The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-01-21
TCOmmuniCatedl

MEsSRs. EDlTORS:-On Ills return from the
funeral of his brc ther. The late and much la
mented pastor of The Lutheran Chuch of your
town, Mr.. Irv Marclay informed me that you
desired brief iriicle for your paper relating to
the deceased, ia ing such facts as may be of
interest 10 tie vublic generally. | am too
much occupied at present to furnish anything
"f an elaborate character, but have already
promised to contribute something to the M m
| ory OF my much seemed friend for the col
| umns of the Lutheran Observer. which when it
appears shall take pleasure in placing at your
disposal. Meanwhile, in addition to what is
said in your issue of the 14th inst, containing
a notice of his death, send the iollowino itens
which perhaps you will deem of sufficient i'm
portance to give place in your mex number:
The parents of our departed friend are still
living where their beloved son was born, and
| where his early days were spent. They are
aged and infrm, and, of conrse, the sorrowful
| tdings Of his sudden death was to them, as
well as to the large circle of hi' more distant
relatives and friends, painfully afflict We.
The first developments OF Mr.. Marclay's ed
ucational course are quite suggestiyely ndical-
ed by the fact that when he was but about
| six teen years of age he engaged in school teach
ing, and in communities no. remote from
home. He taught for three successive winter
| terms. He made acquaintsnces then who still
remember him in that capacity with fresh and
| respectful interest
| 1t was perhaps in his nineteenth year that this
| attention was turned to higher school advant
| age, and he soon became student at Harlwick
Seminary where he completed his academic C
| studies. From here he went TO Union Coll
ege but what class he entered, and how long he
remained, | have now no means of determin
| ing. His standing, however, may be inferred
| from the fact that his class placed him at their
head; as slso that this venerable institution
conferred on him some year or two since the
title of Master of Arts.
1t was either while in College or soon after
he left, that he made public profession of his
faith in Christ and united with the Lutheran
church of Gardnersvilla, of which the much
esteemed Rev. p. Weitng was then pastor,
| Whether at that time he hal decided o turn
his attention to the ministry, | do not certain.
| iy know, but rot long after he commenced his
theological studies at Selinsgrove, Pa, where
ne made the acquaintance of the lady who sub
sequenly became his wife, Of whose personal
worth and present afH clions, the citizens OF
Bloomsbury need no testimonials.
My acquaintance with Mr. Msrclay COM
me need when he became an applicant for Ii,
ce nse of the Synod Of whi,h was a member
This was during the month of June, 1867. At
the next session Of the same body he was or
dained. Both his examinations are very dis
tinc,ly remembered. not only because they
were satisfactory, but because in all his bear
ings he invited, rather than deprecated, scrutiny
His ministerial labors in his native State,
were devoted TO Freybush, in Mont county,
and Orleans 10 Jefferson county. Both were
country charges and called for great deal of
hard work,ss sppoin iments were numerous and
at distant points from each other. He sustain
ed himself well and was successful, especially
in the latter field, in which he was favored
with several more or less extensive reviyals
From here he went to Ashland, Pa, where fol
several years he labored efficiently and mos
acceptably, as all with you know.
Respecting the balance OF his ministerial ca
reer, the citizens OF Bloomsburg need no iufor
nation. Devoted az MIR, Marclay was to hii
own church, in no location could his aCquaint
auce aud appreciation be long limited to it
He was sure to make himself known, not II
much by seeking prominence as by meriting it
Mr.. Marclay's name still stands as a mem
ber on the records Of the church to which thu
writer now ministers, and on the evening o
the 23rd inst, m emorial service will be helt
in which several surrounding pastors, VIII,
knew him we'll, will be heard upon topics suit
able to the OF casion.
His deeply bereayed family and church il
your midst, have the sympathy of many warn
hearts here.
| Ill l., DOX