The Rev. Robert Smith, A. M. Fellow of Caius and Gonville Col. Camb. arrived in Charles-Town, Nov. 3, 1757. He was Ordained by the Bishop of Ely, Deacon, March 7, and Priest, Dec. 21, 1756. Mr. Smith was engaged in England as Assistant to the Rector of St. Philip's Parish. As a mark of their esteem, the Vestry presented him on his arrival, with £200, Cur. The tenth Annual Meeting of the Clergy was held, April 5, 1758. Eleven Clergymen attended, and six were absent. The Sermon was preached by the Rev. Richard Clarke, Rector of St. Philip's. The Hon. Charles Pinckney, Chief Justice of the Province, died in 1758.* Desirous of promoting the religious instruction of his fellow mortals, and of being instrumental, under God, of inducing others to extend the influence of religion, according to their means, this excellent and pious man, founded a semiannual Lecture at St. Philip's Church, which is known by the name of The Pinckneyan Lecture. lowing is an extract from his will: The fol "To encourage and promote religious and virtuous practices and principles among us, and to raise an ardent love of the Deity in us, and in order to excite an emulation in my worthy countrymen, whose abilities and fortunes will better enable them thereto, for establishing Lectures among us, in humble imitation of those founded by the Hon. Mr. Boyle, in Great Britain, I do hereby charge my said Mansion House, and moiety of a considerable estate, upon the death of her aged father. This act of christian munificence and piety, deserves to "be told as a memorial of her," in all the Churches. The objects of the Society are, to distribute Bibles, the Book of Common Prayer, and Religious Tracts and Books of approved reputation; to send Missionaries into destitute Parishes; and to educate Youths of genius and piety for the Ministry of the Church. The Trustees are likewise authorized to adopt such measures, as, in their best judgement, will promote Christian Knowledge, learning and piety in So. Ca. A Theological Library for the use of the Clergy, and Candidates for Holy Orders, was founded in 1815. It contains many scarce and valuable books. The number of Volumes, in 1819, amounted to 624. The Society was Incorporated Dec. 19, 1810. Mr. Pinckney was the father of Gen. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and Gen. Thomas Pinckney. Land and Buildings in Colleton square, devised to my eldest Son, with the payment of five guineas yearly and every year, for ever, unto such Lecturer who shall from time to time be appointed by a majority of his Majesty's Hon. Council, residing in Charles-Town, for the time being, to preach two Sermons in the year, in the Parish Church of St. Philip, Charles-Townthat is to say, one Sermon on the Wednesday next after the second Tuesday in November, and one other Sermon on the Wednesday next after the second Tuesday in May, yearly and every year, forever, on the glorious and inexhaustible subjects of the Greatness of God, and his Goodness to all his creatures; subjects which can never fail through all the rounds of Eternity: and if I might be permitted to indulge a wish in this matter, I would humbly presume to point out the whole 145th Psalm, as a proper text for the first Sermon."* The Rev. Mr. Clarke resigned the Rectorship of St. Philip's, Feb. 9, 1759. He was succeeded by the Rev. Robert Smith, and the Rev. Winwood Serjeant was appointed Assistant. Mr. Serjeant was Ordained Priest, Dec. 19, 1756, by Dr. Pearce, Bishop of Rochester. The following Testimonial was given to Mr. Clarke, by the Vestry: "These are to Certify, that the Rev. Richard Clarke, who has performed the duties of Rector of St. * Various causes prevented the early accomplishment of the Testator's pious intentions. His eldest son, Gen. C. C. Pinkney, did not return from Europe until 1769. When he applied to the King's Council, they deemed it useless to appoint a Lecturer, believing that a congregation could not be collected, except on Sundays. The war soon after broke out, and the Council was abolished. Gen. Pinckney, influenced by the same pious feelings which characterized his father, established the Lecture in 1810; and it has since been regularly delivered. The following is the order of the Lecturers: The Rev. James D. Simons, Nov. 1810 and May 1811 Rev. Christopher E Gadsden, D. D. 1811 1812 Rev. William Percy, D. D. Rev. Frederick Dalcho, M. D. Philip's Church in Charles-Town, South-Carolina, for upwards of five years, has behaved himself with gravity, diligence and fidelity becoming his office and character." "The Rev. Mr. Clarke was more known as a theologian beyond the limits of America, than any other inhabitant of Carolina. He was admired as a Preacher both in Charles-Town and London. His eloquence captivated persons of taste; his serious preaching and personal piety procured for him the love and esteem of all good men. When he preached the Church was crowded, and the effects of it were visible in the reformed lives of many of his hearers, and the increased number of serious communicants. His sermons were often composed under the impressions of Music, of which he was passionately fond. From its soothing effects, and from the overflowing benevolence of his heart, God's love to man, peace and good will among men, were the subjects on which he dwelt with peculiar delight. He gave on the week day a regular course of Lectures on the Epistle to the Hebrews, which were much admired."* Before Mr. Clarke left Charles-Town, he published a small tract entitled, "The Prophetic Numbers of Daniel and John calculated; in order to show the Time, when the Day of Judgement for the First Age of the Gospel, is to be expected: And the setting up the Millennial Kingdom of Jehovah and his Christ." He thus concludes this visionary speculation; Pages 23. 24: "We will now draw all the numbers into a short view. The 70 years of Jeremiah in chap. XXV. 12. XXIX. 20. were understood by Daniel, and they appear to be the 70 weeks of years which Gabriel informs him of at the 24th verse. "These 70 weeks make 490 days; and these days allowing a century or double jubilee for each day, * Ramsay's So. Ca. II. 452. which is the end of time with the Church of Christ among the Gentiles; they will make 49,000 years. This number will answer to the seven weeks of Pentecost, and to the seven times seven years up to the jubilee. Thus are filled up the seven Ages of the Gospel, before the Messiah shall have finished his glorious conquest over sin and death. The proper theocracy of God was thrown off by asking a king about the year 427: The theocracy of God by the Messiah under the Gospel was departing about this time: The famous number of Daniel of 1335 days in chap. XII. 12. measured from this year of the Christ of God, runs down to 1762. "Within four years of this period we meet with the Pope Sixtus the third, or third sixth: by adding these we shall come to 1766. "The typical temple of Solomon was taken by the typical Babylonians in 430, but the siege of Jerusalem began in 428 years after the building of the temple. Under the Messiah the Prince of Peace, and Lord of the true temple, spiritual interpretation ceased about this time. If we measure this period by 1335 days of Daniel, they will expire in 1763, or 1765. "The number of St. John of 666 and 1260 days for the prophets in sackcloth added together, make 1926 years. Measure this period from Antiochus who defiled the temple under Moses, 168 or 167 years before Christ, to his antitype of the Gospel, or the power of Antichrist: This will lead us to the year of Christ 1758 or 1759. 66 Again. Let us compute the period of the Babylonian Talmud proclaimed after Christ, in the year 500, or 505; reckon 1260 days or years, before Moses and the Messiah, two witnesses of God rise and come forth and this will reach to the year 1760, or 1765. "If we reckon the number of Daniel in chap. VIII. 12. 13. of 2300 days appointed for the cleansing of the Sanctuary, from Belshazzar's impious feast, and the taking of the typical Babylon 538 years before Christ; this will conclude in 1762 of our time. "The cutting short of this first age of the Gospel has been fully explained: So that the only number of Daniel remaining is the 1290 days from the taking away the daily oblation." This is a specimen of Mr. Clarke's writings on the Prophecies: Full of visionary speculations, and indefinite conclusions. He was a Universalist, and appears to have been tinctured with the doctrines of Jacob Behman.* An Act was passed by the Assembly, April 7, 1759, for purchasing a Parsonage for St. Michael's, and authorizing the sale of the Pews in that Church. Pursuant to several Acts of Assembly, and to the directions of an Act for establishing St. Michael's Parish, Charles-Town, passed June 14, 1751, the Inhabitants of that Parish met, for the first time, April 16, 1759, and elected the following gentle men: Churchwardens: Robert Pringle, and David Deas. Vestrymen: Benjamin Smith, Robert Brewton, William Roper, George Milligan, Charles Pinckney, John McQueen, and David Deas. Mr. Deas accepted the office of Churchwarden, and Mr. Smith declined his appointment; George Austin and John Guerard were subsequently elected. The 11th Annual Meeting of the Clergy was held April 25, 1759. Nine Clergymen attended, and eight were reported as absent. The Sermon was preached by the Rev. Charles Martyn, Rector of St. Andrew's. * Soon after his arrival in England, Mr. Clarke was appointed Lecturer of Stoke-Newington, and afterwards of St. James', near Aldgate, London. His publications were in 6 vol. viz: "The daily Service of the Temple explained""The explanation of the Feast of Trumpets,"-"The Voice of Glad Tidings to the Jew and Gentile"-" A Comment on Psalm 68"-"A Series of Letters, Essays, Dissertations and Discourses, on vartous Subjects. In two Volumes." Some of his Essays are dated Jan. 20, 1780. He lost his popularity in England, and died very poor. See Preface to his "Series of Letters," &c. page 5 |