Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-13
Harriet M. Crangle, Washington, Pa;

Harriet M. Crangle, Washington, Pa;
Mrs. Jausar, Elkins, Md; F. A. Rus
sell, Sistersville; s. T. Forsythe, Sis
tersville.
With few exceptions, the visitors
were all formerly connected with
the Second Presbyterian church. S. T.
Forsythe, Of Sistersville, who was
present, is with Rev. Edgar Woods, Of
Charlottesville Va, the only remaining
charter members Of the church. Rev.
Mr. Woods wrote a letter stating that,
owing to his advanced age and failing
health, he was unable to make the trip.
Also among the visitors present was
Miss Margaret C. Dickson, of Phila
delphia, VINO is daughter of the first
pastor of the Second church
IN THE EVENING
the church was filled and chairs were
placed in the aisles to accommodate
the people. The service was particu-
larly of an interesting character The
programme included some excellent
music by the cLcir and severa. pleas
ing solos. Prayer was offered by Rev.
d. Cunningham. An interesting pa
ger on the history of the church was
read by the pastor, Rev. Joseph opeers.
Rev. Mr. Speers, in the course OF his
remarks, paid a splendid tribute to the
\ character and life of the late Rev. DR..
VIM. H. Cooke, his predecessor as pas
tor of the Second church, and referred
to the fact that Lieut.. John Doddridge,
who fought under the Stars and Stripes
at Manila, was member OF the
church
REV. N. S. THOMAS,
rector of st. Matthews P. E. church,
made an address upon the appropriate
topic of Christian Unity" He spoke
of the progress of denominations in
late years towards unity, and exr
pressed his satisfaction of the results
in this direction. He made plain,
however, the distinction between
church unity and church uniformity,
and argued that the one was contrary
to the principle of the other
In unity, churches and denomina-
lions worked together for the same
great common purpose but all the mis-
takes and prosecutions between the
various branches of the church in the
past had risen through the efforts of
one branch or denomination to compel
others to conform to its will. Thus
it was that the Puritans came
across the sea to find a home in the
New World, away from the persecu-
tions Of the English church. And the
Puritans in turn had banished from
their own colonies those who would
not conform to their belief. AS men
are different, SO churches must be diff
ferent, and differences must exist by
which a common unity is secured. By
paying no attention to the differences
of churches they had been brought
closer together. Rev. Mr. Thomas
Stoke to some extent of the causes
that had operated to make church
denominations more tolerant and had
been the means Of bringing them into
a closer union.
Following the rector of ST Matthews
REV. JAMES D. MOFFAT,
the distinguished president of Washing
ton and Jefferson college, and former
pastor of the Second Presbyterian church,
made an address, which was character
lied by clearness of thought and unusual
force of statement. Rev. Mr.. Moffat an
nounced that he had prepared no address
for the occasion, and proceeded to speak
recollections of the pastors elders and
members of the church. He had known
all the pastors and the elders except one.
He mentioned some of the special charac-
teristics and abilities of each person and
paid a high compliment to the memory OF
the late Rev. DR.. Cooke who was remem-
bered for his fine scolarsnip and deep
knowledge of matters pertaining to the
ology, his calm and unfailing judgment,
for his noble qualities of character and
for the warm sympathies he possessed
for human kind President Moffat also
spoke of his recollections of his connec-
ton with the church and related, in an
amusing way, some of the difficulties he
encountered in assuming the pastorate of
the Second church, when his father was