Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-12-13
DIR. WIN. 4. LESTER.
A SPLENDID TESTIMONIAL TO WORTHY
CHRISTIAN NAN.
A Fitting Recognition Of his Long Ministerial
Services BY the Prssbytery Of Wash
ing!OD, Yesterday.

The Presbyterian church at West
Alexander is one hundred and four
years old, and its pastor, Rev. VIM. d,
Lester, has now ministered to the con-
gregation for forty consecutive years.
Yesterday the Washington Presby-
terry and the congregation of the church
at West Alexander, assembled in the
large and commodious house Of worship
at that place and gave a fitting testi-
monial to the services of the distin-
guished divine who has ministered IN
interruptedly to the good people there
during this long period.
At 1870 .. m. the exercises were open
ed by voluntary from the choir. DIR.
Lester was then presented and read a
most excellent sketch Of his forty years
pastorate-also embodylng in II some
OF the early history of the celebrated
church.
During this long period Of over a GEN.
tury there have been only four installed
ministers In the church. The church
was first known by name as ''Three
| Ridges" so named from three ridges
converging at this point. The nrst
minister installed was Rev. John Brice,
the ceremony of his installation taking
place In April, 1890, In a rough, unheWn,
log house, near the site of the present
edifce. II had no pews, but
for seats, benches split from
logs we're used. Mr.. Brice preached &C.
ceptably TO the then pioneers for nine
teen years. He was succeeded by the
Rev. Joseph Stevenson in June, 1909,
who ministered to as people sixteen
years. being released in 1925. In Octo'
her, 1928, Rev John McCluskey was In
stalled as pastor, and continued as such
until April, 1854, when he was re-
leased
DIR. McCluskey was succeeded by the
present pastor, William Ii. Lester, who
was installed In October, 1854, and, as
before mentioned, has faithfully minis
tered to the spiritual wants OF this coz
Eregat ion to the present date.
AT the conclusion OF DR.. Testers
sketch Of his pastorate, Rev. DR.. j. L.
Bronson, of Washington, Pa, was intro
duced and delivered a very eulogistic
address relative TO the ministerial ser
vices of Dr. Lester, referring especially
20 the high esteem In which be was held,
not only by the members Of his congre.
CATION, but also by the Presbytery and
Synods with which he had been associ-
ated.
At the conclusion of DR.. Bronson s
address, Mr.. Truesdell, one Of the lead
ing elders, arose and read series OF
resolutions, expressive of the warmth and
love the church, session and members oil
the congregation bore for their veneer
able pastor and his most amiable wife.
By vote OF the congregation the reso'
lutions were unanimously adopted.
Mr.. Truesdell, then, on behalf OF the
congregation, presented DR.. Lester with
an elegant buffet in token OF the high
esteem in which he is held by the mem
bership. On behalf Of the ladies Of the
congregation and in remarkably neat
and appropriate address, Miss Annie
Rolstou presented Mrs. Lester with q
large, handsome crayOn portrait OF the
doctor, the work having been done by
Miss Serena GiIfillan, a West Alexander
artist.
Then followed a beautiful incident,
In which Miss Mary Barry, charming
little girl, presented Mrs. Lester with
forty roses, suppl ementing the gift with
a wel.worded address, reminding the
good minister's wife that these were the
gift Of the little boys and girls Of their
congregation, and that leach rose rep
resented year of their pastoral rela-
lions with that church"
To each OF these gifts DR.. Lester
made a warm and feeling response.
A suggestion was made by the mod
orator that each member Of the congre-
CATION come forward and shake hands
with both DR.. and Mrs. Lester, which
was readily accepted. As the large
church edifce was filed to its capacity,
il took considerable time TO 60 around,
but the event seemed to be one highly
appreciated by both minister and con-
gregatiOn.
Then came the singing OF hymn by
the choir and an address by Rev. Dr. -
5. Pomeroy, OF Fairview. In the course
Of his very entertaining and Instructive
address the Rev. Or. related a number
OF amusing incidents, much TO the graf
ifcation and merriment Of all present.
Rev. George Mcdonald, OF West Alex
ander, followed in well prepared
speech referring to his early, pleasant
relations with DR.. Lester in the church
and Sunday school and also their asso-
citations together at the West Liberty
Academy.
Interesting impromptu addresses were
also made by Rev. Latferty Greer, OF the
Forks Of wheeling Church; Rev. Drs. d..
II. Cunningham and w. Il. Cook, OF
Wheeling; w. L. Keeper aud ]. d.
Moffatoi Washington, Pa; Rev. Joseph
Waugh and VIM. Speers, members OF
the Presbytery, and winding up with
splendid and appropriate address by
Rev Coleman, of the Q. P. Church, At
West Alexander.