Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-11-24
4 MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY.
Rev W. H. Fouke in The Evangelical

. III SlN JNuNi oOh Ncahtls III
what is now West Virginia, Oct. 80,
1851. Because of its proximity to Har-
/ risburg, being about 100 miles away, |
conceived the idea of spending my sew
( entieth birthday in my birthplace and
preaching in the Methodist Episcopal
church, which stands on the lot where
the house stood in which | first saw
I the light of day. In order 10 do this,
| | communicated with Miss Sarah
/ Shaner, my cousin and a member of
/ this church, and her pastor, Rev. ]. A.
! GroSe, made an appointment for me
/ the forenoon of Oct. Both last In or
der TO do this he had to change the ap-
pOintment, which was for Sunday nigh
TO Sunday morning and secure a sub.
stitute for his morning appointment, in
order that he might be present at the
! service with me, which courtesy |
greatly appreciated 1t was somewhat
embarrassing to me when the time
/ came TO preach inaSmuch as so much
of my introduction had needs be of a
/ personal character, TO explain the
object of my coming. But my recep-
ton was so kindly and quite number
of friends whose parents knew my
parents were present, that the embar-
rassment was not for long. The Lord
blessed mis- word and the congregation
seemed helped BY what was said.
In order TO understand the full sig
nihcance Of the day to me, it is need
full to give the reader this little his
tory. In the year 1854 my father, mo-
ther, older brother Henry, who was
fourteen years my senior, left Shep-
I hRrdGfnNrn for
two of my fathers brothers had pre-
vlousiy gone. In 1883 my father died
in Mt. Morris and was buried there
After his death, my mothers heart
turned 10 her old home and in 1889,
taking my little brother, who was born
in Illinois, and myself, went back to
Shepherdstown, where her mother and
two brothers and a sister resided. We
left my older brother in the West,
who, while teaching school, prepared
himself to practice law. While in Vir-
ginia, We attended church and Sunday
school in this church. We remained
in the East until the breaking out of
the Civil War, when we returned West
my brother meanwhile having been ad-
mitted 70 the bar had established him
self in his profession and we lived
with him in Dixon, ILL.,, from 1861 to
1865. or during the war.
Aside from my own satisfaction TO
crafty a sentiment, had other objects
in view of the church of Christ. 1t was
| by the means of the church my mother
! was converted and to which she at
tached herself, and it was the grace re,
ceived by means of the church that sus-
! tanned her in all her after years in the
| trying experiences through which she
was cal ed to pass, and secondly to
eXait the Christ, through whose media
ton mothers prayers were answer
| ed In behalf of hayward, wilful boy
! and he was saved and called into
the ministry of the Woc |. Ii was
delight to me to pay tribute to nv
mothers faith and devotion in the
place she once worshiped and exalt
the Christ in whom she trusted and BY
whose grace she was sustained and I
was saved.
! during the offertory, in the morning
service, Miss Florence Hoffman, of
HtXon. ILL, who is instructor musif
in the normal school, sang with much
expression, "The Lord Is my Shep-
herd which led ME during the sermon
10 remark that the sweet song should
be most precious to those who can
claim II, especially in Shepherdstown,
which is Shepherds town, and in think
ing of II since, | am sure that can
adopt the psalm, as it expresses the
loving care OF kindly shepherd, over
a sometime Strayng sheep, whose life
began in Shephcrdstown, ami has
continued with goodness and mercy
following, through seventy years.
The editor of the Shepherdstown
Register and the president of the State
normal school, located in Shepherds
town, and other prominent citizens not
connectoS with the church, honored us
with their presence. 1t was a great
day for me and one that will long live
in my memory.
In me afternoon, ! took the train for
.tanpcF. MI. where had an engage.
ment 10 reach. | went over p.;i
OF the route that our family took when
they went West in 1854 and which nv
mother, my little brother and | TOOK
when we went back 20 illinois in 1861
Brother George G. French OF the Han
COCK church met me at the station ana
TOOK me to motel where had supper
In the evening | was greeted py a
churcn ful OF people, VINO listened
most attentiveiy to lie word. 1t was my
hrst visit TO TINS new charge and whlIr
! had noted the progress of the work
IN the papers and was led to expect
much by way of attendance, my ex-
pec.atIonS were more than met. The
PASTOR, broher &. =. Loyer, was IN
Johannesburg assisting Brother Ken
ner, our pastor, IN an evangelstlc cam
paign.
Ii was after ! had returned to Har-
risburg that | was made to realize the
tuil Significance OF reaching the Bible
hmll oil human life, for found on m,
desk tine basket Of delightful tru,,