The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1902-09-24

""N "i'NtSh ioi a gouuB lndu " supply
this congregation. And it was on a Sab
bath morning in November, 1888, that
many people attended services to see and
to listen for the first time to one who was
to weave choice fabric in the history of
Tionesta. During the year he received a
call from the Tionesta congregation for
full time which was finally accepted.
On June 25. 1889 he was ordained, and
installed pastor of the Presbyterian
church in Tiouesta. This was his first
and only pastorate, but the work accom-
plished by him in that length oftime cam
not be measured. His pulse beat fast for
Christ and the uplifting of humanity,
and though he had attained but little
over two score and three years, yet in
heart throbs for perisning world he
truly lived the ordinary limit of human
life as set down by the Psalmist.
Mr.. McAninrh was from the beginning
recognized as "a good man and full of the
Holy Ghost" His earnestness and sing
leness OF purpose were seen and through
out his character and work was that of a
true servantof the Lord, well rounded out
and complete. The church at once took
on new lease of life. From member
ship of 43 it rapidly grew to large mem
bership ami a deep spiritual life was
manifest in all its departments of work.
In all, l7S persons united with the church
during the l3 years pastorate. The tinan-
cial conditions began to brighten and
soon after the church became self-sup-
porting, having previous to this received
aid from the Synod of Pennsylvania.
Less than year after becoming pastor,
Mr.. McAninch gathered together a class
of boys who met in his study every
week for the study of the Word and for
prayer. This work continued to prosper
till itgrew into Christian Endeavor So
ciety in April, 1891. Here the earnest
pastor found special delight in his efforts
to develop and quicken the young peo-
pie in Christian work. In him the
young people ever found devout leader,
wise counselor and sympathetic
friend. Later, in 1892, the Junior So
ciety of Christian Endeavor was organ
lied and in this department, Mr.. Mean
inch was ever interested and ready to
help. The Sabbath School he considered
the right hand of the Chnrch, and during
his stay among Us ii grew to be the larg-
est iD the Clarion Presbytery. In this
department his zeal was unbOunded, and
his boys, or men, were we might say,
the ones for whom he labored and prayed
most earnestly. For them he wished to
live, for them he was willing to die. lie
was instrumental in organizing the
Teachers Meeting in connection with the
Sabbath School. His earnest work in
the Y. p. S. c. Il. and S. s., extended
beyond his home church and his influence
as worker in these departments was
felt throughout the State. He was called
upon to address many conventions in
Guiding State Conventions, and for the
past few years was one of the district
presidents in the Pennsylvania State S. S.
Association. In January 1898, Mr.. Nc
Aninch organized the "Men's Meeting"
and together the men of his congregation
met, one Sabbath in every month for the
study of Gods Word and for social
prayer, and eternity alone can tell the
good that has been done through these
meetings. This but briefly tells of his
work in the Tionesta congregation. In
May 1896, this congregation released
him one fourth ofhis time, in order that
he might take up the needy work at En-
deavor. Previous to this he had done
mission work in that field and a request
had been made that he become their pas
tor also. With these people he labored
with equal pleasure and delight and the
bonds Of Christion love and sympathy
were only strengthened as the years
passed by.
Mr.. McAninch was always a student,
as his choice library indicates. and he
was ever ready and willing to spend and
be spent for the cause of his blessed Mas
ter. For several years ne attended the
Moody Institute at Mortified, Mass, al
ways bringing TO his people some new
thought and inspiration. In anticipation
Of becoming better equipped for his work,
he spent few months, in the spring of
'Ol, in the Orient, visiting Egypt, Pales-
tine, and parts of Europe, travelling in
company with The Interior party. But
a fatal disease had taken hold Of his body
months before the arrangements had been
completed, but so stealthily did it do its
work that il was not discovered that any
thing ofa serious nature was causing his
distress till he reached Rome on his way