Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-09-18
Rev. Gordon BatteIIe, D. d.


Rev. Gordon BatteIIe, ID. ID.
From the Pittsburgh Christian Advocate.
Bro. Battelle was born in Newport, Wash
ington county, Ohio, Nov. II, 1914. From
almost his earliest recollection, religious
Impressions were made upon his mind and
heart which were never afterward eradicA.
ted, though by striving against them they
were for a time considerably weakened.
Afterwards these very early impressions
were revived and rendered more deep and
thorough by the instructions of the Sab.
bath school, which be regularly attended.
he viewed "the lessons there learned, and
the truths there taught" as blasting BEN
| etit." When about thirteen years old, his
two elder brothers, his only sister, and aft
terward bis parents, Joined the NJ. E..
Church. The same divine influence
which induced them to seek their spiritual
safety and eternal life deeply affected his
heart also. His religious convictions were
then very strong. But he continued in "A
"huitlng, undecided state of mind" till
February, 1929, when, having fully resolved
to serve God, he was received, during a
class meeting, by Rev. P. NJ. MGowan, as
u probationer in the N. L. Church, and
not long afterward he was justified by faith,
and "received the Spirit of adoption"
He spent the summer of 1888 in attend
| iuB Iue Al
terwards he concluded that he would avail
himself of the advantages for education
offered by Allegheny College. This step,
which he viewed as thenceforward giving
i'dircction. and charactern to his "whole
life" together with all its results, he as
cribed, "under God, to the gentle counsels
and influence of a beloved sister of rare
mental endowments, whose "piety was
deep, thorough, eminently experimental and
practical" and who "lived for God" At
the close of his Collegiate studies, in the
fall of 1910, he was chosen to deliver the
Valedictory address of his class, and was
honored with the degree of A. B. The de-
gree of A. NJ. was subsequently conferred
upon him by the same institution.
On returning homo from the college he
had some hesitation touching bis future
calling. He was inciued to make law his
profession, and with this view entered his
name with u lawyer, though in doing so
his course was not perfectly clear, nor was
his mind yet fully decided. While thus
hesitating he was called, as he believed
providentially, to take charge of Asbury
Academy; in Parkersburg, Wood county,
Va, which was then under the patronage
of the Ohio Annual Conference. This call
he accepted, entering upon the duties of
his Office in October, 1910, and he was con-
tinued in that position as Principal of the
school till lS43. While thus engaged he
he was, in 1912, by the unexpected action
Of the Parkersburg Quarterly Conf, Rev.
s. Hamilton presiding, licensed to preach.
He had not at that time any overwhelming
conviction that he ''muSt preach" but he
deemed it his duty to listen to the deliber-
ately expressed judgment of the Church,
and after weighing the matter thoroughly
and prayerfully, with uufeigned difidence,
and with no other desire than to do the
will of God" he consented to take upon
himself the duties of the ministry. BY the
same Quarterly Conference he was recon-
mended, in ls43, to the Ohio Conference,
| for adnissioninto the travelling connection,
but for some caHse (probablywant of room
for married mau) his accommodation was
not presented.
In December, ls43, he took charge OF
the Northwestern Virginia Academy, in
ClaFksburg, Harrison county, Va, which
was then under the patronage ofthe Pitts
burgh Conference, and he continued at the
head of this institution upwards of seven
years, dlscharging the duties of his office
with much labor aud care, and very accept
ably. In 1915 he was recommended by
the Clarksburg Quarterly Conference tC
the Pittsburgh Conference, for admission
into the travelling connection, and wa
received. He was perfectly willing to taxi
any appointment that might be given him
but be was continued from year to year il
charge of the Academy fill 1861, when ht
resigned that position. Meanwhile he hat
been ordained deacon by Bishop James
in ls47, and an elder by Bishop Waugh, il
1s49. rii5 n Gt
He had for some time felt strong desire
to enter upon the regular, active duties o.
an itinerant preacher, and, having resigned
his position as Principal OF the Academy
this desire was gratified at the ensuing ses
sion of the Western Virginia Conference by
appointing him TO the Charleston station
where he remained two years. During the
next two years he was stationed at Fourtt
street, Wheeling In 1855 he was elected
TO the ensuing General Conference, and
was appointed presiding elder of the
Clsrksburg district. The appointment was
made in opposition to his own "conYictlou
of fitness aud -propriety," but after prayer.
fully considering the matter he resolved to
act not according to bis town will, but as
a son in the Gospel" Accordingly he en-
tered upon his work resolved to tread
more" to ''study more" to pray more
"mors frequently, more regularly, more be.
lieVingly,p and TO seek "more the grAces OF
the Holy Spirit" He was continued fouI
years on this district, diligently attendinp
to the vari6hs duties gof his Office, and
Staying aside the study of the world and oI
the feshR he waxed "riper and stronger
in his ministry, aud was ga faithtul tispen-
ser of the Word of God, and of his holy
sacraments."
Dolly appreciating his services in the
General Conference of 1856, his brethren
again elected him in 1859 by vote which
placed him at the head of their delegation
4 to represent them in the General Confer
ence of 1860, and well and ably did he do
SO. At the same Conference he was ap
4 pointed to the Wheeling district. On this
district h6 labored with his usual prompti-
i tude aud energy for mora than two ears.
I5ror, The t;r,, hen ba leFt tEs =. ~, a,