Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-03-14

volyed in the change. ! am very sure that
if could have measured the strength OF
your attachment before had decided to
leave you, as did on that last Sabbath
here, | could not have parted from you .
June 1, 1859, Rev. ]. B. JOHNSTON. d.
D., became pastor of the congregation.
and continued its pastor until June 3,
1874, when because of the intirmities of
age the pastoral relation was dissolved at
his request s-..l .-- rr
y Dr. Johnston was born in what is now
Indiana County, Pa, March 13, 1902. In
1876 the family came to Ohio, settling in
the vicinity of Hopedale, Harrison Coun-
ty. He entered Jefferson College at p
years of age, and graduated from Frank
lin College in 1929 He studied theology
at Pittsburgh, and was licensed to preach
in 1882. Ayear afterward he settled in
Logan County, where he engaged in teach
ing and preaching. He came from Logan
County to st. ClairsYille in 1859.
DR.. Johnston was remarkable man.
As astudent and expOunder of prophecy
he had great power" says DR.. Balph in
his carefully prepared and admirable his
tory of the congregation. He was in the
front in all reforms grand old patriot,
who sent his son to the war with his ben
edictions and blessings, while with the
heroism of Martin Luther his pulpit
thundered against the great twin sins of
the century, human slavery and rebellion.
Other clergymen covered, men and fam
lies withdrew from his church; but the
grand old man was undiSmayed. He
stood for God and humanity, and what
cared he what demagogues and -syco-
plants at the feet of the Slave Power said
or did. His pastorate covered the most
eventful period of our history. The con-
tinent fairly rocked beneath the tread of
the mightiest armies marshaled in mod
ern times, from ocean to ocean the roll Of
the drum and the call to arms were almost
constantly in the ears of the people, his
neighbors were fighting and dying, and
passionate appeals for help. Ev
was at white heat. Like Luther,
he stood upon the Bible, his conscience.
and his private judgment, and though as
sailed by "as many devils as there were
tiles upon the roofs of the houses" he
could not be driven from his purpose
all those stormy times he preach
ed with a fervor and power rarely equal
ed, and when he closed his ministry left
the congregation better organized and
in every respect than it had ever
before been.
DR.. Johnston died October "a, 1882.
1t is a rare thing, indeed, that congre-
CATION anywhere has been favored for up
ward of thirty years in succession with
preachers of such power and learning as
DR.. Young and Dr. Johnston.
Rev. THOMAS BALPH, d. D., the pres
ent pastor, began his work in this cOngre-
CATION April 1, 1875. He, too, is Penn
sylvanian.
DR.. Balph is an earnest Christian man,
a ripe scholar, a student, and logical and
forcible preacher. On occasions he has
risen to the full stature of his great pre-
iecessors, as, for example, at the meeting
in the old court room on that memorable
Sunday night succeeding the tornado
Standing amid the ruins of the town, that
majestic prayer was as grand an appeal
IS was ever uttered within those old walls
DR.. Balphs pastorate has been a sue
,esSful one. Under it the congregation
las steadily advanced in usefulness and
influence.
THE OLD AND THE NEW.
The church building destroyed by the
5ornado was erected, as has already been |
stated, in 1885. twas plain brick struc
;ure, with a gallery on the North end,
facing the platform. During the pastO-
ate of DR.. Johnston it was moderniZed |
md greatly improved. Its seating capac-
ty was about 275. Itwas utterly destroy
ID by the tornado of April 10, 1887.
The new building is located at the cor
Ter of Main and Marietta streets, on the
OF formerly occupied by hotel. The lot
vas purchased of Martin Fink shortly af-
er the destruction of the old building, |
md preparations made to erect much
arger and modern building Plans were |
by Mr.. Bailey an architect of
and adopted, and in due time
contracts made. The building was built |
If GAINESVILLE brick. In size it is 9515x58
eet, with all the rooms on one floor. At
he South end is commOdiOuS lecture
DOM, so arranged that it and the auditO-
,astors study is at the right of the plat
orm, and at the left is the choir loft
Three class-roOms open into the lecture
DOM. The floor slopes toward the plat
orm. and the seats circle around it, seat
ng the audience admirably for hearing.
t will comfortably seat 500 people. Its
coustic properties are good, its pews very
comfortable, and, altogether, it is one of
he pleasantest rooms we were ever in
t is heated by furnace and lighted with
.as.
The masonry was done by the Murray
Bros, the brick work by George Satter-
hwaite, and the wood work by James
frazier (of Pittsburgh
BLESSING IN DISGUISE.
Now that this handsome and commo-
ious and comfortable ediice is compile
ed, and the congregation so well situa-
ed, the destruction of the old building
an not be regarded otherwise than
essing in disguise at was the voice
f God which spoke out of the whirlwind
o Job. So also he spoke out of the whirl-
Wind to you" said the preacher.
Earnestly we close this report as we be-
an, Peace be within thy walls, and pros
erity within thy palaces"