davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-02-23
STORY OF BETHANY CHURCH
Record Of Usefulness Extending Over
One Hundred and Nineteen Years.
SIX PASTORS and -FOUR CHURCHES.

Organized by Early Pioneers Under
an Arbor in the Woods, the Congre-
CATION Grows in Strength and Use-
fuIness, Throwing of Numerous
offshoots, and Finally, in its Old
Age, Ereets Handsome Modern
House.
The most complete sketch Of Beth
any Associate Reformed church that
has been written up to this time. was
prepared by Rev. r. M. Stevenson for
use on the occasion of the Twentieth
anniversary Of his pastorate in May,
1907. The opening Of the handsome
new church building last Sunday up
on the same grounds where the con-
gregation first came into existence, is
an appropriate occasion for the re-
production Of the sketch which, in
part, is as follows:
1t may not be generally known that
Bethany was organized from Beershe-
ba Presbyterian church, and owes its
origin to the introduction Of hymns
into that church. Up until about 1893,
all the Presbyterians in the vicinity
of Kings Mountain worshipped to-
gether and the principal churches
were Beersheba in this county, and
Long Creek in North Carolina Some
where about the date given, a change
was introduced in the manual Of praise
used in the churches, which led to the
withdrawal Of a respectable minority,
who regarded the introduction Of
hymns an innovation to which they
could not conscientiously submit. The
Associate Reformed presbytery Of the
Carolinas was their only hope for
preachers, and Andrew Ferguson and
John Miller were sent to that body
to petition for supplies. There is a
tradition that Mr. Newman McElwee
was to have been baptized on the day
the rupture took place. The names Of
those who, with their families, with
drew and formed the nucleus Of the
new organization, are as follows:
William McElwee, ST., who was an
elder in Beersheba, and his sons,
William and John McElwee, William
Henry, Alexander Henry, James Henry,
James Crawford, William Crawford,
Francis Rea, James Dunn and Joseph
Carroll. These, with other families In
other communities in the same con-
dition, petitioned for the services Of
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-02-23

Mr.. William Dixon, licentiate Of the
Associate Reformed church, and for
eighteen months or more their wor-
shiping place was near Sparrow's
Springs, not far from the pinnacle OF
Kings Mountain. The people worship
ing at this house and those worship
ing at Sharon and Carmel united and
called Mr.. Dixon, and he was ordaln-
ed and installed at Sharon, June 1st,
1895. This mountain house was the
common place of worship for A. r.
Presbyterians in CASTOR county, N. c.,
as we'll as for those in this part OF
York county, and about the time the
old house was abandoned, Bethany
and Pisgah were organized under the
pastoral care Of Mr.. Dixon. 1t is
thought that Bethany became a preach
ing place in 1896, and tradition says
that the first time the Sacrament OF
the Lords Supper was observed here,
it was in the woods, in the ravine
leading up from the spring west of the
Kings Mountain road. The first eld-
ers who served this congregation
were William McElwee, Sr, who, as
already said, had been an elder in the
other church; Samuel Lessly, James
These were installed and Bethany or
ganized in 1897. The first house of
worship was Of logs and stood about
where the front gate of the cemetery
is. l may say in passing that the
building we worship in today is the
third house the congregation has oc-
cupied. In March, 1896, Mr.. Dixon
moved into the bounds Of Bethany
from Cedar Springs in Abbeville coun-
ty, and settled on what we know as
the Christopher McCarter place, across
the branch southeast of the McCar-
ter house. Bethany enjoyed the serv-
ices of this earnest preacher and la
borious pastor about thirty-three
years, until the infirmities Of age COM
PEELED his resignation, which took place
March 26, 1928. He died December 80,
1881, and was buried in our cemetery.
l have been told that the first burial
in our cemetery was that of child
of Mr.. Dixon.
The second pastor was Rev. Joseph
Banks, a native Of the state Of New
York, and a licentiate of the Asso-
ciate church. 1t should have been
stated that early in Mr.. DiXon's pas
torate, he and Rev. Peter McMullen
withdrew from the Associate Reformed
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-02-23

church and organized the Associate
Presbytery of the Carolinas. Mr.. Nc
Mullen had trouble with his presby-
terry, and Mr.. Dixon being a friend
and sympathizer, went with him into
the Associate body, and for forty years
these churches continued in that con-
nection. The call to Mr.. Banks was
extended March 20, 1880, from a charge
embracing Mob Creek in Cleveland
county, N. c., Pisgah in CASTOR coun-
ty, N. c., Bethany in York county, s.
c., and Sardis in Union county, S. G..
Notice how much territory was en-
braced in that call, four churches each
in a separate county. Mr.. Banks was
granted until the first Of the next jan
uary to give his answer, when he sig
nified his acceptance, but his ordina-
ton was further delayed by sickness,
and took place on October 18th, 1881.
He was a pastor only two years, his
labors being brought to close by the
action of his synod on the subject Of
slavery. He returned to the north in
the early fall Of 1888, and served as
pastor in Ohio, then as chaplain Of the
western penitentiary Of Pennsylvania,
then for eight years as a foreign mis-
sionary, and died at Mercer, Pa, Of
consumption on April 8, 1859.
The third pastor Of Bethany and
Pisgah was Rev. R. c. Grier, D. D.,
who was ordained and installed In
June, 1S41. This pastorate continued
seven years, when he resigned to ac-
cept the presidency Of Erskine college.
now owned by DR.. E. w. Pressly, and
there his son and successor as presi-
dent of the college, the late DR.. w. M
Grier was born February 11th, 1S43.
He also built and occupied for few
years before going to Due West the
present house on the Jenkins place
near Glover. DR.. Grier was an able
preacher and a faithful pastor and
was greatly beloved by his people.
Next came Rev. E. E. Boyce, D. D.,
who was installed over Pisgah and
Bethany June 28th, 1849, and contin-
ued until September Z, 1885, nearly
thirty-seven years. DR.. Boyce lived
between the two churches on Crowd
er's Creek, on a place adjoining the
farm Of Mr.. William Lessly, for the
greater part Of his time, but a few
years during the latter part Of his pas
torate at Kings Mountain. 1t Is use
less to say anything to the older part
of the audience about this great and
good man. The esteem in which he
was held is shown by the number Of
persons who bear his name, the fire.
quency with which his opinion is still
quoted and the fact that his portrait
hangs over our pulpit. He has been
described as "a Nathaniel in gentle
ness, a John in loveliness and a Moses
in meekness." There are eight church
es now of our faith in the territory In
which he labored and these churches
are served by five ministers.
This brings us to the present pas
torate, the fifth in the one hundred
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-02-23

ords of one day from that diary
give a glimpse of the life Of the chill
dren Of the upper class" in that far
away time, before Columbus discover
ed America and before printing OF
silk manufacture were known in Eng
land.
On Monday morning Elizabeth
arose at o'clock and helped Gather
inc milk the cows, because Rachel,
the milkmaid, had scalded her hand
the night before.
At : o'clock she went to walk with
the lady my mother" in the court
yard. Afterwards she fed twenty-five
men and women and severely chided
Roger, a youth in the home, probably
her brother, because of his i'll temper.
At s o'clock she went to the barn
with her maid, Dorothy. and caught
Thump, her pony, herself. She then
rode "a matter of ten miles" without
saddle or bride.
At 10 o'clock she went to dinner
and there met John Grey, a most
comely youth" And then she says:
But what is that to me? A virtuous
maid should be entirely under the di-
rections of her parents John ate but
little and stole a great many tender
glances at me. He said women could
never be handsome in his eyes who
were not good tempered. l hope my
temper is not intolerable; nobody
finds fault with it but Roger, and he
Is the most disorderly youth in our
house. John Grey likes white teeth;
my teeth are a pretty good color. l
think my hair is as black as jet,
though l say it; and John Grey, If /
mistake not, is of the same opinion"
At II o'clock the company arose
from the table and went walking in
the field. John Grey helped Elizabeth
over the stile and twice squeezed her
hand with much vehemence"; but
she did not object, because he was a
perfect gentleman. was dutiful to his
parents, and never missed church on
Sabbath.
At o'clock poor Farmer Robin
sons house burned down by accident
John Grey proposed subscription for
the relief of the farmer and started 1t
off with twenty pounds. Elizabeth
says she never saw John look so come
ly as at that moment, when he was
helping the poor unfortunate farmer.
At o'clock Elizabeth went to pray
ers.
At 6 o'clock she fed the hogs and
poultry.
In after years. when Elizabeth be-
came Queen of England and the wife
of the dissOlute Edward w, she prob
ably found her greatest pleasure and
comfort in reading over the annals of
her girhoOd days. when she rode her
pony bareback, fed the chickens and
pigs. and went to prayers: and when
John Grey lifted her over the stile,
admired her pretty white teeth and
jet-black hair, and vehemently
squeezed her hand twice. FIX
change.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-02-23

were Major T. P. Whitesides, John E:
Love. r. N. McElwee, ]. L. McGill and
L. A. McGill. OF this number, Mr..
Love fell on sleep in 1888 and Major
Whitesides in 1904. An election Of Of
ficers was held in October, 1887, when
the following brethren were inducted
into office: w. F. Smith, Zimri Car
roll, A. c. Stroup, ]. B. Plaxco, X N.
McElwee and Rev. ]. H. Douglass
elders, and w. M. Faulkner and T.. b.
Faulkner, deacons. Mr.. Douglass was
minister, had been regularly ordain-
ed by Bethel Presbyterian presbytery
and served as pastor for several years
in it's bounds. HIS health was not
good, and he gave up the active work
Of the ministry and engaged in farm
ing and teaching. He was dismissed
to the Associate Reformed church in
1883. but never connected with any
of our presbyteries. When elected eld-
er, he was simply installed, and not or
dained with the others. He was clerk
Of our session, was active in Sabbath
school work and taught a class Of eld-
ers in the Confession Of Faith. OF
these officers Mr.. Smith left us in 1893
and Is now an active worker In the
United Presbyterian church Of Fowler,
Fresno county, California; Mr. Carroll
was one of the charter members Of
the A. R. P. church in Glover and Is
its senior elder; Mr.. Plaxco moved to
Yorkville A. r. P. Church in 1900;
Mr.. Douglass died in 1908, and Mr.. E.
B. Faulkner in 1896. What changes
a few years make! Only three Of
these brethren are with us today. An
other election was held November
18th, 1899, and resulted as follows:
For elders, w. M. Faulkner, j. L. Nc
Gill, L. A. McGill, E. w. Pursley and
w. H. Sparrow. For deacons, N. A.
Howell, T. H. Lessly, L. B. McGill, ].
H. Quinn and r. N. Whitesides. The
installation took place December 3rd,
1899. OF these Mr.. Lessly was given
a certificate to Hickory Grove in 1902,
and has since died, and Mr.. ]. L. Nc
Gill died last year. Mr.. E. M. Faris,
an elder in Ramah, was received by
certificate May 18th, 1904, and elected
an elder here. Our bench Of elders
and board Of deacons as constituted at
present consist Of the following breth-
rem: Elders, M. P. Faris, w. M. Faulk-
ner W. D. Lessly, r. N. McElwee, L.
A. McGill, E. w. Pursley, w. H. Spar
row and A. c. Stroup. Deacons. N. A..
Howell. l. B. McGill, ]. H. Quinn and
R. N. Whitesides.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-02-23
FEB BRUARY.
Some Facts Pertaining to the Month
Which Has Only Twenty eight Days.


Which Has Only Twenty eight Days.
Written for The Yorkville Enquirer.
February. the second month of the
year, gets it's name from the Latin
word Februa The month was intro
duced into the Roman calendar by the
Consul Numa, in the year ASP b. e.
The feast Of Februa or the festival of
expiation and lustration, was held on
the fifteenth day Of this month and
was one Of the most notable occasions
in the Roman year.
The month is the shortest in the
year, and as the old and familiar dog
gerel has it-"has only twenty-eight in
nine; until leap year gives it twenty
nine" The historical Importance of
this month of few days is great, since
more men who have been great factors
in the progress Of the world have been
born in February than in any other
month.
Many Of the worlds most famous
battles have been fought in the month
which precedes the opening of spring,
and numerous other events Of world
wide Importance in history have oc-
Cured in February.
Three presidents of the United States
were born in February-William Hen
ry Harrison, Feb. g; Abraham Lincoln,
Feb. u, and George Washington, Feb.
90; and the birthday Of at least one
crowned head of Europe comes in Feb
ruary.
The first ship to sail from the United
States to China. left New York, Feb
ruary %. 1884.
The great rock of Gibraltar, which
has since been converted into the
greatest fortress in world, was taken
from the Spaniards by the English in
February.
The present Italian monarchy was
organized in February, 1861, by the Sc
lection of Victor Emanuel |, as king.
William, Prince of Orange, was also
declared king of England in February,
1869.
1t was in February. 1913, that the
state Of Georgia was first settled by
General James Oglethorpe and a COM
pany of men who having labored for
many years under the burden of debt
i'm England, were anxious to find a
haven in America, whose territory was
far from thickly settled at that time.
1t was in February, 1913, that the
famous stamp Act" which met such
determined opposition among the
American cOlonistS. was repealed by
the British government. The stamp
act provided that all legal documents,
including bonds deeds, notes. receip.s
etc, must be written on stamped pa
per sold by the revenue department OF
the British government at fixed rates
The law was put in force in America,
but met with such determined oppCsi-
ton that wa~ was only averted by its
repeal The tea tax which followed and
other acts of the British government
levied upon a people who having no
repr. sentation i'm the making of laws
refused to submit to taxation and the
Revolutionary war was the result.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. rec
ogniZed as Americas greatest poet
and one of the greatest literary men OF
the wCrld was born in February, 1909
Other great literary people born in
February were John Ruskin Margaret
+. SangSter. James Russell Lowell
William Carl Grimm. Mary Lyon.
Thomas A. Edison. the greatest OF
American inventors, celebrated his 6Stf
birthday on February II.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-02-23
THE SOUTH'S MULES

Purchases by Southern Farmers This
Season Have Been Few.
Instead of buying between $4,000
and 100000 mules and as many or
more horses, the cotton states OF the
south have sold probably more than
$4,000 of these animals the past sea-
son to dealers filling British, French,
Italian and Greek contracts, says the
Kansas City dispatch.
Less than 1000 mules have been
moved from Kansas, Missouri, Ne
braska and Kentucky to the south
since last fall. All of this. according
to leading mule dealers Of the country,
indicates tendency on the part Of the
south to restrict cotton planting.
Old dealers in Missouri say they
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-02-23
HIGH LIFE YEARS AGO

Items From the Diary Of a Queen Of
England.
Elizabeth Woodville, who became
Lady John Gray, wife of Sir John
Grey, and after his death the queen of
Edward w, of England, kept a diary
when she was girl, and the rec
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-02-23
TOLD BY LOCAL EXCHANGES
News Happenings In NelghbOrlng
Communities.
CONDENSED FOR QUICK READING
Dealing Mainly With Local Affairs OF
Cherokee, Cleveland, CASTOR, Ian.
caster and Chester.

Gaffney Ledger, Feb. 1s: The sink
ing fund commission Of Cherokee
county has paid the treasurer OF
Union county approximately $4,000
in settlement Of the account due for
bonded Indebtedness assumed for the
Spartanburg and Asheville railway.
This is the last payment due the
counties from which Cherokee was
formed. York and Spartanburg were
paid several years ago. Mrs. G.
H. Sims died at her home in the Will
kensville section Of the county, Satur-
day, following an illness Of three
weeks. She was 81 years Of age, and
Is survived by her husband and eight
children, two boys and six girls. The
Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-12-23
CHRISTMAS MUSIC.
From the American Magazine,

Music should form a greater part of
our Christmas than it does, especially
where the children are concerned. The
most. tuneful music ever written has
been built around the theme of the
first Christmas. To introduce this mu-
sic to the child, either through song,
instrument or the good photograph
record, means making their Christ
mas q spiritual instead of a material
feast.
should come first in the home Christ
mas program. Play or sing them over
and over again to the children. "Si-
lent Night, Holy Night" the old Breton
folk song, No Candle Wa Here and
No Fire" Luther's Christmas Lullaby.
the Birds and the Flowers" Good
King Wenceslas;" 20 Come All Ye
Faithful" What Child Is This?"
There Dwelt in Judea:" Milton's
Hymn on the Nativity" set to music
by David Stanley Smith; The Holly
and the vy;""come, Bring the Christ,
mas 9ule Log to the Firing" the ole
Welsh carol, Deck the Hall with
Boughs of Holly" the old English
carol, Sing We All Merrily Christ
mas Is Here" and countless others,
beautiful and classic.
Next in value to the old carols at
Christmas time is the study of one or
atorio, that form OF music which m
bodies as no other, the religious theme,
says the Mothers Magazine. If a
church choir or q school chorus can
plan to give an oratorio at Christmas
time it Will be an uplifting experience
for the whole community. AT least
the main themes of Handel's Mes
siah' can be studied at home. They
will bring through music, the whole
story of Christmas to the children.
Handel. in this oratorio, presents tho
glory, the triumph, the peace, the JOY
of Christmas. There is the inspiring
"Hallelujah Chorus" that, with it's
crashing Joy chords. bring audiences,
thousands strong. to their feet in rev.
entail appreciation. In it's Pastoral
symphony" we are carried in magma
ton to the green hills of Bethlehem.
we hear the tinkling sheep bells and
wait with the shepherds in the star
light for the dawning of the Christ
mas miracle. The arias. "Every Valley
Shall be Exalted" and He Shall Feed
Ills Flock Like a Shepherd" show US
the tender quality of the divine love
as expressed in the conception of
Handel. Come Unto Me-" Comfort
Ye My People," and The Trumpet
Shall Sound" strike the worldwide
note of comfort and consolation
sounded first from the lips of the
angels on Bethlehem's plains.
Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-12-23
CHAPTER IN
FIRST STEPS

we found a little group of men
gathered about the chair in which sat
the huddled body. Two of them | al
ready kneW. One was D~etective-ser-
geant Slmmonds. and the other Coroner
Goluperger, both of whom / had met in
previous cases. SimmondS was a stolid,
unimaglnatlve, but Industrious and eff
ilclent officer, with whom Godfrey had
long ago concluded an alliance often
slFe n defensive. In other words,
Godfrey threw what glory he could to
Slmmonds, and Simmonds such stories
as ne could to Godfrey. and SO the ar
ranSement was to their mutual adyan-
tage.
G~oldberger was a more astute man
n a the detective. in that he possessed
a strain of Semitic imagination. a
quick wit, and a fair degree Of insight.
He was in his glory in a case like this.
Inns was shown by his cleaning eyes
nerVously at his short, black moustache.
Goldberger's moustache was a good in
deS 10 his mental state-the more
ragged 1t grew, the more battling he
found the case in hand!
ooth ne and Simmonds glanced up
at our entrance and nodded briefly.
linen their eyes went back to that
huddled figure.
Ihere We're three other men present
Whom did not know, but / judged them
TO be the plain clothes men whom Sim
monds had brought along at Godfrey's
suggestion. They stood a little to one
side until their superiors had COM
pleted the examination.
y didn't stop to pick up my ply
slclan,' ~Goldberger was saying. But
the cause of death is plain enough"
Or. Hinman here is a physician L
SAID, bringing him forward. IF he
can be OF amy service. :"
Goldberger glanced at him, and was
plainly ~favorably impressed by Hin
mans dark, eager face, and air of in
telligence and self control.
Il shall be very glad of Dr.. Humans
help, said Goldberger, shaking hands
Wlth Nun. Have you examined the
body, sir?"
Only very casually answered Hin
man. But it is evident that the
cause of death was strangulation."
how long has he been dead?"
Hinman lifted the stiff hand again
n ran his fingers along the muscles
of the arm.
About four hours, I should say"
Goldberger glanced at his watch.
h would put his death at a lit
tie before midnight. The murderer
must have come in from the grounds,
crept up behind his victim, thrown the
cord about his neck and drawn it tight
before his presence was suspected. The
victim woul hardly have remained
seated in he chair if he had known his
danger. After the cord was round his
throat, he had no chance-he could not
even cry out. There's one thing L
don't understand, though he added,
after a moment. Where did that blood
come FROM" and he pointed to the
dark spots on the collar of the white
robe.
Hinman looked up with a little ex-
clanlation.
Il forgot Il forgot" he said. Did
you fnod the handkerchief? No. | see
you didn't" and he pointed to where
it lay on the floor. q noticed it when
i first looked at the body"
Without a word, Goldberg bent and
picked up the blood stained handker-
chief. Then he and Simmonds ex-
amined it minutely. Finally the cor
oner ook at Godfrey, and his eyes
We're very bright.
Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-12-23

ing. We must get him to bed" Then
he noticed the bandaged wrist. What's
the matter here" he asked, touching
it with his finger.
He Il himself m a piece of glass"
Godfrey explained. You'd better take
quiet"
w got my car outside said the
doctor, and together he ard l raised
Swain from the chair and led him to it.
He wen d~ocilely and without OBJ
lection, n 10 minutes latter, was
safely in bed already doing off under
the influence of the opiate the doctor
had given him, Hell be all right in
the the morning. the latter assured
me. But he must have got quite a
blow over the head"
i don't know what happened to
him" answered. You'll come back
With me, won't your
turned the car back the way we had
come. Besides" he added, FRANKLY
I'm curious to learn what happened
in that house tonight"
He had certainly shown himself
equal To emergencies. reflected; and
l liked his voice n his manner. which
was cool and capable.
My name is Lester" l said. Il am
a lawyer staying with Mr.. Godfrey. We
heard Miss Vaughan scream and ran
over to the house, but we don't know
any more than you do
My name is Hinnan, and I'm Just Il
country DOCTOR" said my companion;
but If | can be of any help. | hope
you'll call upon me. Hello!' he added,
as we turned through the gate into the
grounds of Elmhurst. and he threw
on the brake sharply, for a uniformed
inquire had stepped u into the glare
OF u lamps and held up his hand.
The police had arrived.