Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-20

any other Office, as other members of sale
! congregation"
The third pastor was Rev. J ohm McCluskey
! a stalwart pioneer preacher of indomita BILE en-
ergy. Toward the close of his pastorate tn,
question of slavery was rising in importance
Like Banauo's ghost, SIT would not down.
The storm that broke over the country il
1861, in its religious aspects, broke over hi
church nearly 20 years before. A papel
passed by the General Assembly of 1S43, tt
the effect that Shareholders were not neces
sarily to be debarred from church com.
| munion, brought this church to the crisis
A long and respectful memorial was pre-
| sented to this Session protesting against thi.
action and requesting the church to with
| draw from the body and become independ
.ent of all church connections or to unite
| with the body known as 'The Free Presby.
terian Synod" whose views on this subject
harmonized with the memorialists. The re.
ply of the Session
DID NOT MEET THEIR APPROVAL
and on the Monday OF the April Com
munion in 184S the division came, with sad.
ness and tears to those who remained as
we'll as those went out, an organization was
effected at once under the title. 1.-THE Free
Presbyterian Church of West Alexander in
connection with the Free Presbyterian
Synod" Soon after the close of the war,
slavery having been abolished, and the
General Assembly's deliverances being in
harmony with their views the church
disbanded and most of the members
returned to the Presbyterian Church
In 1910 charter for the West Alexander
Academy was secured. Through low rates
of tuition and board large number had an
opportunity for an education they would
otherwise have been deprived of.
To Thaddeus Dodd, Joseph Smith, and
John Mcmillan, it is claimed, belongs the
honorable distinction of having been the
pioneers of education, no less than of re-
ligion, in Western Pennsylvania. To these
the name of John McCluskey ought to be
added, for he was eminent as an educator.
In the founding of the West Alexander
Academy in 1910 he did a grand work dur
ing the most of his pastorate, particularly
in the instruction of young men, about 80 of
whom became ministers, besides many others
who entered the other professions. In 1859
he was at the head of school in PhIladel-
phia. A few years later he established a
school at Heightstown. N. j., for ministers
children, especially the children OF mission
aries, giving them tuition free. Afterward
he was associated with Prot. F. W. Has
tings in the West Philadelphia School for
Boys. when he died. March 81, 1880, in the
S5th year of his age.
THE PRESENT PASTOR.
The fourth and present pastor is Rev. W.
H. Lester, D. D., whose ordination and in
stalIatlon took place in October, 1854. This
first and only pastoral charge of 36 years
duration has been most happy and richly
blessed of God. Revivals have been fire.
quent. Though now in the 65th year of his
life the pastors strength, it is hoped, will
endure for many years to come. All the
four pastors were married men. In August,
1854, Miss Julia E. Hand, of Bridge Hamp-
ton, N. Y, pupil of Mary Lyon and par
taking somewhat of her spirit, Joined the
present pastor in his life work. Mrs. Les
ter, though.lo an inyalid,through physic-
al infrmity, has shared with her husband
his labors, cares and joys. Their son, Rev.
W. H. Lester, Jr., the eldest of three chill
dren, is now missionary in Chilli.
The zeal of the women of the church is
worthy Of special note. In 1871 they organ
ized 1.-THE Presbyterian Foreign Missionary
Society,"" and pledged S150 annually for the
support of female foreign missionary,
which pledge has always been met. Mrs.
Mary Shaw, of North China, was the first
and on her return on account of
impaired health, Mrs. Fanny Corbitt Hays
and efficient session. The first elders were
John Mcpherson, John Maxwell, John
Waits and John Faris. To the first named
is due the honor of making one of the first
endowment gifts to Jefferson College near
the year of 1900 of about $1,000, a magnif-
cent donation for those times
Of the about 40 persons who have magni-
fed the Office of Ruling Elder ONLY ten re-
main. These all were good men and true.
AN ORIGINAL CHARACTER.
George Sutherland generally called Lit
tie George to distinguish him from another
Of same name), who was always ready of
speech, and who could express himself with
the clearness and force of a theological pro-
fessor, was regarded as a remarkable man.
1t is said stranger of an inQuisitive mind,
having heard of Mr.. S., remarked that he
would like to meet him, expressing the
belief that "he could settle the old mans
hash" After being introduced
be at once addressed him: ''Mr. Sutherland,
what do you think the Lord was doing the
day before the creation?"
every likely making hell for curious and
wicked question-askers," was the cool and
ready reply. Suffice to say that ended the
questions.
MINISTERS WIVES.
In giving the sons, the daughters are
worthy of mention at least. "As corner
stones fashioned after the similitude of
palace" they have been wrought into the
spiritual temple. No less than 10 have
married ministers, and the supply is still
good.
In the maintenance OF the Government
during our late war this congregation gave
IA men. Some were killed in battle, some
in Southern prisons, some in hospitals,
few to take their places in church and in So
,iety. E. G.