Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-05-31
OLD MINISTER breaches
Rev. v. v. RatChfofd: Occupied Bull
locks Creek Pulpit Last Sunday.
is In THE goth. YEAR: OF HIS AGE

| FaSeoF OF Shaicn ih' y -eiS"t. 20"
Ago Comes Back at Advanced Age
and breaches With Old Visor-
Warmly Welcomed by Large Num-
ber of His Former Congregation and
Friends Generally.
(By Staff Correspondcnt)
Bullock's Creek, May 30.-Coming
back to greet his old congregation aft
er the passage of thirty eight years
since he was pastor here, Rev. w. w.
ERatchford, of Waxhaw, N. c., aged 80,
perhaps the Oldest minister in America,
preached in Bullocks Creek church
here yesterday to the largest congrc-
CATION that Bullock's Creek has known
in months Despite the fact that the
winds and suns of 80 summers and 30
winters have passed over his brow,
"Father Ratchford," as he is lovingly
known to thousands of people over the
Carolinas, is still in good health. His
step is little slow. But his voice IS
clear. His eye is clear. His hearing Is
good. He still breaches with that fire
and force and determination and earn
estness of purpose that characterized
his efforts when pastor Of this church
nearly four decades ago:
Visiting Relatives.
Rev. Ratchford, whose son, Mr.. L. b.
Ratchford, and daughter, Mrs E. NJ
Bankhead, and many other relatives
live in this section, came to Bullock's
Creek on this occasion primarily for
the purpose of officiating at the
wedding of his nephew, Mr.. Charles
Bankhead, to Miss Rebecca Saye,
at Sharon, on next Wednesday. The
CONGREGATION here. learning that he
was to come for that event, IN
vited him to come earlier and preach
here Sunday and he graciously accept
ed the invitation. Members not only
of BuIlocls's Creek congregation; but
people of other congregations from
many surrounding places came to hear
him. After the services the venerable
minister held a sort Of informal recep-
ton for his former congregation ana
friends generally and scores came 1or-
ward to shake his hand and say WORD
to him. In fact, it was almost an hour
after the conclusion Of the sermon that
he was enabled to break away from MS
many friends and admirers and return
TO the home Of one Of his relatives.
It was a strong and forceful sermon
that Rev. Ratchford preached TO his
hcarers-one that engaged their unal-
vided attention for, a period Of As min
utes Taking for his text st. John 1887
-"In the last day. that great day OF
tho feast. Jesus stood and cried, say
ing, If any man thirst, let him come
unto me, and drink" he said that the
Invitation the Savior gave that day,
and that the sermon he preached TO-DAY
would he. he hoped, Of some beneht TO
all his congregation, no single MEMBER
Of which was perfect and all OF whom
would benefit by an increase IN fa'th.
Invitation to All.
."rbc subject that have chosen for
todav" he said, "is one that should
suit people Of all classes and caillngs'
II is one that holds out hope for eV-
crvbody who may receive sa!Vation
through acceptance of the plan offered
bv the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
1--WE of this earth," said he, do not
offer our gifts as did Jesus Christ that
dav on the rock or in the pulpit or
wherever he was standing. We are
selfish people with our narrow loeas
land not like the Jesus who offers sal
votion TO all without respect to per-
sons He made no distinctions and yet
the church of God today is divided into
different sects and denominations "heh
II should not be. The Presbyterian IS
not The church; neither is the Metho-
dist. the Baptist the Catholic, or any
other, All have a common purpose
and object and the divisions among US
on doctrinal questions is doing more
than anything else toward blocking the
progress of Christianity. No wonder
our preaching fails to have its erect
because there is too much division over
small matters and so few Of us are
wholly and solely interested In the
Christ and the promotion Of his king
dom.
Would Erase UNCONVENTIONAL Lines.
All denominational lines should be
banished from the church of God, said
I Rev. Ratchford, who predicted that
they will be some of these days when
people generally come to accept the
generosity of Jesus and shape their
lives more after his life.
referring to present day ministers
and sermons, and especially young the
olorical students and young ministers,
the venerable minister took occasion to
saw that while he did not want to as
sumo a. role of critic or censor, many
of them fail in that they are educated
in the brain instead of in the heart.
MANY of our young ministers, ne
said. "ordinarily get up excellent dis
courses but when they come to stand
+1,o;, tjo0S thew