Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-04-09
Tenth Anniversary of Rev. DIR.
RalDh's Passionate.


sary of Rev. DR.. Balph's pastoral OF The
L, p. church in this place He made II
the occasion for reference to the chan
ees which had occurred, and for review
ing the results of his labors during thai
period. Below is brief abstract of hi;
remarks:
"And thou shalt remember the way
which the Lord, thy God, led thee these
forty years in the wilderness. .-Deuter
Onomy 8 2.
The a. r. P, now the United Presby
terian, congregation of st. Clairsyillt
was organized in June. 1880, by the Rev
VIM. Taggart, D. ID. David Wallace and
Wm. Templeton were elected elders
On the 18th of August, 1881, call was
made out for the Rev. Hugh Parks, who
entered upon his pastoral labOrs October
1st. The church roll at that date num-
bered 20 members, Should that roll now
be called, there are none TO answer on
earth save Mrs. TempletoD, of Washing
ton City. During the first year of Mr.
Parks ministry 10 members were ad-
mitted to the church. OF the member
ship in 1882, Mr.. John Denham and his
wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Denbam, are the
only ones to tell of the years that are
gone John Patterson, John Nichol
John Stewart and Joseph Meholin were
added to the sessions during this pastor
ate. MIR. Stewart is here alone to answer
when the roll of that session is called
at the close of Mr.. Parks pasLorate in
1898 the membership of this church was
about 120. On the 4th day of October,
1S4I, call was made out for Mr.. Alex.
| Young, then a licentiate. He was or
dained and installed pastor over. this
charge, June %, 1912. DR.. Young's pas
torate was very successful. 1t continued
l l6 years. The membership of the church
during these years was above l20 in lS42,
14O in 1883, l6S in 1856, and 140 at the
close of the pastOrate-the decrease be-
ing accounted for by members given off
to Martinsville and other congregations,
and perhaps some 10 the West. John
Brown, Isaac Taggart. Robert Stitt, VIM.
l.. Duff, Thomas Duff, solomon Bentley
and Thomas M. NichOl were ordained
ruling elders under DR.. YOung's minis
try. John Stewart of the session OF
which Mr.. Parks was. Moderator, and he
and Solomon Bentley of the session under
the ModeratOrship of DR.. Young, are
here to answer to their names. Mr.
Nichol exercises the Office in Uniontown
congregation.
The third pastorate, under the revered
and lamented j. B. Johnston, ID. ID began
June 1st, 1859. The number of members
at Ibis time was about l40. Ii is regret
ted that no record is at hand from which
TO obtain statistics of the growth of the
congregation during DR.. JehnSton's pas
tcrate of almost 16 years; suffice it to
say, that notwithstanding the peculiarly
of the times, at the beginning and during
the first years of his pastorate, when the
very foundation of things was unsettled
and seemed about to be destroyed, yet
steady advance was made and the con
gregation prospered in all her spiritual
and material interests. At the close of
this pastorate there was reported I45
members The following named gentler
men were added to the session during
the period of which we are speaking ::
VIM. Stewart, Humphrey Alexander,
Samuel Gifin, Robert Kerr, Sr, and Jas.
Gordon. These all sleep with their
fathers.
The present pastor was installed JAN
uary 26, 1875, and entered upon his work
April 1st. The congregation was well
organized and in fine working order
There was abundant evidence of the
skill of that wise master builder, the
former pastor. l rejoice that it is my lot
to reap where there has been such SOW
ing. 81 reap that whereon bestowed
no labor; other men labored, and | am
entered into their labors." The congre-
gatioual report for 1874 gives the follow
ing exhibit: No. of members, 145: in
crease, 8; decrease, II; 8 infant and l
adult baptisms; for foreign missions,
S14S; home missions, Sos; total cOntIl+
buttons, 1854; No. of teachers in the
Sabbath School, 12; scholars, 81; contri-
buttons, 1855. The Rev. H. Parks and
j. B. Johnston, D. D., were in the conn
munion of the church. The session con-
sisted of John Stewart, solomon Bent>
ley, Thomas Duff, 81. Alexander Samuel
Giffen, Robert Kerr. Sr., and Jas Gordon.
Andrew King was ruling selder, but
not installed in this congregation.
Ten years of the present pastorate are
numbered with the past. Let US note
some of our spiritual privileges. You
have observed 80 communion seasons;
you have listened to over 900 sermons;
you have attended more than 100 pray
er meetings; $50 meetings of the mission.
ary society and about SIS sessions of the
Sabbath school. The present member
ship of the congregation is 1877. There
have been added to the church by pro-
fession and certificate 133. There has
been decrease by death and removal of
81. In your work and labor of love you
have contributed So, 3,205 TO the Board of
Foreign Missions, and $l,0S7 to the
Board of Hume Missions. The total
amount contributed by the congregation
is Sz2,220; of this sum the Sabbath
school gave S2,2S4, and the Woman's
Missionary Society about S1,693. The
m0rtuary report of the congregation is
admonitory. The total number of deaths
is 46. Adult males, 10; adult females,
10; male infants, D; female infants, 3.
There have been % marriages in the |
congregation, 10 of which were solemn
lied by the pastor; "a. infants and II
adults were baptized.
Of myself il is meet that should say
but little. Let another man praise thee,
and not thine own mouth; stranger,
and not thine own lips" l have endeav-
ored to be faithful to the trust commit
led TO my hands. 1 have endeavored to
maintain the historic faith of the United
Presbyterian church. My hearts desire |
and prayer 10 God has always been, that
you might grow in grace, walk worthy
of God unto all well-pleasing and re.
ceive the end of your faith. even the
salvation of your souls. None of you
are more sensible of my shortcomings
than l am myself.
You>have been generous. in my sup>
port. You have sustained me in every |
good work. You have strengthened my
hands and encouraged my heart You
have been iDdulgent to my infrmities /
For all your kindness you have my CRATE.
ful affection. II have you in nay heart
to live and die with you"
Not unto us, o Lord, not unto US, but
unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy