]> <emph>Minutes of the Forty-First Anniversary of the State Convention of the Baptist Denomination in S.C., held at Spartanburg, July 26th-28th, 1861. Together with an Abstract of the Proceedings of the Board of Trustees of Furman University, held at the Same Time and Place:</emph> Electronic Edition. South Carolina Baptist Convention. Funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services supported the electronic publication of this title. Text scanned (OCR) by Fiona Sewell Images scanned by Katherine Anderson Text encoded by Katherine Anderson and Jill Kuhn First edition, 2000 ca. 175K Academic Affairs Library, UNC-CH University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2000.

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 Minutes of the Forty-First Anniversary of the State Convention of the Baptist Denomination in S.C., held at Spartanburg, July 26th-28th, 1861. Together with an Abstract of the Proceedings of the Board of Trustees of Furman University, held at the Same Time and Place South Carolina Baptist Convention. 91-138 p. Columbia, S.C. Southern Guardian Steam-Power Press 1861. Call number 4384 Conf. (Rare Book Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

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 Library of Congress Subject Headings, 21st edition, 1998 English South Carolina Baptist Convention -- History -- 19th century. Baptists -- South Carolina -- History -- 19th century. South Carolina -- Church history -- 19th century. South Carolina -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865. Furman University -- History -- 19th century. Confederate States of America -- Church history. Confederate States of America -- Religion. United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Religious aspects. 2000-12-18, Celine Noel and Wanda Gunther revised TEIHeader and created catalog record for the electronic edition. 2000-08-30, Jill Kuhn finished TEI-conformant encoding and final proofing. 2000-08-08, Katherine Anderson finished TEI/SGML encoding 2000-07-15, Fiona Sewell finished scanning (OCR) and proofing.

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 MINUTESOF THE FORTY-FIRST ANNIVERSARYOF THE STATE CONVENTION OF THE BAPTIST DENOMINATION IN S. C., HELD AT SPARTANBURG, JULY 26TH-28TH, 1861. TOGETHER WITH AN ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF FURMAN UNIVERSITY, HELD AT THE SAME TIME AND PLACE. COLUMBIA, S. C.: SOUTHERN GUARDIAN STEAM-POWER PRESS. 1861. MINUTES.* * As some persons may wish to preserve and bind the Minutes of the Convention, it has been thought best to number the pages continuously from year to year. The pages of this year's Minutes will be found numbered with reference to those of last year. SPARTANBURG, FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1861.

The Introductory Sermon was preached at 11, A. M., by Rev. J. M. C. Breaker, from Matt. 5: 14 — “Ye are the light of the world.” At 31/2 o'clock, P. M., the Convention met, and was called to order by the President, Hon. J. B. O'Neall, and the names of the delegates enrolled.

Charleston Association. — James Huckins, J. Scott, I. Nicholes, J. M. C. Breaker, E. R. Stokes, W. B. Carson, T. W. Mellichamp, W. D. Rice, J. A. Chambliss.

Edgefield Association. — Z. Watkins, J. H. Wideman.

Welsh Neck Association. — J. O. B. Dargan, J. C. Phelps, A. E. McIver, W. J. Lunn.

Savannah River Association. — H. A. Duncan, H. C. Smart.

Tyger River Association. — J. G. Landrum, J. C. Furman, J. P. Boyce, B. Manly, R. Furman, C. H. Judson, O. E. Edwards, J. Bomar, H. Mitchell, A. C. Bomar, A. B. Woodruff, J. J. Boyd, W. T. Wilkins, C. Foster, J. G. Harris, Jr., C. J. Elford, S. Griffith, P. C. Edwards, G. W. Brooks, J. A. Broaddus, M. D. Dickey.

Reedy River Association. — J. B. O'Neall, T. A. Perritt, A. C. Stepp.

Saluda River Association. — No delegates.

Edisto Association. — No delegates.

Salem Association. — H. A. Glenn.

Bethel Association. — No delegates.

Charleston Female Missionary Society of the First Baptist Church. — No delegate.

Young Men's Missionary Society of Furman University. — P. D. Gold.

Newberry Church. — No delegates.

Newberry District Bible Society. — S. Pratt, T. H. Pope. Enoree Association. — No delegates. Moriah Association. — No delegates.

Twelve Mile Association. — No delegates.

Barnwell Association. — W. T. Sanders.

Antioch Bible Society. — No delegates.

Santee Bible Society. — W. J. Snider. Columbia Association. — No delegates.

The Convention then proceeded to ballot for officers, when the following were elected:

Hon. J. B. O'NEALL, President. Rev. J. G. LANDRUM, Vice President. Rev. J. M. C. BREAKER, Secretary. Prof. C. H. JUDSON, Treasurer.

Prayer was then offered by Rev. H. A. Duncan, and the Convention proceeded to business.

Julius C. Smith was received as a delegate from the Wentworth Street Baptist Church, Charleston.

The Broad River Association, on application, was received to membership in the Convention. Delegates — W. Curtis, M. C. Barnett, J. S. Ezell, J. Jeffries, H. G. Gaffney.

An invitation was extended by the Chair to ministers of our own and other denominations, not delegates, to take seats and participate in the deliberations, which was accepted by Rev. M. J. Sumner, Corresponding Secretary of Domestic and Indian Mission Board, Rev. J. Gibbs, Rev. Mr. Farrow.

The Standing Committees were announced by the Chair, as follows:

On Preaching. — The Pastor and Deacons of Spartanburg Church, E. R. Stokes, C. J. Elford.

On time and place of next meeting, and persons to perform stated religious services. — J. O. B. Dargan, J. C. Phelps, C. H. Judson, Z. Watkins, Julius C. Smith.

On Accounts. — P. C. Edwards, A. B. Woodruff, H. A. Glenn, T. H. Pope, W. T. Sanders.

On nomination of Board of Agents. — H. A. Duncan, R. Furman, B. Manly, A. C. Stepp, P. D. Gold.

On notice of deceased Ministers. — J. G. Landrum, B. Manly, W. Curtis, J. P. Boyce, James Huckins, J. Jeffries.

On preparing list of Ministers and their post offices. — J. M. C. Breaker, J. Bomar, S. Pratt, W. J. Snider.

On minutes and letters of corresponding bodies. — J. C. Furman, I. Nicholes, T. Scott, S. Griffith, M. D. Dickey.

On motion of Dr. J. C. Furman,

Resolved, That we heartily concur in the recommendation of our Confederate Congress, to unite in making our late signal victories the occasion of special thanksgiving to God, by appropriate religious services on the approaching Sabbath, and that the Committee on Preaching be instructed to arrange the services for the Sabbath accordingly.

Dr. Curtis offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That it is incumbent upon the Convention to consider if immediate arrangements cannot be made for the revival and permanent establishment of a paper as the organ of our denomination in this State.

Made the special order for to-morrow, 12 o'clock.

On motion of C. J. Elford, the special order for the report of the Sunday School Board was suspended, in order that that report be now taken up. The Corresponding Secretary, Rev. J. O. B. Dargan, then presented his report. (See Report — No. 1.) Rev. W. D. Rice also presented his report, as General Superintendent of Sunday Schools. (See Report — No. 2.)

On motion, these reports were referred to a Committee, consisting of brethren Huckins, Curtis, Landrum, Manly, Elford, and Smart.

The Treasurer presented his report, which was referred to the Committee on Accounts. (See Report—No. 3.)

On motion, it was agreed that the sessions of the convention shall continue from 91/2, A. M., to 1, P. M., and from 4 to 6, P. M.

The Convention then adjourned. Prayer by Rev. I. Nicholes.

 SATURDAY, JULY 27—MORNING SESSION.

The Convention met, and was called to order by the President. Prayer by Rev. J. G. Landrum.

The Committee on the report of the Sunday School Board reported, through their Chairman, C. J. Elford. After remarks by brethren Dargan, Elford, Huckins, Manly, McIver, Boyce, and Breaker, the report was agreed to. (See Report—No. 4.)

The Committee on time and place of next meeting reported, through their Chairman, Julius C. Smith, recommending that the next session of the Convention be held at Greenville, on Friday before the last Sunday in July, 1862; that Rev. W. Curtis preach the Introductory Sermon, Rev. W. B. Carson his alternate; Rev. J. A. Chambliss the Charity Sermon, Rev. J. B. Bostick his alternate. Agreed to.

On motion of Dr. J. C. Furman, the consideration of the report of the Committee on the plans of the General Association of Virginia, in view of the comparative smallness of this Convention, was postponed to our next meeting.

Rev. M. T. Sumner addressed the Convention in behalf of the Domestic and Indian Missions of the Southern Baptist Convention.

On motion of Dr. R. Furman, it was

Resolved, That the Convention have listened with interest to the statements of Brother Sumner in regard to the operations and the wants of the Domestic and Indian Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention; and we hereby commend the interests of this Board to the prayers and to the continued support of our brethren and friends throughout the State.

On motion, it was

Resolved, That, in consequence of the absence of Brethren Brantly, Secretary, and Carwile, Treasurer, of the Bible Board, no report has been made, it is ordered that the Board have leave until the next session to make out their report.

A Committee of five, to nominate the Boards of the Convention, was appointed, consisting of brethren Carson, Chambliss, Mitchell, Gaffney, and Rice.

On motion of Dr. Manly, the following resolutions were adopted:

Resolved, That, notwithstanding the pressure of the times, the Foreign Missionaries, who have gone into heathen lands, in reliance upon the promised support of the Churches at home, must not be left to want; and since the loss and expense of their recall to this country would be sufficient to support them for at least one year in their field, we believe they should not be withdrawn. Resolved, that it be earnestly recommended to our Churches to make continued and liberal contributions to the cause of Foreign Missions.

Dr. Curtis offered the following, which was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That, in the present peculiar condition of our political affairs, it becomes us thus to assure our beloved country of our sympathies, prayers and thanksgiving on her behalf; that so far as we can understand the remarkable openings and guidance of Divine Providence, we have but received, in almost every instance, the merciful blessing of our God, as approbation upon the plans our State and Southern Confederacy have deemed it best to adopt; that now, especially, in the unprecedented, vindictive and deadly strife against us, to which those who but recently spoke of us as brethren are urging one another, we can but rejoice in the oneness of our brethren of this State in prayer and effort to defend our homes, our liberties and our Churches, and encourage them to be assured that, as hitherto, putting our faith in God, though each of us may have much to bear, yet the rod will not finally rest upon us, but that in this most unrighteous and most wicked attack upon our otherwise peaceful homes, the wickedness of the wicked will return on their own heads.

It being the special order for the consideration of the question of a denominational State paper, after remarks from brethren Curtis, Carson, Huckins, Landrum, J. C. Furman, and Stepp, the whole subject was laid on the table.

Prof. Judson offered the following resolutions, which were adopted:

Resolved, That, in order to meet the deficiency of funds for last year's Minutes, the former Secretary be requested to call upon any Associations to which Minutes were sent, but which have sent no contributions for this object, to forward to the Treasurer ten dollars for every hundred copies received. Resolved, That this Convention recommend to the several Associations represented in this body to contribute annually a definite sum for Convention Minutes, at the rate of ten dollars for every one hundred copies desired.

The Convention then went into recess.

 SATURDAY—AFTERNOON SESSION.

The Convention met, and was called to order by the President.

The committee on communications from corresponding bodies reported, through their Chairman, Dr. J. C. Furman, “That no such communications have come into their hands, as claiming the attention of this Convention.”

The committee on nomination of Boards reported, through their Chairman, Brother Carson, recommending the reappointment of former Boards. Report adopted. (See Report—No. 5.)

The committee on Accounts reported, through their Chairman, Prof. Edwards, “That they had examined the Treasurer's report submitted to them, and found that the monies have all been appropriated according to the will of the contributors, and are all properly vouched and explained. No other accounts were submitted to them.” Adopted.

The Committee on lists of ministers reported, through their Chairman, Brother Beaker. Report adopted.

On motion of Brother Carson, it was

Resolved, That we earnestly request Brother Carwile to continue his valuable services as Treasurer of the Bible Board, believing it to be highly important to the interests of that Board.

The committee on nomination of Board of Agents reported, through their Chairman, Dr. Manly, recommending the reappointment of the former Board. Agreed to. (See Report—No. 6.)

The Education Board presented their report through their Corresponding Secretary, Prof. Judson. (See Report—No. 7.)

On motion of Dr. Boyce, it was

Ordered, That the rule for the presentation and consideration of the reports of the several Boards of the Convention, as adopted at the Convention in 1858, be placed among the “Rules for the transaction of business.”

The committee on preaching announced the arrangements for preaching to-morrow, as follows: At the Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Broaddus to preach in the morning a thanksgiving sermon, to be followed by a collection for the relief of our sick and wounded soldiers. Rev. Dr. Manly to preach in the afternoon, and Rev. James Huckins to preach the charity sermons at night. At the Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. J. C. Furman to preach in the morning, and Rev. J. A. Chambliss in the afternoon. At the Methodist Church, Rev. Dr. R. Furman to preach at night.

On motion, it was

Ordered, That the collection to be taken up after the charity sermon be divided equally between the Domestic and Indian Mission Board, the Foreign Mission Board, and the Education Board.

The committee on deceased ministers submitted their report, which was adopted. (See Report—No. 8.)

On motion, the Sunday School Convention were allowed to print their minutes in connection with those of the Convention.

On motion, it was

Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be tendered to the Baptist Church and community in this place for their hospitable entertainment of the Convention, and to the several railroad companies for their reduction of fare.

After prayer by Dr. Boyce, the Convention adjourned, to meet at Greenville on Friday before the last Sunday in July, 1862.

J. B. O'NEALL, President. J. M. C. BREAKER, Secretary. SUNDAY, JULY 28, 1861.

Preaching in the several Churches took place according to arrangement. The collection in the Baptist Church for the relief of our sick and wounded soldiers amounted to about one hundred and thirty dollars; that at the close of the charity sermon to about sixty dollars.

 REPORTS. 1.—REPORT OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL AND COLPORTAGE BOARD.

In accordance with the recommendation of the Convention, contained in report No. 11, page 63, of last year's proceedings, the Sunday School and Colportage Board held a meeting at Society Hill, August 8, 1860, and unanimously elected a General Superintendent. In order to carry out fully the objects of the Convention, the following resolutions were also passed:

Resolved, That the General Superintendent be instructed to visit the Associations and present the cause of Sunday Schools and Colportage, and endeavor to secure the cooperation of judicious brethren as District Superintendents, whose duty it shall be to organize schools, to collect all statistics connected with such schools, and to report to the General Superintendent.

Resolved, That it is desirable that a general Sunday School Convention be held at some suitable time and place every year.

Resolved, That the General Superintendent be instructed to press the claims of colportage upon the Churches, and recommend the appointment of at least one colporteur for each Association, whose salary shall be raised by contributions from the Churches and a per-centage upon the books sold; and that each Association keep a depository of religious books, to be supplied by raising a permanent fund of not less than one thousand dollars, to be perpetually reimbursed in books, and that the General Superintendent endeavor to impress upon the Baptists of the State the importance of the Southern Baptist Publication Society.

The Corresponding Secretary was appointed General Superintendent. But feeling it his duty, on account of the earnest opposition of his Church, to decline the appointment, the Board, after many prayerful consultations, succeeded in obtaining the valuable services of Brother W. D. Rice, whose appointment dates from the 20th of November, 1860, to the present time. Brother Rice's report is submitted below. For the salary of Brother Rice the Board rely upon the pledges made by the brethren last year.

From the 8th of August, 1860, to the time of Brother Rice's appointment, commencing on the 20th of November, the Corresponding Secretary acted as voluntary General Superintendent, under the authority of the Board. Guided by the directions of the Board, he directed a circular to brethren in every District of the State, and attended in person several meetings of the Associations. In all of his efforts in the great and good cause, he was cheered and encouraged, notwithstanding the difficulties and embarrassments from various adverse causes, with which he had to contend.

For further information in regard to this important and interesting field of labor, the Board desires to refer the Convention to the report of Brother Rice, herewith submitted.

At a meeting held on the 9th instant, the following order was taken:

The Board desires the Corresponding Secretary to state to the Convention that, under the present circumstances of the country, they do not feel authorized to recommend the continuance of the agency beyond the meeting of the Convention, but submit the question to the wisdom of that body.

The brethren who pledged their several amounts for the salary of the General Superintendent will please pay over so much of the same as will be necessary to a settlement with Brother Rice.

It would be injustice to Brother Rice to close this report without remarking that he has met in every respect the expectations of the Board. His regular reports have indicated an unwearied zeal and an earnest and devout desire and effort in all ways possible to promote this most important branch of Christian labor.

Very respectfully, J. O. B. DARGAN, Corresponding Secretary Colportage and Sunday School Board. 2.—REPORT OF THE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

On the first day of December last the undersigned entered upon the work of the General Superintendency of Baptist Sunday Schools in South Carolina, for which the Baptist State Convention, at its last sitting, made arrangements, under appointment of the Board. At the time indicated above the Sunday School cause in the State was not without interest manifested in various parts of it. Brother Dargan had appointed District Superintendents for nearly all of the Districts in the State. Some of these brethren had entered heartily upon the good work, and a manifest interest began to show itself in many sections. The General Superintendent has, from the beginning of his labors, found the Churches, everywhere, not only willing to hear of the plans of the Sunday School Board, but they have everywhere equally shown a willingness themselves to enter fully upon this good work, by engaging it in their own Churches and neighborhoods. In no case does he remember that this remark will not hold when the Sunday School work has been discussed before the people. Nor does he believe there is a Baptist Church in the State of South Carolina where there would not be a Sunday School if the matter were fairly presented. In no single case has it failed so far.

It was a matter of concern with the Board and Superintendent to devise the most successful measures for reaching the greatest number of churches in the time intervening between the first of December and the last of the present month.

The Associations had all held their annual meetings. Their Churches could not, then, be influenced through this source. The Southern Baptist had been suspended, and there was no medium of general communication whatever. There were no general meetings of any kind. The union meetings all occurring at the same time, offered little or no aid. In this state of affairs, the Superintendent for the State entered upon his work. He went immediately into the District of Barnwell, intending to visit the Churches as he went; for this purpose he purchased a horse and buggy, and passed through portions of Barnwell and Beaufort, but found that but a very small number of the Churches in the District of Barnwell alone, would have taken the Superintendent an entire year, for there are fifty Churches in the District. This conviction was communicated to the Board, with the intention, which the Superintendent had then formed, of holding District Sunday School mass meetings, or Sunday School celebrations, one, two or more, for each District, as the necessity of the Districts might require.

The object of these District meetings was to gather together, at one place, all of the Sunday School children and Sunday School friends of a group of Churches, and in many instances the object was most satisfactorily attained. In a number of these meetings as many as ten Sunday Schools have been represented. In this way the General Superintendent was enabled to accomplish in one day as much as he could have done in so many weeks had he simply visited the Churches singly.

These mass meetings were held in nearly all of the Districts below Columbia, and none of them failed to be of the most interesting character, when the proper arrangements could be made. Through the influence of these meetings, nearly every Church in the lower parts of the State has been reached, and there are very few Churches where there are not Sunday Schools. These meetings were held in the Districts of Barnwell, Beaufort, Orangeburg, Clarendon, Darlington, Marlboro', Marion, and Williamsburg, with the best results, an in the Districts of Chesterfield, Anderson, Abbeville, Sumter, Fairfield, with less gratifying results. The greatest difficulty with which we have had to contend, from the beginning till now, is the absence of a denominational organ, through which appointments could have been announced in every neighborhood, and announced so as to have been fully understood. This embarrassment has been sorely felt. A paper would have helped the Superintendent to forward, more than any other one agency, the work contemplated by the Sunday School Board. Without the aid of a paper, an immense correspondence has been continually upon the hands of the General Superintendent, and with all the writing he could do, he found brethren in the District of — , the 5th of this month, to whom he had to be introduced, the nature of his work explained, and the people told he was a true man, before they were prepared to listen to him in regard to his mission. Indeed, he found many excellent and well-informed brethren, to whom it had not been possible for him to write, entirely without information in regard to his work. Had we had a “paper,” these ministers would have “co-workers together with us,” in our efforts to bring all of the little ones to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. Another cause of delay in the prosecution of this word, resulted from the refusal of many of the brethren, who were appointed District Superintendents, to act in that capacity. This embarrassment will not operate in the future, for the General Superintendent has found, in almost every District visited, brethren who will not only consent to do the work, but those who will joyfully do all they can in the capacity indicated, in forwarding the objects of the Board. To find such brethren took time, but is an important point gained.

The difficulty, and now the almost impossibility, of obtaining Sunday School books, and even the New Testament itself, has embarrassed many of the schools. This hindrance, however, is likely soon to be removed, if not wholly, at least so far as the New Testament is concerned. The book most needed, perhaps, is the little “Sabbath School Bell.” This little book has been found to be a most powerful auxiliary, wherever it has been introduced, in exciting an interest in the Sunday School cause, not among the children only, but among the members of our Church themselves. At one point, where the young people of the country could not be induced to attend the Sunday School by any persuasion or argument, as soon as these Sunday School tunes were introduced they applied to the Superintendent for permission to attend. If the expenses can be met, the “Sabbath School Bell” ought to be issued immediately by our Publication Society. Thousands of copies of it can be sold in a single year.

The influences of the present unhappy state of the country upon the Sunday School cause is by no means as discouraging as supposed by some. Indeed, it has not materially lessened the numbers of those attending the various schools. In many cases whole Bible classes have gone, as in the case of the Bennettsville Church. In other instances teachers have left; here and there valuable ones, but the great mass of the teachers remain. The materials which operated mainly in the Sunday School before the war, namely, the females of the Churches, are still as actively engaged in the work as ever they were. While nine-tenths, if no larger proportion, of the material operated upon, the children and young people of the country, are still, also, at their homes, and can, by the continued efforts of the friends of the Sunday School cause, be retained, in the midst of all our troubles as a nation, in the Sunday School, where they may be taught how they may be good soldiers of Jesus Christ. But one Sunday School in the State of South Carolina has suspended its operations on account of the state of the country, according to the best information of the General Superintendent, while it is a fact, perhaps indisputable, that there are in South Carolina a greater number of Sunday Schools in operation in Baptist Churches than ever before. Schools have been organized every week in numbers since the present trouble began. The great mass of the Sunday School material is at home, and will remain there, whether we have war or peace. The indications of the times, apart from any considerations of duty and obligation, encourage the friends of the children to renewed and continuous efforts in their behalf.

The Sunday School cause needs greatly the assistance which a system of colportage would afford. The District Superintendents have, in several instances, rendered very efficient aid to the General Superintendent, where they had the taste and the time to perform gratuitous services. Brother H. C. Smart, of Beaufort, District Superintendent for that District, has done as much for that District, perhaps, as any colporteur could have done had he been every day in the work, and so of Brother McIver, of Darlington District. Brother Coleman, of Marion District, Brother Hughson, of Kershaw, Brother Pringle, of Sumter, Brother Cuttino, of Clarendon, Brother McMichael, of Orangeburg Districts, and others, have all given as much of their attention and time to the work in their respective Districts, and the result is that there are very few Churches in any of those Districts which are without their Sunday School attached. But brethren cannot always, though they desire it ever so much, give the time gratuitously as District Superintendent. This is true of nearly all the Districts in the upper part of the State visited by the General Superintendent. A colporteur in every District, would, without any hindrance of time from the no less important work of colportage, be able to visit each Church in every District at least twice in the course of each year.

There is no colporteur in the employ of the Board, and but few in the State. Four are all of which information has been had. The General Superintendent has visited, during the past eight months, every District in the State, with the exception of seven. The attention of the Board was specially drawn to the Districts of Colleton, Marion, Williamsburg and York, and to the town of Yorkville. Efficient colporteurs or missionaries in each of these Districts are very greatly needed. Your State Superintendent has traveled, since the first December last, four thousand miles, visiting every accessible point, preaching, lecturing, talking upon the subject of his mission constantly, wherever the people could be congregated. He had printed blank forms for the reports of the Sunday School statistics, five hundred in number, and sent one of them to each Church in the State, when the name and post office of the Church was known. And when not known, a number of blanks were sent to the District Superintendent for each District, to the number required. The greater number, it is hoped, of these blanks were sent by the District Superintendent to the various Churches. The General Superintendent, however, regrets to state, that, after mailing these blanks, he found a number of them afterwards in the hands of those to whom mailed, undistributed. This will be obviated in the future, by sending the blanks directly to the Churches themselves, Wherever this has been done, the Churches, for the most part, have filled them out and returned them. The number of Sunday Schools known to be in operation is much larger than the number which have made a report of the past year. Many of them, it is understood by private letters, have been waiting till the last hour, so as to be able to make the largest possible report, but have detained their reports too long. These reports were coming in rapidly up to the time of leaving for the Convention.

It will be seen by the statistical table, herewith submitted, that the whole number heard from so far is 163, with 1,360 teachers and 7,119 scholars. The whole number of books in the schools is 22,722 volumes. There have been 225 conversions reported, and $615 90 contributed for benevolent purposes. It has been found very difficult to obtain the statistical reports from the Churches in regard to their colored schools, as will be seen by noticing the very small number returned. A number of Churches are known to have colored Sunday Schools, which made no report of them, although there was a report of white schools. This is true of Charleston and other Churches. The Superintendent regrets to state, however, that the present troubles of the country have afflicted very seriously the Sunday School work among this class of the population. There is, in a number of localities, exceeding tenderness on the whole question of the instruction of the colored people. Some Churches have abandoned the work among them, even when there was an encouraging prospect of accomplishing great good. The number of Churches which at any time were engaged in teaching the negroes makes a lamentably small proportion of the whole. Is there any reason why this good work, promising so much real knowledge and spirituality among this class of our poor, should so soon be abandoned? These fields are white unto the harvest, but the laborers are few.

Your superintendent would call the attention of the Churches generally to the work of Mission Schools, in which only a few Churches of the State are engaged. Brother Elford, of Greenville, and his Sunday Schools there, are occupying all the ground in the vicinity of the town of Greenville, gathering together as many as four of these Mission Schools. At one point near Greenville, if no more, a School has been organized by Brother Elford in a neighborhood where the people were without any means of grace, and where, when the effort was about being made, many of those who knew the community thought that such an attempt would result in a failure only. And yet a School was organized there with sixty-four scholars, and, what is remarkable, the average attendance is sixty-one.

Brother J. O. Evans, of Cheraw, too, is engaged, and has been for a length of time, in gathering up the poor children, and breaking to them, every Lord's day, the bread of life. Brother Evans has a Mission School seven miles from Cheraw, numbering seventy-nine scholars. The young brethren too, of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Furman University, are doing good service in the direction above indicated. May not the influence of these young men be more widely felt during the months of their vacation?

It will be gratifying to notice, by the statistical report, that a number of strictly country Churches are keeping their Schools together during the entire year. The custom of our Churches has been, almost universally, to suspend operations during the entire winter, and a large portion of the spring—the result of being disorganized. The habit is most destructive of all Sunday School interest, and in not a few instances, of the Sunday School itself. Your Superintendent has opposed this thing wherever he has gone, and is gratified to be able to state that there is a disposition to abandon it.

In concluding this report, the Superintendent desires to express to his brethren of the Board, and everywhere, his high appreciation of the kindness with which he has been received and aided. He would also record the goodness of God, with gratitude to Him, that He has permitted him to share an humble part in the endeavor to urge the blessed work of preaching the Gospel to our thirty thousand children.

Respectfully submitted, W. D. RICE, Gen. Sup. S. S. in S. C. July 26, 1861. TABLE OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS, AS FAR AS HEARD FROM.

SCHOOLS. SUPERINTENDENTS. POST OFFICES. Date of organization. No. months kept up. No. officers and teachers. Average attendance. No. scholars on register during year. Average attendance. No. conv'rsions during year. No. of Books in Libraries. Amount of contributions. Colored Schools—Number of scholars. Colored Schools—Amount contrib'd. Anderson, C. H. Thomas Hall Anderson C. H.   12 22 18 133 85 14 900 $25 00     Antioch, Orangeburg J. H. Felder White Cane 1861 8 8   40             Antioch, Barnwell     1860 6 4   30 20   78       Antioch, Spartanburg   Woodruffs     7   25     125       Antioch, Kershaw, Charles J. Shiver Camden 1859 6 19   70   4 350       Antioch, Darlington       6 4   26     150       Antioch, Marion John Culpepper Marion 1858 8 6 5 22 20   70   20   Antioch, Pickens James Lewis Claton's Mill 1861 4 10 6 25 20     5 00     Antioch, Colleton James E. Thomas Broxton's Bridge 1860 4 5 4 15 15   78 7 00     Bennettsville, Marlboro A. N. Bristow Bennettsville                       Broadmouth, Abbeville Wm. Davis Honea Path 1849 4 15   49   8 150 20 00     Blackville   Blackville                       Beaver Dam, Kershaw Thomas Ellet Camden 1860 8 6 6 25   4 75       Barnwell W. H. Duncan Barnwell   12 10 8 76 35   560       Bethlehem       8 10   46     200       Beaver Dam, Anderson W. Singleton Piercetown 1861 8 10 4 40     150       Buffalo, Abbeville W. P. Hill Greenwood     1   15             Bethlehem, Williamsburg John Nettles Myersville 1860 6 16 12 70 60   100       Burch Branch, Williamsburg J. J. Furs B. Branch   8 4   20 16           Broxton's, Beaufort Mrs. Mole   1861   2   12 9           Bethel, Sumter H. Wills Sumter 1824 6 17   35     400   17   Brier Creek B. W. F. Connelly Midway 1861 8 3   14     50       Bethel, Barnwell E. M. Cope Bufords Bridge 1861 8 6   40             Bushy Creek, Greenville J. Howell Greenville 1830 8 8 3 39 25 4 150       Berea, Greenville C. A. Stills Greenville 1847 10 8   67   5 350       Bethel, Spartanburg   Woodruffs     10   65     150       Bethlehem, Spartanburg   Spartanburg     7   50     180       Beulah, Richland — Smith Gadsden 1859   5   40     20       Black River, Williamsburg     1860   3   30     50       Big Creek, Anderson   Williamston 1853 5 12   51   8 194 5 00     Black Creek, Darlington J. O. B. Dargan Darlington     5   55             Citadel Square W. G. Whilden Charleston 1852 12 23 22 162 93 1 1150       Congaree, Richland John McLaughlin Gadsen 1830 12 11 7 65 40   250   100   Catfish, Marion S. A. Hairgrove Oak Grove 1861   6 5 30 25          

SCHOOLS. SUPERINTENDENTS. POST OFFICES. Date of organization. No. months kept up. No. officers and teachers. Average attendance. No. scholars on register during year. Average attendance. No. conv'rsions during year. No. of Books in Libraries. Amount of contributions. Colored Schools—Number of scholars. Colored Schools—Amount contrib'd. Camden, S. C. H. B. McCallum Camden 1832 12 8 5 30 15 3 275 4 00     Columbia J. B. Patrick Columbia 1830 12 25 11 109 90   335 52 85     Concord W. I. Brooks       6   20     330       Cane Creek, Pickens William Hunter Cane Creek 1861 8 4 4 20 18           Cross Roads, Greenville   Gowansville     8   40     161       Cedar Grove, Williamsburg W. Gardner Kingstree 1861 8 1   15     25       Cedar Grove, Laurens   Enoree     10   155     200       Cedar Springs, Barnwell W. B. Dowling Graham's T. O.   6 5   30 25   150   50   Calvary, Clarendon H. W. Mahony Friendship 1859 10 8 7 30 28   100   40   Chester C. H. Col. Mobley Chester C. H. 1836                     Cheraw, S. C. J. C. Evans Cheraw   12 12 9 54 40   500       Damascus, Abbeville S. Burnett Phoenix 1861   4   20         50   Darlington A. E. McIver Darlington     13   60     300 15 00     Dorchester, Abbeville H. Stone Belton 1849 4 9   49   8 270       Elizabeth, Chesterfield Joel Baker Mt. Crogan 1835 8 3 3 20 15   100       Elim, Darlington         6   21             Edgefield J. H. Mims Edgefield C. H.   12 20 16 110 75   406 66 00 75   Ebenezer, Orangeburg J. S. Hayden Orangeburg C. H. 1859 12 7 4 31   2         Ephesus, Beaufort T. H. Willingham   1858 12 2   6             Eight Mile School House, Pick E. P. Boroughs Five Mile 1861 6 5 3 25 18           Enon, Pickens     1861                     Fellowship, Clarendon B. R. Gibson Manning 1861 9 5   22 22           Fairfield   Winnsboro                       Friendship, Barnwell B. W. Mix Barnwell C. H. 1861 6 8   50 40           Fork Shoal, Greenville J. T. Gwinn Cedar Falls 1860 12 8 6 50 30 10 200 2 75     Farrow Mission C. J. Elford Greenville 1861 12 17 17 64 61           First Church, Charleston S. Hyde Charleston   12 21 15 125 60 2 900 30 00 70   Four Holes J. Riley Orangeburg 1861 8 7 7 35     36       Flint Hill, York P. Nicholson Pineville, N. C.   8 10 8 50 40   200       Fall Creek S. House, Pickens D. Littleton Foxaway 1859 6 7 5 25 20   75       Elijah, Edgefield L. Culbreath Pleasant Lawn 1855 4 5   22             Greenville C. J. Elford Greenville 1839 12 37 35 274 195 1 1200 100 00 120   Greenwood, Abbeville — McKellar Greenwood 1861   3   15             Green Pond, Spartanburg   Cashville     10   50     200       Griffin, Pickens     1861                     Gapway       12 5   57   3 520       Good Hope, Edgefield Lewis May Richardsonville 1849 7 8 6 74 63 15 125       Gum Branch, Darlington         7   30     75       Hebron, Darlington         7   35             Hickory Head, Kershaw Jas. L. McDowell Camden 1858 6 6   30             Holly Spring, Spartanburg         16   115     250       Holly Spring, Pickens D. Baldwin Sunny Dale 1861 4 9 6 25 20   40       Head of Tyger, Greenville M. Howard Mush Creek 1859 8 12 8 80 50   350       Hopewell, Beaufort J. T. Sweat   1861   3   15 12           Hopewell, Chesterfield Wm. Williams Chesterfield C. H. 1860 6 13 5 36 20 14 100 12 00     Horeb, Abbeville J. H. Wideman Millway   8 6 3 30 15          

SCHOOLS. SUPERINTENDENTS. POST OFFICES. Date of organization. No. months kept up. No. officers and teachers. Average attendance. No. scholars on register during year. Average attendance. No. conv'rsions during year. No. of Books in Libraries. Amount of contributions. Colored Schools—Number of scholars. Colored Schools—Amount contrib'd. Harmony, Chester W. E. Waties Rock Hill 1861   5   26             High Hills, Sumter C. C. Jackson Stateburg                   40   High Hill Creek, Darlington         2   20