The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-05-08
some QUICK Work
4 CHURCH BUILDING ERECTED IN
4 SINGLE DAY.
MANY WITNESS TIE FEAT

on the Ground, Large Number OF
Workers Ply Their Trades Speedi-
ly and the Building is Finished
When Evening Came.
4 new Methodist church was
built in Spartanburg Wednesday be-
tween sunrise and dusk a dispatch
to The State says in a handsome
building at the corner OF South
Church street and Crescent Avenue,
not a stick of which had been stand
ing Il hours before, 500 people wer-
shipped toninghc, while three times
that many stood outside ,vainly seek
ing to enter.
Although built IN a single day, FL
Bethel church is as substantial a
structure, the carpenters agreed, as
II six months had been cevoted to the
job. It is a far handsomer building,
according TO Major Augustus H kir-
by, IS years old, than the first Metho-
dist church erected in this city, which
was dedicated in 1886 and took a
year to build.
With carpeted isles, mission style
pews, an altar decorated with flow
ers, a piano in the choir loft and all
the requisites in place, the interior
Of the church last night presented as
finished an appearance as the exter-
ior, which was neatly painted in
white, with green trimmings.
Estimates Of the number Of peo-
pie who watched the building Of the
church vary, but it is believed by
some that as many as $4,000 persons
visited the place during the day.
Many people came from the country
IN buggies and wagons to see the un-
usual spectacle. Moving picture
men reeled Of many thousand feet of
1lm.
System carefully prearranged, en-
abled the $50 carpenters, mechanics,
painters, paper hangers. plumbers.
electrical workers and other artisans
to perform the feat. Every man to
know exactly where to get the ma
terial needed and where to put it.
The Rev. J. NJ. Shell, who formerly
was in charge Of the work Of the
Methodist church in the section where
EI-Bethel stands and who was one Of
the prime movers in the project, was
the first man on the scene this morn
ing. He reached the lot at 5:1o
O'Clock. Five minutes later the Rev
John ". Speake, pastor Of the Bethe!
church, the mother of El-Bethel: c.
P. Hammond, chairman Of the build
ing committee, and J. N. Crawford OF
the Nagness Trust company, general
superintendent of the enterprise,
reached the scene.
Maj. Kirby, patriarch Of local
MethoGisr1, who was to drive the first
nail, arrived with number Of car
oenters, about $50 o'clock The
brick foundation was already in place
having been completed Tuesday even
ing. The building material had also
been assembled on the lot, every
piece was numbered and laid where
the workmen knew they would find
It.
At S o'clock Mr.. Shell invoked the
divine blessing on the undertaking
and prayed that there would be no
accident. Five minutes later the car
penters raised the first corner post
and Maj. Kirby drove the first nail.
He used an ancient hammer which,
he said, had been lost 1915 and
not found again until 1865. Maj.
Kirby made one or two false strokes
and his grandson, A. N. Chrelubsrg,
offered to hold the nail for him.
Mai. Kirby declined assistance,
however, and proceeded to drive the
nail without further trouble.
At noon all the rough work except
the raising Of the roof had been IN
ished. At this point the bugle sound
ed for lunch and $50 worSmen filed
to two long tables, spread on the lot
by the ladies Of Bethel church.
The Rev. D. S. T. Hallman, pastor
OF the Evangelical Lutheran church,
said grace. after which the men fell
to the bountiful dinner with keen
eppetites. While tho worAmens S
heads bowed the camera men took
motion picturs Of them.
Mr.. Swain's Baraca band had
marched to the scene ct $50 o'clock,
playing Onward Christian Soldier
It took a stand on the piazza Of Jesse
MahaTey's house, opposite the church
and played lively airs ali day.
At O'Clock the pews were brought
Il. and the work on the drop ceiling
completed. The standing OF the doors
and windows and the in stallation OF
the molding was finished by I o'clock
The carpet was then laid in the aisl-
es, the pulpit furniture installed pi-
ano was carried TO the choir lot and
carnations and lilies placed around
the altar. The trash was carried
out and the house was ready for
worship.
The artisans were given their
supper on the ground and at s o.
clock, still clad in their working
clothes. they assembled for worship.
The lights were turned on and they
were given their first opportunity
for an inspection o. their work. The
church looked as = It might have
have been used for several weeks so
thoroughly had all the details been
attended 20.
NJ. Shell presided at the meeting.
Mrs. Speake. at the piano. accomua-
MED the opening hymn. Praise God
u-hon, Al RIascln0S E,lNW -