Newspaper Page Text
2 (1080) T H E
meu of the congregation. The brotherhood i* a
strong and active organization in the church,
and has paid the expenses of a young man at
school one and a half sessions. The various
^^^^^TOHfjTTOTTTnrTTrhd ladies societies are energetic
factors in the activities of the church.
IHHHHHHIHIH
**?* ! r^jl|
A 9B
lit v ,~i. ^|
^hb
Rev. Wni. S. Plainer, D. D.y Pastor,
When the Church was Organized in 3826.
BRIEF HISTORY.
In the year 1804, Rev. Jas. Thompkins came
to Danville, then only a village, and labored for
a year, but left without organizing a church.
There does not seem to have been any Presbyterian
preacher here until the first Sabbath in
December of 1826, when Rev. Wm. S. Plumer
was sent to Danville by the Missionary Society
of the Synod of North Carolina. On the 30th and
31st of December Revs. S. L. Graham and James
117 1? -_J -J?' .
ii. ?jvugias pieaciicu axiu aUHliniSiered tne
Lord's supper, which to many adults was a novel
sight in this town. At this time a church of two
members was formed?Mrs. Jane Thornton, with
a certificate from Pearl Street church, New York,
and Mr. James Ross, from his church in Ireland,
and on the 11th of February, 1827, four more
members were added. In October, 1827, Rev.
W. S. Plummer closed his labors and was succeeded
by Rev. A. D. Montgomery in December,
1827. In 1833 Rev. Oscar Harris, of New York,
accepted a call as supply for three months.
Rev. Win. C. McElroy came as supply in December,
1833, and in September, 1834, he was
made pastor, but died in May, 1837. December,
1837, Rev. Benj. M. Smith was called, but resigned
in October, 1840. Rev. S. J. P. Anderson
became pastor in March, 1841, and was succeeded
by Rev. Jas. N. Lewis in April, 1847. Mr. Lewis
resigned the postorate in the fall of 1853. Rev.
J. M. Kirkpatrick became pastor in October,
1854, resigning in April, 1868. Dr. Alexander
Martin was pastor from 186'J until his death,
March 4, 1895. A few years before Dr. Martin's
death Dr. Shanks assisted him in his pastoral
labors, but died March 1, 1894. January 7, 1895,
Rev. C. W. Maxwell was engaged as assistant to
Dr. Martin, and after Dr. Martin's death he
served as supply for this church until March
1, 1896. Dr. Wm. R. Laird was called and enter
ed upon his pastoral labors August 2, 1896, and
is now the beloved pastor of the church, under
whose ministry the church has grown in numbers
and usefulness. There were 95 members in 1850;
135 in 1860; 145 in 1870; 197 in 1880; 369 in
1890; 397 in 1900; the present membership being
502.
The Shelton Memorial church, of North Danville,
and the Burton Memorial church, of
Sohoolfleld, a suburban settlement, were offsprings
of the First church.
f
2, ..i. & it,. . mkiiia -v' - Afs
PRESBYTERIAN OF VHE S
Throc church buildings were erected oil the
old site on Jefferson Street, from time to time,
the last one in 1881, and cost $3U,U00.00.
J. W. Cook,
Chairman Sessional Committee.
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY SAINT.
REV. A. S. K1SKE. D. D.
r V '
This Saint is not the hair-clothed anchoret of
the desert caverns and solitudes of Arabia and
Kgypt or of the seclusions of the cloister, apart
from the common duties and societies of men,
nor yet of the Old Testament times. Nor is he
that straight, correct, self-satisfied soul who
never needed any redemption. Indeed that man
has never yet been discovered. Our Saint is, first
of all, a sinner who has become aware of that
fact and behaves himself as the fact demands.
Me has cart himself on the mercies of God in
Christ; found in a holy and humble repentance
the pardon of all his sins, in that blest hour has
found a new heart to hate all sin and power to
turn from it, a passionate love of holiness and
a commanding love for God and for all righteousness
which is building him up towards the
likeness of Christ himself. In his new love for
the Ileavtnly Father he has come to a vast, allpmhruninir
Invn fi?- oil H-i/l'o J ?
??a .v,v uu uuu o kicatuics auu supremely
for all men everywhere. He enters, so,
into all the great enterprises of the Master for a
world's redemption. His holy ambition is to be
a Saviour, in Christ's name and stead, for every
soul of the human race. That is his one ultimate
business.
This Saint lives in God's world and loves it;
Hk
Rev. Wm. R. Laird, D. D.,
the present Pastor.
rejoices in it more than any other can, because
his God lias, taken such infinite pains with it. He
lives in a body God-given and wonderful. He
loves that, reveres it, adorns it, cares for it well,
rejoicing in its health and vigor, keeps it longer
than another and expects to get it again like the
glorified body of his Lord, and to rejoice in it for
ever and ever. He puts it to no needless pains.
He does not believe that "Be ye not conformed
to this world" means that because t>?hers live in
houses, he must take to the desert, because others
O U T H [September 25, 1912
talk he must be dumb, wear clothes, he must
go naked, marry, he must forego domestic ties.
He has the level-headed common sense to know
that the must abused injunction of the Apostle
lays his emphasis on the later clause, "But be ye
w wm
Rev. Alex. Martin, IJ. D.,
Pastor 1869-1895.
transformed in the spirit of your minds," "that
ye may do all the harmless and convenient things
that others do," "whether ye eat or drink," "or
whatever else it 'be," "all to the glory of God."
He rightly rejoices in 180 pounds of solid and
vigorous flesh rather than in 100 pounds of disease
and torment, and God would rather have
him. He knows that a weak and pain-filled body
a.- - J! : 1 A * 1
io nut a iicip to a uiviue nxe, oui a ninarance
every way, and oftenest a disgrace to himself or
his fathers,?a penalty visited on him for his
own sins or for theirs. This saint will be the
most hearty, genial, sympathetic and generous
of souls, full of all the impulses of social life and
duty and pleasure, putting on himself no needless
self-denials. Of all happy spirits he will be
the sanest and gladdest, for he is the Lord's and
the gracious Lord is his, "All things are his."
These saints! O, my Saint shall be by the very
sainthood of him the fittest of all men to labor,
Achieve and enjoy honors, pleasures aiid rewards
of life. He ought, in the common business
of life, to carry a clearer head and win
finer sucess than other men. He ought to make
money more surely by honest foresight and integrity
than others can by meanness and fraud.
He for his real human loveableness and true
grace, ought to be the favorite of society. He
ought to be in politics and perpetually at the
top of affairs. In literature, science, philosophy;
in discovery and invention?everywhere and
evermore, all hail to the Christian Saint at the
top! In days of calamity when righteousness
needs defenders and champions, he, foremost in
the ranks must bear most patient of all the fatigues
of the camp, the march and the hospital,
and most cheerfully of all go to make his grave
on. every field where men fall for country, liberty
and God, the noblest, bravest and most lamented
soldier of them all. Now, with all the
riches and glow of the world's life beautiful
within and upon him, he is equipped and ordained
for a higher mission. Vast fields of
reality, interests infinite in moment, which
others slur over, he sets in their due perspective.
The most significant things in human constitution
and destiny others despise, giving the glory of
their humanity to the relatively, of no account.
These he sets in the place of their eternal right.
J j