The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-12-12
Manning Baptist Church History.

T
Manning Baptist Church History.
The address we priot below was de-
livered by Captain D. J. Bradham on
Sunday Nov. 25, at the celebration OF
the dedication of the present baptist
church building. We expected to pub
lish it last week, but was unavoidably
prevented 1t is of general historic in
terest and L good paper. The address
is as follows:
Brethren and Sisters OF the CHURCH,
1t is with feelings of profound thank
fulness to Almighty God that we stand
here to-day to speak Il word concern
ing the history of this church. Len
years ago stood here in your presence
to perform this duty, and feeling OF
profound gratitude comes over me as l
recall the fact that some who were mere
then are not here to-day, ana God Tor
some wise purpose has spared my lie
to be here today and enter into the
spirit of this occasion and to assist IN
the tenth anniversary Of the dedication
of this church. In the historical ad-
dress of ten years agoI reviewed the
past history of this church from its or.
eanization to the year 1896, and told
YOU how these years had been years of
struggle, of tears and at the sametime
of triumph and victory and that Gods
unseen hand had led US along through
the wears broadening the work and in
creasing the possibilities, and deepen
ing the responsibilities, and in and
through it all God has brought US on
our way with increased hopes. Ten
mllestones lie behind US and almost
each one of them marks new expert
ences tor the church. shall today de-
part from my usual historical address
and give you a vision Of the past as we
beh old it in the grip Of years.
You have assigned me the duty OF
travelling with you along through the
checkered life and varied scenes OF this
church, through period OF nearly fifty
years, more than the average life OF
human being. To review the past life
of man IS years old from infancy to
old ago is no small job, and to recall
the history of church is task equal
Iy as great. am perhaps the only liv-
ING member of this church who was
present at It's organization forty-eight
wears ago, and because of my close
Identification with the church through
all these years I am perhaps better fit
ted for the task than any member pres
ent. The historic life of this church
began back yonder before the civil
war, before there were any churches,
schools or manufacturing Industries or
even places of business to draw people
to the church. A little band of God
fearing men and women came out from
old Moriah, Fellowship, and Home
Branch churches and constituted what
is now known as the Baptist Church Of
Manning. They were few in number
and had not much of this.world's goods,
vet God blessed them and crowned
their efforts with success. With mere
handful of people this church started
out upon it's God-given mission with
Rev. j. J. Fleming as pastor and lead
er. Brother Fleming served in this
capacity for two years, having as his
Deacons and co-laborers James D.
Hodge, and Hugh F. Touchberry, who
filed their respective places in this
capacity faithfully and we'll until their
death.
The second pastor of the church was
David w. Cuttino, who served the
church through period OF nine years,
during which time the church grew IN
numbers. and in spiritual power. His
pastorate covered that dark and stormy
period known as the civil war when
many of the members enlisted and went
to the front to suffer and to die for
their country, among whom were John
r. Havnesworth and James D. Kelly,
these noble sons laid down their lives
on the battlefelds of Virginia, and lett
others to take up the work OF the
church which they had so nobly begun.
After the war clouds had passed Broth
er Cuttino continued his work among
US, gathering up the fragments ofhome
and kindred that the war had left, and
trying as best he could to begin anew
the life of the church. From the year
1869 to 1870, Rev. E. A. Edwards served
the church, and in 1871. Rev. &. w.
Mahouev served as pastor only eight
months. From 1872 to 1915, Rev. W.
E. Hughson served as pastor of the
church, and his Cody life and walk
and deep spiritual insight into the
Word made CHS the most spiritual
period of the church history. Rev. NJ.
T.. Ball was called to the church in
1875. and served as pastor one year,
after which came Rev. J. W. Perry,
in 1877, who labored in our midst for
nearly eight years, when he resigned
to accept o5her work. Brother Perry
was strong in body and mind, and
stronger still in the great doctrines OF
the church. and deepened greatly the
broad teaching of the Bible as is be-
leved and held by Baptists. From
1884 to 1883, Rev. L. D. Bass was the
pastor of this church. Following him
came Rev. T. J. Rookie. who served the
church very acceptable for two years.
From 1890, to 1892, came the pastorate
of Rev. T. e. Jasper whose period will
60 down in histei.y as the darkest and
most stormy period in the history OF the
church. Discord and strife abounded
on every hand. From 1892 to 1894, the
church was without a pastor save two