Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-08-12
THE A. r. P.'s OF SHARON
CONTINUED From Page One.)
organization of Sharon as an Associate
nopprapafion

organization of Sharon as an Associate
congregation.
During the period intervening be-
tween 1882 and 1885, as far as the
writer can learn. Sharon congregation
was in kind of transition state. BE
this as it may, in 1885, we began to
hear of an Associate Reformed con-
gregation of Sharon. supposed to have
been organized by Associate Reformed
ministers of the First presbytery. At
what precise time this congregation
was organized, the writer can get no
reliable information. Tradition says 1t
was done by the Rev. Thomas Ketch-
ins, who had recently himself come
! from the Associate presbytery of the
Carolinas to the First presbytery Of
! the A. r. p. church, bringing with him
a number of congregations. 1t is high
ly probable that it was done in 1885 or
1886. .,a
Who preached to this congregation
as supplies from the A. r. P. presby-
terry and how often cannot now be
told. Old people tell us that Revs.
Retchins, Flennikin, DR.. Boyce Nc
Donald. J. S. Pressly and S. c. Miller
all preached more or less. For several
years before the writer's settlement
among them, II seems to have been
their custom to have sacramcntal
meetings once a year in the SUMMER
time. One lady still living, says she
attended the sacramento meeting con-
Quoted by Rev. Thonas Ketchins in
1882. Whether or not this was the
time when the congregation was or
garfiZed / do not know. 1t was likely
1t was done the year before this. II
is known to the writer that DIR. James
Boyce held sacramental meeting in
the summer of 1910 and Rev. l.. Nc
Donald held one in the summer of 1S43.
The writer Of this sketch preached at
Sharon once or twice in the latter part
of 1912, and also in the beginning o;
1884,:
In August, 1S43, this congregation
united with Smyrna and Olivet, both
in York county, South Carolina, in
call addressed to the writer. This call
was moderated by Rev. r. c. Grier,
then pastor of Bethany and Pisgah,
how the charge of Rev. F.. +. Boyce
1t was presented at the meeting OF
presbytery at Hopewell, Chester coun-
ty, in October 1S43, and was accepted.
BY this call they asked for one-third
time promising to pay therefor Slhs.
The ruling elders subscribing to this
call were John Galloway, ]. n. NIGEL
wee, .Sr., John Kennedy and Hugh A.
Galloway. These were the elders
elected and ordained at the reorgani-
zation of the congregation. The writer
was ordained and installed pastor Of
Sharon and the above named congre-
cations on the first Wednesday Of De-
cember, lS43 Rev. Thomas ketchins
preached The ordination sermon from
Matt. II. II. REV. L. Mcdonald led in
the ordination prayer and addressed the
pastor, and Rev. S. C. Millen address
ed the people Ii was a cold and
stormy day, nevertheless there was a
good congregation. The writer began
his pastoral labors at Sharon on jan
uary /, 1874.
At this time there were still a few
families in the bounds Of Sharon ad-
herring to the Associate presbytery OF
the Carolinas Among them were the
families Of Joseph Wylie, Robert Gill
dllan, John Rainey. Joseph Fitzpatrick
and Mrs. Laughridge. These families
were all received into the Associate
Reformed church within year or two,
after the writer's pastoral relations
began at Sharon. Some of these ac-
cessions from the Associate churc
were more than ordinarily INTEL. gent
and of good department. In the fail OF
1914 the eldership was increased by
the election of Robert Gilfillan and
Thomas Whitesides.
AS we would antecedently expect
from the recent transition of the con-
gregation the love of piety and morals
was not altogether as good as it Should
have been. Ii is certainly true that
the fruits of righteousness are sown In
peace of them that make peace. In
temperance, Sabbath breaking, neglect
of family worship were quite pr@va-
lent. But II must be said in commen-
dation of the people that for ;he most
part they submitted TO the discipline
of the church readily. The attend
ance upon public ordinances from the
FIRST has been rather remarkable. Dur
4ng a pastorate of thirty years, it has
not been the writer's lot to preach 20
cold, empty house. After all how
ever, the aggregate visible results OF
this long pastorate are by no means
calculated to foster a spirit of pride
and self qualification. AS geenral
rule our young people when they grow
up recognize their baptismal engage
mcnts and make a public profession oi
religion, Occasionally a family of indi-
vduals are gathered in from the
world, and sometimes as a matter OF
convenience and accommodation one
would come from other churches. This