Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-01
NEW PASTOR OF TRINITY.

Information was received here yes
terday afternoon that Rev. o. NJ. Alb
ney, has been assigned to the pastor
ate of Trinity church. Yorkville, vice
Rev. Henry Cauthen, who has had this
charge during the past two years and
who goes to WATERFORD. During the
past two years, Rev. Mr.. Abney has
been stationed at Lowndesville, Abbe-
vile county. BY way Of introducing
Rev. Mr.. Abney to his new charge and
to our readers generally, 1t gives us
pleasure to reproduce from the Twen-
tieth Century Sketches Of the South
Carolina Conference, the following:
Rev. Olympia McKelvey Abney, son
of DR.. Ezra S. Abney and Mrs. Mary
Jane Abney (nee Holeman), was born
in Lexington county, S. c., March 8,
1872 His paternal grandparents were
of English and French descent, his
great-grandparents having come to
this country from England and settled
on a grant of land in what is now
Edgefield county. His maternal grand
parents were Of German blood and ma
tives Of Lexington county. The faith
war, after which he graduated at a
medical college in Philadelphia. Soon
after graduating he married Miss Hole
man, near Durant, Miss, where her
father was then living. Returning with
his happy bride, the doctor settled In
Lexington county, where the subject OF
this paper was born. The good doctor
and his devoted wife still live and now
reside in Rchland county. To their
tolls and sacrifices, under God, our
young friend owes the thorough edu-
cational preparation he has received
and no doubt he fully appreciates their
kindness. May he ever prove worthy
Of such parents.
Brother Abney's education began ir
the home and was continued in vari-
Gus schools in Lexington and Richland
counties, until the year 1890. In Octo-
ber Of that year, he matriculated al
Wofford college. Owing to the fact his
preparatory education had not beer
thorough, his first years at college were
loaded with extra work. This, how
ever, he was able to do and graduated
in June, 1894. While in college he was
secretary of his class. He did mission
work in Sunday schools and prayer
meetings. For several months after
his graduation, he taught School a.
Boiling Springs, Lexington county. lr
the fall Of 1895 he entered the theolo-
gical department Of Vanderbilt univer-
sity. He made a fine record here also
graduating with honor in 1898 and re-
ceiving the class medal.
From his early years Brother AbneS
felt inclined TO the work OF the minis
try. His parents being pious, devoted
Methodists. the boys life was sur
rounded with the best Christian infiu-
ences. He joined the church at ole
Harris Chapel, in Richland county wher
twelve years old. He was converted
under the ministry Of Rev. ]. w. Nee
ley At the age Of sixteen years his
call to preach then became distinct ano
unmistakable. He fought against 1t
however, for two years, but finding
that resistance was vain he yielded
He was licensed to preach August 5
1898, under Rev. E. T. Hodges, presid-
ing elder.
Soon after leaving Vanderbilt univer-
sity. in 1898, Brother Abney was ap-
pointed to Cartaret Street church
Beaufort, to I'LL out the term OF Rev
P. A. Murray who had been appointed
to a chaplaincy in the Second regiment
S. c.. volunteers for Cuba. In Decem-
ber of that year he was received or
trial into the conference, and was ap-
pointed to the Star and Iva circuit
where he served for 1S99-19O0.