Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-07-20
LOCAL.
TALKING OF THE DEAD.
MEMORIAL SERVICE IN MEMO
RY OF REV. DIR. MARTIN.


RY OF REV. DIR. MARTINI
TOUCHING SERVICE AT THE METHO-
DIST CHURCH-vENERABLE MEN
SPEAK OF THE DEAD PASTOR THE
AFFECTION FELT FOR HIM IN sTAUN-
TON.
&C.. &C, sc.
There was very touching service at
the M. E. Church, South, on Lewis street,
Sunday morning, in memory of its former
pastor, Rev. DR.. John S. Martin. The pull
pit was draped with black cloth. There
were several present who, though the dead
minister had lived nearly quarters of
century, had yet known him in the days
of his youth. Rev. A. A. Eskridge, now
in his 91st year, had been at the Confer
ence as minister when DIR. Martin, a
young man, was admitted on trial. Mr.. A.
M. Simpson, past three-score and ten, had
been companion of the departed minister
in their boyhood. MI. Harvey Risk, him.
into the church when youth, over a half
century age, by DR.. Martin. There was a
deep feeling of grief prevailing in the au-
dience. all of whom were attached to the
good man who had been their pastor or
presiding elder for nine years and who had
been their friend for many more. During
the addresses, the feelings of the listeners
found expression in tears, and at times
the emotions of the speakers themselves so
overcame them that it was difficult for
them to utter what was in their hearts.
There was no regular service, and it was
not inappropriate that tender expression
of regard for the memory of Methodist
minister of over half century'S labor for
the church, should be prefaced by receiY-
ing into the sheltering arms of the church
he loved, two little ores, with their young
heads just above the horizon of life. They
were little girls-one two, and the other
about four years of age, daughters of Mr.,
A. S. Woodhouse and Capt. F. Fl. Weaver.
After the christening, the memorial SER
vices were opened by some very sweet sing
ing by the choir, led by Mr.. J. W. opitler.
/ We give below the substance of the ad-
DR.. Gardner said that two Christian
men on hearing the news Of DIR. Martin g
death, on Monday, had suggested this
memorial service. The dead minister had
been the pastor of this chuch for four
years, and as Presiding Elder of this
district had been with US five
years. His business here every year had
kept bin fresh in the view not only of his
people but of the people of the community,
and this memorial service was fitting
expression of their affection for him and the
sense of immediate loss sustained by his
death. There were two of the older minis
ters Of the Conference present who, he
hoped, would speak. and he would like to
near any layman of this. or any other
Christian church who desired to speak,
IT there were any such laymen here from
other churches he wanted them to feel as
if they were In their own house.
DR.. Gardner said he had known for near
ly two months that DR.. Martin was great
sufferer. He bore his Suffering patienCiy,
such is the representation, though not
many words were spoken during
his illness. He was taken up with
the agony of his disease. But all the ut
terances that fell from his lips were in
keeping with the line of his life until his
death. They were cheering, and showed
that he lived in faith-the faith of Christ
and expected to share His joys and
triumphs. He fell asleep in Jesus and
angels bore him into the Paradise of God.
Thirty five years ago 1 first saw DR.. Mar
tin in the Baltimore Conference which
met at HagerstoWn, Md, in 1858 1t was
there that he was elected Secretary in
Chief of the undivided Baltimore Confer
ence. He had been the assistant secretary
to Ashury Roszell, a brother of the late
DR.. Samuel Roszell. After his election he
always held the place by general consent
the voting for him was a mere form, for
everybody wanted him. Shortly after 1858
I was thrown much with him. In 1861
was appointed to the Lewisburg District
and became identified with him, some
what as the counsellor for the Church
family, providing for its interests during
the war-a capacity in which be was PROM
inent. There were in those days DR..
Samuel Roszell, who could not meet with
us as he Was stationed in Loudoun, E. r.
Veitch of Rockingham district, W. 6.
Eggleston of Winchester District, Samuel
Register, of Roanoke District and John
S. Martin. l owed them all much
all who have died, and the only
one now living besides myself-and
I desire to testify to the debt. Since
then l have 0een in close relations with
Dr. Martin. said to friend on return
ing to Staunton from the last Conference,
81 am afraid this will be DR.. Martins last
year, had felt oppressed with forebo-
dings by his appearance, and feared the
severe trial for him of large station in
Baltimore, with all its exacting duties and
hot summer in city. But his people
of st. Paul's church were kind to him,
and at the end of his life he fell asleep in
Jesus amid the minlstrations of kind
friends. His wide field Of usefulness made
his death as wide gap as would be made
by the loss of any man amongst US.
came from Baltimore to Berryville, to
the Sunday School Convention. There,
on Thursday, memorial services were
held in which other denominations took
part. One minister. Rev. DR.. Broaddus
of the Baptist church, said: 81 desire to
say word. knew DR.. Martin but a few
years and heard him preach but few
times, but after once hearing him l al