The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-01
MEMORIAL SERVICES.

Va, 60DDoto kventoB, Soo. JUN,
In the secoud PresbyserIan Church,
In Memory or tho Late Pastor, Rev.
John Monat.
The largo audience in attendance to-
night, in this Church, is manifestation
of the grief we feel at the remembrance
of the death of the senior pastor Of this
Church, our dear departed friend Rev.
John Moffst
We have assembled to mingle our
tears of sympathy with the members OF
his bereaved family, in their irrepsrable
loss, aud condoie with this congregation
in its deep affection.
1t is becoming service to embalm in
our hearts the memory of one whose lite
has been so useful rs a servant of the
most high God, and whose friendship,
whether it were enjoyed for longer or
shorter time, could always be confded in,
and which no one could enjoy without
deriving benefit from it. He whose
heart was ever ready to feel for others
woes, and who shed his tears ofsympathy
with theirs in the time of affection, de-
serves from us this tribute to his memory.
But it is not for me to occupy your time
IN pronounclng eulogy upon his name.
His character and life you have known
for many years.
Before he became the pastor of this
congregation, most of you had knowl-
edge of him either by personal ac-
quaintance, or by reputation, for his EN-
tire ministerial life has been passed in
this city, and its immediate vicinity. His
| record is now finished, and in one
respect can easily be made up even by
those who have known him only as the
| venerated pastor Of this church AS he
has been while here the faithful, afec-
tionate minister, the blameless and ex-
amplary servant of the Lord Jesus
Christ, so he was in each of his form
or charges.
First in ST. Clairsville where he
was ordained to the full work Of the min
istry and where he labored successfully
for many years and afterwards in the
united congregations of Bellare and
Rockh,ll until the congregation was
pleased to call him here. In both these
pastorates no was much loved and from
these as well as from this last field Of
his labors and his prayers, many will
rise from their graves in the resurrection
of the just and call him blessed, and be
stars of rejoicing in the crown Of glory
which God the righteous judge will give
him on that day.
Mr.. Moffat, as you know, was born in
| Scotland, January lst, 1916 and came t.
this country when young man in 1888.
From an early age he lived in the fami-
ly of his psternal grandfather, of whose
piety he has frequently spoken. The
family followed the occupation of shep
herds. As soon rs he was able, he &C,
companied them in herding their focks
upon the mountain pastures, and in driv-
ing them to England, where they found
ready market for those they wished to
sell. His uncles too, were godly men, un-
der whose religious training seeds Of piety
were early sown in his heart, to ripen
and bring forth fruit, to the glory Of
God in this distant land.
When leaving Scotland to come to
America, his grandfather accompanied
him a short distance on his way, and
then when about to bid him good bye,
with an emotion he cosld not restrain,
as he mentioned it, he said, "My old
grandfather laid off his hat and placing
his hand upon my head, reverently
commended me to God in pray
er and then took the part
ing hand, he to return home and alone
started to strange and fsr-oii land.
That parting scene made lasting i'm
preston on his mind, and was one OF the
links IN the chain by which God brought
and bound him to himself, for remem.
Der that he referred to his grandfather S
piety, prayers and instruction when his
thoughts were first turned to inquire
whether or not il was his duty to become
minister of the Gospel of Christ.
When he arrived in this country he
supported himself by laboring with his
hands. He was not ashamed to earn his
bread by honest industry. This lesson
he had learned from his aged grand
father. When out of employmentin his
own country and somewhat depressed at
the darkness which lowered on the pros
poets before him, anxious as he was, and
every nobie-minded young man is, to en-
gage in doing something for himself. He
was encouraged by his grandfather's
words: "never mind, John, never mind; ;
something will turn up" And his ad-
vice to him was always to take hold of
the first thing that offered and do il we'll,
and Providence would make that the
stone from which he would step to some
thing better, and so he found it.
This advice is good, philosophical and
scriptural. 1t is worthy of q Judgment
in the mind of every young man at the
present day. 1t contains the principle of
certain success.
The first employment that offered
wages to Mr.. Motfat was in stone.
quarry, where, as he said, his hands were
blistered and lacerated by the unaccus-
toned work Of handling large. rough
stones. He labored in the quarry some
time, and afterwards obtained employ
ment IN job of ditching, which he bet
ter understood, and to him was less
fatiguing and more profitable. These
labors he performed in the State Of New
York.
When ne had fulfilled this contract,
and there was no other immediate open
ing for him there, he went to the western
part of Columbiana county, Chic. There
u number of families resided who had
come from the same part of Scotland
where he had lived. They were init
mate acquaintance of his relatives, and
had followed the same occupation, being
shepherds.
In that community he met kind re-
ception. There he lived and labored
several years, and no man was ever more
highly esteemed and loved than he was
by the people there, until the day of his
death.
Soon after he arrived he was employed
in teaching their school. He did this for
several terms, with the appreciation of
his patrons and the improvement of his
pupils.
l became acquainted with him as soon
as be arrived in that neigbborhood.
l had been licensed 10 preach, and fire..
a 4 q l. Ia =. Al i