The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-12-20

gum. lie lives IN the AeATS OF HIS peO'
Die. Neither docs he desire it. His high
est thought Of himself is ~ sinner
saved by grace" "By the grace
of God l am what am" And from
one whose approval is incompara'
bly, better than the tulsome or even
the most fitting praise Of men, he shall
hear the plaudIt: "Well done, thou good
and faithful servant, enter into the joys
of the Lord. Come ye blessed Of
my Father, inherit the kingdom pre-
pared for you from the foundation OF tho
world.
WHERE ARE THE FATuERsE
In the second place, we are led by the
language of the text to inquire, where the
fathers ares: The majority OF them arc
no longer in person here. This church
was formally organized according TO an
order Of Presbytery by the Rev. Elisha
MCCurdy, more than iOrty.four years ago.
It's first pastors were the Rev. James
Hervey and the Rev. VIM. Wylie. The
elders then elected were Andrew Woods,
ST., Peter W. Gale and Redick Nc
Kee. OF these individuals only one, Mr..
Mckee, yet survives. 1t is probable, in.
deed, that he is the only one who still lives
Of the torty.iour members Of which the
church was originally composed.
DR.. Weed first came TO what was then
the borough Of Wheeling on the 18th OF
November, 1882. The session at that
time consisted of Messrs. John Laughlin,
S. Cuthbert and n. w. Smith. OF these
persons only one, Mr.. Cuthbert, is yet on
this side OF eternity. The membership Of
the church then amounted to less than
eighty. The large majority Of them have
long ago disappeared not only from this
community, but from this vale Of tears.
We have occasion TO thank God that n
few still are spared; but both they
and we are reminded by the effects Of age
upon them that the time Of their depar'
ture is at hand. Every year leaves their
already thinned ranks still more reduced.
OF the Presbytery Of Washington
as it existed about the time when
DR.. Weed became o member Of it, not
more than three or four Of its members
are now the same. A very few may be
living in other parts Ofthe land; but the
large majority are passed away from
the earth. The names of McCurdy and
DOdd and McConaughy and the senior
lIervcy and AlriCh are now enrolled in
the church triumphant In like manner
we miss the men who then were leaders
in the ecclesiastical affairs ofthis general
region. Heron, and RHlston and the
senior Brown, and Swift, have long ceased
10 guide the hosts Of Israel here on earth.
They with the other WORTHLESS Of that day,
have Joined the general assembly OF the
church of the first born in Heaven.
Indeed how many have passed away
since l came among you: We have
buried three elders within the space Of
less than ten years. Robertson, Senseney
md Jacob oil have gone. OF the present
Of the church only about one
bird belonged to it when / assumed the
)astOrate. Surely to the question, where
ire the fathers, we may answer that the
majority are no longer here in person.
THEIR NAMES AND INFLUENCES.
But while they no longer are here In
Oerson, their names and their influence
ire yet with us. We are still almost as
amiIiar with some of those who once
we're part OF this church or Congrega.
ion, but who are now gone, rs we are
With the living. We recall the peculiar
tics Of their characters. We dwell upon
he striking incidents Of their lives. They
we're men and women who held such pc.
itiOns that they cannot soon be forgotten.
such man rs DR.. Weed will be held in
lOnor for generations. And yet let us not
Ilt0gelher overlook that larger class, who
,ccdpied places less prominent and, there
ore, whose names may be almost or alto
,ether forgotten, and yet to whom we are
indebted for many Of thcprivilegcs which
We now enjoy. They were content 10
,crform an humber part, and yet they
we're co.workers with the Others in build
ng that edificc which We inhabit. Let
is preserve place in our affections for
hem. Though we are not familiar with
heir names, we are iullyacQuainted with
he precious consequences Of their lives.
These after all are the best memorial.
Needs there the praise ofthe lOye.written record
The name and the epltaph graved on the stone!
The things we have lived for, let them be our
We ourselves but remembered by what we have
done
Not myself but the truth that in life have
spoken,
Tot myself, but tho seed that In life have sown,
hall pass on to Ages,-all about me forgotten,
lave The truth have spoken, he things l have
done.
so lot my living be, so be my dying:
% let my name lic unblazOned, unknown,
InpraiScd and lnmissed. shall still be remcm.
bCrcd, ..
les, but remembered by what I have DONE"
The influence OF good man never dies.
/ goes on wideningand deepcning,no only
Until the end OF time, but throughout all
hc ceaseless ages Ofthe future. Long after
he name of DR.. Weed has been forgotten
N earth his influence will be felt here. II
will be perpetuated even through all eter-
lity in the other world.
... TIE GRAVE
"Your fathers, where are theyy" Their
,odies are in their graves. They have
experienced the effect of the curse, "tor
lust thou art, and unto dust shalt
hou return" Oh what an insatiate |
levourer is the grave! How many Of
'ur. hearts dearest treasures has it already |
wallowed! These whom we have most
evcred and loved are compelled to yield |
o its imperiOus demands. But it is most |
to be assured that those |
mong them who served Christ, sleep in
'esus. Even their very dust is precious |
n the eyes Of tile Lord, and is watched |
'ver by him. Their bodies are only slum-
'ering
At the summons of the Saviour they
hall awake and come forth, henceforth |
o he free from the reign Of sin, and con.
L. II l. l. IL