The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-12-23

QdU eWO ulOI1SSS. hC LII ot etAA>
foremost was to find out these
things for my own satisfaction. The
second was that they might be pu1
in such order that others who might
be interested in such things nigh
not have to make as much effort t(
find them out as I have been required
to make. I believe that every com
munity has within its borders al
some time or other some people who
take pride in keeping up with what
has transpired within their midst. Ii
is nothing strange that a history o1
the Methodism of Bamberg and vi
cinity should be written; it is nc
great matter to the outside Worlc
whether or not it is ever written
But to our own selves we owe 1t to
preserve what we now have IN DOCKS
and in memories of those who have
been living here for many years, SO
that those who come after us may
know what has been the history OF
Methodism as relating to their own
folk.
So with the foregoing given for
what it may be worth, I shall give as
briefly as possible some facts and
figures regarding our church and our
Sunday-school.
In DR.. Chreitzberg's book, early
Methodism in South Carolina we
find what will cover the history of
this entire section for many years
previous to the establishing OF a
church in our own immediate COM
munity. AS far as we are able to
make out, this neighborhood was en-
braced for many years in what is
known as the old Edisto circuit. But
in 1884 it was incorporated in the
old Walterboro circuit, with part of
it in old Barnwell circuit, it being
likely that more of this section ad-
joining Bamberg was incorporated
in Barnwell circuit, for DR.. Chreltz-
berg mentions Binnaker's camp
ground as a part of Barnwell.. In
speaking of this old camp meeting
place DR.. Chreitzberg mentions it as
the gathering place of thousands who
were delighted by the gospel as given
to them by such men as H. n. Nc
Tyiere. afterwards abishop, and of
Joseph Moore and Reddick Pierce.
But to come down to the point
where we realize that the earth is
firm under our feet and that we are
not dealing longer in surmises or
conjectures, but with facts, we reach
1858 when according to good au-
thority Major w. Seaborn Bamberg,
for whom this place was named two
years after the founding of the
church, decided that he would urge
the esta blishment of church here.
So in 1853 the lot which is now
used as "Restland Cemetery was
purchased for $500 by Major Bam-
berg, DR.. Raysor, and Mr.. J. j.
Barnes. The building was soon
afterwards erected: And it must be
borne in mind that it was the general
business Management Of the Metho-
dist church which caused Major Bam-'
berg to offer the building to the
Methodists, for as he is said to have
remarked, he liked the manner in
which the Methodists took care Of
charge which was not able to care
for itself. Major Bamberg was not
at that time member of our church.
In a few years afterwards the first
Bamberg circuit was formed, and in
the annual conference of 1857 our
first pastor was assigned to come to
Bamberg. The parsonage was soon
erected and was located on what is
now known in Bamberg as Bridge
street, being just at point where
Mr.. Fred W. Free lives at present.
This building was later destroyed by
fire. .. ..E-.
Who was our first minister? That
certainly must be Of interest to all
OF us. An old fashioned, circuit
riding, class-leading gentleman who
came direct to this country from old
Ireland, the late Reverend Hugh A.
c. Walker, who died in 1886 after
having served for over half a cen
tury as a pastor in the Masters
cause. Mr.. Walker was followed in
1859 by Rev. Geo. w. NJ. Creighton,
and he in so and 81 by Rev. Will
lam Crook. We can connect the
name of this pastor with the present
time by referring to grandson
who taught in our Fitting School
several years ago and who is now a
minister himself, Reverend William
Crook Owen. The four years thus
covered by these three pastors, were
served by presiding elder who to
this date holds the record for long
service given to the people of this
community, that was my grand faith
er, Rev. William Pledger Mouzon.
Just at this point it might be of inter-
est to state that Mr.. Mouzon served
this people for fifteen years, twelve Of
which he was presiding elder and the
other three as pastor of this circuit:
l desire to incorporate one or two
facts relative to this man which are
of especial interest to the writer,
and which / trust may not be other
wise to others. In looking up the
statistics which are being given here
with, I discovered that Mr.. Mouzon
served one year, that Of 1871, as
financial agent of Wofford College;
he served as trustee of that institu-
ton from 1852 to 1880; he served
as preacher for forty-six years,
thirteen of which was spent on dis
tricts, and the balance of which was
divided among circuits, poor charges
as the world reckons such things,
and desirable places reckoned from
the same view point. The pastors
who were located here while the civil