Middletown transcript., 1894-04-07

found and maintain these theological, coll
giate and academic institutions which col
stitute so much of her glory and OF ht
strength. DR.. Patton was interested i'll tn
feature of the work, and more especially
that line of effort which enabled candidate
in the ministry to avail themselves of tn
advantages of these educational institutions
Think what the Board of Ministerial Edu
cation is doing to-day. 1t has under ii
care 429 students in theological seminaries
All in colleges and % in preparatory schools
More than one-half of the present working
force in the ministry has been aided by thi
Board. 1t has we'll been called "the righ
arm of the church."
several churches in the north western par
of Philadelphia, and shortly after the cessa
ton of his active relations with the Board
Of Education, he became the pastor o the
Logan Square Presbyterian Church, and
am under the impression that he was the
beloved pastor of that flock for over seven
years. The location of that church was an
illustration of the great mistaksrsof not
having exactly the right site. Instead OF
buying lot on Logan Square, the congret
CATION bought lot one block from Logan
Square, and named the new enterprise the
Logan Square Church. fully believe that
if DR.. Patton had been one of the original
members of the church, he would have
exerted all his influence in favor of the
Logan Square site, and the West Arch Stree
Church would never have been built. Dur
ing DR.. Patton's pastorate this church at
tanned the zenith of her prosperity. The
Doctor attracted strangers to him, and his
unusually gifted and talented wife was
exceedingly influential in the Sunday
School, teaching very large adult Bible
class.
1t is during this pastorate that our family
became interested i'll the Logan Square
Church. My mother placed her parlor at
the disposal Of the ladies whenever they
desired to meet together and sew for coming
church fairs. My sisters, one brother and
myself attended the Sunday School. My
eldest sister was a member of Mrs. Patton's
class, while my brother and 1 were in the
infant school. Sometimes we were taken
down stairs into the ''big school room" to
hear DR.. Patton catechise the children, and
| remember that when he came to the def
milton Of "God," he would tell us about the
marked and unusual circumstances under
which this definition was formulated. l
can now hear him, in his pleasant manner,
asking for the singing of a familiar hymn
and suggesting Children of the Heavenly
King" with the chorus, "Let us Walk in
the Light" and with this request l also
recall the venerated Dr. Richard Newton,
'f the Church Of the Epiphany,
who preached to children once a month
md who frequently would ask the congre-
CATION to sing the last hymn to the chorus:
Well be there. Well be there,
Palms of victory, crowns Of glory,
We shall wear
In that beautiful land above
But we infant scholars were happiest
when we had DR.. Patton "all to ourselves"
His presence was always so bright, so rad
ant, so cheerful and so sunny, that we all
owed to have him address us. He was so
ond of children and on one of his visits he
Isked US if we could give passage of
cripture showing the love of Jesus for
title children. and Immediately began to
ay. when our Lord was on earth they
brought unto Him little children that He
hould touch them, and His disciples re-
'uked those that brought them, but when
esus saw it, He was much displeased, and
aid unto them, Suffer the little children
o come unto me, and forbid them not; for
# such is the Kingdom of God" And he |
ook them up in his arms, put his hands |
lpon them and blessed them," and felt |
IMPLY rewarded for my little grafton when |
he Doctor smiled his approval. On another
occasion he asked us question, which is of
peculiar interest now, concerning the con-
cious existence of the soul after its de- |
'arture from the body, and requested us to |
i've if possible the words OF Jesus in sup
'ort of this belief. Immediately one of the |
iris quoted the words of our Saviour
poken on the cross to the repentant male
actor: Verify I say unto thee, To-day |
halt thou be with me in paradise" "Yes,'
he Doctor replied, ITO be absent from the |
'ody is to be present with the Lord"
Doctor Patton's influence upon the young
nen of this church was very marked and |
many of them have become prominent men
n Philadelphia. Mr. Robert s. Lindsay
for his artistic and literary
astes; Mr.. William Wood. the successful |
and Mr.. Joseph L. Caven,
ogether with the Doctors honored son.
Woodbridge, conspicuous both for their
BUSINESS ability. and for the high integrity
If their lives of public service, are some of |
he young men on whom the Doctor exerted |
lis influence for good.
Some years after the Doctors pastorate
# this congregation ceased, the church |
'uilding was sold to the Reformed Presby-
erian Church, and the members of the
1oSaH Cquore ShuICu are HOW 10 Oe IOund |
mostly in the West Arch Street PRESBYTERIAN
,hurch, in the Alexander, and in the
)livet Churches, where they are still doing
ood work for the Master.
In October, 1865. DR.. Patton was installed
'astor of the Forest Church of Middletown.
Delaware, and for almost fifteen years he
ninistered to the spiritual needs of this
'eople. When he came here he was begin
ling to discern the limits of his prospective
sefulness, and he freely stated that he did
lot think that his ministerial efficiency
would exceed five years; but contrary to |
ia annrahansinns his health urns Ga - L