Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1905-08-30
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF Bethel Presbyterian Church, Read at the
Celebration Of the Centennial Of the Church,
August 8, 1905, by Col. Robert A. Thomp.
son.

Gentlemen OF the Committee,
Ladies and Gentlemen This is a
real, tangible centennial celebration!
One hundred years have elapsed
since the organization of Bethel
Presbyterian church in 1905. This
effort took place under many ad-
verse circumstances. The Revolu-
tionary war had been brought to
close and "life, liberty and happi-
ness" had been secured by the result
of the contest. There was, of course,
more or less decentralization in the
country, growing out of the war and
attendant circumstances. The popu.
lation was sparse and the tSohool
master" had just made his ap-
pearance. The British had al
ready departed, the Tory had
been given an opportunity to
make honest repentance, and the
Indian, with the exception of few
"friendly Indians" had been driven
to seek another home in the "happy
hunting grounds" in the great West.
The people OF that early period
had already commenced the work of
improvement here; not only ma
terially, but socially and morally.
The Christian was not only con-
cerned in the opportunity TO worship,
but also to open up the way for
schools as we'll as churches. You
have before you to-day the happy
results of these efforts. We, there
fore, most cordially welcome you to
the full enjoyment of this auspicious
occasion, together with the fruition
of the hopes of our forefathers in the
sturdy effort made by them to bene-
fit mankind-not only here, but in
the joyous world to come.
1t may interest us somewhat, per-
haps, to look for moment behind
the departure of the "Redman of
the forest" America had been dis
covered more than four hundred
years. The Indian was here then in
his majesty and ignorance. He may
have been found on this very spot.
He was the supreme ruler. The
country was an unbroken forest
The grass was luxuriant everywhere
in its season. The wild flowers were
also many and very beautiful Game,
from the buffalo to the hare,
abounded. The Indian had no axe,
no spade, no plow, no hoe, and
nothing but fire could fell the trees
of the forest. But with the game
and handful of maize the Indian
had his "staff of life" War was his
chief occupation, and the "bow and
arrow" his chief weapon of offence
and defence. Small tribes were
thus destroyed, and the victors cele-
brated their victories. We do not
know how long the Indian had been
here, and history does not inform
us. In all probability we may never
know!
The Revolutionary war closed in
1882. 1t was twenty three years
until our centennial period COM
menced. This brief period was en-
ployed doubtless in quieting the
country and in securing population.
From the Northeast--Maryland, Vir-
ginia and North Carolina, came fine
population. These, with the "heroes
of theS Revolution" officers and pri-
Yates, were more than welcome, and
only claimed their own. Among
these were Gen. Andrew Pickens,
Gen. Robert Anderson, Col. Samuel
Earle, Col. Benjamin Cleveland,
Horseshoe Robinson and many
others-"good men and true"-found
com Portable homes among us, greatly
improved the country and developed
sturdy yeomanry which has not
been excelled in any land or country.
Gen. Pickens and Gen. Anderson
came from the territory now known
as Abbeville, and found homes on
Seneca river, near where the Blue
Ridge railroad crosses that stream.
The first home of Gen. Pickens was
known by the name of Hopewell,