Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-01-23
BETHANY CHURCH

Bethany Associate Reformed Pres
.byterian congregation Is to pull itself
together soon; erect a handsome new
building, and conserve, revive and
hand on down the powerful influences
for good that have been created by
the generations that have gone before
Such Is the evident significance Of q
largely attended congregational meet
ing that was held in the old church
last Tuesday.
There was a picnic dinner in con-
nection with the meeting. Rev. w. p
Grier, the pastor, presided, and there
were addresses by Rev. J. L. Oates and
]. s. Brice, Esq, Of Yorkville, and
when the main question, matter that
had been under consideration for a
number of years, was brought up, II
was resolved that a new church build
ing to cost between $4,000 and $4,000
be erected, the work to be commenced
as soon as the necessary means begin
to show UP.
The plan Of raising the money Is to
be about the same as that which Is be-
ing generally followed in such cases
subscriptions Of various amounts pay
able in yearly installments, extendint
over a period Of five years. The board
Of deacons, assisted by three ladies
Of the congregation, was appointed
finance committee to undertake the
securing Of the necessary subscrip-
tions, and Mr. w. D. Leslie was elect
ed chairman Of a building committee
the other members Of which are to be
chosen later.
Bethany is one Of the oldest churches
in York county, and 1t Is doubtful If
there is another religious organization
that has a record Of a wider or better
influence for good. The origin Of
Bethany is traceable to a church that
was established at Kings Mountain
(the Pinnacle) some years previous to
the Revolution. Later there came up
in this old church dissensions in con-
nection with the Psalm-H Hymn con-
troversy, and these dissensions caused
a strife which finally brought about
the organization Of Bethany in South
Carolina and Pisgah over in North
Carolina. This was about 1897. Both
the new congregations were made UP
of seceders from the original church,
and there has continued between them
ao,,,n to tha. x,raoanf firna tho oa N, a
bond of affinity that brought about
the original split. And from these two
old churches the following additional
A. R. P. organizations with present
membership Of 1,l71 have sprung:
Bessemer City, Kings Mountain,
Crowder's Creek, Glover, Smyrna and
two Gastonia churches.
Bethany alone has a membership of
about 252; but for a number Of years
past, until recently there has seemed
to pervade the congregation kind Of
unaccountable feeling Of weakness and
inability to do great deal. The con-
gregation has numbered among its
pastors many Of the ablest and most
effective preachers in the entire coun-
try; but for some reason there has
been lack Of that united spirit Of ag-
gression which is the life Of all really
progressive and effective organiza-
tions. There seems to be no reason to
doubt, however, that there is plenty
Of zeal, plenty Of financial ability,
plenty Of appreciation Of the good to
be accomplished, plenty Of everything
else in the congregation to make the
old church greater, more powerful and
more effective than 1t has ever been.
and 1t Is reasonably safe to predict
that the new building is going up
without unnecessary delay, and that
when completed it will prove to be
only a stepping stone to Bethany's
coming to her own in still greater
things.