The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-08-23

* fuun,i Saviour. The Neiyhborlng
country Baptist churches. and those
Of other denominations, also, receiv-
ed of the fruits Of the meeting in In
creased numbers and quickened spir-
itual life.
As one of the results Of this meet
ing, and mainly Of persons baptized
during its progress, the Newberry
Baptist Church was organized, on
the 3Oth day Of September, 1881,
with forty-two members. The pres
bytery which constituted the church
was composed Of the following min
listers: \. ". Hodges, Jonathan
Davis, S. Worthington and Daniel
Mangum. The exercises consisted Of
a prayer by Mr.. Mangum, the adop-
zion Of constitution by the church,
an address by Mr.. Davis on various
passages Of Scripture relating to
church organization and government,
and the reading Of part Of the third
chapter Of First Timothy, with re-
marks on the qualifications Of dea-
cons by Mr.. Hodges. The church then
proceeded to elect John S. Carwile,
Deacon. and John NJ. Barnes, Pastor,
and the Presbytery at once ordained
them. The pastorate Of Mr.: Barnes
lasted only three months, to the end
Of 1881, but they we're three months
Of constant and rapid growth on the
part Of the church. Frequent meet
ings were held. and at every meeting
persons we're received for baptism.
At the first meeting Of the church
after the organization, held on the
18th day Of October, 1881, Y. J. Har-
rington, VIM. Wilson, NJ. 7. Menden-
hall and Thomas Pratt were appoint
ed to assist the deacon in the dis
charge Of his duties; and at a meet
ing held the next month-November
5th-Y. J. Harrington and Thomas
Pratt were duly elected to that office
and entered upon its duties.
In December, 1881, Rev. N. W.
Hodges was called to the pastoral
care Of the church, and began his pas
torate the first Of January, 1882; and,
what was somewhat remarkable, in
view Of the custom Of the time, he
was chosen, not for a year, but as
long as it might be agreeable to him
self and the church. During 1882,
and apparently throughout the pas
torate Of Mr.. Hodges, there was
preaching two Sundays in the month.
No day seems to have been fixed for
communion service, and the first of
which there is any record was held
the fourth Sunday in May, 1882, the
meeting having been appointed a
month beforehand, and beginning on
Friday and continuing through Sun
day. At this meeting Of the church
for the celebration of the Lord IS Sup
per, a communication from Rev. Sam
uel P. Presley, of the. Presbyterian
Church, was presented, in which was
the proposition "that the members of
sister churches Of different denomin-
ations agreeing in their views Of the
Lords Supper, though differing in
other points, beallowed the privilege
of occasional communion in each 9TH
ers' churches, without at me same
time giving up their conscientious
views in which they are known to
differ.'
The proposition was taken into re-
spectful consideration, and the pastor
was authorized to make a courteous
reply declining on conscientious
ground, to practice inter-communion.
Thus early in it's history the church
was called upon to place itself on re-
cord with reference to the practice
of the denomination in the observance
of the Lord s Supper, and did 80 with
a frmness and a courtesy worthy OF
the Christian name. It was in keep
ing with this spirit, and striking
illustration of the true catholicity
which has ever distinguish this
church, that at the July meeting Of
that year 1882 a resolution was
passed offering the use Of their house
of worship to evangelical Christians
of other denominations who might
wish to use it, at any time when the
pulpit was not occupied by the pas
tor. The record Of that July meet
ing contains the first allusion to the
church building; but subscri ption
was started soon after the organiza-
ton in the Fall Of '31, and the build