The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-31

High Honor Paid the Memory of the
0re~t Missionary, Dr. J. Leighton
Wilson.

years. that nursary OF foreign mis-
sionaries whose zeal and self-sacri-
nce have carried TO many benighted
pagan lands the light OF the Gospel
and all OF whose influence for good
only eternity can disclose. that home
Of as generous and an unostentatious
hospitality an the hospitable South
has ever known. was Thursday the
scene Of gathering the like OF which
q would be dinicult to fnnd elsewhere.
AZ this historic religious center were
gathered hundreds of the descendents
of John Witherspoon and his compan-
Ion scotch-Irish Presbytsrians. who
coming from North Ireland. In 1872
settled 1t old KIngstres and founded
williamsburg church. bringing Chris
kiar;ty and civilization into th4
wilderness OF Carolina. and spreading
thsncs up Black River founded
eommunity that has. for nearly two
centuriss. been Characterised by all
that - best In American citisenship.
ths foundation-stones of which have
been. and are. sincsrs piety. industry
and an intelligent appreciation of
che advantages Of education and the
culture that Is Of tho heart a. well
- the mind. Met together with
ehess descendents of the Scotch Irish
pioneers were other hundreds Of their
friends from far and near who had
come to Join In with them In paying
. trsoute TO the memory OF Rev. John
leighton Wilson. one OF the mos. dis
tinguished and consecrated sons Of
III Zion. whose life was given to the
service Of God and the salvation Of
his fellow men: q man whose life was
devoted TO labor and to giving and
not 20 taking and accommodating.
whose talents were neither put out at
usury for settlement. nor hidden IN
the ground. but we're freely expended
for the good OF humanity; who de-
voted the best years of his life to the
service Of people who had no claim
upon him by reason Ut ties Of blood
and association: whose name Ia writ
ten upon that sacred scroll that con-
Gains only the names Of those who
loved supremely their fellowmen and
In their lives reflected the spirit Of the
Master. whom they served In spirit
and u truth.
The occasion was the celebration
- the centennial of the birth Of DR..
Wilson. who was born within a short
distance OF the church. March a6th.
1903. VINO died at the place of his
birth In 1sss. after life OF activity
That took him to many lands, and
whose body lies buried In the church
yard. To 10 him honor the great
eonsrssation. numbering more than
thousand souls. had gathered not only
from tho immediate community.
county and State. but from other
States OF the South and from the
North.
The addresses that were delivered
were notable contributions to the his
tory OF Presbyterianism. and while
they are ensravsn upon the memories
Of the attentive hearers they should
be recorded In permanent form for
preservation for future generations.
A feature Of the day was the open
cir dinner that was served a midday.
such bountifui provision had been
made that the multitude was fed and
there was left enough to have fed an
many more. All arrangements had
been made for the comfort and enter
tainment OF visitors from distance
and the guests Of day were made
20 feel not only welcome. but that
their coming was a favor to the hosts.
The two hundred or more who went
out from this city were met at the
So Charles depot and conveyed to
the church and ut the close of the
services the same vehicles were watt
tng TO transport them back to the sta
tion In ample time to catch the after
noon train. The programme. which
is given herewith. gives an outline of
the services. but the writer regrets
greatly that space does not permit the
reproduction Of all OF the addresses
that were delivered.
Rev James Mcdowell. ID. d., pre-
siding officer.
4. Devotional exercises.--Music:
Hymn No. SIS.
Scripture Reading: Rev. Prof. r..
c. Reed. ID. ID.
Prayer-Rev. Prof. w. s. Bean, ID.
ID.