The Penn's Grove record., 1893-11-10
I'll SAINT o y



fathers of Methodism in Penn's Grove
aud his head, his heart and his hand
did more unitedly TO build up the Chris
tian Church here Than any other per-
son who ever lived here. He had the
head to conduct the finances and a re.
ligious service; he had tire fervent
Christian heart to lead others TO Christ,
and his hand and purse was always
ready to help when ever called. He
was the most steadfast and warmest
friend the Pastors eveI had in Emman-
uel Church as lie was always Oh hand
at the services and gave them financial
aid from his own purse when needed.
Everybody had faith in him and believ-
ed lie was their Christian friend and
the crowded audience at his funeral in
Emmanuel Church on Wednesday
morning was an evidence of the high
esteem with which he was held by all
who knew him.
AS he believed in old Methodist sing
ing without al organ, hymn No. 1912
"I'm going home to die no More' and
''Jesus Lover of My SOUP were sung
by The choir. Rev. II. S. Norris led in
prayer and the pastor Rev. d. W. G.
McIntire read the scripture lesson.
The pastors theme for the sermon
was found in IL Timothy 4:G,7. "The
time of my departure is at hand. 1
have fought a good fight, l have finish.
ed my course, l have kept the faith"
He spoke of the principles in the life of
st. Paul and said they covered the life
Of Brother Clark, who was always
faithful, after which he read the fol.
lowing sketch of his life and the reso!u-
TONS.
JOSEPH IL. CLARK
was born December 18th, 1907. If lie
had lived five weeks and six days long
Ell lie would lave completed his ST years
in the flesh. rs it is, lie has lived beyond
the appointed years for man upon the
earth and furnishes further conlirma
ton of an observation made by the late
VIM. Summerill in his ''IIist0ry of
M~ethodism" in PENIS Grove, that Of
those converted to God in the revival
of religion that prevailed IN the first
quarter of this century, q larger proper
lion lived to cid age than their neigh.
bors, who failed 10 improve the offers
of mercy.
Bro. Clark Il u young man past %
years of age before a Methodism SER
mon had been preached in Penn's Grove,
or a class meeting had been held. AT
that age he showed no more inclina-
ton to q religious life than the aver
age young man of that day. He at.
tended the early meetings of the Meth
odists, listened with more or less inter-
est TO the preaching of those early days.
but lived without a personal experience
Of Christ until he was about ii years
old. Then under the ministry Of Rev.
John Shaw and Edward Stout a re-
viyal o 'igion prevailed during which
Il humble. Of persons were converted,
among them appears the name of Jos
eph II. Clark. 1t wa on Christmas
morning, possibly Of 1888, that he went
into the stable at an early hour Of the
morning and climbing into "a manger,
made a full surrender of himself TO
God and received evidence that he had
been adopted as a child Of God. Only
last Christmas morning he spoke Of
this in il 5 O'Clock meeting referring
to the grace then received rs u Christ
mas present that had lasted over fifty
years.
Rev, j. II. Payran has truthfully
said that il the efforts put forth that
year for the conversion of sinners. had
been rewarded by no other conversion
than this, the labors would have been
repayed many times in the valuable
services secured to the Church by the
conversion of Joseph ii. Clark.
From The time of his conversion TN.
til his death, n period of nearly 80
years. he has been actively engaged IN
Christian Work III tbs community. lie
succeeded James DENNY us onpeflh-
ten1ent Oh the sunday Hchool heId aC'
the Cove schooi house whefe many OF
the older residents received their first
religious Instructions Inns ounce he
heia iof ii number Oh years ana at no
time Since has ne ceaseu 10 n"'u solhe
position III the sunday SCHOOL, Az 'he
time OF MS oea'h lie was Teacher Vi
an admit b'o'e Glass; a"d lihtii hea''h
ana sttei'glh i"i'ed was seiuon' "pSelt'
LII 1871 ne "SS appointed c'"7S ieauei
anu heid tilat POSITION ~u'Scn"iPi.s the
dnuies Oh THAT important ONCE Win coh
sclentiOuS ldellty until death Drought