The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-08-23
CORNER STONE FIRST
BAPTIST CHURCH LA1D
(Continued from page ~

ou' III the Fall OF 1888 delegates wero
appointed and a letter written to tho
needy River Baptist Association into
which body the church was du]v onJ
cordially received. In March, 1874
1hree additional deacons were chosen
y. B. o'Neall, M. T. Mendenhall and
Drayton Nance-and, by special reso.
lu'lon OF the church, they were gre
quested to conduct all prayer-meet-
ing from time to time, and to take
part IN any other religious exercises
TO which they may be prompted bv
the Spirit, in aid Of the nostor
OF the church." At the end of 1894
tne nightly efficient and blessed pastor.
ate OF Mr.. Hodges came to a close.
In January, 1885, Rev. Daniel Man.
gum, pastor of Bush River Church
was invited to the pastorats and en-,
tered upon his labors, assisted by Rev.
Il. Lindsey. At the same time. Dea-
cons O'Neall and Mendenhall HAVING
shown decided gifts for public sneak,
ing and the conduct of public wor-
snlp' were by the church "authoriz-
ca TO exercise their gifts in any way
'hat they might deem their duty, eth
er IN public prayer, exhortation or.
preachlng.' 1t was no uncommon
slght at that time, and a deeply i'm
PreSslve one, to see the tall figure of
the pastor, clothed in a long white
robe and followed by number O f can
d1dates similarly clad, attended bv a
vast crowd, marching in procession
10 the baptistery in the grove already
mentioned, to administer the ordin-
ance or baptism. And as they march
ed, the pastor would line out the words
OF some appropriate hymn and lead
III the singing of it, in which all the
people joined.
In February, 1886, Thomas Frean
was licensed to preach, and in the
Fall of 1887 he was ordained to the
ministry. In '37, Mr.. Hodges return
ed to the pastorate of the church.
preaching, however, only once q
month through '37 and part of '39,
tie was succeeded by Rev. Thomas
Frean, and during his pastorate in
l940, Rev. j. A. Chaplain acted as
assistant. Mr.. Frean's ministry end
ed with the year '42, and he was Sue
eeeded by Rev. Samuel Gibson, of
Greenville, who rode down through
the country and filed his appoint
ments once or twice a month. At the
end OF three years-in JAN, 1846-he
was succeeded by Rev. J. G. Lam
drum, of Spartanburg, and il 184S he
was succeeded by Rev. M. C. Barnett,
also OF Spartanburg, whose pastorate
lasted two years-to the end of '49.
During this period of the church s
hlstory-from the close Of Mr.. Hod-
ges' pastorate to 195O-no decided
change IN its condition. had taken
place, but it had sustained the loss Of
two of its leading influential men,
bers in the death Of Thomas Pratt
and the removal Of Dr.. Mendenhall to
Charleston.
In February, 1850, after CORES
pondence by Judge O'Neall through
DIR. Mendenhall, the church called
Rev. j. j. Brantly, then of North
Carolina, and on the 18th of May, in
that year, he began his long and use
ful pastorate. On the 11th day of
November, 1850, Y. J. Harrington,
who had been the treasurer of the
church from its very origin, and q
deacon from the time of his election
two months after the church was con-
stituted, gave up his owrk and enter
ed upon MS rest. Drayton Nance sue
ccedeI him as treasurer Of the church,
and in 1852, G. II. Scott was elected
deacon. At the May meeting in 1852,
the communion set, still used by the
church, was given by the pastor,
through Deacon John S. Carwile, who
presented ii in the name and at the re-
quest Of DR.. Brantly, "togcthcr with
the expression Of hope, that the
season, in which it may be called in
to use to remind us Of our Redeem
er's death, may afford us a foretaste
OF that sweeter communion which we
may all enjoy in our Redeemer's pres
ence." In the same year, through the
active efforts Of the female members,
who had what they called "working
society," money was raised and some
important improvements were made
IN the church building. On the 9Th of
November, 1852, just two years after
the death of Deacon Harrington, the
church sustained another great loss