Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1929-08-01
MALTA CHURCH PEOPLE
HONOR FORMER PASTOR

Rev. G.. d. Clifford, pastor of the
Malta M. E. church, and members
of his church and congregation, to
the number of something over 80 in
all, motored to Reynoldsburg, o.,
Sunday, and visited with the Rey-
noldsburg M. E. church, of which
Rev. Frank Gillian is pastor. The
visit was made on invitation from
the Reynoldsburg people, and was
intended as a surprise ON Mr.. Gill;
lan,-and it was as to the magnl-
tude of it, though someone at Rey-
noldsburg had inadvertently given
him an inkling of it by asking If
some Malta folks were not coming
up Sunday. Rev. Gillian had not,
however, known anything of the ex-
tent of the plan, and was delighted
and deeply touched when his Malta
friends marched up the aisle of his
church and greeted him. After he
had composed himself he introduced
the Sunday school superintendent
and others from the Malta church,
to his Reynoldsburg congregation,
and different ones of the latter
church to the visitors.
The church service was a great
one In addition to the sermon by
the pastor, some good music was
furnished by the Reynoldsburg
church choir, and in response to an
invitation, the Malta church choir
sang a number at the close of the
service, after appropriate remarks
had been made by Rev. G. d. Cliff
ford.
Rev. and Mrs. Clifford, the ]. n.
Barlow family, Mr. C.. B. Smith and
others had helped work up the plans
of the Malta people, arranging for
conveyances, etc, and the Reynolds
burg people had capably handled
the arrangements at their end of the
line. so that everything was well
managed A great dinner-a Won
derful feast, was spread, RESULTING
in a delightfully."- social and satisfy
ing feature Of the day. Mr.. Gill
Ian was deluged with congratula-
tions and good wishes. He was hap
by and very much touched, and said
that in his 81 years of ministerial
service such an event, with him in
the principal role, had never taken
place. Indeed it was rare and
much enjoyed event for all.
The Malta folks were invited tC
the parsonage, and here they were
welcomed by Rev. Gillian, and his
daughters Misses Harriet and Ethel
Gillian, who were more than pleas
ed to have their old Malta friends
drop in'' once more before thH
Gillian parsonage relations are
closed.
After September Mr.. Gillian
pastoral work will cease-he is at
that time retiring from the ministry
He is now past so years of age
Their plans beyond that time are
not definite. Rev. Gillian has a
son residing in California, and it
might possibly be that it will be de-
cided to go there. Mr.. Gillian does
not, it is stated, seem so robust,
since having undergone an attack OF
flu few months back.
Rev. Frank Gillian was pastor OF
the Methodist Episcopal church in
Malta five years, before going to
Reynoldsburg, and his friends back
here are not by any means confined
to the people of his own church and
congregation. He has been at Rey-
noldsburg four years.
Rev. G. d. Clifford, the present
pastor of the Malta church, was a.
! Reynoldsburg before coming to NAL
ia four years ago, so that the gath
ering Sunday of the two churches
was also a peculiarly pleasing occa-
sion to him.