Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-02-16
Elder John Mcclellan.
In Memoriam.

The subject of this sketch, whose
death occurred at his late home in
Greensboro on the night of December
%, was for nearly sixty years a men,
Der and for fifty years a ruling elder
in the United Presbyterian church,
He was the last of the old stock, the
father of United Presbyterianism in
Greensboro. He was born in Scotland
and when a young man of twenty
seven years together with many
others emigrated to America and set
tied on farm in Greensboro. Pre-
vious to leaving Scotland he had mar
ried Miss Martha Young, who depart
ed this life in 1880. Of this union
there were born seven children. three
sons and four daughters. all of whom,
with the exception of the youngest
son still survive. Five of the chill :
dren, three sons and two daughters,
went to California many years ago,
never returned to stay. Two daugh-
ters married and settled in Green's
bOro and with the eldest Mr.. Mcclellan
after the death of his wife in 1880,
made his home, and was ever tender
ly loved and cared for to the last.
But it is of Elder McLellan's remark
able Christian life and character, and
service that wish especially to make
mention in this brief tribute to his
memory. His religion was not a
thing to be put on or off to suit the
occasion, but it was a part of his
life, yea it was his life and he lived
1T every day and all the time. One
could not be with him even for a
short time withoat feeling that he
had indeed been with Jesus, learned
of him and been filled with his spirit.
AS member of the United Presbyte-
rlan church and as an Elder he was
ever faithful and conscientious in the
discharge of every duty, being gift
ed In prayer a great, reader and stu
dent of the Bible and thus able to
speak well on aH religious subjects
he was a great help in the prayer
meeting, being "apt to teach" he was
very successful as teacher in the
Sabbath school for many years, and
being ever ready to speak a word in
season he was instrumental in lead
ing many to Christ by personal work.
Well does the writer remember beau
tiful autumn day in October 1891,
when "Uncle john came to visit us.
After dinner. having taken stroll
over the farm and through the barns
we returned to the house and before
starting for home he said to US, "Now
the Lord is blessing and prospering
you In temporal things. and YOU
ought to acknowledge him as the
Giver of it ALL" and as the next Sab
bath was communion he urged US to
give ourselves to Christ and identify
ourselves with Him by joining the
chunch which we decided to do, and /
may here say that We have ever been
thankful for that visit and it's re-
suits. simply relate this as being
characteristic of the man and his
work. During the last twelve years
| of his 4ife he was unable by reason
of failing health TO attend church ser
! vice and was obi ged also to give up
his active work as an Elder, but he
never Gost his interest In church
affairs, and through all of his sick
ness and suffering-and he was called
/ upon to endure a great deal together
with partial loss of his hearing he
never complained or lost his sublime
faith and trust in God as his loving
Heavenly Father, and could never
thank or praise Him enough for the
gift OF His Son to be his Savior,
! and at last after years of waiting
with lamp trimmed ard burning" the
summons came to eco up higher"
and as we toRether with very many
of his relatives, friends and neigh
bors. gathered at his old home on
that cold winter day, the last but cne
of the old year, to pay our last re-
spects to the memory of the departed
and to follow his mortal remains to
the distant cemetery, our hearts were
saddened by the great loss that had
come to US. never more will we have
the privilege of looking on his cheer
full face, of receiving the clinging
grasp of his hand or of listening to
his words, but o! we thank God for
the unmeasured influence of such a
life. living in comparatively humble
circumstances. not permitted to do
great things, but serving God and his
generation faithfully in the lot in
which he was placed, his life may
we'll be an inspiration for US all. and
an example for US to follow. Surely
it may be said of him. "He fought
the good fight, he finished the course,
he kept the faith"
A Friend.