Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-11-02

wear through the efforts Of Mr.. Doddndge
AID R;sboD Chaise, of Ohio, chnrcn
organization was formed and the nsMe
of 81. Matthew's. Church taken. Inc
minister was Rev. John Arn,strcn', o.
MARYLAND, Among the membership OF
This first congregation were john Arm
stronp. Jr., w. T. Good, W. Gray, L. %.
ARMSTRONG, Joshua Morton, j. GOOD, ".
Perrine. Richard Simms, P. Ray, j: U.
williams, Josiah Cbapline, L. Wilton, JI:,
W. Chapline, Jr., c. Bies, s. Scovlie, I.
M. Cowles, @. d. Krox, J. n. Smith, n
@. Thompkou, Moses w. Cbapline,. ii.
Thornburg. John Eoff, Samuel Chamber
lain and Mrs. Shepherd: The congresa-
ton had NO permanent place oil worship
until 1921, when Mr.. Noah Zane dedlcst-a
A lot for the erection o. church. WORK
was commenced at once, and the corner
stone was laid on May 9th Of that year,
under the auspices Of the Masons. Key.
Mr.. Armstrong delivered the sermon upon
the occasion, aud wa3 followed by d..
Doddridee with an grafton. This church
building was loo tied on Market street.
near the market house The edifics was OF
brick, 6Ox40 feet in size. 1t wa' opened
for worship by the congregation early IN
the autumn of 1921.
Mr.. Armstrong prosecut ID his work in
Wheeling during the ensuing seven years.
death ending his miuistratio IA HIS sue
cessor wss Rev. John T. Wheat, who &C
cupied the recsorship until 1882. The
third rector was Rev. William Armstrong,
sop of the first rector Under bis ministry,
40 large had the congregation becoms, that
the need of a more commodious building was
sorely felt, and lot WAS purchased at the
corner of Twelfth and Byron STREET, upon
which the second church building wss
erected. The buiidiug was dedicated Oc-
toSer 26, 1887, By RI Raw. William
Meade, Bishop of Virginia.
I'm 1s49 tae frat effort WAS made u erect
the western portion Of the State OF pir.
pinia into eepsrate dicc.sa. This effort
was not successful. In 1865 further
effort was made, but it was MT until 1877
the separation was fiaally scc,mpl shed,
and the Episcopalisn Chu ca of West VIZ
ginia became an accomplished fact
In 1858. Rsv. E. I. Perkins was called
to assist Rev. Armstrong in the pistorate
of the church, and the following year Mr..
Armstrong rendered his resignation. His
psrishoners were 10th TO sever the ties
which had bound him to them for almt st
quarter of q c3nturv, and great efforts
were made to induce MIN to remain tx
empt from the duties Of tbs rectorship,
but he insisted on returning to the scsnes
of his early life in Maryland, and parted
with his congregations. The Rev. Mr.. Per
kins succeeded him, and remained at the
head of the church until the outbreak OF
the war, when he re moved to Richmond
Rev. Thomas G.. Addison, who preached
the conservation sermon yesterday morn
ing, succeeded Rev. Perkins. inaugurating
his ministry in December, 1861. Bef!re
the departure of Mr. Perkins ihs question
of replacing the Byron stree church with
larger structure had been preached. Mr..
Addison took up this enterprise with en-
ergy, and ss a result Of his laboIs a lot
was purchased at the northeast corner of
Obapline and Fifteenth streets, and upon
it the corner stone of the present edifice
Was laid November /, 1866.
In 1867 DIR. Addison requested to be rt-
lieved Of his charge in order to assume the
rectorship of n church in Washington
City, and he was succeeded by Rev. G. &.
Currie, this gentleman beginning his min
istry in March, 1863. He resigned 10 De-
cember, 1870, and was succeeded in turn
by Rev. J. A. Late1e. This g.nteman's
resignation, which soon occurred, was oc-
css'o,ed by his defec ion from the Episcc-
pa! Caurch. In 1874 Rev. j. &. Arm
strong was Invited to assume the incum-
bercy, aud did so, remaining until 1878,
when he accepted call to Richmond.
The present pntor, Rev. r r. Swope, en-
tered upon his duties March /, 1878. He
at once devoted himself earnestly and ss
siduonsly to the great work b.f,re him,
ard under his guidance the Church has
made great progress in every respect. The
heavy deb. consequent upon the erection
of the sp'e1did edidcs to be corsec'ated
to-day, has been entirely Cleared away,
and upder tie efficient ministry Of the
rector, the Church is destined to GREATLY
augment and enlarge upon thu magnificent
record of the past.