The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1909-12-29
SOME SOME WORK WORK AMONG
BAPT|STS OF COUNTY
Pastorates Served BY Rev.
e. c. Watson.
HIS YEARS OF LABOR
Interesting Facts Concerning Some OF
the Baptist Churches in Laurcms
Count, Possibilities.

quite often Is 1t the case that those
ministers who serve churches in the
county are not given consideration for
the work accomplished in their pastor
ates. Theirs is a difficult task. and
they follow their ways year in and
year out, quietly and with no undue
assumptions, performing their duties
regardless OF whether they are consid-
cred or not. And yet, if the totals
could be made up, ii their work could
be properly calculated the people
would be astonished
In the statement that follows there
are some facts and figures that de
serve thought and attention. Asked
about his work in Laurens county
and. in fact, the work OF his entire
ministry, Rev H. c. Watson of the
| Baptist denomination talked with in
! terest, relating some facts that the
people will be glad to receive. The
work. in the matter of contributions
especially. among his churches in the
county deserves consideration.
Regarding his churches, Mr. Watson
| said:
six years ago the 31st of this De
cember came to Laurens and took
charge of Rabun Greek and Chestnut
Ridge churches as pastor, and three
years ago took Highland Home
church. The above named churches
constitute my present field of labor.
| close N 4.
twenty-four years of humble and
seemingly inefficient service for my
blessed Saviour.
During these twenty four years
have been pastor of the following
churches: Antioch. Cedar Grove Cedar
Shoal, New Hope Unity. Padgett's
Greek. Lower Fairforest. Lanford
Bellview. Hurricane, Union. Corronaca
l-angston, Sandy Level, Enoree. and
Mt. Lebanon
My longest paStorate was with the
dear old Langston church where
was pastor for fourteen years. |
served Antioch as pastor seven years.
Enoree seven and Padgett's Creek six.
was pastor at New Hope and Lanford
twice
In all the churches that I have
served | have witnessed some glorious
revivals, and scores and hundreds of
souls it has been my privilege to bury
with Christ in baptism. the work
would rather do than anything on
earth.
While the work has been hard and
difficult, owing to long distances. bad
roads, and cold and heat. yet the 10Y
and pleasures have out weighed the
hardships, Many have been the tan
gihle expressions of friendship and
love, for which | am profoundly thank
full
81 now have a l.rge field and an
apprcciative people Our possibilities
are large, our opportunities are many;
shall we as a Baptist people of the
i-aurens association measure up to
our possibilities?
"Rabun Greek has membership of
two hundred and twenty-five (225)
Contributions for this year for all pur-
poses are six hundred ninety dollars
and fifty two cents C$60O.52), an av-
erage of three dollars and six cents
t$3.OGl per member. Highland Homes
membership is one hundred forty-four
GiD, gave three hundred two dollars
and seventy-two cents C$3O272) an
average of two dollars and ten cents
t2.l0) per member Chestnut Ridge
has membership of one hundred and
twenty-five G22), gave eight hundred
twenty-five dollars and fifteen cents
($S25.l5). an average of six dollars
and seventy-six cents C$6.76) per mem
ber
We have in the Laurens Baptist
| association thirty 900 churches with
a membership of three thousand four
hundred and sixty-one (3,46D. We
gave for ali purposes seventeen thous-
and one hundred and ninety-flve dol
lars t$l7,195), not quite an average of
five dollars $500 per member.
I'VE are now in the evening of this
good year 1909; soon the sun will set
and forever the opportunities and priv
! ileges of doing good will be past. Can
our Heavenly Father say of each one
of us: We'll done good and faithful
servant?" Let the new year, soon to
dawn upon us, be the best year of our
history. He that winneth souls is