The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-03-10
AFTER FORTY YEARS,
Rev. j. T.M'Clure breaches His
Anniversary Sermon.
TUE DCHTITJCfIT NTcTnIID or
THE BEAUTIFUL DISCOURSE
Attcntlyely Heard by n largo Con.
grcSntion-Itcv. W. s.. Robinson
Preached In tho Evcning-A
deception Tonight. lS.

deception Tonight.
It Ia not often that man retains one
position continuously for ior.y years.
Such, however, has been the faithful
term OF service which Rev. Dr.. ]. T.
Mcclure has putt in with the First United
Presbyterian church, ofthisclty. Yester.
day morning Dr.. Mcclure, still halo
and hearty, with as strong a voice, as
rapid delivery and as keen mind MS
when he preached his first sermon,
opened tho Holy Book and selected a
text for his forticth anniversary sermon.
The altar and pulpit platform were
handsomely decorated with vines, ported
plants and cut flowers. Eeveral beauti.
ful bouquets Of red and yellow roses
were placed In effective positions, and
two large vases OF pure white lilies stood
on each side OF the pulpit. The pure
white flowers Mt the sides, and the snow
white hair and beard OF tho pastor in
the center, formed a picture striking in
Its purity Of color and happy lack Of con-
traSt. re- hW
The audience seemed to DO inspired
with reverence for tho plain old preach.
er, and quietness, different from the
mere absence Of sound, seemed 10 come
over 1t when he rose and advanced to
the pulpit over which he Ind 80 often
spoken words OF hope and admonition,
and had offered sweet relief to troubled
gouls. Esl
For the most part, the members Of the
congregation had never known anyone
but Dr.. Mcclure as their pastor, and
many Of them had been baptized by
him, and had heard the Gospel for the
first time from his lips. On this, the
fortieth anniversary Of his appearance
in the church, thoughts Of how much
he has done for them, how he has Off
clated at the funerals OF dear ones, how
he had offered consolation at their own
sickbeds; and had been friend with
naught but kindly words in their dark
est hours, came to their minds, and a
closer communion OF moral interest
seemed to exist between pastor and con-
gregation. Many. a head bowed in
silent prayer; eyelids filled, and
tears rolled down over the cheeks OF
sturdy men whose memories carried
them back over the lapse Of years which
DR.. McClure's life in the church per-
sonifed. 50
The service was opened by singing the
one hundred and twenty-third Psalm:
"Unto Thee lift my eyes, O Thou that
dwellest in the Heavens" after which
Rev. W. S. Robinson, OF Allegheny, Pa,
offered beautiful and touching prayer,
in which he referred to the wa!chfulness
and tender care OF the pastor over his
flock, and the many occasions OF happi-
ness and sorrow which it had been his
lot to pass through in the discharge Of
his pastoral duties.
The congregation joined with the
choir in singing Psalm No. lis: "Not
unto us, o Lord, not unto us, but unto
Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy,
and for the truths sake"
DR.. Mcclure took his text from the
Forty-eignth Psalm, twelfth and thir-
tenth verses: "Walk about Zion and
90 round about her tell the towers there.
Of. Mark yeher bulwarks, consider her
palaces, that ye may tell it to the genera
tons following"
He considered Zion rs the church OF
God and dwelt upon the development
and Qualification OF the institution
throughout the world, and referred par
ticularly to the growth of the First
United Presbyterian church, and the
blessed privileged Of seeing it built up
from congregation Of eighty souls to
lis present prosperous proportions. He
spoke feelingly Of his experiences in
that church, and how he came with fear
and trembling, a young preacher fresh
from the seminary, with heart filled
with sense Of duty to his blessed
Savior. He likened the church
to q great army which must
be equipped not only tor defensive but
for aggressive work, and showed how
it is the duty ofevery Christian not only
to maintain his own dignity in the sight
Of God but to bring others unto the
throne Of grace. He spoke feelingly Of
the older members OF the congregation,
and the tendency OF all to desire to live
on, and justified that desire If it is born
Of a love for doing good in tho world.
He questioned, however, the presence
Of desire in the heart OF any old person
to return to childhood and live again,
through all the trials, troubles and
yicissitudes Of life, and portrayed the
beauties Of the life to come. 4 NJ
He also addressed himself to the mid.
dle.aged and to the children, and said
that the children are the lie OF the
church, for in them is the strength which
must support it, and carry its banners
on to future victories. He closed with a
few remarks concerning the general vel
fare Of the church as a whole, and con-
corning his charge particularly. N
| AFTER the sermon, communion was
taken, and DR.. Mcclure was rendered
! many congratulations, and the hope was
expressed that he might celebrate many
more ann; versaries OF that eventful day
in the careers o. himself and his church.
In the evening Rev. W. S. Robinson, a
prominent divine in the United Presby-
terrain church, preached most excellent
sermon to large congregation. So,
This evening there will be general
meeting Of the congregation at the
church, at which time DR.. and Mrs.
Mcclure will be rendered reception in
honor Of the fortieth anniversary Of DR..
McClure's connection with the church.
Pittsburgh Excursionists In Town. .
The B. & o. train from Cincinnati to
Pittsburgh, due here at 0:26 o'clock last
evening, was again late, as it has been
every Sunday evening for several weeks
past. Last night it was over an hour and
a half late, the delay having been
caused by heavy business. There
were over seventy passengers for
this train at this station and an