USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Claysville > Our church and our village > Part 5
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Claysville Presbyterian Church
people I tender hearty congratulations on this interest- ing anniversary.
May Heaven's richest blessings be upon them in the coming years, and upon the work that is to be done in this part of the Lord's vineyard.
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History of the
Address
BY JAMES I. BROWNSON, D.D., LL.D., Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Washington, Penn.
The Rev. Dr. James I. Brownson spoke in sub- stance as follows: *
Having declined to deliver one of the formal ad- dresses of this most interesting occasion, for reasons wholly personal, I come the more gladly, under a modi- fied invitation, to unite my warm congratulations with those of the brethren who have preceded me. If I may not rival their eloquent utterances, I can promise not to be behind them in fervent sincerity. With each of them I can heartily say: " Blessed is the church and happy must be its officers and members who can re- count the mercies of a covenant-keeping God which have crowned the fidelity of nearly three generations of Christian believers."
I am not a stranger to the history which has been passing so richly in review before us to-day. I knew the founder of this church, Mr. Hoge, as a college boy gets to know a venerable leader in society. I was a fellow-student with Mr. Gordon, who for a time sup- plied the pulpit here. The Rev. Peter Hassinger and myself for several years occupied contiguous pastor-
* Because of the lack of time this address was delivered only in part.
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Claysville Presbyterian Church
ates in Westmoreland County, after his service in this field. And I sat at the feet of Dr. McConaughey, my revered college president, for nearly four years. Of course, therefore I can add my testimony to their char- acters, and to what I know must have been their excellent work in the early upbuilding of this church. The fruits of their evangelical labor still abide and will ever, though they sleep. Besides the immediate good accomplished by each in his own time and way, they were joint contributors to the subsequent stability and growth of the memorable pastorate of the late Dr. Alexander McCarrell, so admirably portrayed by the historian of to-day and other speakers.
At my entrance as a co-presbyter and pastor in 1849, I found this faithful servant of the Lord in the middle of his service as stated supply, which ripened into the responsibilities of a pastor in 1852, and as such he con- tinued under manifest blessing from Heaven until death took him to his reward in the spring of 1881. It was his habitual delight to "feed the flock of God, over which the Holy Ghost had made him overseer." It was his holy passion to "preach the Gospel both publicly and from house to house." The material of his official and private ministration was just that pro- vided in the divine Word for souls made hungry and thirsty for the bread and water of eternal life by the Holy Spirit. His centre of Sabbath proclamation was the cross of Christ, and through the week, whether upon the street or in the homes of his people, as op- portunity offered, this great theme inspired his tongue and was radiant from his face. With the fullest sym- pathy of a godly wife, his was a model Christian home,
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History of the Claysville Presbyterian Church
to which troubled souls resorted for spiritual counsel, and from the altars of which his own children went forth in like spirit to be living epistles of the same grace. Written upon many human hearts, as well as in the Book of God, are the indelible records of that personal, family, and pastoral consecration. The wit- nesses thereof shall never die.
But, after all, death does remove even the saints of God from mortal sight. " The fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?" Where now are your Hoges and your McCarrells; your Donaheys and Brownlees; your McLains and your Craigs, and your long line of officers and unofficial members of this church; your good men and good women who filled these seats in the past generations? Yet the church is still, as ever, the living "body of Christ," with its " members in particular." And this body, by vital union with its head, shares his perpetual life. Newer methods await younger hands and fresher blood for their execution. Rev. James L. Leeper has carried with him to his successful Indiana pastorate the record of four years of very active and prosperous labor here, and the Rev. Frank Fish, taking up the mantle of the long succession in 1886, has, with ability and zeal, brought down the history to this completed period of three-quarters of a century. Let now the congratu- lations of his brethren intermingle with those of his people upon his attainment of the Lord's best earthly gift to a pastor-a prudent wife! Long may they live in joyful union, and large may the company be who shall hail them as instruments of their salvation in the day of the Lord Jesus!
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The Thomas Hoge Memorial Tablet
IN LOVING MEMORY JA THE REY THOMAS HO CE BORN MAY SITES IN THRONE RELAND.DIED IAN 23- 346 IN PHILADELPHIA PENNA FIRST PASTOR AND FOVI DER CFTHISAND OTHER CHURCHES
FOR OUTER FOUNDAKIN CAN NO MANGE ZEN THAT IS LAND WHICH IS CESVS CHRIST T-CORSO THIS TA SLET IS ERECTED BY HIS DAAVGRIPER ESTHER HOLMES HOGE PATTERSON
The Thomas Hoge Memorial Tablet
The diamond anniversary of the Claysville Presby- terian Church awakened the deep interest of the ven- erable Mrs. Esther Holmes Hoge Patterson, 1728 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Penn., a daughter of the Rev. Thomas Hoge. The result of that interest ap- pears in a bronze tablet, which is described as follows by the Claysville Recorder :
The members of and visitors at the Presbyterian Church will take great delight in what is perhaps one of the finest tablets in Western Pennsylvania outside of the larger cities. It is to the memory of the father of the Claysville and other Presbyterian churches, that grand old man-Rev. Thomas Hoge. It is placed on the wall back of the pulpit, about six feet above the rostrum, and facing the audience. The tablet is of solid bronze, four feet ten inches wide by two feet four inches high, with round corners. Its weight is 375 pounds. Around the outer edge is a beaded border; within is scrollwork about four inches deep. Next the inscription is more beaded work, turning off at the upper and lower central points and forming an oval frame for the excellent bust portrait of Rev. Hoge. It is the work of the artist-sculptor, Joseph Lauber, whose fame is not merely national, and whose portrait
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The Hoge Memorial Tablet
of General Washington adorns the national Capitol. To the left of the portrait is the inscription:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF THE REV. THOMAS HOGE, BORN MAY 3, 1775, IN TYRONE, IRELAND ; DIED JANUARY 23, 1846, IN PHILADEL- PHIA, PENN'A. FIRST PASTOR AND FOUNDER OF THIS AND OTHER CHURCHES.
To the right are these words:
FOR OTHER FOUNDATION CAN NO MAN LAY THAN THAT IS LAID WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST .--- I COR. 3 : 11. THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY HIS DAUGHTER, ESTHER HOLMES HOGE PATTER- SON.
The formal unveiling of the tablet took place on Thursday, October 8, 1896, and is the subject of an article in The Presbyterian Banner, October 14, 1896, from which is taken the following extract:
HONOR TO A FIRST PASTOR
The town of Claysville, Washington County, Penn., is located in the midst of a fertile agricultural region,
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and was a place of considerable note in the palmy days of the "National Pike," along which wagons and stage-coaches moved in almost unbroken procession, and its inhabitants and also those of the neighborhood have been distinguished for general intelligence and sturdy Presbyterianism. But it is not too much to say that the special distinction of Claysville clusters in and around its Presbyterian church, of which the Rev. Thomas Hoge was the founder, and from which so many ministers of the Gospel have gone forth.
To the people of that church last Thursday was a delightful occasion. On that day a tablet to the mem- ory of its first pastor, Rev. Thomas Hoge, donated by his daughter, Mrs. Esther Holmes Hoge Patterson, of Philadelphia, was unveiled in the presence of a large assembly, consisting mostly of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those to whom Mr. Hoge had ministered. The tablet, which is an exquisite work of art, by Tiffany & Co., of New York, was presented to the church, on behalf of Mrs. Patterson, by J. T. Noble, Esq., and was received, on the part of the congrega- tion, by the pastor, Rev. Frank Fish. Rev. Henry Woods, D.D., of Washington and Jefferson College, read a sketch of the church of Buffalo, of which he is pastor, also founded by Mr. Hoge. Rev. G. W. F. Birch, D.D., LL.D., of New York, sketched the times in which Mr. Hoge lived and labored, his character, and the results of his work. Among those present were the following descendants of Mr. Hoge: Robert Patterson (a son of the donor), wife and son, of Pitts- burgh, and Miss Hazeltine, a granddaughter of Mrs. Patterson.
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Remarks
MADE BY J. T. NOBLE, OF CLAYSVILLE, PENN., OCTOBER 8, 1896, IN PRESENTING TABLET OF HER FATHER BY MRS. ESTHER HOLMES HOGE PATTERSON TO THE CLAYSVILLE PRESBY- TERIAN CHURCH.
This church has just completed seventy-five years of history, and is just entering upon the last quarter, which, when completed, will make up the century of history. In reviewing the seventy-five years already completed we see much that is gratifying as well as much that is full of sadness, such sadness as neces- sarily comes to every church and every community. There has been much that has required hardships and self-denials in connection with this church, but, after all, its work has been crowned with such suc- cess as to make the hardships and self-denials on the part of so many, matters of much gratification and pleasure. The work of this church has been full of successes, and it has proven itself in a multitude of respects the equal of any church in the Presbytery of Washington, and I think I may say the equal of any church of like character in Western Pennsylvania. Its success has been so great as to engage the interest and admiration of people in many parts of the country. In one respect I may say this church stands out very prominently, and I think I may justly say as promi-
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nently perhaps as any church in the Washington Pres- bytery-for the number of young men who have be- come prominent in professions, as well as for the large number of useful citizens it has furnished to so many different communities.
To no one is this church so much indebted for its success and usefulness, and this community as well for its rapid advancement and development, as it is to the early efforts and privations of the Rev. Thomas Hoge. Mr. Hoge bore much the same relation to this com- munity and this region of country as did the Rev. John McMillan and the Rev. Thaddeus Dodd to the regions of country east and south of us. A man of sturdy Scotch-Irish ancestry, well educated at the Uni- versity of Edinburgh; possessing more means than was usually found among ministers of that day; having a strong and vigorous constitution, but with no desire to be a preacher in that popular sense which his op- portunities, his education, and his general surroundings would have naturally afforded to him-but his whole ambition and desire seemed to be simply to establish Christianity permanently in this section of country which was then upon the frontier. He was a man of great ability. His ability was oftentimes recognized by the frequency with which he was elected Moderator of the Presbytery, and the many years that he served as its Stated Clerk; and then, again, by being chosen as Moderator of the Synod. No minister of his time was more highly regarded by his co-presbyters and co- workers than was Mr. Hoge; and, had he so desired, his ability and the high order of his attainments, the high esteem in which he was held, on several occasions
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would have placed within his reach some of the most desirable pulpits in the country; but he preferred to labor in the way of extending and establishing Chris- tianity by building churches in this new and unde- veloped country, a work for which he was especially fitted and for which he seemed to be especially set apart. The hardships which he endured in coming on horseback each and every Sabbath morning for a period of fifteen years to preach to this congregation; the hardships which he endured visiting the widely scattered families in times of sickness and death; giv- ing at least one-third of the money himself necessary to erect this building, which has been occupied by this congregation for the last sixty-five years-so fully demonstrates his singleness of purpose, and his devo- tion to that single object-to found Christianity in this region of country for the generations that were to come after. He was largely instrumental in having this church erected at a time when the early settlers were practically without money and were struggling to clear these farms and establish homes for themselves and families. Mr. Hoge was also valuable to the peo- ple of this section at that time in many directions, pro- curing for them assistance in the way of money, and also furnishing them valuable information and advice as to how to clear their farms and build themselves homes, he being a man who was deeply interested in agriculture and familiar with the wool-growing indus- try, a nucleus to the thrift and prosperity which this industry afterwards brought to all our people.
From 1835 to 1846 this church was supplied by a number of pastors who, on account of a variety of
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The Hoge Memorial Tablet
reasons, encountered many difficulties in endeavoring to maintain this church organization, and not until the year 1846, when the Rev. Alexander McCarrell became pastor, were the splendid foundations that were laid by Mr. Hoge builded upon successfully. Mr. McCarrell possessed such qualities as enabled him to successfully supplement the work which had been begun by Mr. Hoge. He continued the pastor of this church for a period of thirty-six years. Under his ministry the lines put out by Mr. Hoge were extended in many directions, and through his earnest labors this church grew continuously. He was not a man who depended so much upon the eloquence of preaching in the achievement of his success, but by sympathy and the gentleness of his nature, and the wonderful regularity with which he performed all his duties, he most suc- cessfully extended the boundaries of this church and accomplished a remarkable work, so that when he laid down his life in the year 1881, he left this church a legacy to his successor, a stronghold which will stand forever as a monument especially to the memory of the Rev. Thomas Hoge and himself.
Mrs. Patterson, a daughter of the Rev. Thomas Hoge, living at 1728 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, is the only surviving member of the Rev. Thomas Hoge's family, she having attained the ripe old age of eighty- six. She is a most interesting and remarkable woman; remarkably active in body, and still taking the keen- est interest in all passing events. Mrs. Patterson has more than an ordinary interest in this church to-day because of her father's connection with it, he being its founder and first pastor; and she herself feels that
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The Hoge Memorial Tablet
to some extent she assisted her father in rocking it in the cradle of its beginning, because it was her custom in her early life to visit this church and the people of this section with her father, being acquainted with many of the old families whose names are recorded on the first rolls of this church, a number of which she has recalled to me in conversations during the last year. Mrs. Patterson feels a just pride in the history and the work of this church. When we come to re- view the seventy-five years of history of this church it is certainly a history that is remarkable, and affords to no one more, perhaps not so much, gratification and pleasure than to Mrs. Patterson. Her father was to this country a benefactor, whose memory the mem- bers of this congregation and the people of this region will ever cherish and hold in lasting regard.
Mrs. Patterson has desired me to convey her kind- liest greetings to this congregation to-day, and to as- sure you that in the closing days of her life she retains the deepest interest, in fact an interest that she never felt before, in the welfare of the people here and the prosperity of this church. She desires me to say that it would have given her the greatest of pleasure to visit these scenes of her early days had it been possible that her surroundings would have permitted such a visit. Nothing would have given her greater pleasure than to have been present at these interesting exer- cises which are in honor of her estimable father. She desires me to formally present to you this beautiful tablet, accompanied with her best wishes for the wel- fare and for the continued growth of this church, and hopes that it may ever serve as a reminder of the long
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The Hoge Memorial Tablet
years of the labor of love which her father so highly enjoyed and so earnestly prosecuted in this new coun- try in his early manhood; a love which he so fittingly and so feelingly emphasized by preaching his farewell sermon to the people here in whom he had such an abiding interest, from the text, " And finally, Brethren, I say farewell."
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The Hoge Memorial Tablet
Reception of the Tablet
BY REV. FRANK FISH, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Claysville, Penn.
The Committee on Arrangements has given me the honor, which I gratefully acknowledge, of being the Claysville Presbyterian congregation's representative in formally receiving this beautiful, artistic, and costly tablet-or, at least, the custodianship of it-a solid work of bronze, 4 feet 10 inches long by 2 feet 4 inches high, weighing 375 pounds, requiring weeks for its making; the work of the first artists in the land; a lov- ing daughter's tribute to the memory of the founder of our church.
Allow me to say through you, Mr. Noble, the deputed representative of Mrs. Patterson in the pres- entation of this memorial of her revered father, that we heartily thank her for intrusting us with such a gift, and promise that we will always give it the care that its value and importance demand.
We thank her for the honor she has put upon us, the favor she has done us, the lesson she has taught us, and the blessing she has given us.
We thank her for the honor she has put upon us. To be the recipients, or even the custodians, of a gift so costly-such a work of art, so lasting in value and condition; such an ornament to the building, both this
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The Hoge Memorial Tablet
and any succeeding building, however handsome-is no slight honor. We appreciate it.
We thank her for the favor she has done us. The Rev. Thomas Hoge, in starting this church, opened up a spring of living waters, which have flowed on in increasing volume under his own and succeeding min- istries; a stream of Gospel privileges, church ordi- nances, Sabbath observance, Bible study, moral and religious influences, and other blessings which have purified and ennobled our community, our homes, our friends, our souls, our lives, and our eternal future. In starting this church, Mr. Hoge planted a tree of life, a Gospel tree, whose shade has protected multi- tudes from the scorching heat of sin and sorrow, whose leaves have been healing to many a sin-sick soul, and whose fruit has been the food and delight of saved spirits, many of whom are now in glory. For starting this stream of spiritual blessings, for planting this tree of life, we are the debtors of Rev. Thomas Hoge. Yea, for this building, now sixty-six years old, itself a monu- ment to his labors, precious to many from its sweet associations and memories of loved ones now in Heaven; of souls borne into the kingdom of Christ; of hearts cheered, comforted, and inspired, we are the grateful debtors of Mr. Hoge. As he is thus a man whom in gratitude we delight to honor, it is a favor to us when honor is done his memory; when publicity and permanence are given to his ministry; when this costly tablet is erected as his memorial to be observed, studied, and reflected on Sabbath after Sabbath, and to keep his name and work fresh and bright for perhaps hundreds of years. Whoso honors our benefactor
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does us a favor. For this favor his daughter has done us, we thank her.
We thank her for the lesson she has taught us. What a graceful act is this honor done a father! Observers of the times tell us that the young of these days need badly to learn the duty of the fifth commandment. Flippant speech, heedless disregard, slighting treat- ment, indifferent feelings towards parents, are too common. What an object lesson of filial respect is this costly tablet! A picture right before our eyes of filial love, pouring out treasure on the honored parent. Were Thomas Hoge to enter that door to-day which he used to enter, and behold this tablet to his mem- ory, would not his heart be moved, his lips tremble, and his eyes fill with tears at this exhibition of a daugh- ter's love and respect? With this tablet before the eyes of the children and youth of this congregation, saying in trumpet tones, " Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee," our young peo- ple will be constantly encouraged and stimulated to give honor, obedience, and reverence to their parents, even though at heavy expense of comfort and pleas- ure. As parents, teachers, and friends of the young, interested in their welfare and well-doing, we feel grateful for this object lesson of honoring parents.
Churches and tablets, stone and bronze, will all crumble into dust, but an act of love, a deed of duty like this, will never perish. Engraved on God's im- perishable tablet, the record of this beautiful tribute to a father's memory and work, with all other deeds of love and righteousness, will shine out and be read
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The Hoge Memorial Tablet
with admiration by redeemed throngs when this tab- let and church and world will be no more.
We thank her for the standard she has set our pulpit and church. Foundation-layers determine the shape and character of the building. The founders of our country-the Pilgrims, the Huguenots, the Quakers, the Scotch-Irish-determined the Christian, Protestant character of the United States. So the founder of a church determines the character of that church. As this admirably appropriate text on the tablet reminds us, Father Hoge founded this church on Jesus Christ, the only foundation for any Christian church, or creed, or character, the foundation already laid by God Him- self, the Giver of Christ. On Jesus Christ-the Per- son Jesus Christ, the Gospel of Christ, the Bible of Christ, as indorsed or authorized by Him, where alone Jesus Christ is found-were this church of Claysville and that of East Buffalo founded.
So this tablet, with its record of foundation-laying, with its scriptural description of the foundation laid, with the noble face of the human founder visibly set forth, and his eye now watching the course of this church from above the pulpit where he himself preached the old, old Gospel truths, is now a public plan-the architect's plan-to direct all succeeding builders how to build up the church and character of this people, an anchor to hold this pulpit and church to the old moorings, to Christ and the Bible. In the shadow of this tablet this pulpit and church cannot, dare not, drift away into a new theology, another Gos- pel, a mutilated Bible, a different Saviour. This face and record of him who laid the foundation true to his
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The Hoge Memorial Tablet
Master and commission would publicly rebuke and denounce any such departure.
Will you then, Mr. Noble, extend to Mrs. Patterson our gratitude and our good wishes? Our desire, hope, and prayer are that in these last days of her long life she may more than ever enjoy the calming peace and the gladdening hope and all the precious promises her revered father held out here to the people of his day. As she enters and passes through the valley of the shadow of death, may she find the Lord Jesus with her, her Shepherd; His rod and staff comforting her, ac- cording as her father taught the people here. When the silver cord is loosed and the golden bowl is broken, when the fleshly tabernacle is dissolved, and, true to her father's Gospel, her soul is taken up to Heaven to be at home with Christ, then may she receive the welcome, the crown, the home, the glory, her father preached here, and there may she meet her sainted father, and be forever with him, in the rest, the song, the service of the heavenly life; and with him and all her loved ones enter into all the blessings of the eternal home he pictured out to the people here. We deeply regret her inability to be present with us to-day, and our inability to look upon her face, but if never in this life, yet in the city of God we hope, by the grace of our Lord, to be permitted to see her face to face and en- joy her and her sainted father, to the influence of whose labors we are largely indebted for our blessed hopes. May the Heaven of Thomas Hoge's preaching and enjoyment be the home of us all!
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