Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-04-09
[For THE HERALD.

HEDQEsvILLE.-Our Methodist
friends have churches in our town, 2
white and colored their several con-
ferences have assigned pastor TO each
church or congregation, and the peo-
pie appear to be well pleased. Our
Presbyterian friends, however, are
not so fortunate as they have been de-
prived the privilege of having SER
vices of that church for the past four
months. which is so much out of line
with the previous arrangements that
the members and friends of that
church (about 80 in number) who re
side in or contiguous to the town feel
severely aggrieved. Rev. Lewis F.
Wilson preached for these people ev.
cry two week for 30 years; during
these years he also preached at Fall.
ing Waters, Tuscarora and Toma.
hawk. During all those years he at
tended the Sunday-Schools, prayer
meetings, visited the sick and affict-
ed and was Pastor indeed to the peo-
pie at all of those places, until worn
down from constant toll he was COM
PEELED to resign the work that he in a
great measure had founded, nursed
and loved through all those years, to
the care of another. Rev. VIM.
Downey succeeded Mr.. Wilson and re-
manned in charge about two years,
when he resigned and Rev. Brown
was called to fill the vacancy. Mr..
B. remained two years and resigned,
he was succeeded by Rev. Gilmore
who remained here IL years, he was
faithful to his charge, keeping up the
programme so far as preaching as had
been adopted by w. Wilson until
physical disability compelled him to
relinguish the charge to another. The
congregation was then without a pas
tor for about IS months, when a call
was given Rev. Engle, who accepted
and took charge of the work in May,
81. His acceptance elected expires.
sions Ofgeneral qualification. All sup
posed the services would be conduct
ed as usual, but at time when none
suspected it was announced that there
/ would be no more services of the
! Presbyterian church in Hedgesville
a clap of thunder from a cloudless sky
could not have been more surprising
/ to the ear than was this announce.
ment. Then began inquiries as to the
cause of this sudden change from an
established custom of more than fifty
years. In answer to these inquiries il
was intimated that the pastor of the
! NJ. E. Church, South, in whose church
the Presbyterians have been worship
ing for the past 20 years or more, OBJ
jected to their occupancy Of his pull
/ pit. This, however, is denied by the
members of the NJ. E. Church, South,
and their denial appears to have some
/ foundation. When it became gener-
ally known that Presbyterian ser.
vices would be suspended entirely al
this place, the members and friends
of that church about So iD number, q
large majority of whom have no con.
veyance to go elsewhere to church
joined in petition TO the pastor and
session of Falling Waters Church to
give them sevices in Hedgesville not
less than once in two weeks. This
petition was denied in a letter more
verbose than logical, the petitioners
seemed to regard the rejection OF
their petition as an insult added to
injury and in the future will have t.
be content to wander to and fro as q
flock without a Shepherd. G.