The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-06-03
SUCCESS OF REV. S. R. BASS.
Pastor Newly Dedicated Baptist Church
Located at New BrookIand.

Located at New BrookIand.
Mondays Columbia State contained
the following account of the dedication
of the New Brookland Baptist church,
whose pastor is the Rev. S. r. Bass,
well known in Laurens, his native
county:
Yesterday afternoon the new Baptist
church of Broollland was dedicated,
Rev. b. M. Lightfoot, of Orangeburg,
preaching the dedication sermon. Rev.
L. M. Bailey, d. D., the venerable pio-
neer secretary of the Baptist State
mission board assisted in the services.
a large congregation was present to
witness the beautiful ceremony, includ-
ing the townspeople of all denomina-
tions.
This church has "a most unique his
tory and the erection and dedication of
this new building attests the loyalty
and true Christian enthusiasm which
characterize the membership Starting
IN 1876 with very small membership,
the church has gradually grown until
today it boasts a membership of more
than $50. The first church building
erected was destroyed in the 1905 fire
which almost wiped out the town. I'm
daunted, the pastor and members went
to work to raise funds for the erection
of another building. Just few weeks
before the completion of the second
house of worship, July, 1906, cy-
clone swept over ~ town and the
building was dest' d. Once again
the congregation b, Al to raise funds
for rebuilding, Mr.. ". r. Lowe being
appointed to solicit funds throughout
the state. Their appeal met with
hearty response and it was not many
months before work on the new build
ing was started.
The present church building is well
arranged and commodious, having a
seating capacity of about 500 1t is
centrally located, neatly furnished and
we'll ventilated and lighted.
This church has been served by sew
'eral pastors, in the order named: Rev
M. }. Willoughby, Rev. w. ]. Dowell,
Rev. J: E. Duren, Rev. G. l.. Finch,
Rev. N. A. Hemrick Rev. S. B. Ste
phens and Rev. S. r. Bass.
During the pastorate of Rev. Mr.
hemrick there were 100 conversions
and the church became self-supportinp
and contributed literally to the mission
work.
Rev. Mr.. Bass has been pastor of the
church for nearly two years and his
labors have been indeed fruitful The
present building was erected during his
pastorate and every dollar of indebted
ness has been paid. He is beloved not
only by the members of his congrega-
tion but by the people of Brookland of
every denomination.
5. Il. Bass was born in Laurens
county, not far from Suffletown post
office, Nov. Is, 1869. His father was
G. w. Bass, who came from about 80
miles below Augusta, Ga. His mother
was Miss Isabella Nabors, raised in
Laurens county. The early education
OF this young man was mastered prin-
'cipally at night, his parents being not
well blessed financially. He thus work
ed on the farm and helped his father
till he was 20 years old, when he went
to Fountain Inn to school. After being
there for only five months his father
died and he returned home to help take
care of his mother. He remained with
her for two years and married Miss
Laura Blakely, of Laurens county. He
then studied and taught small school
that, year and in the fall of 1892 enter
ed the freshman class of the Presbyte-
rian College of South Carolina, at Gin
ton, where he remained for four years
He left there in the summer of 1896
and soon began preaching in Aiken
count V, his first charge being at Lang
ley. E.'e taught school for about seven
years, D. .~eaching at the same time.
He is a high-minded, consecrated
Christian nd is an earnest and enthusi-
astic worker in the great cause.