Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-10-30

eighty ministers, and in that large and
influential element In the U. P. church,
which came from the A. r. P. synod
Of the north and west.
The result Of the agitation Of the
question Of frequent communion in
the A. r, P. presbytery Of the Caroli-
mas and Georgia was a decision in ia
vor Of that scheme by large majori-
ty Of those who then constituted said
presbytery. OF the ministerial men,
bers Of that presbytery, Peter McMil-
len and William Dixon protested against
above named decision and withdrew
from the A. R. P. presbytery. Sharon
congregation then under the pastoral
care of Mr.. Dixon, adhered to him with
probably a very few exceptions. This
secession took place about 1904 or 1906.
It carried with a number of congrega-
tions in North and South Carolina.
Very soon after this secession. prob
ably In 1904, the above named minis
ters and doubtless the people agreeing
with them sent a petition to the Asso-
ciate synod Of North America. This
Associate synod Of North America was
composed Of those Associate ministers
who refused to go into the union in
1882, which formed the A. R. P. church,
and such Of the Associate people as
adhered to them during the period in
tervening between 1882 and 1905. This
body of Christians by natural in
crease and by accessions, both Of min
listers and people from Scotland, had
become a very respectable and in
fuential body mostly located In New
York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The re-
suit Of the above mentioned petition
was, the Rev. John Anderson, D. D..
author Of Anderson on Faith" and
Rev. William Wilson were sent to the
south to visit these ministers and peo-
ple At that visit they organized a
rresbytery called the Associate Pres
rytery of the Carolinas.
OF this presbytery. Revs. McMillen
and Dixon were the original ministe-
rial members Mr. Dixon still contin-
red pastor of Sharon congregation
Thus you will perceive that from be-
ing an A. r. P. congregation under the
care of the A. r. P. presbytery OF the
"arOlinas and Georgia, 1t became an
associate congregation under the care
Vt the Associate presbytery Of the Car
,linaS. in connection with the Asso-
ciate synod Of North American. In
this connection 1t still enjoyed the
1924 or 1925. l possess no means OF
nscertaining the precise date when Mr.
Dixon ceased to be pastor Of Sharon.
It is certain however. that it was a
vacancy in 1926, for in that year II
"nited with Tirzah and Carmel Hill In
call for Rev. w. NJ. McElwee, then
a licentiate OF the Associate presbytery
of the Carolinas, and a graduate OF the
Associate Theological seminary al
Canonburg. Penn. This call was pre-
sented to Mr. McElwee in October
1926. and by him accepted. He began
regular preaching to this congregation
in January, 1927, but was not ordained
and installed until the first Thursday
IN April. 1927.
According to the best information
can get. the session of Sharon during
the pastOrate Of Mr. McElwee, consist
ed of Joseph Bigham, Andrew Roddey
Samuel Wylie and William Gibson
This was the last session Sharon had
in connection with the Associate pres
bytery Of the Carolinas. They have
been reported to the writer as being
good men, men Of prayer and good re"
pute with all the people. About the
year 1885, they all removed from South
Carolina. Mr. Bigham going to Steele
Creek in North Carolina. The other
three all going away to the northwest
The Rev. McEfwee continued pastor
] of Sharon till 1882. During the last
few years Of his pastorate, the church
was much vexed and torn by angry
controversy on Free Masonry and the
slavery question. The result was Mr.
IMcElwee finding he could not success
fully and peaceably enforce the rules
of the Associate synod on these ques'
tions, rather than compromise his con-
science, Identified his charge tn tht