The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-09-21
Memorial of Rev w. q. Campbell, adopt.
ed by Lexington Presbytery at Warm

1873, OF honorable Christian parentage. His
father was ruling elder in Timberridge church,
and his mother Is described as having been "a
woman OF ardent piety and deep Christian expert
ence." AS child of the covenant he was in his
infancy, solemnly admitted into the visible
church by baptism, and his training was in ac-
cordance with the strictness of Scotch Presby-
terianism-the Bible and the Shorter Catechism
having been the text books of his religious edu-
cation-and as the natural fruit of such dis
ciphne, in his early youth, he made profession
of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and was
admitted to the privilege of the Lords Supper
by the Session of Timberridge church. How
soon thereafter the claims of the gospel ministry
were pressed upon his mind by the Holy Spirit
we are not informed but this we know, that in
october, 1924, one year prior to his graduation
from Washington Colleague was received by
Lexington Presbytery as a candidate for licen-
sure under their care.
After the completion of his college course he
| entered upon the study of Theology at Prince
ton Seminary. and, on the 23rd of October,
1926, he was licensed by Lexington Presbytery
to preach the gospel of Christ as a probationer
for the holy ministry.
Having received this gift, he Immediately
commenced the diligent exercise of it, by en-
tering into missionary field, of which Chris
tlansburg was the central point, at which place
congregation was soon collected out of which
In very short time, the now existing and i'm
portant church of Christiansburg was organized
While occupying that field of labor, the Pres
bytery of Lexington, having become fully salts
fed of his qualifications for the sacred office of
the ministry determined to ordain him as an
evangelist, and appointed the Rev. DR.. Nc
Elhenny to preach the ordination sermon, and
the Rev. DR.. Baxter to preside and give the
charge The ordination took place at Warm
Springs, April 26th, 1928
He remained in Christiansburg till 1880,
when he removed to another missionary field
In Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties, which
charge he retained till 1S41, in which year he
became stated supply of the Warm Springs
church, which position he occupied till 1913.
He then became pastor of Shemariah church,
and continued to hold that relationship till
1850; when his connection with Shemariah
church was dissolved and he removed to Staun-
ton, where he took charge for short time of
the Augusta Female Seminary, and there spent
the remainder of nearly seven years in filing
vacancies which occurred during that period in
the churches of Staunton. Noisy Creek, Tink-
ling Spring, Union, and Bethel.
| From Staunton he removed in 1857 to Sails
bury, N. c., where he was engaged in teaching
till 1859, when he became stated supply of
Lebanon church, and continued to minister to
that church till 1865.
This was his last regular ministerial work,
with the exception of the years 1S6S-'69 in
which he filled vacancy in Augusta church
From that time the infrmities of old age be-
gan to press upon him, and he did nothing more
than preach occasionally for his brethren. In
1873, he removed to Harrisonburg Va, where
he remained till his death.
His labors in the ministry were greatly
blessed of God-in illustration of which the
records of Lexington Presbytery show that in
one year, in one of his missionary fields, thir-
teen were added on examination to one church
twentythree to another, and twenty-five to
another. His usefulness was also much en-
HANGED by his labors as a teacher, supplement
tary to his pastoral work. In these labors he
was greatly assisted by his accomplished wife,
Miss Susan Harrison Gooseley, whom he married
at Lewisburg, Va, in 1927.
His last years were spent in the privacy of his
family circle, and were largely occupied with
the study of Gods Word. When his end was
manifestly approaching his mind was much ex-
ercised upon the subject of the witness of the
Spirit, and he was somewhat troubled because
he did not experience that ecstacy of feeling
which he thought that he had right to expect.
This trouble however arose, as was we'll ex-
planned by brother minister his looking
for dying grace" before the dying hour; for
when death actually drew near, grace wonder
fully triumphed, and he was lifted up into q
region of perfect peace and joyous hope.
| The week before his departure he summoned
all his remaining strength, and, for about three
quarters of ali hour in the presence of the pas
tor Of the church Of Harrisonburg, and of other
friends who were around his bedside, be
witnessed good confession-the sum of which
was, that he was poor miserable sinner, with
no righteousness of his own but that he was
sinner saved by grace through Christ--that in
full view Of death he was enabled to commit his
soul unto Jesus as unto faithful Creator-and
that he had no doubt upon his mind in regard
to his acceptance in the Beloved.
After this he remained quietly expecting his
end, which took place on the End day of August,
1881, when he fell asleep in Jesus, having only
/ q foyu daxyu hafora cornr1afad b;o OrJ