Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-06-25


ting appears familiar:
BUELL's ARMY, !
NEAR CUMBERLAND RIVER
TENNESSEE.
1t Is with profound sorrow that in this far
OF country I have read the obituary notice of
the Rev. David McCay, and I cannot but ask
the privilege OF saying one word in memory
OF man who perhaps above all others within
the circle of my acquaintance has led spot
less and blameless life. Am!able in his dis.
position, and possessing a mind of high
order, he early in life was looked uu to bv his
companions con as counsellor, guide and friend.
Fhe few of his schGolfellows and plavmates
or the Juniata that are left will remember
with lively qualification the many kind acts
OF friendship bestowed upon them bv their
departed friend that while they had sparring
ana occasionally childish Quarrels, vet never
with David McCay. His gravity of deport
ment and equanimity of temper never carried
him into excltements, or lured him into the
paths Of mischief. Others may have tasted
the fruit of their neighbours garden without
the owners permission, or the Watermelon
that could only be had by a violation of one
| OF ttods commandments, but which too often
Is looked upon as a youthful indiscretien but
none of them by the subject of this article.
Religion IN early life had taken fast hold up
on him. The example Of a father who. if he
erred at all, it was by his rigid adherence to the
| gospel truths, which he did with alnos. nuri.
tanical rigor; or of mother who, with chris
tan meekness, lay for long years PROSTATE on
a bed of sickness, had its influence in forming
| the character of this most estimable man.
forty years since, or more, there was but
little church service Of any kind in Lewistown,
| other than that which was held in the old
Court House, that quaint old edifce that stood
in the centre Of the public square. Here. on
each Sabbath morning might be seen those
venerated fathers of the Presbyterian church,
| Mr.. Walters, Mr.. McCay and Mr. Robson,
! ami .ndeed nearly the whole town vending
their way to hear the Rev. Mr.. Kennedy preach
from the Judges bench, and here was the
rite of baptism performed on David McCay;
and in long after years, when the Rev. gentle.
man, by an appeal to be received into the
! ministry OF the church from which he had been
suspended for many years, young McCay, then
but recently in the ministry, sat rs one of his
judges. In describing the scene to the writer
| he spoke of it IS one that caused in his breast
! emotions sinSalarly painful, and yet crafty
| ing, that his first pastor, then Il penitert man,
| could by his vote be restored to the ministry,
and could again go forth to preach the gospel
! OF Jesus Christ That Tote was given, and
that old man lived to call him blest, and he
| once more returned to the town where he had
so long ministered, to find niany changes, and
some of them, alas, how sad
That the subject of our sketch took lively
interest in the success of our arms can read
! lily believe. and the fact that he followed the
army of his country to the tented field that
! he might minister to his dying cJuntrymen,
! spoke Of a heart in the right place.
Few ever passed to the tomb so we'll prepa
red t. meet Il righteous JIdge at the last great
! day, and mlv the influence of his example be
! felt in long after years.
| Those of his schoolfellows WIN survive him
| will remember how excellent he was in his
| class, how he excelled in his studies ana
how readily he drank in knowledge. If bv
| his weak voice he failed TO attract the attcn-
ton of the lover Of rhetorical display, vet hc
never failed to attract the interest Of the
attentive listener, as his iiscourscs were clear
and methndical. evincing a mind of no com-
mon order His was not that Of an emr,y
bubble. but a depth of learning that t. he
appreciated should be heard and studied with
| deep attention..
Farewell, friend Of my hoyAool days Your
! spirit has found eternal rest, and if in that
unknown world you are permitted to raise
your voice in praise, that youthful voice that
| sw~etly sang IL the old stone church was but
| a prelude of your heavenly G,uSic. Green be
the grass over your loved form. You have
been gathered to your fathers amid the scenes
Of your childhood, and that little family group
| that forty years since formed happy house.
hold, have nearly all passed to that bourne
from which no traveller has ever yet returned.
JUNIATA.