Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-10-31
From the Central Presbyterian, Oct 18th.
Rev. Francis Mcfarland, D. D.


This venerable and eminent minister of the
gospel departed this life early on the morning
of October 10th, 1871, in the 84th year of his
age.
Dr. Mcfarland was born January the Sth,
1888, in the county of Tyrone, Province Of Ul-
ster In the north part of ireland. His parents,
who were members of the Presbyterian Church,
emigrated to the United States in 1898, and
settled in western Pennsylvania. His pastor
was that excellent man, the Rev. Elisha Nc
Curdy, d. D., whose memory is still precious
in the whole region in which he lived. His
collegiate education was at Jefferson and Wash
ington Colleges, from the latter of which he
received the degree of A. B In 1918, and sub
sequently the degrees of A. NJ and ID. ID. In
the spring of 1918, he entered the Theological
Seminary at Princeton, where among his fellow
students and intimate friends, and some OF
them, at least, his classmates, were Drs. Chas.
Hodge, William B. Sprague, Joseph Smith,
and Bishop John Johns. He says 10 com
munication written about two years ago, Il re-
gard it as one of the kindest dispensatious of
divine Providence towards me that | was led
to that institution, where | enjoyed the esteem
Alexander and DR.. Samuel Miller, then the
only Professors in the institution, and who
honored me with their friendship as long as
they lived.
He was licensed to preach the gospel by the
Presbytery of New Brunswick, n. Jersey, Dc
tober 9th, 1919, but remained for some time In
the Seminary prosecuting his studies and
preaching as missionary 10 the surrounding
country. ln 1920 he received an appointment
from the General Assembys Board of Mis-
sous to labor in Indiana and Missouri. After
fulfilling this mission he spent five months In
Georgia as missionary under the Synod OF
South Carolina and Georgia La the summer
of 1922, be spent three months preaching to
the 1st Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, N. Y,
then recently organized. While laboring there
he was (August |, 1922 ordained, sine titulo
by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, which
at that time met In the Presbyterian Church
10 Princeton. The Rev. DR.. John Woodruff,
then in the 10th year of his age, preached the
sermon, and Rev. DR.. Miller delivered ''the
charge.
In the fall of that year be had a severe at
tack of typhus fever, accompanied with hem
orrhage from the lungs; in consequence OF
which, as soon as partially recovered. he was
advised by his physician to travel to the South
on horse back. Upon reaching Staunton, Va,
(Where he was the guest OF that noble Chris
tan gentleman and eminent physician, DIR. Ad-
Olson Waddell, for whom he ever cherished
the warmest regard it was found that his
health had been greatly improved The Church
| of Bethel, about ten miles South of Staunton,
| being at that time vacant by the removal oi
the Rev. DR.. Chapman, Mr.. Mcfarland was
| invited to preach there. After supplying the
| pulpit for three Sabbaths he returned to Penn,
| sylvania, where he soon after received unani
nous call from that congregation to become
their pastor. This call he accepted, and In tht
year following was duly installed, the Rev. DR.
Rutfner, of Lexington, preaching the sermon
| and Rev. DIR. Speece OF Augusta church, de
! livering the charge"
In the winter of 1885 he was elected Cores
ponding Secretary of the Board of Education
which important Office he felt it his duty to &C
cept The pastoral relation was dissolved il
January, 1886, and on March 1st he entered
upon the duties of his Office 10 Philadelphia
| in the faithful performance OF which he con
tinued till August 1st, 194I. 1t may as wei
be stated here that, although it was period o
very great financial trouble, and in which th'
great Church controversies were In progress
| which eliminated In the rupture OF 1888, tn
service of Dr. Mcfarland was highly useful
and upon his resignation the Board of Educa
tion adopted paper expressing their great ap
probation Of him personally and officially.
The church of Bethel had just become va
cant by the removal of its pastor, the Rev. A
B. McCorkle to Georgia, and by a unanimou
vote of the congregation the old pastor wa
again invited to settle among them. He ha
not contemplated retiring from the work i
Philadelphia quite so soon, but the prospect Q
returning to his old home, and among assocla
tlons In Virginia so cOngenial, was decisive
A small farm was purchased, which his pract
Cal turn soon shaped into a very eomfortabl
home for his family, and there the good ma
dwelt till called to ''the house not made wit
hands, eternal in the heavens.
During most of his life-certainly from th
time of coming to Virginia-the subject of tn
notice was man of very in6rm health. Fl
affliction from asthma was exceedingly distress
ing. He very seldom knew the luxury of III
interrupted sleep. Often for many nights
succession the only posture of rest was In
chair. 1t was constant wonder to his frlenc
that long ago both body and mind did not sin
under the pressure of disease But in tt
midst of growing infrmities his labors We