The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-12-15

a miniature Christmas tree stood dec
Grated with favors for each guest.
Kingstree, were both wounded here
and made cripples for life.
Half mile west of the ashes OF
old Black Mingo still stands the Black
Mingo Baptist church, built by Gle
land Belin in 1S43. When / entered
this church, which was open and
abandoned, yet almost as beautiful
and entire and clean as when first
the hand of Cleland Belin had made
it, felt that surely this is fit place
for God to dwell. 1t is such a splen-
did creation of human hands. 1t was
firmly built of the best material. The
framework is all mortised and peg
ged. The paint on the outside, where
on the storms of four score years
have spent their fury. is yet bright
and beautiful. Not letter in the
Bible inscriptions, painted about the
caves seventy-eight years ago, is dim
med. It has double roof of shingles,
one about twelve inches above the
other, thus providing an air space
for cooling in summer and warming
in winter. About the church, where
water falls from the roof, is pave
ment of pitch. Inside the church is
a tall rosewood pulpit above which
is placed a sounding board which
pleases the eye as well as serves its
purpose. The pews are strong and
comfortable and of the finest work
manship. On the end of each and
perfectly fitted thereto is a shield OF
carved lead. The gallery Of this
church was built for slaves. Even
this staggers the imagination in its
completeness. The box foot rests to
these slave pews are filled with saw
dust and shavings so that they are
effectively soundproof. AS L turned
to leave this church looked up and
saw two leather-winged bats clingine
to the ceiling, and l wondered why
these things were there.
Outside the church sleeps its maker
Cleland Belin, at whose grave some
one has placed stone. but his monu'
msnt it. this Black Mingo Baptist
church and this graveyard. In the
front row of the churchyard, this man
his wife and eleven of their children
are buried. l quote the inscription
which he placed on the tomb OF his
wife, "Sarah Margaret Belin, daugh,
ter of Mr.. William McFadden, below
ed consort of Cleland Belin, born 9th
August, 1911, died 3rd October, 1851
She was industrious, careful and do
mestic in her habits, retiring IN hel
manners, calm and tranquil in hel
demeanor, hospitable in her feelings
forgiving in her temper and Christian
in her principles"
Back of this graveyard l found an
other marble slab with this inscrlp,
ton: Sacred to the memory Of Bill
a strictly faithful and honest servant
of Cleland Belin. Bill was often In
trusted with the care of produce and
merchandise to the value of many
thousand dollars, without loss or dam
age. He died 7th October, 1854, in
the thirty-ffth year of his age, an
approved member in the Black Mingo
Baptist church. Well done thy good
and faithful servant, enter thou into
the joy of thy Lord"
Cleland Belin was one of the most
interesting men who lived in Willtown
in it's last days. He had a beautiful
home, situated on the bluff near the
river. It was built and furnished as
best he knew and was the seat of
interest to this whole section, both
to the high and low. There were
twelve living rooms in his house, in
each of which rooms he had grand
fathers clock. Each clock in the
series of rooms was set five minutes
ahead of the clock in the succeeding
room. Every one of these clocks,
when it struck, opened so that fairy
figures, frolicking about the green's
ward were seen, so every five minutes,
day or night, fairies appeared in one
room in his house. Thousands Of
people visited his home just to see
these fairies and all had kindly well
come, the artisan who came to see the
workmanship about the home and the
ignorant to find further evidence to
sustain their belief that Clelan6 Belin