Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-15
Last Day of the Centennial Anniver-
sary Of the First Theological
Seminary in the Country
ATTENDED BY THREE THOUSAND.
Historical Facts Touching on the Work of
the Service Pastors and the
Noble Congregation.
WHAT FIVE MINUTE SPEAKERS SAID.
Prominent Visitors From Far and Near Present at
the Celebration.
IyRox A STAFF CORRESPONDENCE


from far and near travelled the dust covered
country highways yesterday to attend the
greatest event in the two DAYS centennial
anniversary of the Oldest theological
seminary on this side of the ocean. The
complete history of the old log house and all
the associations surrounding it, including
the story of the Service church, was put on
the programme for the second and last day
of the celebration, and fully 5000 people,
young and old, crowded the old 1922 brick
chuch to the doors, while the grounds were
filed with visitors who could not get in
side.
Threatening clouds obscured the morning
sky, and drops of rain began to fall shortly
before the time set for the beginning of the
early exercises, but in moment the hot sun
burst forth and filled the hearts of the ex-
pectant people with glsdness. There were
hundreds on the spot long before the services
began, and at 10 A. M. the crowd far sur
passed that Of the day previous.
OLD MEMBERS PRESENT.
It was hundred years since the first
members OF that historic congregation gath
cred under the shade of the old hills to lis
ten to the preaching of Psrson Anderson,
and wonderful changes had been wrought
by the hand of time since the last echo OF
their voices lifted in prayer had died
away. But their faces still lived in
the memory Of many old and tottering men,
bers who were present yesterday. Aged
people, with the weight of four-score and
more years resting on their shoulders, moved
knots of grandfathers and grandmothers
gathered here and there to talk over old
times and discuss the crops, the weather and
some other equally exciting topics of rural
interest
There were Numbers of visitors present
from other States. Prominent among them
were different clergymeu who have imbibed
The doctrines and principles instilled in the
hearts of the noble men who studied within
the walls of the first theological institute on
the Western continent.
PROMINENT VISITORS PRESENT.
Among those that were observed passing
through the thick crowd were: Rev. w.
s. Harper and Rev. j. n. Edie, both from
Beaver; the Rev. w. B. Barr, of New
I0ElSubOuy 4SCNs 4eOS, NoAbOuy Osy 4SSNs
Mr.. Buchanan, Morganstown; Rev. Mr..
Shafer, of Beaver; Rev. W. r. Mckee,
Rev. Alexander Young, of the Allegheny
Theological Seminary; Rev. D. S. Lirtell,
Of Pittsburg; Rev. J. D. Irons, of Musking-
0m College; Rev. John McNaughter, Rev.
Samuel Collins, Rev. Mr.. McAlweIl and
Rev. d. Y. Carson.
Prominent among the arrivals was Judge
Wickham, presiding judge of Beaver
county, who later delighted the congrega-
tion with speech, sparkling with his usual
good humor.
1t was 10 o'clock when Rev. W. J. Col |
den, pastor of the Service church, opened |
the morning services with devotional exer-
cises. Rev. d. V. Carson was introduced. |
He was pastor of Service for 25 years. 1852 |
to 1877, and gave an interesting account of
the church and congregation from 1850 to |
1890. 1.-TWO great events occurred in |
this country during the 40 years of
which L speak," he SAID. ''One was of |
grand importance to the Christian world, |
and marks an era in the annals of religion. |
1t was the national consolidation of the As |
sociated Presbytery and the Associated Re |
iormed, forming the great union called the |
United Presbyterian. The bringing to- |
gether of those two churches lives yet in
the minds of many of my hearers. The other
great event, and one which convulsed the
nation, was the Civil War. Fifty brave
brothers from this congregation went out
into the
BLOODY STRIFE OF BATTLE,
and Of those so noble souls, 13 perished on
the crimson-dyed fields of war. When
look about me to-day, and see the faces of so
many new members, am filed with joy to
know thst this grand congregation is grow
ing and growing still every year, and pros
pering in its glorious work"
The speaker touched on the various other
matters connected with the record of the
Service Church, and was followed BY Rev.
Mr.. Shaffer, Presbyterian minister OF Beaver,
who said: ''Si1ty-fve years ago 1 came to
Service. 1t was my good fortune to hear
old DR.. Anderson preach. He was the first
pastor, and he did good work for the country.
Coming here in ,the lonely wilderness, he
braved all to preach the gospel, and his
efforts were nobly rewarded"
Next on the list of those who made FIVE
minute speeches was the Rev. John Roe,
United Presbyterian minister of Canton,
who spoke Of the excellent work done by
the Service Church. Following him came
Rev. Mr.. Buchanan, Presbyterian minis
ter from West Virginia. He said: ut is
an inexpressible and excellent blessing to
lie brought up in community like this,
favored with the Scotch-Irish element. and
the religious work of the people shines with
good deeds"
Rev. ]. H. Edie, United Presbyterian
minister OF Beaver, spoke of the blessings
brought about by Rev. DR.. Anderson, while
Rev. Mr.. Irons told of the long-winded
prayers and sermons Of the olden times. He
said: 81 heard the minister take his text
from the Epistle of st. Paul once. He
divided his sermon into parts. 1t took him
all morning to finish two parts, and after
dinner he went through the remainder. I
was i'm pressed with the wonderful power of
the preacher and the enduring patience OF
the congregation"
FIVE MINUTE SPEECHES.
Rev. james Wallace, of the Eighth q. P.
Church of Pittsburg, remarked: 81 deeply
respect the great Christian spirit manifested
in the works of all the people connected
with this historical house of worship. Their
love TOR the Divine Creator and their stten-
ton to devotion has done powerful good for
ALL"
Rev. W. R. Mckee spoke next, after
which the great congregation adjourned for
two hours to partake of splendid repast set
out in the open air. Every available space
was utilized to take dinner, while Messrs.
Hood & Rannels did lively business at
their restaurant put up temporarily on the
grounds During the interim many wan
dered through the old graveyard, admiring
the curious old tombstones.
Briers and weeds were moved down, and
the neat looks of the grounds showed the
work of the tasteful hands that decorated
- r A. ,rotf foe