Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-11-09

Werner and Charles Il. Blakeley were
duly elected and installed deacons.
James Dickson moved with his fam
lily to Oklahoma and was regularly
dismissed by letter to the Presbyte-
| rian church wherever God in his
providence called him. On Febru
ary IA, 1908, d. Payson Werner was
bors t. worship with his fathers,
and then, on the Goth Of August,
| 1903, Charles f. Blakeley, after an
| illness of few days, was called to
| meet his brother deacon who had
gone on a short time before, thus
| emphasizing the Importance or the
divine injunction, "Be ye ready, for
We know not the day nor the hour
when the Master calleth for thee"
On December 4, 1904, ID. Ryland She
lor and Stephen Hunter were duly
elected deacons and they constitute
| the board Of deacons at this time.
During the pastorate Of Rev. r.
NJ. Kirkpatrick Retreat and West
llllIlSlSl uclclhllllSu W DNllu lllullSc
for the pastor. w. J. Stribling gen
erously gave the building lot, and
then, by private subscription, enough
| money was raised to put up the
house, Retreat bearing the major
part Of the cost but afterwards
Westminster. as she developed her
strength, bore her full share OF one
half interest. The house was built
first on ---------- street. some distance
from the church, and in the course
| Of events it was deemed wise to en-
change for an improved lot and
building adjoining the church, which
was more convenient for the pastor.
In the progress OF time many
changes have occurred. Westmin-
ster has grown strong and Retreat
has become weak by the constant re-
mova( and dismission OF her mcm-
berS to the Westminster church. For
| this cause, and to secure pastoral
service for the venerable and aged
church, and at the same time not
TO be dependent upon Presbytery for
| help, Retreat determined to sell her
| half interest to the Westminster
church upon conditions that West
| minister should not interfere with
the group established by Prcsbytcry
until the exhaustion of the amount
promised for her one-half interest Of
| the manSc. This arrangement will
| rebound to the interest OF both
churches and will secure to Retreat
the preached word for several years
The church consists now Of 35
members, including three elders and
two deacons. Two families have re-
Gently moved to Westminster to edu-
cate their children, which lessons the
| future prospects Of the church.
Other families in the near future will
move from her bounds, still reduc-
ing her numbers, and whilst it is
sad to see her walls deserted and her
pews vacant, God has promised to be
| with the few who are faithful to him
and will grant many blessings to
those who worship Him in the spirit
| OF righteousness and truth.
have now discharged pleasant
duty imposed upon me by Presby-
terry. | have not attempted to en-
large or make this paper verbose,
but simply confined myself to facts.
This duty performed is the labor of
love cheerfully give to my dear old
church, and in 81 probability will
be my last work Of service to her
have spent many pleasant days
| within her walls:-
81 love Thy church. O God! her walls
before Thee stand;
For her my tears shall fall, for her
my prayers ascend;
10 her my cares and tolls be given
till tolls and cares shall end"
Soon I shall bid farewell to her
and the many happy scenes Of my
youth and cast my lot with new
| Presbyterian friends and will en-
| deavor to spend the remainder Of
my days proftably to myself and Il
light to others to guide them in the
! way of eternal life.
John w. Shelor, c. S.