Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1905-08-09
WALHALLA, :. G..
WEDNESDAY. AU1. %, 1905.
PRESByTERlANS AT REIHEL TO-DAY.

AT Bethel Presbyterian ch -ch to-day
there is gathered a large asse r,blage to
celebrate the anniversary OF the one
hundredth year of the existence of this
organization, in whose church fol three
generations tho Word has been prea, led
and praises sung to Almighty Go :
within whose sacred precincts young
men have led young maidens to the sa-
cred altar; at whose chancel has stood
the faithful minister of the Gospel and
christened the infants, and parents have
consecrated them to tho service of God :;
from whose doors have been tenderly
carried the biers of young, middle-aged
and old to the last resting place meath
the shade of the spreading oaks to await
the final call at the resurrection.
Glorious Bethel-glorious past, present
and future! What living memories of
the past are to-day being revived in the
lives of those who have lived to witness
the ceremonies of to-day! How sad,
and yet withal how pleasant, to look
back over the past, recall those who
have passed over the river and now rest
beneath the sod, almost within the
shadow Of the little church near the foot
OF the everlasting hills. where in life it
was their delight and their custom to as.
semble and worship the God of all crea-
ton, in the simplicity and purity of
faith that is not found in the larger
churches, where formality, the dividing
Tine of wealth and poverty and social
caste have entered and marred the true
spirit of worship. The little church has
stood at Bethel all these years as a
tabernacle to the Living God, and while
there is no pretense or outward show, on
entering within the sacred walls one ex-
pericnces that restful feeling found no
where save in the house of God that has
stood for years untainted by the world,
directing by its holy atmosphere it's men,
bers and the passer by to higher and bet
ter things.
The gathering to-day brings together
i'll peculiarly close relation former pas
tors and former members to mingle once
more with those who still worship regu-
Early at the little church situated in the
place so dear to all who have lived in or
near the Bethel community Ties of
friendship and love are being renewed
and fellowship revived that will liuger
with each participant until the ties of
this life are severed. How sadly missed
are those who have gone before, who,
though dead, speak more eloquently
than the living-whose passing from life
70 death has tended to draw the living
to closer walk with God and better
understanding of life here and give a
brighter hope for the life hereafter.
Around old Bethel cling memories that
can but bear good fruit to-day, and in the
future as in the past this church will
stand to guide the traveller along the
narrow road that leads to life everlasting.
We honor Bethel! Long may she stand
and continue steadfast to her trust, rep
resenting the best that is i'm this life and
pointing the way to the life eternal. We
welcome her visitors alike to Bethel and
Walhalla, and may this reunion be both
pleasant and profitable to every one who
attends.
The centennial celebration will con-
tinue through tomorrow, the following
being The program for the day:
Morning-Song service II o'clock,
sermon by the Rev. VIM. G.
Neville, ID. d., LII. d., President of the
Presbyterian College of South Carolina;
tntcrmission of two hours.
Afternoon-Prayer and praise service;
address by the Rev. j. A. Sharp, Presi-
dent of Young Harris College; unveiling
Of monument; Bcnediction.
Capt. Evan i. Howell died i'm Allan q