
ter (school mastery, Nathan and
Henry Lusk, Alexander Keown,
John Hughes and Andrew Pickens.
On Oconee Creek-Thomas Lesley
and Francis Jenkins.
On Cane Creek-Patrick Ander-
son, Alexander and John White,
James Anderson, Oliver Woods,
John and Josiah Houston, Jesse
Neville, John McWhorter (black-
smith), and Mrs. Ware.
On Conneross - Arthur Mellow
and Abner Steele.
In the year 1872 Rev. Andrew
Brown commenced teaching at
Mount Pleasant Academy and taught
three or four years.
a few years later quite a number
of the families composing the con
gregation emigrated to Alabama, and
long interval now ensued, Of which
we have no account, as the church
records have been lost.
We again commence at about 1916.
A new framed house was erected,
which is the one now used, and Rev.
John l.. Kennedy preached as stated
supply. The ruling elders were John
Todd and Joseph Burnett, and the
number of communicates was
eighteen or nineteen. The church
then became vacant, Rev. Mr.. Ken
nedy having removed from the dis.
trict. Rev. VIM. McWhorter fol-
lowed as stated supply for some time.
In 1852 "A. ID. Gaillard moved
from Anderson county and he was
elected an elder. In 1854 S. r.. Nc
Fall moved from Pickens court house
to Oconee Station, and he was elected
an elder.
From 1855 to 1853 Rev. W. H.
Singletary, Rev. A. w. Ross, Rev.
David Humphreys and Rev. VIM. Nc
Whorter served the church as stated
supplies.
In 1858 Rev.D.C.Boggs became pas
tor of the church, and Josiah ID. Gail.
lard, having removed from Mount
Zion church, where he was an elder,
was elected an elder in this one.
Capt. Elam Sharp having moved
his membership from Pendleton, and
having been an elder there, was also
elected an elder. John Sharp and
David Duncan were elected deacons.
In 1859 there was a protracted
meeting held, lasting about two
weeks, which resulted in many ac-
cessions to the church. The services
were conducted by Rev. d. G. Boggs,
Rev. s. S. Gaillard, Rev. f. p. Null
lally and Rev. II. l.. DeVaux.
In 1860 DIR. l.. b. Johnson was
elected an elder, and in 1861 Rev.
w. Z. Grady was stated supply and
continued as such until 1865. Rev.
S. S. Gaillard was then elected as
stated supply. Rev. Hugh McLees
was also stated supply for a short
while.