The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-06-21
A HUNDRED YEARS.
Pennsylvania Presbyterianism,
Celebration OF the Centenary or Upper
Buffalo and Cross Creek Churches
History Of the Different PastOrates
from. I77p 10 the Present Time.


Q from I77p 10 the Present Time.
) Editors IntslllEeneer.
Allow me through your columns to gi,
, your readers some account Of the Center
. nialexercises held at Upper Buffalo, Wasl
J ington county, Pa, on the 10th inst, con
memoratlng the one hundtedth annive
. sary OF the call Of tue Rev. Joseph smit
10 be pastor Of the United Churches
Upper Buffalo aud Gross Creek.
The day dawned auspiclously. The su
shone brightly; and the temperature wa
just pleasantly cool.
THE PLACE OF CELEBRATION.
The place selected for the public exer
cises was in a grove just southwest o
the graveyard. A large platform ha,
been erected for the speakers. Back o
the speakers stand, on large oak, hum
a handsome picture Of the venerable DR.
Stockton. On either side Of II was huni
o list OF the names Of the men who hat
gone out from the two churches and en-
tered the ministry. On the right wer,
hung the names Of those from Gross Greek
numbering In all thirty, Of whom twelyt
are deceased; on the left the names ol
those from Buffalo, the whole number be
tng ,twenty-seven, Of whom twelve are
dead.
In front Of the platform seats were pro.
vided for thousand people.
Early in the morning the people began
to arrive; and they continued TO flow in
until noon when Il Is estimated that there
were from three to four thousand people
present. They came from twenty-five
miles around
The exercises were opened with an in.
vocation by Rev. DR.. McCarrel, Of Claws.
vile, Scriptures were read by Rev. John
Meloy, Of West Newton.
The history OF Cross Creek was read by
Or. Stockton, former pastor, and that OF
Upper Buffalo by Rev. W. s. Eagleson, Of
Mt. Gllead, O., a son Of DR.. Eagleson.
HISTORY OF THE TWO CHURCHES.
According to the history, these two
churches were, perhaps, twin born, and
grew up side by side like two sisters, each
OF which became the mother Of hundreds
Of spiritual children.
Their history Is very closely connected
for about eighteen years after their organ.
izatton they were served by the same min.
lister.
Rev. Joseph Smith was the first pastor.
and served the Church until his death,
period OF twelve years and eight months.
Succeeding Mr.. Smith, Rev. Thos. Mar.
quis became pastor OF Cross Greek and
stated supply at Buffalo. He continued
as pastor Of Cross Creek to the time Of his
death in 1925, aperiod OF thirty.two years.
He spent three years and six months as
stated supply at Buffalo.
Smith and Marquis were two of the
most eloquent preachers with whose min.
istry the Church has been blest. The
Church under their ministry enjoyed al.
most constant revival. During the minis
try Of Mr.. Smith about two hundred were
added to each OF the churches. During
the ministry OF Marquis at Cross Greek
about four hundred were added TO that
Church. From the year 1900 these
Churches had separate pastors. Mr.. Mar.
quis continuing at Gross Creek, whilst
Rev. DR.. John Anderson became pastor OF
upper Buffalo. Mr.. Anderson was
preacher Of great power, and because OF
his power in reaching the hearts of men
and making them feel their sinfulness, he
received from his brethren the appellation
Of the "Screw Anger"
Heand Mr.. Marquis were very promi-
nent in what was known as the falling
work in 1902, one ofthe most remarkable
reviyals Of religion with which the church
has ever been blessed.
Succeeding Mr.. Marquis at Cross Greek,
Rev. DR.. Stockton became pastor. His
ministry from the very beginning was re.
markably successful, in fact remarkable in
every way. 1t covered a period OF exactly
fifty years, closing June, 1877.
The whole number OF additions during
his ministry were ,545. What reharka.
BILE recordl Who would not rather die,
leaving behind such record, than to
have 1t said that he had successfully led
an army or ruled kingdom. And this ia
only the apparent results; there are spir.
itual forces set in operation that will 70
on perpetuating themselves forever.
Following DR.. Anderson, Rev. DR..
Eagleson succeeded to the pastorate at
Buffalo, which relation continued for a
pc riod Of exactly thirty.nine years,
DR.. Eagleson was man Of accurate and
extensir re learning, who did bis work
regularly, persistently, constantly. The
church enjoyed healthy growth through
all his ministry. Just at the close Of his
ministry this church erected an elegant
house Of worship, costing, including fIrn.
ishing, SO, 900, which stands as asubstan.
tial monument Of his and the ohurch's
work.
He expressed his purpose to preach FIVE
or SIX years longer in the new house,
when he intended to resign, which he
hoped he would have the good sense to
do before he would become altogether un.
acceptable to the people. But he and his
people only met once in the new church,
and then 1t was in an unfinished state he
in the embrace Of death, and tney 10
mourn over their sad bereavement.
The regard Ofhls pastorate reads as fol.
lows:
BAPrIsHa
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