Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-06-06
"THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH."
Organization Perfected at Anderson.
Rev. ID. w. Dodge Called as Pastor.

ran .cnufCn, the following, taken !
from the Anderson Daily Mail, will |
prove Of local interest:
Independent Church Organized.
Twenty persons, resolute and de- |
| termined, with their minds fully
made up and with perfect loyalty to
their convictions, cast their votes
yesterday afternoon at the service at
the Christian church for the organi-
zation of the Independent Church Of
| Anderson.
This took place after Mr.. Dodge
had read, without comment, several
of the Judgment parallels OF Jesus
Christ, indicating the blight which
inevitably follows unrruitfulness in
| the work of Gods kingdom, and af-
ter he had spoken briefly on forsak-
ing all and counting the cost in Or
der to be accounted disciple Of
Jesus Christ. Such a statement Of
the immutable facts and laws of the
universe which cannot be rubbed out
seemed necessary for the considera-
ton OF those who had the faith to
start out upon this movement for
God.
"Following this part of the service,
the organization proper took place.
Motion was entertained by the chair
that the company Of believers pres
ent organize themselves into the In
dependent Church Of Anderson. 1t
was stated that those voting upon
this motion would, together with
those to be received the next Sun
day, be the charter members of the
church. AS stated above, this num-
Der was 20, and more are soon to
come in statement Of faith and Il
covenant were then adopted, to be
used as forms for the reception of
members and tests >of fellowship in
the church. The statement of faith
was as follows:
we believe in God the Father,
infinite in WISDOM, goodness and
love; and in Jesus Christ, His Son,
our Lord and Saviour, who for us and
our salvation lived and died and rose
again and liveth evermore: and in
the Holy Spirit, who taketh OF the
things Of Christ and revealeth them
10 us, renewing, comforting and III
spring, the souls. Of men. We are
united in striving to know the will Of
God as taught in the Holy Scrip.
lures, and in our purpose to walk in
the ways Of the Lord, made known or
TO be made known to us. We hold it
to be the mission Of the church of
CHRIST to proclaim the Gospel to all
one true God, and laboring for the
progress OF knowledge, the promo
ton Of Justice, the reign Of peace and
II the realization Of human brother
hood. Depending, as did our faith
ers, upon the continued guidance Of
the Holy Spirit to lead lis into all
truth, we work and pray for the
transformation 0f The world into lie
ltin&dom or GOD; ana we look With
, Caith FOR the triumph OF righteous
.I}2ecs and t!M life eYerkiaHng. -E
The covenant ndopted was the
. tolInMinG: ! heartily enter this
Christian fellowship and solemnly
covenant with it's members to try
the will Of our Heavenly Father, to
attend upon the services of this
church, support its work, uphold it's
faith, and walk with it's members in
love-
'"Three deacons were then elected:
]. B. Shanklin was elected for one
year, w. N. Thomson was elected for
| two years, and j. Fl. Tate was elected
for three years.
"The next business was the calling
of pastor. Mr.. Dodge was called to
this office. He did not make formal
acceptance Of this call on account of
his appeal to the Synod Of the Pres
byterian Church from the decision Of
Piedmont Presbytery at it's last
meeting, deposing him from the min
istry. 1t was stated by Mr.. Dodge
that his acceptance Of a call to ano-
ther church would invalidate his ap-
peal to the Synod. which, for good
and sufficient reasons, it may be wise
for him to prosecute. Mr. Dodge
stated, however. that his not accent
ing the call to the church was merely
formal matter, as he fully intend
ed to serve In every capacity as the
pastor Of the church.
"Following these elections, the
! sunday school was organized with
the following officers: G. w. Riser.
superintendent of the adult depart.
ment; Miss Eyie Lewis, superintend-
ent Of the elementary department:
Henry Lawrence, secretary and trea-
surer.
"rhe deacons Of the church were
made responsible for acting as
committee on the time and place of
meeting for the church. The friends
In the Christian church were kind
enough to allow the use of their
church building until the organiza-
ton OF this church. but Of course
could not continue this privilege in
definitely
| 1T Is the purpose Of the members
OF this Independent church to make
overtures at a later date to the Con-
gregational Church for reception into
its fellowship, and it has the prom
| ise Of being received. Until that
time it will meet regularly on Sun
| day as the Independent Church of