Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-05-05
TUESDAY, MAY S, 1908

ton. Rev. Il. b. Craig, of the Pres
byterian church read the Scriptural
lesson. and the dedicatory sermon was
preached by Rev. DR.. j. 5. Monatt'
president of Erskine college. He TOOK
his text from Colossians Ill, IL;
"Christ Is ALL" and in clear, earnest
and eloquent discourse showed that
the Christian religiOn-all hope OF
salvation. past, present and future
has always been, is, and Will AWAY"
be, through the personality Oh Jesus
Christ who is, and will always be just
as He was during the time HIS sayings
and doings were recorded In the gos-
pels.
At the conclusion of DR.. Monatts
sermon, there was a recess or one
hour for dinner. A long table had
been erected near the church ana
within a short time the ladies of the
congregation had loaded it with good
things to eat. 1t was estimated that
there must have been between 700
and 500 people present. Some put
the estimate at 1000; but that esti-
mate was probably excessive, as the
ordinary seating capacity Of the
church is close to 500, and even with
all available space utilized as 1t was,
this could hardly have been doubled.
But anyway, everybody was invited.
There was a hush until a blessing had
been asked, and then common enjoy
ment of the splendid spread. After
everybody was satisfied there seemed
to be enough of everything for as
many more.
The congregation returned to the
church at l.3O and after Psalm by
the choir and prayer by DR.. Johnson
the exercises were continued with
short addresses by Hon. d. Z. Finley,
Hon. j. K. Henry and Rev. ID. G. Cald-
well, the latter former pastor OF the
congregation.
| Mr. Finley reviewed his earliest rec
objections of Neely's Creek, told how
his aunt Mrs. Campbell, had taken
him there and to Tirzah when a boy,
referred to his baptism there, the good
sound doctrine he had heard from the
pulpit, and the pleasant and lasting
personal friendships he had formed
with members Of the congregation.
He stated that while there may be ex-
ceptions to the rule it is a fact that
more material prosperity comes to
people who live in the greatest fear OF
God. and said that he felt sure that the
splendid prosperity that had come to
Neely's Creek congregation was be-
cause Of the faithfulness of the faith
ers and mothers of the community In
raising up their children in the fear Of
God.
| After congratulating the congrega-
ton on the facts that had been recited
| by DR.. Johnson, the building OF the
church without noise, without hot
suppers, ice cream festivals and 9TH
er means of giving somebody else's
money as an offering to God" Mr..
Henry spoke of some Of the character
istics of old time Seceders as devel-
oped through their habit of teaching
| the Shorter Catechism to their chill
dren, observing the Sabbath, speaking
the truth, paying their debts. etc. He
deplored the fact that the catechism
habit was being abandoned In the
home and left to the Sunday schools,
and that Sabbath observance is less
strict than it used to be. He declared
that at one time membership In the
Associate Reformed church was
Il 90 tol
and that many merchants, even Jews
had been known to extend credit to
Seceders on no other account than the
general reputation Of that denomina-
ton in meeting just obligations But"
he said with earnest emphasis, II
don't want any Of you younger ones
to presume on that as a compliment
to yourselves. I say your fathers were
that way; but l am not saying that
you are following in the footsteps OF
your fathers. 1 am afraid that the
practice today is less strict than 1t
ought to be-" He warned the congre-
cation that there was no such thing
as standing still in Gods work-that
those charged with 1t either progressed
forward or backward, and they must
guard against being satisfied with the
splendid achievement just consum-
mated in the erection of this splendid
house, else they would be seized with
dry rot and go backward.
Rev. D. g. Caldwell spoke very
briefly, referring with pleasure to the
| ha nf w.
and expressing satisfaction at the
progress the congregation was MAX
ing as evidenced by the occasion Of
the days exercises.
After Mr. CaidwelIs remarks the
services were closed with the bene-
diction. AS much of the noon recess
as practicable had been devoted to the
welcoming Of strangers, and the ex-
change Of greetings between the wide
ly scattered members Of the congre-
CATION. At the conclusion Of the days
service some fifteen minutes or half
hour was devoted to salutations and
conferences between neighbors and
friends and pretty soon the public road
in both directions was alive with long
lines of vehicles in which the people
were rapidly pushing to their homes.
1t was characteristic red letter day
at Neely's Creek and like all red letter
days, this one was thoroughly enjoy
able and profitable to everybody.
| The Enquirer has made several ef-
forts to secure a good photograph Of
the new church building. but did not
succeed until last Saturday when it
received one through the kindness Of
Capt W. L. Roddey. The photograph
was forwarded to our engravers at
once, but it was impossible that the
engraving could reach us in time for
this issue. In the next issue, however,
unless there is unusual delay, there
will be a picture of the building and
also brief sketch of this interesting
| m