The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-05-23

with the instructions Of Presbyeer,
preached in Clarendon church in No
vember following, and united the two
into one church. There being only
two Ruling Elders, Messrs. S. J. Nc
Faddin and J. c. Burgess, and NJ
Deacon in this church, it was deter
mined to elect two additional Elder:
and two Deacons. Accordingly il
April 1859 Messrs. Gabriel Plowder
and Robert Alec Chandler were elected
ruling Elders, and Messrs. John J. Gar
vim and Samuel M. Plowden Deacons.
The next month the three last men.
toned were ordained to their respec.
tive Offices. Mr.. Gabriel Plowder
having already been ordained as ar
Elder in Harmony church. All four
We're installed into their respective
Offices. One OF these, the venerable
Samuel NJ. Plowden, still holds this
Office of Deacon, to which he was in.
stalled in May 1859, just At years ago.
A long service.
After the location OF Manning, and
the union Of Clarendon and Harmony
churches, it was found that the church
building was inconveniently located
1t was therefore determined to erect
another and better one in Manning.
This was accordingly done. A very
neat church building was erected
costing about s2700 on a beautiful lot,
donated by the Hon. John I. Ingram,
M. D., who afterwards became mem
Der of it, and continued so until his
lamented death. On the 1st Sabbath
of September 1859, the pastor, Rev.
James Mcdowell, preached the dedica,
ton sermon in the new church, from
the 9TH Chapter of Johns Gospel, 24th
verse. "God is spirit, ard they
that worship Him, must worship Him
in spirit and in truth The church
was then solemnly set apart for the
worship of Almighty God.
Soon after this Presbytery by request
changed the name from Clarendon tc
Manning Presbyterian church.
The pastor of these churches was a
Chaplain in the Confederate army from
July 1862, until he was surrendered
with General Lees army at Appoma
tox in April 1865. During this period
he was able to preach to his churche:
only occasionally, when at home or
furlough.
Immediately on his return from the
army he resumed his ministerial duties
In April 1870 Presbytery dissolved
the pastoral relation between the pas
tor and these churches, and appointed
him Evangelist to the many vacant
churches it had at that time within its
bounds. During that period he preach.
eG when he could to these two church
es as well as to the other vacant ones:
and they had some supplies and preach.
ing by licentiates and different min.
listers. After this arrangement had
continued about three years, Mannine g
and Brewington churches presented
calls to Presbytery for Rev. James Nc
Dowell to become their pastor again,
and to give them the whole of his time.
Presbytery leaving it to his decision,
he accepted these calls, and was again
installed their pastor.
Some years after this Manning
church asked Presbytery for the whole
of its pastor; time, Offering him a sal.
ary OF 500. This was agreed to. Brew
ington church was given up and all
of the pastors tine wcs devoted to
Manning church. Some years later a
vacant church asked for one fourth OF
his time. This was agreed to with the
understanding that this church would
be released from paying one fourth Of
his salary, and would pay S525 instead
OF S700, as it gave up one fourth of his
time. This arrangement was long con-
tlnued, though in connection with diff
ferent churches, the pastor giving
three fourths OF his time to Manning,
and the other fourth to some vacant
church.
Many years ago, few members OF
Manning church having moved near
to Summerton. and there being several
other Presbyterians living there, a
branch church was formed having the
same pastor, ruling Elders and Deacons
as the Manning church. Later it was
formed into a separate organization,
and called Summerton Presbyterian
church, Rev. James Mcdowell being
its first pastor.
Manning church from it's organiza-
ton to the present time has had Is rul-
ing Elders. as follows:
J. S. McFaddin, J. C. Burgess, Ga
briel Plowden, r. A. Chandler, John
Blakely, John J. Conyers, B. Presley
Barron, James E. Davis, F. N. Wilson,
Charles r. Harvin, Wallace NJ. Plow-
den, William G. Davis, Joseph F. .Rhame,
E. E. Dickson and D. G. Shaw.
The first mentioned have been re-
moved by death: the 6 last still hold
this Office.
1t has had u deacons, as follows:
Samuel NJ. Plowden, John J. Harvin,
J. Minto McFaddin, James E. Davis,
J. T. Stukes, B. Presley Barron, W.
NJ. Brockinton, E. G. Horton, J. Il.
Mcknight, Lucius Harvin, George L.
Dickson and A., I. Barron.
The first and two last still hold this
Office: others have died or ceased to
act.
Near the close OF 1899, Rev. James
Mcdowell offered his resignation as
pastor of this church. In January fol-
lowing Presbytery dissolved the re-
lationship.
He continued to supply the church
until the first OF April following when
his work in it ceased, just AZ years and
2 months from the time it commenced.
During this period 384 members were
added to this church, and although
some 254 of that number had died,
moved away, or had their names eras-
ed, there were still about l30 on the
roll of communicates One OF the or
iginal six members died before the
pastor came to the church. The re-
naming five have since passed away.
Not one who was a member when this
pastorate commenced is today living.
What commentary on the truth that
we are all pilgrims upon earth, and
that ''there is none abiding!''
The Rev. F. W. Gregg commenced
laboring in this church soon after it
became vacant. On the 1st of August,
1900, he was installed as pastor, and af-
ter years and months of faithful SER
vice he resigned. Through his efforts
a neat parsonage was erected on the
church lot.