The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-12-08
For the Central Presbyterian.
Rev. William F. Cosner.

IlC60SeO
the Presbytery of Winchester, at Wood
stock, Va, April, 1879, and ordained at
Mooretield, West Virginia, October, 1879,
to the work of an evangelist. He at once
entered upon his work in the Alleghanies.
with his home in Grant county, West
Virginia. Exactly one year he faithfully
labored, steadily gaining the confidence
and affections of the people, and with
great wisdom and patience laying sure
foundation on which to build for the glory
OF his Master; and then by mysterious
Providence was called to rest from his
labors, leaving widowed mother and
two sisters with their strong staff broken
and their beautiful rod" and large field
with none qualified as he was so peculiar
ly, to occupy it.
Born and reared in the deep seclusion
of the Alleghanies, our young brother
had none of the advantages of early edu-
cation. He never went to school but
twenty-one days, till he had reached
manhood. But he had passion for
learning. Cut off from access to books,
his early reading was very limited. But
nature, in all her grandeur, opened to him
a rich volume, and his rejecting mind
fondly discoursed with her on the great
truths she revealed. His temperament
was deeply religious, and yet his reli-
glous advantages were as limited as his
literary. The Bible, Pilgrim s. Progress,
one of Leigh Richmond's little book, with
a few others of like character, where his
religious guides. True guides they were.
And in the dawn of manhood he conse-
Grated his heart and life to the Saviour.
He was then living in the wild and al
most inaccessible, but fertile and pictur-
esque Valley of Canaan, on the Black
Water branch of the Cheat River. This
region was then (ten years ago) almost a
wilderness, but is now becoming renowned
by the adventures of the tourists attracted
by its scenery, and by the investigations
of capitalists attracted by its marvellous
fertility. Living then, in his little cabin.
with mother and sisters he was happy in
mlnlstering to their comfort, and indulg-
ing his passion for reflection Endowed,
IN some measure, with poetic powers, he
lett many mementoes of his bright and
happy life in the form of simple and often
beautiful verses, descriptive of natures
charms, and of his religious aspirations.
From that distant home, he opened cor
respondence with the pastor of the Presby-
terrain church of Moorefeld, with the view
of connecting himself with that church.
That pastor visited him in Canaan, and
formed an acquaintance which will ever
be cherished in memory as one of the
most precious character. Discovering in
this young stranger mental powers Of no
ordinary kind, and heart as pure as his
own mountain springs, he suggested to
him a course of thorough education.
With great selfdenial his mother con-
sented to give up their mountain home
which they loved as only mountaineers
do. The son entered the classical school
of Mr.. II. L. Hoover of Moorefeld. In
two years he was qualified to enter Wash
ington and Lee University. There he
distinguished himself as a scholar. His
heart was yearning for the religious in
terests of the people of his native noun
tains. He longed to qualify himself to
60 back and preach the gospel to them.
This one thought took possession of him.
He had no other ambition. He entered
the Theological Seminary and completed
its course with distinction. He FASTENED
to the great work that fired his soul. 1t
a0as a great work-great in it's trials and
tolls. But he shrank not Preaching
two and often three times on Sunday,
riding long distances, visiting from house
to house, organizing Sunday Schools and
Bible classes, distributing tracts and
teaching the children in their homes;
and, added to all this, doing an immense
amount of manual labor for the support
of those dependent on him, his strength
gave way. He sank under a nervous
prostration, but was well enough to at
tend the meeting of Presbytery at Keyser,
in October, and Of Synod at Martinsburg.
He returned home quite sick and fell
into typhoid fever His last hours Of
were spent in pressing upon
his neighbors, who ministered to him, the
Of Christ and his atonement.
What, it may be asked, was the con-
Meeting link that bound this youth in his
isolated home, to the Church of Christ
under the Presbyterian form2 And in
the answer is found precious illustra-
ton of Gods faithfulness to his promise,
" I will be a God to thee and to thy seed
after thee" His mother, when a girl Of
fifteen years, was converted under the
ministry of Father Scott, as he was az
fectionately called, pastor Of the church
at Petersburg. West VIRGINIA. She grew