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

IL MEMORIAM.
1t was Hawthorne who wrote: mo
man who needs a monument ever ought
TO have one." From that s. we're sentence
there may be caught the significance of
this memorial which is written as a uni
versal expression of those who feel them
selves debtors to the dead, and OF those
who have realized the worth, the beauty
ofa vanished life. He who was prince
among us by reason ofa strong, rich ma
ture, by the range of his abilities, by the
devotion with which he gave himself to
God and humanity, has name imprint
ed in the annals OF the church, and in the
memories of thousands. To remem-
brance like this memorial printed on
costliest parchment adds nothing. Rev.
j. V. McAninch would be neither unhon-
ored nor forgotten among those who
knew him, though but a passing notice
were made concerning his s"going home" ."
His works praise him, and the tender
outreach of many hearts is toward him
as we publish this memorial. And yet,
Just because he has obtained such good
report, Just because his commanding per-
sonality is woven into the hearts and
lives of all who knew him, just because
the earth and the kingdom here below
are the poorer for his having left us, 1t is
fitting that our esteem manifest itself in a
proper manner. Needing no memorial,
he deserves one.
The worlds applause halls the genius
Of the warrior, the statesman, the scholar,
but let more reverent homage be paid
those who have been moved 10 lay rare
qualities of mind upon the altar OF sacred
service and sacrifice. He who was so
lately one of us, was one of those indiviG-
uals which are exceptional in the Christ
ian circle, because of peculiar virtues
and endowments. Men such as he can
not be mustered in regiments; they are
too few. OF beautiful disposition, clothed
with uncommon capacities, surrendered
to his Lords use, he stands in the front
rank of those whom we should delight to
honor.
John Valentine McAninch was the
Youngest son of Lewis and Jennie Myers
McAninch, and was born on farm near
Callensburg, April u, 1859. His ancestors
for generations were honest tillers OF the
soil, who lived in closest touch with God
and nature, and from whom he received
moral strength, intellectual vigor and
those fine mental qualities which he pos
sessed. His early life did not differ ma
terially from other boys, but he was for
tunate in having a father who kept in
touch with the mental training OF his
sons and daughters, helping them
throughout their public school life with
their studies, while the gentle mother
added strength and beauty in the forma-
ton of noble characters, in her sympa-
thetic devotion as wife aud mother.
At an early age he entered the Rimers-
burg Academy, thus qualifying himself
as a teacher, and began the battle OF life
for himself at the age of IL. For few
years he taught with marked sue
cess in the public schools of Clarion
county with the end in view of becoming
a physician, but in December, 1878, while
no special religious meetings were being
held he was wonderfully convicted as a
sinner before God, and after almost
weeks struggle he was happily convert
ed in the school-house in which he was
teaching at Blair's Corners, and this glo-
rious event changed the trend and
thought Of his after life. lie soon after
united with the Presbyterian church at
Curlsyille, with which his parents were
connected, under the pastorate of Rev. j..
NJ. McCurdy, d. D. His was a Pauline
conversion, and his was Pauline Chris
tianity that manifested fself in all his
words and works, to the close Of his life.
In September, 1881. he entered Wash
ington aud Jefferson college as Fresh
man. Devotlng himself with energy to
his studies, he soon attracted the atten-
ton of the faculty who recognized in him
a Young man of unusual ability and
strength of character. Circumstances
making it necessary for him to support
himself while at college, he taught to Sc
cure means by which he could finish his
collegiate course aud did 50 in June, 1856.
In October Of the same year he became a
student of the Western Theologi,a Semi
nary in Allegheny, Pa, again teaching
during his vacations, from where he
graduated with honors in April, lss9.
During his senior year at tue Seminary
he was recommended to tie Tionesta
Presbyterian church by the President Of
the Seminary, to whom Mr.. a. B. Kelly