Accepting the latter he was in the same year ordained and installed as their pastor. Here he labored faithfully and successfully, being the means in his Master's hands of turning many from the way of sin and death to the safe and narrow way of light and life, raising them from an organization struggling for an existence into a large and influential congregation. But whilst laboring here with such encouraging success, and so many manifestations of his Master's approval, designing men actuated by selfish and unholy motives, finding that he would not be influenced by their counsel and would fearlessly and boldly proclaim the whole counsel of God, stirred up divisions among those who heretofore had dwelt together in unity and love. Of the many days of weariness and sadness, of the many nights of anxious care and sorrow they caused him are known only to Him who watches with jealous care any indignity offered to the least of his disciples. Offences must needs come, but woe to them by whom they come, for it were better that a mill-stone were fastened around their necks and it cast into the sea than that they should offend one of these little ones. Owing to these difficulties his pastoral relation with this congregation was dissolved in the year 1849. In the same year he received a call from Bethel, Westmoreland County, Pa., in connection with Beulah in the same county; the latter congregation he had organized, and from a score of members at its organization is now one of the most influential in the Presbytery. Accepting this charge he was installed, in 1850, by the Presbytery of Blairsville to which he then belonged. In 1854 his connection with Bethel was dissolved, and he continued to preach at Beulah and Latrobe. At the latter place he preached the first sermon ever delivered in the borough, and established a flourishing vacancy with whom he continued to labor until the year 1857 when he received and accepted a call from the Associate Reformed Congregation of Blairsville, Indiana County, Pa., to which place he removed in the spring of 1858. After the union of the Associate Reformed and Associate Churches he took charge of Conemaugh Congregation in connection with Blairsville, preaching one-half of his time at each place. This relation continued until the great Master of assemblies called him above. Of his labors through the vacancies under the care of the various Presbyteries to which he belonged we need scarcely add our testimony. "Though dead he still speaketh," and his record is on high. We have every reason to believe that his labors were not in vain, and that for all he done and suffered for the sake of his Master here he will receive an abundant reward hereafter, and that many souls shall be given him as his hire which shall be as stars in his crown of rejoicing when the sun has grown dim with age, and the moon has withdrawn its light, when the accuser and the accused, the oppressor and the oppressed shall stand before the bar of that Judge whose decisions are final and from which there will be no appeal, and who will render unto every one according to the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or whether they be evil. God grant that those who wronged him here, and who will see him no more until they meet at the judgment-seat of Christ, may be abundantly prepared to do so in peace, with joy and gladness, and not with shame and confusion of face. Until near sixty years of age he enjoyed remarkably good health, having scarcely ever been confined to his room with sickness of any kind. About this period, however, he was attacked with something like neuralgia of the stomach, and disease of the liver, from which he suffered intensely, the attacks becoming more and more frequent until their fatal termination. About three weeks before his death his beloved wife, his long and faithful partner in life and sharer of all his joys and sorrows, was removed by death. This, although borne with Christian resignation and firmness, bore heavily upon him. He felt, although surrounded with loving friends and all earthly comforts that he could desire, that a link was broken, a tie severed, a void created that nothing earthly could fill, and which would continue until reunited above. On the Sabbath preceding his last illness he held the communion in Blairsville, and it was observed that he pressed with much more than usual earnestness upon those who had made a profession of religion the necessity of letting their light so shine and of working while it was yet day, and feelingly referred to the possibility that it might be the last time that some of them would surround the table of the Lord, until they sat down together in the kingdom above. To those yet in the world he strongly appealed, warning them of the danger of delay, of the uncertainty of life and the nearness and certainty of death, urged them to lay hold on the only hope set before them before it was forever too late, and they be compelled to take up the lamentation: "The harvest is passed, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." On the following Monday he again preached, and again renewed his appeal to the congregation to increased exertions and diligence in the work of the Lord, or he might suddenly remove the candle-stick from their midst. He closed the book and raising his hands prayed that the blessing of Jacob's God might rest upon them forever. It was destined to be his last appeal, although at that time in the enjoyment of more than usual good health. Contrary to his invariable custom he made no announcement as to when he would be with them again. His work appeared to be finished, and he was about to render up an account of his stewardship. On the following day (Tuesday) he complained of severe pains, accompanied with considerable fever, which was attributed to a bad cold, but which refused to yield to medical treatment. On Thursday he felt so much improved that he concluded to start to assist a brother (Rev. Mr. Given) at "Logan's Ferry." On arriving, however, at his son-in-law's, Dr. Marchand's, in Jacksonville, Westmoreland County, Pa., he was taken suddenly and violently ill, and continued to sink rapidly until the following Monday, when he fell asleep in Jesus, in the joyful, nay, the triumphant hope of a glorious immortality. Although at intervals suffering the most excruciating pain he conversed freely and cheerfully with all who approached him, beseeching them to serve God aright, and when racked with pain and unable to speak he would point upward. When asked of his hope in Christ he replied, "That he would not give his interest in him for ten thousand worlds." say as a Queen of England once had: He remarked that he could not of time," for he had a longing desire to depart and be with Christ, which Millions of money for an inch was far better. He would frequently exclaim: "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." Why tarry the wheels of his chariot, and why is he so long in coming?" O death, where is thy sting! O grave, where is thy victory!" His was a glorious and triumphant death, one that none but a Christian can die. He was a true soldier of the cross, and now having fought his last battle he was about to lay down the armor and the cross, and take up the palm of victory and the crown of eternal life. As he remarked to a friend that stood by, "His days of struggling and warfare were now over, and he was going to the great roll-call on high." As we gazed on that soldier of Jesus fearlessly, nay, cheerfully, entering the dark valley of the shadow of death, gated world to behold that dying saint." we longed for a congreBlairsville for interment in the Blairsville cemetery. The funeral service His remains were brought to was conducted in his own church, some six or eight ministers assisting. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. James Prestley, D.D., of Pittsburg, and will long be remembered as one of unusual interest and power. In a lot selected by himself a few weeks before his death, and alongside of his beloved wife, his mortal part now lies crumbling into its native 66 66 dust. There let them sleep, sweetly, sweetly sleep until the last repentant ginger has been gathered into the fold of God, until the last rays of the last setting sun shall dimly twinkle on the watch-tower of time, and time is merged into eternity. "For we know that when Christ who is our life shall appear they also shall appear with him in glory." KERR, PETER-The son of Robert and Sarah Kerr, was born in Smith Township. Belmont County, Ohio, February 29, 1834. He was educated at Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio, and studied Theology in the Seminary of the United Presbyterian Church, Allegheny City, Pa. He was licensed by Conemaugh Presbytery in the spring of 1861, and soon after entered upon his calling, evincing discriminating powers of mind, with fine rhetorical powers and a heart filled with love for Christ and his cause. During the summer of 1862 he was laboring in the bounds of Chicago Presbytery, in the State of Wisconsin, when the President of the United States made another call for troops to aid in suppressing the slave-holders' rebellion, when he volunteered as a soldier in the Twenty-Eighth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, desiring to serve the cause of his country and promote the scriptural interests of the soldiers. He passed through the hardships of Grant's command down to Vicksburg, in the swamps of the Yazoo took typhoid fever, partially recovered, was sent home, when he was seized by camp diarrhea, of which he died May 21, 1863. "He Rev. D. F. REID, of New Athens, Ohio, spoke of him thus:—' was one of our best young men, a good student, and a good preacher, and a highly successful and reliable phonographer." MCCALL, JOHN A.-The son of John and Elizabeth McCall, was born in New Athens, Ohio, February 23, 1834. He was educated at Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio, graduating in the autumn of 1859, and studied theology in the Seminary at Xenia, Ohio. He was licensed by Wheeling Presbytery in the spring of 1862, and ordained by Xenia Presbytery in the spring of 1863, and had just entered upon his labors at Cedarville, Ohio, with the most encouraging prospect of usefulness, and this has been a severe blow upon his congregation, and in consequence of it they are very deeply affected. The young people, especially, to whom during that short period of his labors among them he had been much endeared, gave unmistakable signs of sorrow. He was attacked with bilious fever on Saturday, the 15th, and died on Tuesday morning, 25th of August, 1863. On the same afternoon some religious exercises were held at the house, preparatory to the removal of his body to his native place, in Harrison County, Ohio. Though he labored under derangement of mind during the last days of his illness, it appears that previous to this he had anticipated death, and expressed his desire to be buried beside his father, a most worthy man and sincere Christian, who died about four years before his son. He was married in the spring of 1863 to Miss S. M. Hammond, who survives him. Rev. WILLIAM WISHART, of New Athens, Ohio, writes of him as follows:-" Mr. McCall pursued nearly his entire college course under my instructions. I considered him very respectable in point of talent, and more than ordinary in zeal and devotion. As a preacher he was clear and instructive, and eminently characterized by his earnestness. The following is the opinion of Rev. Dr. Beveridge, with whom he studied theology, in an obituary notice soon after his death: 'He was a young man of more than ordinary talent, and was remarkable for his sober and studious habits. What, too, was very remarkable in his case, was that the congregation of Cedarville had set their heart upon him as their future pastor before he had received license, and he had been called and accepted their call before he had completed his course of study at the Seminary.' MCCRACKEN, JOHN STEELE-Was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, April 25, 1804.* His family came from Scotland and were of the race of pioneers, Henry McCracken, his grandfather, falling by Indian treachery in the early feuds. Through his mother, Martha Wilson, he was a lineal descendant (according to genealogical record preserved by the late Rev. Dr. Wilson) of one of the Scotch Commissioners at the Assembly of Westminster divines. His father, John McCracken, moved, in 1823, to the vicinity of Xenia, Ohio, where until his death he filled the office of Ruling Elder in the First Church, now under the pastoral care of Rev. Dr. Harper. The eldest son, Samuel, devoting himself to the ministry, John Steele remained at home till past his early manhood, conducting the operations of the farm for the support of his sisters and aged parents. Not till his thirtieth year was he enabled to enter fully upon the acquirement of the knowledge for which he had long thirsted. At that time appropriating for his education the sum of two hundred and sixty dollars, he packed up his linen in a couple of handkerchiefs, (for we had no carpet-sacks at that day,) and set out on foot for Oxford, Ohio, in the fall of 1833, when he entered as a student of the preparatory department of Miami University. The sum of two hundred and sixty dollars would seem a small amount for one to depend upon to carry him through a course of five years' instruction in a college. But such was the amount of funds which Mr. McCracken had when he commenced his studies at Oxford, and by strict economy, close application, and occasionally leaving the institution and teaching a school for three months, he was enabled to complete his literary course, and graduated in the fall of 1838. Now, I am not mistaken as to the amount of available means which he possessed at the time he went to Oxford, for we talked of the matter frequently. Such was his determination to succeed without being chargeable to any of his friends, (there was then no educational fund,) that during a residence of five years at the University, he kept, as the boys termed it, "bachelor's hall," the whole time, except about fifteen months. The habits of economy acquired at this time, and in his earlier days, were apparent throughout the remainder of his life; for. while Mr. McCracken had never been the recipient of a large salary at any time, he still managed to raise and educate his family as few persons do. In this he was aided by inheriting, at the death of his father, a tract of new land, which in the course of time became valuable. Soon after the completion of his collegiate course of education he placed himself under the care of the First Presbytery of Ohio of the Associate Reformed Church, as a student of theology, with a view to the gospel ministry. Subsequently he attended the Theological Seminary at Allegheny City, Pa., one session, and in the Seminary at Oxford three sessions. In the ordinary course pursued at the Seminary at that time, he was licensed on April 15, 1841. He then spent some time as missionary among the newly formed congregations in the States of Illinois and Iowa. The work at that day, in the then far west, was a different undertaking from the same at the present time. Instead of traveling at the rate of twenty miles an hour, from place to place, resting on a soft cushioned seat in a railroad car, one had frequently to plod along on horseback for fifteen or twenty miles per day, on bad roads, through primeval forests and over uninhabited prairies, with scarcely a footpath to guide his way. Roads were not always passable, even for a horse, and Mr. McCracken many times walked from twenty to thirty miles in fulfillment of an appointment to preach. In 1843 he accepted a call from the Associate Reformed congregation of Kenton, Ohio, and settled there in September. Here he labored for about eight years, and, under God, was the means of building up that * This Memoir was prepared by JOHN P. CROTHERS, Esq., of Springfield, Ohio. |