The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-01-30
Wednesday, Jan. 80. 1907.
Has Chester Designs on ASbeville7

Rev. E. B. Kennedy, pastor OF the Associate
Reformed church at Abbevtlle, announced
last Sunday morning that he would be absent
from his hurch next Sunday; that he would
be 10 Chester on thai day. When DR.. Mof1att
was elected President Of Erskine College last
October there were whisperings In the air To
the effect that the Associate Reformed Pres-
byteriaus OF Chester had their eyes on the
Abbeyille pastor with q view to calling him
to fill the place which would be made vacant
BY the resignation Of DR.. Moffatt to 60 to
Erskine. And now We presume that MIR.
Kennedy will 60 there to preach for the Asso-
ciate Reformed people on Sunday next.
If he has been invited TO make a trial ser.
mon, as We suspect, he will be sure to please.
n the call will come later. Chester being
larger field Of usefulness than Abbeville. end
q selfsustaining congregation, the chances are
when Mr., Kennedy Is aske ed TO 90 up higher
aud to accept q better place than Abbeyill
can give, that he will not refuse. Chester Is
one OF the very best congregations In thu
Synod and Its ability and willingness TO pay
for q good preacher Insure to them the best
service and the best talent. Abbeville seems
TO be q sort OF stepping stone 10 be used by
preachers in rising to higher positions and
more important places. Mr.. Pressly wa
elected 10 q position In Erskine; Mr.. Grier
wal chosen pastor OF . rich congregation OF
Presbyterians in Alabama; Mr.. Sloan was
called to Greenville TO the pastorate Of the
largest congregation of Presbyterlans in
Sout b Carolins; Mr.. Ewart received a call to
York, and he went to preach in that city. MI.
RI BIB was with US. but be was asked 10 60 a.
q field oflarger usefulness.
And now It looks al II Chester. rich and
strong, Is about to swoop down upon the
poor little congregation at Abbeville and take
their pastor. Nobody makes any complaint
at the popularity OF our preachers. Nobody
blsmes any preacher for going up higher, but
Abbeville Is sorry that II Is not stronger and
richer. so that 1t could hold a good preacher
against all corners The difficulties that beset
the poor, and the disad vaptages under which
a weak congregation struggles, are many.
Abbeville does not want q preacher that
nobody else would have. and having seen the
difficulty in keeping a preacher OF our OWL
liking, II il moved that q committee OF church
builders be appointed TO lengthen our cords
and strengthen our stakes 80 that neither
Erskine College. nor the Presbyterians o.
Greenville, nor the Presbyterian Of Ala
bama, nor the. Associate Reformed PresbyteS
rians Of Chester nor York may be able 10
separate Us from any pastor whom we love.
This thing of being poor and weak is not for
our best interests, and q laymap, on his W
account, and without authority from any.
body. would respectfully invite good men and
good women 10 come and join the little church
around the corner 30 as TO give the Associate
Reformed Presbyterians such power and
strength as will enable them TO keep a good
preacher, however much theirs may temp
him. A preacher Is in the pulpit to do good
to all men, and he las q chance to do good 10
a greater number where the Sunday attend
ance Is good. and those who attend are gen.
ally able end willing to pay. All that II.
necessary TO keep the best CT preachers Is to
I'LL the pews. and the pews will keep of those
who may come to take from Us the richest
jewels.