Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1936-11-26


terian church at Claysville, Wash
ington county, Pennsylvania, and
David Raldridge, in the Mt. Pleasant
church. Jefferson county, Ohio. They
became elders in our church, and so
continued until God called them
home. By the voice of the church,
their sons filled their place in the
session Two of the grandsons of
Mr. Baldridge have been members
of the session, one of whom is still
with us, and one is the acting pastor
of the churches at Sharon and Cald-
we'll.
In this connection let me say that
the history of this church is an IL
lustration of the fulfillment Of Gods
covenant with households. Not in
vain has God said: II will be God
unto thee and to thy seed after
thee The fathers Of the church
were of the old Presbyterian stock,
and adhered tenaciously to the
Biblical doctrine concerning the re-
lation of baptized children to the
church of Christ, and to the prom
ise of God And, as today, we see
upon our church rolls the names OF
Stanbery, Baldridge, Finley, Price.
and others, continued in their chill
dren of the second and third gener-
alton, we instinctively adopt the
words of the Psalmist: "The mercy
Of the Lord is from everlasting to
everlasting upon them that fear him,
and his Righteousness unto chill
dren's children It is true that
l 4
| godly men are still out of the ark
Of safety. o thou God Of the cov-
enant, brine the wanderers home.
| Mr.. Plumstead was followed by
Rev. William Aiken. whose ministry
here continued from 1885 to 1912.
In 1899, the old log church was re-
moved and frame building took
its place. William Newman was
made an elder in 1910.
After Mr. Aiken's departure the
church was supplied by Rev. Ben
iamin l. Low, who remained tive
years. He was succeeded by Rev
| Mr.. Hanks, q man of great promise
whom Cod removed by the hand O
death to the church triumrhant
Mr. Dickey. and then Mr.. Fulto1
In 1919, Rev w M Ferguson
took charge of the church and sool
became it's pastor His pastora
work showed great energy and hi
sermons displayed a keenness 0
perception and a fertility of illus
: tration that were marvellous. NJ
) man ever had such authoritative
control over the church as he. | dt
? not know as it is desirable that any
man ever should have the like again
However, the church increased rap
idly in numbers and Influence dur
ing his pastorate, and now, in hi
maturer years. none Will be more
clad than he to hear that 'fhe bee
down at Deerfield" have dom
"swarming" and gone contentedly +
work in the new hive. indeed. thi
smile Of our old pastor is sugges
tive. May Deerfeld church, witt
the industry Of the bee. draw th'
truth from Gods precious word ant
find it ''sweeter than honey and th'
honey comb"
Mr.. Ferguson remained unit
l1855. when q wider field of useful
ness presented itself and the pas
toral relation was dissolved. HI
left the church with one hundred
and forty members on the ground
being the largest membership whicl
the church has ever attained.
The next minister was Rev w. NJ
Grimes, the present pastor AZ Nc
| Connelsville and Bristol and he wa
followed by Rev. Jas. Reed.
On the 18th of October, 1858. FL
der John Finley died, and in 1885
the church was again bereaved b,
the death of Elder Thomas Camp
| bell. Four elders were soon afte
chosen and ordained: David Finley
! Thomas Clements.
I It became evident that the hous'
! Of worship was unsafe. and in 1851
il was taken down and large ant
i e0mmodious building, which was re
! Gently burned. was erected Mr.
4 Reed left the field for the west il
/ 1850.
! The next few years were darl
ones in the history OF the church
The shadows of the great Civil wa
spread over the land, and its in
! auorea was net urfelt here TIL
members Of the church held widel,
| different views as TO the question:
| involved in the great conflict, and il
tho intense excitement of the times
| tho heart Of brother was hardened
against brother The church wa'
rapidly depleted by death and re
! movGls to the west, and some mem
| hors sought more congenial churcf
| homes in the neighborhood.
| Five members Of this church dice
| soldiers in the army of the United
| States I should be recreant to the
memory of my dead comrades il
| arms. should | not record their
| names. They were James Bailey
| Asa Massey, John Lavery, Joe
| Walker and James Robb
"Their bodies are dust, their goof
swords are rust. and their good
souls are with the saints, we trust. .
In 1866 Elder David Baldridge
went to his rest, and in 1868 he
| was followed by Josiah Wright.
Thus passed away the last of the
original eight members of the
church. For forty-seven years he
walked in and out before this peO-
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