NEELY'S CREEK CHURCH.

An Organization That Has Exerted a Most Beneficent Influence In York County.

In one of the religious papers, a number of years ago, there was printed a story of a party of sailors who were shipwrecked on an island that they had reason to suppose was inhabited by cannibals. They had escaped from their vessels with only their lives, and in reconnoitering their surroundings, it was necessary to proceed with the greatest caution. Slowly and cautiously, they worked their way through dense tangles of undergrowth toward the interior, taking alarm at every unexplained sound lest it should only prove to be a warning of the approach of a horde of murderous savages. Just beyond the jungle rose a high hill from which there was reason to believe a good view of the surrounding country could be had. To one of the most courageous of the little band was delegated the task of ascending the hill for the purpose of learning what he could of the surroundings. After a long, tedious climb, the sailor was seen to peer warily over the crest of the hill; but in a moment afterward he arose to his full height, beckoned confidently to those behind, and shouted: "Come on, mates; I see yonder the spire of a church!"

There are no savages in York county. Take the county as a whole, and it is as highly civilized as is any other area of the same size in America. Life, property and rights before the law are as secure here as they are in any other section. Every section of the county stands high above the average in this respect, than prevails in many other localities even in South Carolina. But there are sections of York county, even which, in education, general intelligence, social qualities and material prosperity, stand higher than other sections. The comparison here suggested is intended to be between neighborhoods or entire communities- not individuals.

And it is ventured as a fact that if an intelligent individual, or committee were delegated to pick out the most generally praiseworthy and ideal communities in York county, it would he found, upon a study of the list submitted, that in the centre of each community there is located one of the older churches. As a rule, too- of course there would be exceptions to it- it would be found that the communities which stood the highest on the list would be those in which churches had been established longest.

For years past, the "Neely's Creek country," has been one of the most noted neighborhoods in York county. Its reputation has been, and is, that of an ideal community.

For generation after generation the farmers there have been progressive and prosperous.  The people, as a rule, are of the kind who enjoy life under their own vines and fig trees. But few of them are in debt to anybody. With most of them a verbal promise is as good as a bond. Crime is practically unknown, and sobriety is so universal as to be commonly reckoned as a characteristic. The fact that a young man may have been raised in the Neely's Creek neighborhood is, to a greater or less extent, a valuable recommendation of character. It has been so for a hundred years, and there is very little difference now.

And like the sailor who is described above as discovering a reason why there should be no further cause for alarm on the part of himself and mates, most intelligent people will be inclined to give the principal portion of the credit for the conditions mentioned in the Neely's Creek neighborhood, to Neely's Creek church. And, probably, they will not be far wrong. At any rate, it would be difficult to discover one cause- or indeed, half a dozen causes- to which such a beneficent influence can be reasonably attributed.

From the best information obtainable at this time- the information is furnished by Mr. David T. Lesslie, one of the older members- Neely's Creek was organized about the year 1787, as an Associate church, with Samuel Lusk, John Spencer, and, probably, a Harberson as elders. The first regular pastor was Rev. William Blackstock, who was installed in 1794, and who also had pastoral charge of Ebenezer and Steel Creek churches. Just how long Rev. Mr. Blackstock served is not a matter of record; but he was followed by stated supplies for a number of years. In 1832, the church subscribed to a union with the Associate Reformed presbytery, which, that year, met at Shiloh, Lancaster district; but the next year, for some reason not recorded, returned to the Associate presbytery from which it had previously withdrawn.

From 1833 to 1840, Neely's Creek church was supplied by ministers from the Associate Synod of the North, and among these supplies were Rev. Thos. Dixon, Rev. Mr. Smart and Rev. J. P. Cooper. Rev. J. P. Cooper is now president of the United Presbyterian seminary at Pittsburg, Penn. From 1840 to 1847, the pulpit was filled by Rev. Mr. Whyte, and on August 7, 1847, the congregation was organized as an Associate Reformed church by Rev. L. McDonald, with John Roddey, Esq., Thomas Boyd and Wm. Wylie is ruling elders. At that time the membership numbered only 27.

The first pastor of the new organization was Rev. R. F. Taylor, who served from 1848 to 1850, inclusive. From 1850, the pulpit was filled by stated supplies until 1853, when Rev. L. McDonald became pastor. He served until 1870, and was followed by Rev. C. B. Betts, who preached his first sermon on December 1 of the year just named. Rev. Mr. Betts continued in charge until the fall of 1889. He was succeeded by Rev. D. G. Caldwell, who served from 1891 to 1894, when he, in turn, was succeeded by Rev. Oliver Johnson, the present pastor.

At the present time the membership of Neely's Creek numbers about 190, with officers as follows: Pastor- Rev. Oliver Johnson.  Elders- J. T. Boyd, D. T. Lesslie, W. W. White, A. J. Walker, W. S. Lesslie, J. T. Ferguson, Dr. E. Y. Murphy, T. M. Allen, W. S. Boyd, G. A. Gettys.  Deacons- J. M. Williford, N. B. Williams, T. F. Lesslie, J. R. Gettys, S. F. Roddey, J. S. Glasscock, D. E. Patton, J. T. Spencer, J. W. Roddey.