The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-01-10
CHURCH ORGANIZED IN 1871.
FIRST PASTOR, DIR. r. NJ
PRATT breaches IN MORN.
ING-SERVICES IN EVENING
--ATTENDED BY ALL THE
CHURCHES OF THE CITY

CHURCHES OF THE CITY
The observance of the semi-cen-
tenniar of the Baptist church took
place yesterday. Despite the rain, at
the morning service the church was
filled with people. The rain Con-
tinued all day, and seriously inter-
fered with the, attendance in the af-
renoon and evening.
DR. Pratt Speaks
At the morning service, DR.. R. N.
Pratt, who was the first pastor of
the church, spoke relating many in
cidspts of the early struggle of the
church. His references to dis
tinghished citizens of Abbeville who
have all passed. away were listened
to with closest attention: Doctor
Pratt's pastoral covered the first
thirteen years lof the church's life
and his story as related Sunday
was replete with matters of deep
est significance and interest.
/ Other former pastors who had ac-
cepted invitations to be present
could not be here.
Two Deacons, Ordained
At the morning service two dea-
cons were ordained, Mr.. ]. F. Ed
monds and Mr.. Otto Bristow. The
scripture lesson was read by the
Rev. B. B. Bailey, D. D., of Shelby
vile, Kentucky, who is conducting g
revival meeting in the Baptist
church this week. Doctor Bailey al
so made the charge to the deacons.
The ordaining prayer was made by
the Rev. Mr.. Pratt.
1reetlng3 FROM OtnerS
The afternoon service consisted
of greetings from the other
churches of the city. The Rev. C. E.
Peele, pastor of the Methodist
church, spoke for his flock, bringing
a very hearty message of fraternity
and good will. The Rev. A. ]. Derby
shire, rector of the Episcopal
church, spoke for that church. He is
recent addition to the ministerial
corps in Abbeville, a New Yorker.
He said he had never known finer
spirit of real fellowship to exist
among members of different de-
nominations that he finds here in
Abbeville-a condition which au-
gurs we'll for the Christian cause.
He was pleased to be able to speak
for his people, whose hearts are
deeply sympathetic with the work of
the Baptists.
Mr.. Joel S. Morse, a member of
the Presbyterian church, spoke for
that organization which is now
without a pastor. Mr.. Morse's greet
ings were brought in most happy
manner, in the way of parable of
two brothers, growing up together,
one being two years the senior of
the other. In a charming story Mr..
Morse pictured the fellowship usual
ly incident to boyhood, and the
more serious relations of maturity,
closing the narrative by saying these
two boys were the Presbyterian and
Baptist churches of Abbeville. Mr..
Bristow playfully replied that
there was something especially good
about Mr.. Morse, which he had
found when he first came to Abbe-
vile ten years ago, and, turning to,
him, asked Mr.. Morse whether he
were not of Baptist blood, was his
not a Baptist? TO
which Mr.. Morse replied in the af-
much to the merriment
of the congregation.
The last speaker was the Rev. M.
R. Plaxco, who spoke for the a. R.
P. Church, the only one established
in Abbeville later than the Baptist
Mr.. Plaxco referred to the fact that
when he came here six years ago the
first minister to call upon him was
Mr.. Bristow, and the first Sabbath
he was here, he preached in the
Baptist church in the evening. He
spoke of the close fellowship which