The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1911-10-26

ton has contributed her full
share of men and ideas to the
preparation Of the whole people
for the reception and enjoyment
of privileges with which God
has favored the section, and the
written history and that yet to
be written will save unto the
men and women of this commu-
nifty a place and a distinction
that will be unchallenged by
time and unfading in its glory.
Through years of ceaseless
strivings, the little band of
Methodist people, organized
something over forty years ago,
have come to this good day with
hearts re-baptised with hope,
with membership somewhat in
creased, though faithful saints,
worn out in the service of God,
have heard the call and gone to
their true reward. How glori-
GUS would have been their JOY
could they have seen the frui-
ton of their hopes upon earth,
and heard the benediction of a
grateful people on them, as our
hearts best blessings pour forth
in gratitude today for the in
spiration and faith they saved
unto us by their example and
their professions that never dis.
appointed.
When we cast back upon
those years which haye served
in the making of religious SEN
timent in the community and
remember that the little wooden
church which gives place to this
larger edifce twas always open
for every Christian denomina-
tion that desired to use it: that
from its pulpit have fallen
words of comfort. wisdom and
of living peace from Baptist and
Presbyterian ministers, able and
elevatinS in their discourses, as
we'll as from some of the lead
ing preachers of the Methodist
denomination that it's pulpit
stood always open for every
preacher of the Living Christ
I dare say there is not an indi-
vidual in all this village that
does not feel a pang of sorrow
to see the little wooden structure
forever disappear. But it must
yield to a building that will
adequately speak the enthusi-
asm and religious zeal and the
hopes of the Methodist denomi-
ton here. That little wooden
church was the first church
built within the limits of our
municipality.
By the South Carolina Consti-
tuition of 1868, the territory then
comprising Pickens district was
divided into the present counties
of Pickens and Oconee, and GER
tain commissioners were desig-
mated to buy land and locate a
county-seat to be known as
Pickens, In that year, 1868,
the town Of Pickens was sur
veyed. and this locality was
chosen by thoughtful Method
lists as an appropriate place fo1
a church building; the place was
secured and, Immediately there
after. definite splans were inau-
gurated which speedily matured
into the erection of the little
building soon to give place to
this larger and more modern
structure.
In the year 1870, Rev. G. 7.
Harmon was assigned to preach
in this county, the charge hav-
Ing been supplied for a while by
Rev. Fletcher Smith and VIM.
Bowman; and during that year
the first Methodist church estab-
Iished III Pickens was dedicated
by the then pre- ding elder, Rev.
A. B. Stephens, a man of great
ability and fine address. Rev.
G.. T. Harmon was succeeded by
Rev. O. L. DuRant, as pastor of
the circuit of which Pickens
church was part, serving till
1874, when R. W. Barber was
assigned to this circuit as pastor.
Rev. r. w. Barber was sue
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