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2 (1080) T H E
men of the congregation. The brotherhood is a.
strong and active organization in the church,
Mid has paid tin* expenses of a young man at
school <?iie and a halt' sessions. The various
young people's and ladies' societies are energetic
factors in the activities of the church.
^HI
Ilk
Rev. Urn. <S\ Plant ert P. I)., Pastor,
When the Church teas Organized in 182G.
BRIEF HISTORY.
In the year 18U4, liev. Jas. Thompkius 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 liev. Win. S. Plumer
was sent to Danville by the Missionary Society
of the Synod of North Carolina. On the 30th and
31st of December lievs. S. L. Graham and James
W. Douglas preached and administered the
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
u 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, liev.
W. S. Plummet* hi< ls?.tw?i*e ?n/l waw en..
ceeded by Rev. A. I). Montgomery in December,
1827. In 18:1:1 Hev. Oscar Harris, of New York,
accepted a call as supply for three months.
Hev. Win. C. MeKlroy came as supply in December,
.18:1:1, and in September, 18:14, lie was
made pastor, but died in May, 18:17. December,
1887, Rev. 1 it?nj. M. Smith was called, hut resigned
in October, 1840. Hev. S. J. 1\ Anderson
became pastor in March, 1841, and was succeeded
by Hev. Jas. N. Lewis in April, 1847. Mr. Lewis
resigned the pastorate in the fall of 185:1 Rev.
J. M. Kirkpatrick became pastor in October,
1854, resigning in April, 1809. l)r. Alexander
Martin was pastor from 18ti!) until his death,
March 1. 18!);"). 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. \V. Maxwell was engaged as assistant to
Dr. Martin, and after Dr. Martin's death he
served as supply for this church until March
1, 189b. Dr. Win. R. Laird was called and entered
upon his pastoral labors August 2, 1890, 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 1800- 145 in 1870- 107 ir, 1 a?n. -mo
1890; 397 in 1900; the present membership being
502.
The Shelton Memorial church, of North Danville,
and the Burton Memorial church, of
Schoolfield, a suburban settlement, were offsprings
of the First church.
P P < S B Y T E K 1 A N OF \? H K SO
Three church buildings were erected 011 the
old site on Jefferson Street, from time to time,
I he lust one iu 1S5?1, and cost $30,0UU.UU.
J. \Y. Cook,
Chairman Sessional Committee.
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY SAINT.
KKV. \. S. KJsSKK, I). I).
This Saint i> nut the hair-clothed anchoret ot'
the desert caverns and solitudes of Arabia and
Egypt or of the seclusions of the cloister, apart
from the eoiiunon duties and societies of men,
nor yet of the Old Testament times. Nor is he
that straight, correct, self-satistied soul who
n< \ t r needed any redemption. Indeed that man
has never yet been discovered. Our Saint is. tir.st
of all. a sinner who has become aware of that
fact and behaves himself as the fact demands.
He has ea-t himself 011 the mercies of Cod in
Christ; found in a holy and humble repentance
the pardon of all his sins, in that blest hour has
found a new heart lo hate all sin and power to
nun from it, a passionate low of holiness and
a commanding love for (Sod and for all righteousness
which is Imilding him up towards the
likeness of Christ himself. In his new love for
the lleavmly Father he has come to a vast, allembracing
love for all (Jod's creatures and supremely
for all men everywhere. Tie enters, so,
into all the great enterprises of the Master for a
world's redemption, llis 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 Cod's world and loves it;
?^HB >
MM :ijffl*F $&m
Rev. Whi. It. Laird, D. D.,
the present Pastor. .
rejoices in it more than any other can, because i
his God has. taken such infinite pains with it. He
lives in a bodv God-civpn and ?rr> /io..fsn
? 0- . -? nwuuv/ilUI. lie
loves that, reveres it, adorns it, cares for it well,
rejoicing in its health and vigor, keeps it longer i
than another find expects to get it again like the
glorified body of his Lord, and to rejoice in it for *
ever and ever. lie puts it to no needless pains. '
He does not believe that "Be ye not conformed ?
to this world" means that because Others live in
houses, he must take to the desert, because others
U T H [September 25, 1912
talk In* must bo dumb, wear clothes, he must
go naked, marry, he must forego domestic ties.
He lias the level-headed common sense to know
thai tin- most ahusi d injunction of the Apostle
lays his emphasis on the later clause, "Hut be ye
& 'i ' *'
V/~V
Jlcr. Alex. Mm tin, l>. /).,
I'(i,<lm ISCIMS!).").
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."
lie rightly rejoices in ISO pounds of solid and
vigorous flesh rather than in 100 pounds of disease
and torment, and God would rather have
liim. He knows that a weak and pain-filled body
is not a help to a divine life, but a hindrance
every way, and oftenest a disgrace to himself or
li-io ? w-- -1 --- i- * "
ii m in nii-i tl. penally V1S11CU. Oil I11I11 IOI" U1S
own .sins or i'or theirs. This saint will be the
mast 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, 44 All things are his."
These saints! O, my Saint shall be by the very
sainthood of him the littest of all men to labor,
Achieve and enjoy honors, pleasures and rewards
of life, lie ought, in the common business
of life, to carry a clearer head and win
nner sucess tlian other men. I It? ought to make
money more surely by homst foresight and integrity
than others can by meanness and fraud.
He for his real human loveableness and time
grace, ought to be the favorite of society. He
aught to be in polities 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 defi nders and champions, lie, foremost in
the ranks must bear most patient of all the far
tigues of the camp, the march and the hospital,
and mast cheerfully of all go to make his grave
on, every neict 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 110 account.
These he sets in the place of their eternal right.