A History of South Carolina Baptists

Sornh Carolina Baptlst Convention His1ory and Archives

A History of South Carolina Baptists

by

IOE M. KING

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I,EAE I1oII9NSEND

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W GENERAL BOARD OF TEE SOUTII CAROLINA

BAPTIST CONVENTION

Library of Corgress Catalogue Card No. Copyrisht @

6'1-19485

1964

Joe Menrsor KrNc Sorth Caroliw Gewrol Boontr of Suth Carolitu Ba1tk, Contention

Printed Dy

Tar R L. Bnver C.orcexv

Cor,uresH,

Souts

Cesor,rlve

DEDICATED gratetwU!

to the memory of

WILLIAM SCREVEN, OLMR HART, and RICHARD FURMAN, true pioneers, and to

all South Carolina Baptists, past and

present,

who bave followed them

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following "in His train."

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FOREWORD

It may be said that. a treatise on history can be no gr€ater than the historian himself. If this simple statement is admitted as fact tben this book,'A History of South Carolina Baptists," by Dr. Joe M. King is a work of first magnitude because of the many recognized qualifications of the author. To be qualified as a historian entails several basic attributes not Possessed by many mortals. Some of these qualifications necessary for the re' cording of history are: 1. A zest for the task that will drive the historian even past ttre point of endurance and the point of no,return. 2. An innate sense of history so that the historian will know the arena of history and be able to define its boundaries. 3. Academic ability for research that will enable the historian to find and select the facts and events to be recorded.

4. The inte[ectual acutnen and stamina that will enable the historian to evaluate and interpret the fucts and events recorded.

In the light of these statements, Dr. King is emiaently qualified as a histo,rian. Such qualifications enable him to know and record the importad as over against that which seems imporfr.rnt This is not an easy task in that history is a hrrbulent flowing strearn instead of a stagnant pond. Someone may ask, "\iVhy a history of South Carolina Baptists?" The recording and study of South Carolina Baptist history are profitable for several reasons:

1. Recorded history gives a deeper understanding and appreciation of our past and present heritage.

2. Recorded history produces a reseloir, or storehouse, of experience from which to draw to build the expanding work of the present and future.

3. Recorded history furnishes an aorte sense of direction in a day so fraught with dangers and opporhrnities. 4. Recorded history provides aspirations and inspiration for present and future achievements. There are many avenues that might be followed in recording a narrative of South Carolina Baptist history. Dr. King, in writing this history of South Carolina Baptists, has chosen to give emphasis, to sorne extent, to Christian Education to unfold graphically the whole story of the rise of Baptists in South Carolina. Ilowever, this history is not a history of Christian Education, but it is a realistic history of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, induding atl of the agencies and institutions. This choice was made mandatory in terms of petspectivg as pointed out so succinctly by the author in a persoaal

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it is true that Christian Eilucation was so often in the history, this was true mainly because it was most often through the years the 'front page' story a^frecting the life of Baptists in one way or another. . . . the other institutional stories, including letter, when he said, "'While

a 'point of

reference'

the rise of the Convention, have been carefully told."

Also, it is quite understandable that a one-volume history of South Carolina Baptists cannot incorporate all the many interesting details and facets of Baptist history. Of course, the aut'hor had to select that whic,h he felt was pertinent to this stresr of history. It is sufrcient here to quote again the author, who wisely said in the above-mentioned letter, "Although many details are givm, the work, of necessity, had to be telescopic rather than microscopic. The broad sweep of South Carolina Baptist history is presented, from background settlement and eartest drurches through institutional and organizational development to the mid-twentieth century." For "A History of South Carolina Baptists," Dr. King deserves the accolades and sincere appreciation of the entire Baptist fellowship. One convin"itg way to show sincere appreciation for Dr. King, his history of South Carolina Baptists, and our great Baptist heritage, is to purchase this book and then read and study it voraciously to the end that God's Kingdom work shall be expanded and enlarged to the glory of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Honeco G. Hauupm, G

eneral' S e cr etary-Tr.easrwer,

South Corolina Bapti,st Cowenti,on

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PREFACE This effort to provide South Carolina Baptists with a history 9f thgir work represents over twenty years of research in the field. Soon after the writer ias engaged to undertake the task, it became apparent to him that several others-had labored previously with the subject. As months passed, it became increasingly clear that if an entirely new history.were written the writer would be covering much ground previously surveyed most adequately by two thorough historiais. Miss Leah T-ownsend, in her doctora! dissertation 16r tfr" University of South Carolina, had treated the work of Baptists in the state from 167O until 1805. This dealt largely with the pioneer churches. In 1935 Miss Townsend published her outstanding work, South Caroli,nn' Bapti,sts 1670-1805.

shortly after world war

r, Dr. w. J. McGlothlin,

Baptist historian

and Furman University president, was asked by the State Co:rvention to write

a history of the denomination. The press of his many duties prevented the production of such a work, but Dr. McGlothlin did much researc.h in the 'nAa *a produced an excellent shrdy of education beginnings lTong Baptistg in South Carolina. This was published in 1926. Together, Townsend and McGlothlin covered rather *"li the activities of Baptists in South Carolina until the middle of the nineteenth century. When these facts were hrought to the attention of the South Carolina Baptist Historical Society and the General Board of the South Carolina g"btirt Convention, appioval was given to the plan whit evenhrated in this present volume. The State Convention purdrased the Townsend copyright, and the writer received her blessing in the proper use_ of her materials. Tf,e'McGlothlin copyright had long since enpired, and Mrs. A. T. Odell, Dr. McGlothlin's daughter, was moJt enthusiastic at the prospect of his work living on in a larger volume. It then remained the task of this writer to edit properly the Townsend and McGlothlin materials so that they would fit more ;.;thiy into a larger whole and to bring the entire history from the midnineteenth century to 1960. Through it all the desire of the writer has been to give South Caiolina Baptists an account worthy of their history; it is felt thai the three-fold product, in bringing together the fruit of such extensive labors, has helped to bring the original ideal closer to realization. A more specific delineation, darrfying the use of the Torvnsend and McGlothlin malerials will help the reader. Chapter one is by King, drapters two through eight are by Townsend and King, chapters nine through twelve are by McGlothlin and King, and chapters thirteen through seventeen are by King. In chapters thirteen and fourteen some brief sections relative to Furman University are from McGlothlin. Pictures, tables, appendix materials, index, and the bibliography in its present form are provided by King. Be-

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in the best interest of this larger work, it has been necessary to leave that appeared in the original rownsend and McGlothlin vorumes, the reader is urged to consult these if he has any question on some point noi covered in the present work The writer has striven to adhere closely to a perspective gained early in the project. Accarocy and clari,ty have been the preeminent goals. Because the endeavor was necessarily part-time, with the writer carrying a full teachiag load at Funnan university, it has been known a[ along that the styre of the work would suffer somewhat, under sudr circumstances it has bem atl lrt rmpossible to maintain a consistent style. The reader should keep in gr1nd, also, that this is onJg ome woy the history could have becn written. lhis way was chosen because those responsible foi the project felt that South Carolina Baptists needed, above all, a reasonably thoiough one-volume account of their history. In short, the aim was to tell accurately and clearty the mai,n stream, storg of South C;arolina Baptists, with the hope that thii would also be interestingly done. Because there was enough material for many volumes, the constant probletn was one of selection. It was not always easy to resist the beckoning bypaths. A brief word concerning the time span of the work is in order. With few orceptions, the period covered is 167u1960. The former date is that of the first pennanent settlement at charleston; the latter seemed to be the logical time to conclude under the circumstances of the writing. However, early colonizing efforts begrnning in t52l and certain events of iranscendent significance since 1960 have been treated. These last indude the complete rerroval of Furman University to its new campus in 1961and the deaih of Dr. Charles F. Sims in December of the same year. The extensive table of churches included in the appendix is an efiort to provide a reso-urce feature of incalculable value. The project was designed @.use,

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to include basic data concerning every white Baptist church that has existed at lgy time in South Carolina. Already, in its unpublished form in the Baptist Historical Collection at Furman university, the table has many times justified it compilation. A more complete word about the table will be found in an inhoduction to it in the appendix.

Having heretofore indicated smre of the goals of the history, the writer to point out certain things which he has not tried to do. No efrort has been made to give historical sketches of all South Carolina Baptist churches; this would be manifestly impossible within the scope of this present work Careful attention has been given to the pioneer churches esbblished prior to 18@ but because of the rapid multiplication of churdres after that time it was not feasible to strive to treat dl of thmr. While an effort has been made to deal signifiently with all of the institutions owned by the Baptist State Convention, the writer has not intended to give a full history of these institutions. No effort has been made to give biographicat sketches of all the outstanding figures in the denomination's history; this would require a work of several volumes. Ilowever, those figures of su4lassdesires

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ing significance, who exertd an influence beyond the statg have received biographical consideration. Further, no effort has been made to mention all grfts of individuals or estates to institutions of the denomination- The reader will obseme, however, that numerous large and small gifts have been noted as they fitted into the larger objectives of the work. Any significant oversight at this point has not been intentional. It should be understood, also, that, apart from certain briel exceptions, the work oI Negro Baptists in South Carolina is not covered in this history. Such a story would be well worth telling, but the limitations of this present work prevented its indusion. However, at several points in this present account it has seemed desirable to point out interrelationships of white and Neg'ro Baptists. In this prefatory statement it seems well, also, to iaclude a brief word about certain procedures followed in the history. With rare exceptions, footnotes have been given only for material quoted directly. While keeping the goal of darity in mind, the writer has tried to avoid unnecess:rry pre liferation of footnotes. Occasionally, where there were several quotations from a given work in the same paragraph and where the source was obviors, only one footnote was given. Also, as long as darity and accumcy could be served, the writer has sought to simplify individual footnote entries. No efrort has been made to follow a strict thesis fonn. For e