The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-01
public ministry; No one who knew hlnI

public ministry. No one who knew him
personally could question the fact that he
possessed q high order Of talent and that
| he was man Of superior culture and Of
deep and unqueslionable plety. In the
pulpit, in the social circle, in the house
Of feasting, or the house Of mourning, ne
| was always the same faithful and earnest
minister Of Jesus Christ.
Besides the elders ordained and IN
|, stalled when the church. vas organized,
| other men have from time TO time been
!. chosen and set apart to- that Office. on
ii the 9th Of August 1912 John Z. Dlckey
and james Brown were ordained ana IN.
stalled. OF these Mr.. Dickey died Jniy
, l7th; 1864, and Mr.. Brown February IAN
1876. go,
/. made on the SlSt OF Dec. 1851, when
Thomas johnson, IT,, james I. Anderson
anJ Robert Gibson, were indicted into
The sacred office. These brethren are
stilI living, but from removals and other
causes are mot now exercising the tunc-
lions OF their Office in the congregation.
\ AZ this date also VIM. George and Alex
| Hodge were set apart to the office Of Dea.
con, In connection with Alex. Taylor who
h adj been ordained to that office at q for
mer period in the history Of the church
During the. month Of October, 1853,
John George, ruling elder in another
church, having removed with his family
to this city, and having presented proper
credentials, was installed as ruling
elder. ~ q = = Il '..-a TO-
From this time until September 9th,
1854, no other additions were made. But
the session having lost Mr.. George BY his
removal in; 1856, and Mr.. Dickey by
death in 1864, 1t became necessary again
| to increase the number Of elders. Ac-
cordingly on the 9th Of September, 1864,
Alex. Taylor and MathewW. Miller were
added to the session by ordination and
Installation.
On The Sd of September, 1876, A. NJ.
Stevenson was installed, and ]. ]. Jones,
w. J.W. Cowden and, s. II. Kasly were
ordained and installed as ruling elders.
After DR.. Wallace was released in
1840, the congregation remained without
pastor until March, 1850, when Rev. J..
T. Mcclure, having accepted q call pre-
scented TO him, took charge and was regu-
larly ordained and installed as their pas
tor BY the PSesbytery Of steubenyille on
the 2Sth day Of May following; and has
continued In the same charge up to the
present time, July 1st; 1876. ..lSlh =
At the beginning Of the present pastor
ate in March, 1850, there wasin actual at
tendance only about seyenty.fye members
OF the church. Since that time over ak
hundred have been received, but the losses
by deaths, removals, discipline and other
causes have { amounted to about
four hundred and forty-fye, leay-
ing the nett membership at present about
two hundred and thirty.
In 1886 II was determined TO change the
location Of the church property, and to
erect new house Of worship. Liberal
subscriptions were promptly made and
the property on which the present church
building stands, was purchased. EARLY
in the spring Of 1867, the congregation
prepared for. the work before them.
Plans and specifications were obtained, q
Building Committee appointed and the
work commenced, it was determined TO
build the church by purchasing materi-
ais, hiring workmen and experimenting
the work by the committee, instead Of
giving It out to be done by contract. That
there was money saved by this arrange
ment, and that the congregation have
succeeded in obtaining most substan.
tial, neat and comfortable house OF wor-
ship, seem TO be generally admitted.
Bills for materials and work were gener-
ally paid as they became due and were
presented; and no burdensone debt has
been permitted to rest on the congrega-
ton. In 1874 the building was re-
paired and finished in fresco, and 10
now in excellent condition, while by the
liberality OF some OF the members Of. the
church every dollar Of debt has been
paid. The building is 81 feet wide by
90 feet long, and contains two class rooms
and a lecture room so feet square and IA
feet high in the basement. The audience
room has an end gallery capable Of seat
ing about 100 persons. The main floor
is so feet wide by "a feet long, with
ceiling 20 feet high; and is arranged 10
seat coo persons. The entire floor is car
peted, and the pews are uniformly cush-
Toned. All the wood work, except the
Wainscotting, is OF walnut and maple
oil.dressed-and presents very attrac-
tive appearance. The entire cost Of the
building and ground is about $4,000.
The old church property was sold to
the highest bidder for S,100 in cash,
and the proceeds were used in the cree
ton Of the new building.
Since the early part Of the spring Of
1850 the regular work Of the church has
been carried on almost without Interrupt
ton. Two services have been held on
the Sabbath, and a prayer meeting, al
which short lecture has been generally |
given, has been held on Wednesday even
ing Of each weak. The Sabbath.school
has been regularly carried on, at first
with two sessions, but lattetly with only |
one session each day. A Bible class has
generally been conducted In connection
with the Sabbath:school.i Al Pastors
Aid ho Society has been organized
among the young men, and is doing
good work for the church! The Women's |
Missionary Society is also working with
promising results. From the beginning
Of the church until within short time
past, the funds necessary to defray the
expenses Of the congregation were raised
by renting the pews and by weekly col.
lections. This plan has been changed
and all necessary funds for congregational
expenses are now raised BY weekly con.
tributions. The liabilitles,o Of tie congre-
CATION have always been promptly and
fully met, and the exercise Of their lib.
crafty has always been free, never requir-
ing to be artifcially stimulated. Many
causes Of distraction and division have
existed at different times, but imbued
with the spirit Of their Divine Master,
the people have usually tried to study
the things that make for peace, and TO
place the interests Of the cause OF Christ
In advance Of all other considerations.
In view Of the blessings Of the past
they can we'll say, "Hitherto hath the
Lord helped u.s." while they look forward
A. .1slI fahn. kta.asne,, fa fha f,,tn.n III. II