The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-04-05
HIGH HILLS
MEMORIAL
ASSOCIATION
Interesting Services Held in
Historic Old Church

Hills Baptist church on last Sun
day. 1t was the answer to a call
made for a Memorial Service at the
grave of John N. Roberts. d. d..
whose death occurred on March
25th, 1922, and Sunday 26th was
utilized for the centennial exercises
touching his life and services. 1t
was astonishing to see what an
awakening followed this appeal.
The people came in crowds. Not
Baptists only, but all other denom-
nations contributed evidences Of
great interest in the occasion. The
big old church afforded plent;' of
testimonies to its claims on the af-
fections Of people in this COM
munity.
Though once in wretched dilapi-
dation and many times without
pastoral service, yet it was used
for meetings in MANY useful
lines at all times 1nterdonimina-
tional Sunday schools had been
held there with great success and
the building put in excellent or
der from bottom to top by the at
tendance on these Sunday school
meetings and the Farmers Alliance
mad used it for their good work
and the General Sumter Memorial
Academy had held its religious SER
vices and its commencement. exer-
cises within its precious old walls,
and il was about this time that It
was painted inside and oct and
on the inside can be found neat
pulpit a handsome Bible and or
gan, sofa and chars, bell and
gaval and baskets for collection
all in place and in perfect condl-
ton. Then there were exhibited
pictures Of the old building in all
its stages for over a hundred years
and there were seen large crowds
on its piazza who assembled tc
establish high school and did es-
tablish the General Sumter Me-
moral Academy, and several pic
lures Of the memorial stone erected
to the memory of the great teach
er and preacher, learned in the
work of the s.nools and wearing
the title Of d. D. for his theologi-
cal learning and high efficient ser
vices to the church.
The range of discussion by the
speakers was a wide one as tC
Baptist interest and, work. The
first pointed and impressive allusion
was to the fact that the song with
which the meeting opened was
known as America, and sung
throughout America, as the adopted
National air Of the American peo-
pie and was heard in all parts OF
the world, on bands Of music and
in the voices Of tens Of thousands
Of American soldiers and sailors
and this sorS was written by Rev
Samuel F. Smith a Baptist divine
Then followed description of the
work Of Richard Furman, once a
pastor Of this church who had at
tracted the attention Of Lord
CORVALLIS by his patriotic services
during the Revolutionary war, 2nd
that James Monroe was SO charm
ed with his preaching that he
would have him speak in the capi-
tol at Washington and that Patrick
Henry was so fascinated with Fur
mans life and services that he in
sisted that all his family should be-
come Baptists and they are to this
day. Then it was shown that
Samuel Furman, a preacher in this
same church was known as a
Metaphysician and Logician not
only in this country. but in Scot
land, and is said to have held the
friendship Of the great philosophe,
Sir William Hamilton. And Rob
ert Hall and Charles II. SpurSeor
were discussed as great preachers
Of the world and pictures OF
Surgeons vast audiences We're on
exhibition. All done to arouse ar
interest in the work of this Ole
IA1di I'll eSilO OSAO1C WI lOjo ~ w a.
declared that a portrait Of Miss
Grace Allen, now Mrs. Lee. who
was the first woman probably il
the world to cast a vote in "a Bap.
tist business meeting which she die
IN an association meeting q,
WedSefield as delegate from thi:
church on a date to be fixed undc,
her portrait when it is proposed
! to have some renowned speaker:
TO discuss the church in its work.
in the past, in the present and i,
the future.
As a concluding work Of the day
q Memorial Association was form
ed to take charge Of the work 0.
restoring this old church to srea
usefulness, and the composition O.
the association IS an assurance of it:
earnest and SUI ssful work
Formed on tn. 2Gth day O
March. 1922. The High Hill
Church Memorial Association.
Members:
Hon. c. J. Jacqson, president.
J. +. Lcn0ir. vice-presidcnt.
Mrs. j. l. Lenoir. secretary ant
! treasurer.
Geo. ". Maby. Mrs. w. NJ. Lc
noir, .j,-., Mrs. T. ". Moore, ex
ecutivc committee
Col John j. DarSan. historian.
: Rev. e. w Reynolds was tn
presiding officer in this mcctins
! and conducted it with marked sue
cess. The singing under his con
! duct contributed largely to th'
pleasure and profits OF the occa