Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-11-03

1t by some Bible name, but they finally
agreed to call it Mount Vernon after
the home and last resting place Of the
Father Of his County''-George Wash
ington.
With the exception Of the nails and
glass used in building the house, there
was not a single article of the material
but grew in York county. The lumber
was dressed by hand, the framework
put together with mortise and tenon,
and it was a model house when finish
ed. The sash, blinds and doors were
made at home. Some years ago, the
writer was there when the matter Of
recovering the house and making some
other repairs came up, and Mr.. w. S.
Wilkerson made the remark that he
didn't suppose there was single mem
Der Of the church present who had ever
paid out a cent for it's repairing or
beautifying, and it was time that this
(their) generation should do something
for it. Up till the war, your cores
pondent attended this church.
For several years Mr.. Fletcher Burns
was superintendent of the Sunday
school there, and these services were
generally attended by a large number
Of the young people and several Of thel
heads Of families were regular attend
ants. We had none Of the lesson help
as now used. Each scholar took his
Bible and the lesson was set one day
for the next. The main exercise Of the
school was Bible reading and singing.
The superintendent, minister (when hel
was present on preaching days) orl
some one else would make talk on
the lesson and in the course Of his re-
marks would throw out questions tol
test the scholars knowledge Of thel
lesson.
On Friday 21 of December, 1860, (the
day after South Carolina seeded from
the Federal Union), the Sons Of Tenn
perance had rally at Mount Vernon
and a large congregation was present.
Hon. w. C. Beatty Of Yorkville, Rev
R. A. Ross, Hon. 1. D. Witherspoon, Sr,
Rev. Samuel L. Watson and other
eminent speakers were invited to make
addresses. But owing to the contin-
uous rains and bad roads none OF them
came. Rev. James R. Castles was the
only speaker present and he made a
good talk. The rain had been falling
for about two days and Broad river,
Bullock's creek, Clarks Fork and
Kings creek were all out over the low
lands and kept many away from the
meeting. It was estimated that at least
500 people were present, $50 Of whom
were sons of Temperance.
The days proceedings, however,
formed no small part Of the early his
tory of Mount Vernon-it will always
be remembered by those present on that
occasion. The closing exercises were
very impressive when one hundred
men and women-Sons and Daughters
of Temperance, we'll dressed and
wearing their regalias, gathered around
the chancel and to the tune Of Plenary
sung the closing ode:
Be each heart free from care,
Let every brother seek his home
And find ,contentment there.
May Joy come with tomorrows sun,
And every prospect shine,
While wife and friends laugh merrtly
Without the aid Of wine"
A long and we'll loaded table was on
the grounds and everybody invited tol
eat. 1t was day Of unalloyed pleas
ure for all present. However, a serious
accident happened that was much to
be regretted. A TALL dead pine tree,
standing in the hollow at the eastern
end of the church was blown down and
killed horse Of Mr.. Amos Burns of
the Beersheba neighborhood.
II my recollection serves me right,
money was made up on the ground tol
buy him another-of this am not quite
certain, but move in that direction
was started then and there. There are
other incidents Of more or less i'm
port might speak of, but it would
make this narrative too long.
would like to give the names Of the
membership of the church, but in the
absence Of the proper roster that is i'm
practicable at this late day, will say,
however, that among them were some
Of the best families living in that COM
munity and most Of them have their
representatives there today.
James L. Strain.
Wilkinsville, Oct 90, 1908.