Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-10-22
COMING NOTABLE EVENT.
The Fifteenth Anniversary Of the
Third Presbyterian Church
TO BE OBSERVED ON THURSDAY
AFTER NEXT-THE EXERCISES
WILL INCLUDE SOME RARE
MUSIC AND INTERESTING ADJ
DRESSEiS-A SHORT HISTORI-
CAL SKETCH OF THE CHURCH.

DaEOSES-A S1ORI HISIORI-
CAL SKETCH OF THE CHURCH.
The members of the Third Presbyter-
| ian congregation are making elaborate
arrangements to observe the fiftieth an
niversary of the church on Thursday
evening, November I'd.
The exercises for the occasion will
consist OF special music under the di-
rection of the choir and appropriate
greetings from various denominations.
Brief addresses will be made by Rev.
N. S. Thomas in behalf of the minis
terial union of the city and vicinity:
Rev. DR.. ID. A. Cunningham and Rev.
Joseph Spears. in behalf of the Pres
byterians of Wheeling; Rev. DR.. Les
ter, of West Alexander, in behalf of the
Washington Presbytery; Rev. DR.. j. l..
Sooy, in behalf of the Methodists of
Wheeling, and Rev. j. A. Donahey, in
behalf of the Ohio Presbyterians. Rev.
j. Fl. Littell, pastor of the First Uni
ted Presbyterian Church, will read the
Scriptures, and Rev. C. NJ. Oliohant,
pastor of the First Christian Church;
Rev. DR.. Samuel Schwarm, pastor of
the English Lutheran Church, and Rev.
Martin Buck. pastor of the Baptist
Church, will take part in the pro-
gramme.
On the following Sunday there will be
| special services in honor Of the occa-
sion. In the morning the pastor, Rev.
R. R. Bigger Phi. D., will preach an
| appropriate sermon and some choice
| selections will be rendered by the
| choir. At the session of Sunday school
in the afternoon. addresses will be
made by Judge G.. l.. Cranmer, Frank
Bowers and John McLain. In the even
ing there will be remarks by Joseph
| Dudley, representing the eldership of
| the church; Charles Jones. represent
| ing the trustees; Miss Louise thinner,
representing the Christian Endeavor
| Society, and Isadore Fulton, represent
! ing the Sunday school, Mrs. William
Hall will read paper on the women
of the congregation, and Rev. Bigger
will give an early sketch Of the church.
A chorus of fifty children, each repre-
| senting a year Of the history of the
church, will be special feature Of the
evening service. The programme in
detail is in charge of the officers.
About five hundred personal invita-
tions will be issued for the affair.
which will be notable in every partic-
ular The interior of the handsome
and spacious edifce will be attractive
| ly decorated for the celebration. The
church now possesses a large member
| ship, having rapidly grown since it was
organized and some excellent work is
| being ACCOMPLISHED in the various de-
| partments. Following is an account OF
the early days of the church:
THE ORGANIZATION.
On Friday afternoon, November Cd,
| 1S49, in the little school house of Boggs'
| run, little band of Presbyterians met
with a committee from the Presbytery
of Washington, consisting OF the Rev.
Henry r. Weed, D. d.. and the Rev.
Cyrus Dickson, d. D.. for the purpose
Of organizing church to be located in
Ritchietown, at that time a suburb OF
Wheeling. One year previous to this a
Sabbath school had been organized by
Mr.. Samuel OFT, then a member of the
First Presbyterian Church Of this city.
1t first met in the basement Of Mr.. Otis
house, now the residence of Mr.. Joseph
Seybold, 1902 Water street. But upon
the organization of the Second Presby-
terrain Church, the Sabbath school met
in the school house, but was not off,
cially connected with the church until
the congregation secured a building OF
its own. Then it became a part OF the
church.
The new church at first consisted OF
only fourteen members, who were re-
ceived as follows: From the First
Presbyterian Church of Wheeling, An
drew Hall, Duncan Campbell, Margaret
Campbell, Hiram Martin, Elizabeth
Martin and Mary Gaviston from the
Reformed Presbyterian Church. of
Three Ridges, Pa. Rosanna Harris:
from the Forks of Wheeling Church.
Thomas McCombs and Elizabeth Nc
Combs, his wife. On examination.
George Blake, Grace Blake. William
Little, Delilah Little and Sarah His
man.
Andrew Hall was the first ruling ell
der of the new organization. and re-
NAMED a faithful officers until death
opened the door for him to enter the
church above in the year 1864. Mr..
Hall not only was careful TO guard the
spiritual interests of the church, but
he contributed literally to IT mater
lally Wnen, In the year 1851, the first
brick building was erected, he, being a
building contractor by trade. was given
the contract to erect the building, and
he donated nearly all OF the required
material
1t Is interesting to note that during
the last fifty years the Hall family has
been prominently identified with the
life and growth Of this church, and that
it Is still well represented in the list Of
members and workers.
On the same day Of Mr.. Halls cleo
ton to the eldership. Mr. Thomas Nc.
Combs was also elected to this Office.
He continued to be an efficient officer
until he moved from the bounds OF the
congregation in 1855.
To watch over the financial affairs
OF this young and struggling church,
Mr. George Blake and Mr.. Hiram Mar
tin were elected as the first board OF
trustees Of the Third Presbyterian
Church. Such in brief is the story OF
the organization.
EARLY DAYS.
Very few people who are now living
can realize what great changes have
taken place in this part or the city