CHAPTER II: CHANGING TIMES

During this period there was slack time in the church and a number of pastors served short terms. In the year 1900 there were several supply pastors, but with the love and concern, the church pressed forward with a number of dedicated men of God.

During the periods, 1888 to 1894 and 1898 and 1899, William Christian Seaborn served as Enon pastor. His early education was meager. He attended several short schools in Oconee County, the Midway School in Pickens County, and Adger College for a short time. After his call into the ministry, he studied much on his own. Like Abraham Lincoln, he spent many long and weary times studying into the early hours of morning.

Reverend Seaborn was born on October 26, 1853, in Walhalla, South Carolina. He married Margaret Elizabeth Caldwell and to this union was born ten children. After his marriage, he lived in Oconee County for a number of years. He and his wife lived in small tenant homes, and living was hard. In 1883, he moved to Pickens County, purchasing a farm and building a home.

The most important thing in life to Reverend Seaborn was' his religion and his desire to bring souls into the Kingdom of God. He was converted in 1883, after attending a revival service. One day later, as he was coming home from Seneca, he said, "Everything seemed to brighten, and a heavy load lifted from my soul." The whole world seemed different; brightness seemed to shine and he was happy. This was something similar to Saul's experience on the -road to Damascus. It is said that in later years when Reverend Seaborn told of this experience, a happy expression filled his face in such a way that one was sure that it was still real to him. He joined New Hope Church, and one year later that church gave him a license to preach. Another year passed, New Hope ordained him, and called him as their pastor where he served for eleven years.

He was one of the outstanding citizens of Pickens County from both the moral and civil standpoints. He pastored many churches including the following: New Hope, Poplar Springs, Pleasant Ridge, Old Pickens, Cheohee, Little River, Wolfe Stake, Salem, Prater's Creek, Camp Creek, Mount Tabor, Six Mile, Mile Creek, Mount Carmel, Secona, Pisgah, Mount Grove, Oolenoy, Cross Roads, Cedar Rock, Griffin, Flat Rock, Shady Grove, Enon, and Pleasant Hill. He was elected as Moderator of the Twelve-Mile Baptist Association and filled that position for a number of years.

For a while Reverend Seaborn taught school. While he never graduated from college, he secured a teacher's certificate through his persistent study.

The following pastors served Enon Baptist Church during the following years:

In 1902, a new organ was purchased for the church. The Sunday School and some of the ladies worked faithfully raising money to pay for it. Regular church conferences were held and membership was steadily increasing.

During the early years, the church had conference and preaching on Saturday and on the Sabbath members brought their dinner and had services all day. As time went by, they had services and conference on Saturday, and then on Sunday morning once a month. In 1904, the people voted to have preaching on the second and fourth Sunday mornings and conference on Saturday afternoons.

When the brick church was built in 1879, the pulpit was in the south end of the church. In 1910 or 1911, the church voted to put the pulpit in the middle of the west side. Space was built for the new pulpit and two rows of seats were installed behind the pulpit to provide more seating for the congregation.

In 1911, the members voted to pay the sexton $1.00 per month, to purchase a number of songbooks, and to pay the pastor no less than $200.00 per year.

Also in 1911, the Women's Missionary Society was organized and Mrs. Dean Singleton was elected President. The programs consisted of accounts of missionaries' activities along with prayers for them and their needs. In 1921, a Sunbeam Band, YW A, GA, and RA chapters were organized. At times speakers would be asked to speak at their meetings.

The following information about Reverend Christopher was found in the 1940 Piedmont Association Minutes. Reverend Christopher was Clerk of the Piedmont Association from 1903 to 1905. He was born October 11, 1878, was baptized and licensed as minister of the gospel at Mount Carmel Church, and was ordained at Easley First Church in November 1904. He served as pastor at Enon and Alice Mill churches of this association and later was called to the pastorate of LeFerice First Church in Texas. He returned to his native state and in 1940 served as pastor of the Unity and Cross Anchor churches near Union, South Carolina. Reverend Christopher was faithful to Enon Church the three years he served. There were many improvements in the church and many people were won to the Lord.

In 1913, Reverend D. W. Hiott returned as pastor to Enon Church. During a series of meetings in August 1913, Reverend J. T. Richardson of Liberty Hill, Texas, preached on Saturday and Sunday. He was on a visit to his old home and old friends. Thirty-five years earlier Enon Church had granted him license to preach and from the results of his efforts there was no cause to regret it. On Friday night of these services, a blind evangelist, Reverend J. T. Mann, preached. His wife and Professor John Durham assisted in leading the singing.

The following pastors served during the years 1914 through 1920:

 Reverend F. S. Childres served as pastor in 1918. Mr. Childres was a graduate of Furman University and at one time head master of the old Six Mile Baptist Academy. He also served as Superintendent of the Six Mile High School and led in the development of Fair Play High School in Oconee County. Mr. Childres taught and preached for thirty years and then continued his ministry for many years after giving up classroom work. He served thirty-two Baptist churches of upper South Carolina. Among them were Six Mile, Mountain View, Six and Twenty, Corinth Norris, Secona, Arial Mill, Oolenoy, Cross Roads, Enon, City View, Pickens Mill, Camp Creek, South Union, Fair Play, Blue Ridge View, and Griffin. As a pastor, he led in the building of present edifices of Six Mile, Griffin, Mountain View and South Union Baptist Churches.

Reverend Childres was in denominational work, and served as Moderator of the Twelve Mile River Baptist Association and as a member of the State Baptist Hospital Board and the State Baptist General Board. He was also active in the work of the Six Mile Baptist Hospital and served on the Board of Trustees of that hospital and of the Cannon Memorial Hospital in Pickens.

On September 27, 1919, Enon Church joined the “Seventy-Five Million” campaign. The Southern Baptist Convention had run short of money for some reason and all churches were asked to raise money for a period of time to get things back in working order. A motion was made and seconded that the Enon Church would pay $380.00 per year for the next five years. This campaign closed in 1924.

Reverend B. P. Mitchel was the pastor from March 1921 to 1923. He was a tall, handsome man who wore a mustache and was a very likeable person. He was a great pastor in his day. His wife was a wonderful person, who was loved by all the church. She played a great part in Reverend Mitchel becoming a dedicated man of God. Reverend Mitchel wrote his autobiography entitled Crimson Leaves from a Rugged Tree. He was born in 1865 and joined the church at the age of 16. However, he did not surrender to God until he experienced the shock of an earthquake in August of 1886.

Guy Mitchell said that years later he saw Reverend Mitchel in Greenville, South Carolina, and he was still the same handsome preacher.

For a number of years preaching had been held only once a month, but October 22, 1922, the church voted to have two services each month and conference on one Saturday afternoon a month. There was a gradual increase in young people and adults being saved and joining the church and many people joined by letter.

As the year of 1924 began, the members voted to pay the pastor $2.50 a sermon and for his service on Saturday. Reverend M. C. Looper served the church from 1924 to 1928. Enon was the first church Reverend Looper served and many things were accomplished during his time at the church. He was a good pastor and the people let him know it. During one of his revivals, there were so many people that he had them assemble on the outside and he stood on the steps to preach.

There was also a significant disturbance for a period of time that caused Enon Church to be expelled from the Piedmont Association. The church recovered and let the association know it was sorry for what had happened and wished re-admittance to the association. This request was granted.

Reverend Milton Claude Looper was born September 24, 1902, near Easley, South Carolina. He was a graduate of Easley High School and attended Six Mile Academy, Furman University and Southwestern Seminary at Fort Worth, Texas. He was both a teacher and a preacher. Reverend Looper was ordained at the age of twenty to preach the gospel and he pastored the following churches: Enon Church; Marietta Church in Texas; a church at Rector, Arkansas; a church in Belton, South Carolina; Ninety Six First Baptist; Nine Forks; Enoree; Damamsas; Hered; Good Hope; and, Graniteville Church. Reverend Looper married Miss Ruth O'Dell and they had a son and two daughters.

During our long history, there have been periods of dissension and turmoil in Enon Church. At times various factions differed over key issues and the church split on occasions. One situation was so grave that a deacon brought his gun along. Nevertheless, our church continued to grow and prosper through the years.