Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1915-09-15
MEMORIAL SERVICE.
Graves Decorated. Stirring Adj
dresses. Representative At
tendance of Aiken And
Edgefield People.

about II miles south Of Edgefeld in
Aiken. county, but only few bun.
dred feet across the county line.
Indeed the school building near by
is practically on the line and is an
Aiken-E -Edgefeld school, being at
tended by children from both coun-
ties and receives funds from both
counties.
Sweetwater church was constitu-
ted March 10, 1882. The land was
donated by Mr.. Thomas Shaw. At
the time the church was organ
lied there were "a members, among
them being the Clouds, Currys,
Mayses, Tanksleys, Higbtowers and
other representative families. The
first building, which was q
small, crude structure, was erected
soon after the church was orgauiz-
ed and was used until 1850, when
the present building was erected
practically upon the spot where the
old one stood. Unlike the rural
churches of to-day, Sweetwater
church has an old-style gallery
across the end opposite the pulpit,
being placed there to provide q
place of worship for the slaves who
were owned prior to the Civil War
by members of the church. "
The first pastor of the church was
Rev. Robert Carson who served
served from 1882, to 1s42, and as
it was impossible for Mr.. Carson to
serve the church regularly, Rev.
Thomas Norris was also pastor du-
ring that time, serving in the ab-
sence of Mr.. Carson. Rev. Joseph
Morris next served the church aud
died during his ministry there, he
being the only pastor of the church
who is buried in the cemetery adj
joining the church. Mr.. Morris.
was greatly beloved by his flock,
and as token of their affection and
appreciation for his faithful SER
vices, the members of the church
placed a stone over his grave at a
cost of $95. The following minis
ters have served the church in the
order named: Rev. Mr.. Clyde, Rev.
Josiah Mathews, Rev. J. P. Meal
ing, Rev. H. A. Whitman. Rev. w.
B. Shaw, Rev. E. w. Sammens.
Rev. J. E. Walker, Rev. J. M.
White, Rev. M. D. Padgett, Rev.
]. D. Krepps. Rev. w. D. Horton,
Rev. M. w. Hit and Rev E. W.
Reynolds, the last named being the
present pastor who has served the
church since the first of February.
A short time ago Mr. Reynolds
conceived the idea of holding
memorial service at Sweetwater in
order to paw tribute to the dead
who lie buried in the cemetery and
to review the work and achieve
ments of the church. Last Sunday
was set apart for the memorial oc-
casion, an all-day service being
held and dinner served on the
grounds. All who had relatives
and friends buried in the cemetery
were requested to place fow-
ers upon their graves. The choices
flowers from the gardens of the
neighborhood, as we'll as many FROM
Augusta florists, were placed upon
scores of graves. Among the names
found upon the stones in the ceme-
terry are the Mayes, Hammonds,
Townes, Buffers, Murrahs. Msth-
ews, Hightowers and others.
In the forenoon an interesting
letter was read from Rev. M. w.
Hit, a former pastor. This was
followed by an inspiring serme n by
Rev. Mr.. Reynolds, who spoke of
the church as factor in the COM
munity life. 1t has been long
while since we have heard a more
inspiring sermon. Next Mr.. J. L.
Minis spoke by special invitations
upon THE relation of the church
to temperance.
| In the afternoon a condensed
history of the church was read by
Mr.. G. B. Murrah which contained
much valuable information. This
was followed by a letter of greet
ings from Rev. E. w. Sammons, q
former pastor. which is published
/ as a part of this report. The last
item on, the programme was the
splendid memorial address by Hon.
B. E. Nicholson. So pleasant and
profitable was this day spent at old
Sweetwater for all present that the
pastor suggested that it be mad 9 an
annual occasion.
Notwithstandinp the fact that