The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-03-02
THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1922
Williamsburg and Bethel Unite.
(By William Willis Boddie.) }

The Rev. Samuel Kennedy, native
OF Ireland, was engaged in 1888 to
supply the Williamsburg Presbyterian
Congregation as minister for a term
of three years. Mr.. Kennedy denied
the divinity of Jesus Christ and
preached Socinialism. This doctrine
was abhorrent to a part of the congre-
gation. When Mr.. Kennedy's term OF
three years expired, congregation
al meeting was held in the matter at
which the majority sustained the
minister and voted to retain his serv-
ices. The minority withdrew from
the old church and built another
church across the road about fifty
yards from the other.
The minority were so Mortified that
such doctrine as Mr.. Kennedy preach
ed should profane the church that
their own fathers had helped to build
that this faction met one night at
the old church, and with about 100
slaves, tore down and removed every
part of the old church, and carried
its pulpit about three miles from
Kngstree and hid it in Samuel Nc
C;elland's barn. The majority sued
the secessionists in the courts at
Georgetown and they were required
to pay for tie destruction of the old
church. Then the minority abandon
ed its church on the original plot
and built the Bethel church about
half a mile Southeast on the Cedar
Swamp road.
The Bethel church faction was con-
tlolled by the Friersons, Witherspoons
and Ervins, while the majority eie-
ment in charge of the old church and
its rights and privileges was under
the leadership of the Bradleys, Nc
Carys and McConnells. These two
factions were hostile for many years.
Finally, in 1908, large number OF
the Bethel church migrated to Maury
county, Tennessee, taking their min
lister with them and founding there
the Zion church. What was left OF
the COZ, .regation of the Bethel church
maintai ed an organization until 1928,
when a a joint meeting Of the con-
gregati, rs of the original church and
the Bet el church a union was effect
ed and the Williamsburg Presbyter-
ian church alone encompassed the
field.
These are the minutes of that
memorable meeting, as taken from
the original records:
"At a meeting of the members OF
the old Presbyterian church Of Will
liamsburgh and the members OF the
Bethel church, held at the old church
on Tuesday the 18th June, 1928,
there being a majority of the members
of each congregation present, they
proceeded to business. John Nc
Clary, Esqr., was appointed chair
man, and R. G. Ferrell secretary.
"1st. Resolved that these two
churches become united, that the two
become one congregation and they
worship in the old or original church.
"2nd. Resolved that this congre-
cation join with the Indiantown con-
gregation and employ a minister, and
the minister so employed preach one
half of his time in this church and
the other half in the Indiantown
church.
"3rd. Resolved that Mr.. William
Wilson, Col. William Salters, Samuel
E. Fulton, Isaac Nelson, Sen, DR..
James Bradley and H. D. Shaw be
a committee to inform the Revd.
John Mckee Erwin that we wish to
give him a call as our pastor for one
half of his time.
"4th. Resolved that the members
OF the congregation do meet at the
church on the last Saturday in this
month to regulate business of the
church.
aAt a meeting of the members of
the church on Saturday the 18th of
June, 1928, the committee appointed
to say to the Revd. John NJ. Erwin
that we intend giving him a call as
our pastor report that they have done
so and that they think there is a
prospect Of our getting him.
"1st. Resolved that H. D. Shaw,