Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-09-16

The exercises at the church COM
menced about 1O1s o'clock; Mr.. David
Brown was called to the chair, and Sol
omon Bentley made Secretary. Mr..
Brown delivered brief and sensible ad-
dress of welcome and congratulation.
DR.. Young then offered an eloquent and
impressive prayer. Following this the
pastor, Rev. Thomas Balph, read care
fully prepared history of the congrega-
ton. Rev. Hugh Parks, who yet lives a
short distance west of town, was its first
pastor. He served in that capacity
about seven years. Following Mr..
Parks pastOrate there was vacancy of
two years or more in the pulpit, when
Rev. Alexander Young took charge of
it. DR. Young remained here until Sep
tember, 1859, when he left to accept the
chair of Greek and Hebrew Literature
in the college at Monmouth, Illinois.
Rev. j. b. Johnson, d. d., succeeded DIR.
Young. DR.. Johnston's pastorate con-
tinued until 1875, when, because of the
intrmities of age, he resigned, and was
succeeded by Rev. Thomas Balph, the
present pastor. But two of the charter
members of the society are now living
Mr.. Isaac Taggart and Hon. John Patter-
son, father of Mr.. Isaac H. Patterson,
ood NJ IVlll;op, Tam ,,latop fathar of
Mrs. DIR. Hewetson, were among the
founders of the organization, and during
their lives were powerful and active
friends of the congregation. All OF its
ex-pastors are still living, bat owing to
inclement weather the venerable Hugh
Parks and DIR. Johnston, neither of
whom were well, were unable to be
present. Of those who have gone
out from the congregation into the min
istry, DR.. PAUL has for some years been
President of Muskingum College. Rev.
S. r. Frazier is now Professor in the
Imperial College of Japan. The address
was very interesting, and was listened
to attentively by the audience.
DR.. Young gave a history of his pas
torate, which covered period of almost
twenty years. AT the beginning things
were in rather primitive condition, but
after almost twenty years of faithful
and able service he left large, prosper
Gus, and wealthy congregation.
After DIR. Young concluded, an ad-
jonrnment to Nelday's Hall, for dinner,
was had Mr.. Balph stated that it was
the earnest desire of those who had
prepared the dinner that all persons in
the house should take dinner with them,
and that they would re-assemble at the
church at 2 o'clock.
The exercises of the afternoon were
very enjoyable. The good things par
taken of at the dinner tables put every
body in an unusually good humor. DIR.
J. T. Mcclure, of Wheeling, spoke in be-
.,alf of Presbytery. He regards congre-
gationalism great danger to the
church, but in that connection said he
desired to testify to the uniform cor
diality existing between pastor and mem
bers of the church of st. Clairsville,
which he has known intimately for
about thirty years. He spoke feelingly
and eloquently of the pastors who have
had charge of the church since his con-
nection with Presbytery. especially the
chilk-like DR.. Young, and that grand,
rugged character, DR.. Johnston.
DR.. Thomas Love spoke for the min
istry which this church has turned out.
DR.. Taggart, of Wooster, responded to a
call, and made happy speech. His
contrast of the Sabbath schools of forty
years ago and of those of to-day was in
teresting and instructive. He, too, as
did Dr. Mcclure, bore feeling testimony
to Mr.. Templeton and the other good
men, who had laid the foundations of
this congregation so broad and so deep,
and who watched it so tenderly. Rev.
W. G. Waddle, Rev. Mr.. Campbell, and
others, responded to calls for remarks.
At the close Mr.. Waddle led in prayer,
psalm was sung, the benediction was
pronounced by DR.. Young, and the audi
ence was dismissed.
The occasion was greatly enjoyed by
all who were present, and marks an i'm
portant epoch in the history of the con-
gregation.