Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1942-12-10


1t is difficult properly to evaluate
the life and service of Carl Patter-
son. For more than a generation,
quietly, but effectively, he Influenced
the people of our village and our
county for better living and higher
thinking. He was a safe advisor to
those who came to him in time of
trouble. His judgment was sound
and the counsel given bore the
stamp Of life lived close to the
Master.
While his mother was a Metho-
dist, very early Carl chose to fol-
low the religious faith of long an
cestry of Friends or Quakers, and
became beloved minister of record
and leader in that branch of the
Christian church. 1t was in this
calling that he could throw his
whole soul. Here he could lose him
self in his work for the advance
ment of the kingdom. One who
knew him intimately said: "He has
always felt that his ministry was
his first obligation in life. He de-
pended for his inspiration ON Di-
vine Guidance or the Inner Light as
is the Quaker faith. His sermons,
which were never prepared in ad-
vance, seemed upon striking num-
Der of occasions to meet the spirit
ual needs of those to whom they
We're addressed"
He sat at the head of the local
meeting for many years and under
his leadership, it grew in numbers
and in interest Not only was he
interested in the upbuilding of their
own meeting, but the writer, a
Methodist, does not hesitate to say
that in his own opinion, there are
few, if any, members of the Metho-.
dist church who are as vitally inter
ested in the progress of that organ
ization as was Carl Patterson.
Carl was our best authority on
the early history of Chesterhill. We
have now living only William A.
Hiatt, of Okmulgee, Okla, who
could write anything like complete
account of the beginning of our lit
tie village. Carl loved to think over
the events of those early days. He
once told the writer that on his fre-
quent walks, up and down the
streets of the village, many times
he would pause before a dwelling
and in memory review the events
he had known to occur within the
four walls of that house-the early
families that had lived there, the
and especially the deaths.
He said there was hardly a house in
in which he had not spoken on the
occasion of funeral of some loved
one. What privilege to have liv-
ed throughout a lifetime so close to
friends and neighbors and to have
shared their joys and sorrows!
We have no one to fill his place,
as one citizen expressed it, eve
have lost our anchor" Others
came and went-Carl was always
with us. Others might get into a
Carl met every situation with calm
assurance and usually found So
luton to the problem. For many
years Carl heard the Quiet Voice of
the Spirit calling him to wider
ministry. In April, 1882, obeying
this call, he and a travelling COM
panion, Mifflin Hall, set out On an
extended religious visit which led |
them to many countries of Europe, |
including England, Ireland, Ger
many, Denmark, Norway, and Hol-
and. Here, as the Master gave |
him the message, he spoke with |
such conviction that hearers realiz- !
I'd that here was a man of God who |
lived closely enough to the Father |
20 be able to hear His voice. Those
who heard him once came again.
When not attending meetings he
vas visiting among the people as
he spirit led him. Here he COM
with kindred spirits, some
lines offering words of comfort, but
It other times advising against con-
luct not suited to Christian living.
lie spent much time in England and
Ireland and SO endeared himself to
many that some who afterward Wis
ted America made the trip from
he coast to our little village to re-
lew their friendship. He returned
rom this visit in July, 1882.
Carl likewise travelled quite wide
y in our own country, especially in