The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-04-29
Some Random Thoughts.

churCn III frlVateer last saturday.
This is an annual gathering of all
members. especially to get out those
who from any cause have not been
able to attend regularity during the
past year, to have a pleasant social
day, and get better acquainted with
each other. Appropriate services
were held in the church and short
talks were made by Revs. Brown and
Tolar. Spinks. and the pastor. Af-
terward an elegant dinner was serv-
ed on the grounds. Twenty odd years
ago the writer tried to describe
Privateer picnic dinner at Gains
mill. Well. this one was even more
so. 1t did not look like there was
any need TO send Privateer girls to
Winthrop to study domestic science,
II the cooking Saturday and the ele-
CANT manner Of serving it was any
thing to judge by, the mothers are
running cooking schools every day,
and there are past-masters in the art
down there.
But this Is not what j started out
to write about and is merely in pass
ing. The main lesson to be learned
is the fine arrangement Of church
school and parsonage as the centre
not only of the religious and school
life Of the community, but Of the So
ical life as we'll. Bethel church owns
80 acres of what is probably the
finest natural forest of red oak,
hickory, post oak, dogwood and pine
in the country, in the midst is the
church. two hundred yards away is
the new graded school building and
two hundred yards in another di-
rection Is the parsonage. the three
buildings being nearly equidistant,
and at the points Of a triangle.
Along to the west of these buildings
on the hillside extending for several
hundred yards Is the cemetery. The
public road from old Privateer to old
Manchester crosses the tract between
the church and the other two build
iugs. While another road leading from
that section 20 Sumter crosses be-
tween the school house and parson-
age. 10 Rev. William Haynsworth.
the pastor, Is largely due the estab-
lishment Of the fine graded school.
His talk at the meeting Saturday was
one every country pastor would do
we'll to hear. and to see If he could
not put in operation the ideas and
vocated by Mr.. Haynsworth. He
said we have here near the centre Of
Privateer township, the church the
school and the parsonage, three in
fiuences for good to every home In
the township, and he trusted every
home In the township would be
drawn by the invisible bonds of love
to this mighty agency for the uplift,
spiritually and mentally OF the COM
munity. If the plans OF their pastor
are heartily seconded by his people,
and judging by the new school house,
the remodelled and freshly planted
parsonage and the plans for renov-
ating the old church, the July camp
meeting and Bible assembly which
has been in successful operation for
several years; and the unanimous
vote OF the congregation on Satur-
DAY to make Rally Day an annual
spring festival of good things spirit
ually. as well as for the physical
man, he seems to have the
backing of united people. The
Bethel people are most fortunate In
having the church, school and par
sonage located as they are, and they
are doubly fortunate In having a
pastor who sees large things in the
future. and is glad to live among
them and help to develop them. If
other county churches could see this
place as 1t was 25 years ago, and as
| IL Is today, they would no longer be
content to have preaching once or
twice month by a pastor who lives
In town, but they would not rest un-
I'll they have a resident pastor, and
good school next door to the
church.
This may seem to some a queer
letter for the Farmers Union col
umns Of a paper, but as the union
stands for everything that will build
up the country and the country
homes, and this Bethel development
Is an object lesson i'm concrete form.
! not theory. but a practical damon
stration of the most powerful agen-
cies for the uplift of any community.