Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-10-12
MAHONING CHURCH
REOPENED
/ Continued from First Page
God in three persons, blessed

! pray tl dui al dutItlu, lie lJeum.
The Twilight Song Service, the full
program of which was printed in
these columns Saturday morning,
took place at 40 O'Clock and proved
to be a very inspiring feature of the
day.
At 30 O'Clock the memorial ser
vice was held After prelude. Lead
Kindly Light, hymn No. 59I was
sung. The scripture lesson was read
after which an anthem. Weary of
Earth was rendered by the choir.
Prayer was followed by bass solo,
Wien the MistS Have Cleared Away
by Mr.. Miller.
The memorial address was delivered
by Rev. Robert l. Stewart d. D., of
Lincoln University, who was former
pastor of MahOning Presbyterian
church. 1t was most able discourse
and was listened to with the keenest
interest by the large audience presentf
The text was taken from Rev. ii 10:
Yea saith the spirit that tn ey may
rest from their labor; and their works
do follow them "
After some very beautiful in
troduCtoTy remarks explanatory of
the text and showing its application
Rev. Stewart said: 1--WE are here to-
| night my friends. to do honor to the
| Of
esteemed servants of Jesus Christ
William e. Ijams and Alexander b.
Jack. The history of this time honoTed
church, in which they ministered in
succession as pastors is the record for
the most part of the silent cOngrega-
tion, larger 10y far than that which
worships here today, whose work goes
on while themselves are resting from
/ their labors. Six of the faithful pas
tors of this chnrch are numbered with
the silent congregation. Beginning
with the first their names are: John
Boyd Patterson. Robert Dunlap, David
NJ. Holiday, John W. Yeomans, Will.
lam J. Iiams and Alexander B. Jack
| am glad to note that a beautiful and
enduring tablet has been placed with.
in these walls to commemorate the
able and the eminently successful
ministry of Dr. Yoemans. This | un-
deTstand is the gift of number of
the Older members of the Cong rega-
tion, who tenderly loved him and re-
we're his memory. The beautiful tab
let of bronze which we dedicate to-
night bears the hOnoIed name of Will
lam f. Ijams and Alexander b. Jack,
whose united term of service extended
from May 20, 1865 to the 2Sth of June,
1874 Mr.. Ijims was th3 successor of
DR.. Yeomans. He came to this charge
as the licentiate of the Presbyter of
Huntington. In this house of wor-
ship about ten years after its erection
he was solemnly set apart TO the Office
of the gospel ministry and here with
the hearty enthusiasm of young man
hood he entered upon the work to
which he had been called and assign
ed. In his brief ministry extending
over n period of less than three years
the chIrah enjoyed precious season
of revival and was greatly prospered
The records of the church show that
ninety-two persons sixty seven on
confession of faith and twenty i've by
certifcate--were received into the
communion of tho church while uu-
der his care. Mr. Ijams entered upon
his ministry in this place at a time of
unusual difficulty, distraction and
strife. The cruel war, which had
stirred the feelings of men to the low
est depths and in this as in many
other communities had arrayed brother
against brother in church and society,
was drawing to close. that as yet
the great armies which defen&ed the
government had not been disbanded.
There was restless feel ing i'll the
a long continued war was apparent on
every hand and spirituality in the
church wag at a very | ebb.
In this try ing hour the voice of the
Young preacher rang out clear and
strong In the interests of righteous
ness and peace. He voiced without
fear or favor the old call which once
echoed and re-echoed among the rocks
of the wilderness of Judea: Repent,
Yo, for the Kingdom OF Heaven is at
Hand. After awhile hearts that had
long been hardened began to melt,
ears that had been heavy, dull and
almost closed to the gospel call were
opened; brethren which had long been
alienated by strife, sought each other
in brotherly hand clasp and from young
people in the Sabbath School and
from older persons in the public as
sembIage was heard the low thrilling
cry: 81 Mon and brethren. What must
we do to be saved?'
There were others. also. who at
heart perhaps we're loyal to Christ,
but as yet had never acknowledged
Him as their Savior and Master, who
under tho leadership of this young
pastor took their stand boldly on the |
Lord = side. There is one here to- |
night who with her husband stood be |
fore the pulpit with this number of |
witnesses for Christ to whom the |
memory of that pastor is very precious |
To her, acting as thu representative |
of the congregation we are all indebt- |
ed for the gift of this memorial tab.
let. Through her generous gifts and |
loving ministries in the Masters |
name she is known to US all and / |
forbear to mention her name tonight |
1 H., L., 4