Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1915-05-26
"Reminiscences in Early Presterian-
ism in Upper South Carolina and
Richland Church. <x x* xx y
by John w. Shclor.


delphia Cor Ebenezer) was effected
after the last treaty Gen. Pickens
made with the Indians on the Cherry
larm, near Clemson, and these old
churches were evidently the fore
runners of the Bethel and Ebenezer
OF later date. DR.. Howe SAYS that
Mr.. Brown was pastor of both
churches in 1899, and that Philadel-
phla Cor Ebenezer) was dropped
from the roll of the South Carolina
Presbytery in that year, and we find
no further reference to either
church. Tradition says a forest fire
destroyed both churches in 1900,
and that Bethel was organized later
and built in the locality on the site
Of an old church; and there now
stands, as evidence of Philadelphia
tor EDeneZer), the four corner
stones of an old church about one
half mile north of the present Ebe-
heZer church and hard by a grave
yard, overgrown by large trees,
graves unmarked, and no one knows
to-day who were buried there. DR..
tioWe says these churches were built
on the Indian land, in the fork of
Tugaloo river, on Cane Creek and in
another place near Kcowee river.
Both churches were built on or near
the Indian trail leading from Tamas-
see to Eighteen-Nlile creek, Three
and-Twenty and SiX-and-Twentv
creek. direct to Ninety-SiX, and euui-
distant from Cane Greek and Keo-
wee river. In the organization of
Ebenezer church, in 1870, by Rev.
John r. Riley, d. D., and others,
DIR. Riley proposed the name Of Ebe-
nezer for the new church, giving as
his reason therefor that Ebenezer
was the name Of an old church that
once existed in that locality. For
these reasons we are convinced that
these old churches did once exist in
that locality, but have passed away
with other transitory things.
Reverting to Mr.. Brown, we find
him near Westminster and Tugaloo
| river doing missionary work, but ef-
fecting no organizations. only SOW
ing the seeds which brought forth
Westminster, Richland and Retreat.
In 1919 he was sent as a missionary
for three months to Alabama, but
being so pleased with the conditions
there, moved to that State and in the
year 1920 died OF malarial fever,
being cared for by the loving hands
OF strangers. From 1920 to 1880
there was missionary work done, but
not until 1884 do we see the fruits
of this labor when we find Richland
and Westminster organized with "a
members. The following record of
Richland church is found written
up without the authors name signed
thereto, but we think it is verified
by subsequent records coinciding
with statements given in DR.. Howe's
History. | give it as | find it, YER
batim:
I'VE, the inhabitants Of Pickens
District, South Carolina, and living
in country granting federation to
every system of religion not subver-
sive to social order and civil liberty,
and having honest and conscientious
preferences on this most important
;n;
severally, agreed to constitute our
selves into regularly organized
church. We call ourselves Presby-
terians, and as such adopt and ac-
cept the Confession Of Faith Of the
Presbyterian church in these Uni
led States as embodying the system
Of faith and practice taught in the
Word Of God.
we whose names are subscribed
below, entertaining the above views,
nave met this day to constitute our
selves, and we are by the subscrip-
ton OF our names, hereby solemnly
constituted into a religious society
~by the name Of Richland church.
(Signcd)i James o. Lewis, ESQ,
Mrs. Mary Lewis, Mr.. James H..
DendS, Mrs. Elizabeth Dendy, Mrs.
Eliza f. DuPre, Mr.. Francis Jen-
kins, Mrs. Mary Jenkins, Miss Sally
Jenkins, Mr.. John McWhortor, Miss
Mary McWhorter, Miss Sally L. McL
Whorter
The object Of this constitution is
to promote, by all laudable means,
the growth of vital piety in our own
souls, 10 encourage, establish and to
strengthen each other in our efforts