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Excerpts from Souvenir Submitted by David M. Waid |
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1887 Sunday, July 24, 1887--Aunt Eliza
C. Phillips, in her eighty-second year, died at about 5 o'clock
this morning, at the old homestead near Townville, where her husband,
Gamaliel Phillips, closed his eyes forever May 4, 1853.
Well do I remember attending his funeral, accompanied by my parents
and other relatives, also by Miss E. C. Masiker,
who was doing housework for my mother at that time.
On Monday, July 25, with my eldest and youngest sons, I attended my
aunt's funeral to Townville Cemetery.
My wife Eliza was unable to go on account of failing health,
though, together, we had visited aunt not long before her death, when we
had a very interesting and profitable long-to-be-remembered conversation.
The services, at her request when dying, were conducted by Dr.
C. E. Hall [here I met this gentleman for the first time], pastor
of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Titusville, who had delivered the
discourse on the occasion of the funeral of her daughter, Evaline
Davidson, at the time of her death a resident of Titusville.
Dr. Hall's text to-day was from John xvii, 24:
Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given me, be with me
where I am; that they may behold my glory, which Thou hast given me; for
Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world, and the sermon was
like my aunt's Christian life--good, having a salutary effect on all who
heard it. "Life is but a
fleeting show." Thirty-four
years ago I, a young man, not yet twenty-one, stood beside the open grave
and saw all that was mortal of my uncle lowered into it, its final resting
place; to-day, as the widow was laid to rest beside him, were present not
only my oldest son but also my youngest, just nearing his twentieth year!
Inscribed on the tombstone at the grave are the words "GAMALIEL
PHILLIPS, died May 4, 1853."
How many even of my own kindred who were present at the funeral of
my uncle have passed away since, I can not tell.
But when I think of an entire generation leaving this world in less
than the third of a century, and consider my own age now, fifty-five
years, I may well exclaim: "How
short is life, how soon are we gone!"
and I thank a merciful Father for all these years given me, and for
many blessings still bestowed upon me.
It has been my privilege in company with my wife to visit my aunt
several times during the past two years, and we always profited by her
conversation, which never left the channel of Christianity and love.
July 30 and 31, 1887--The recollection of such a pleasant and
beautiful resort as Chautauqua is as dear to me as to any one of the many
thousands who have visited it, not alone on account of its scenery and the
atmosphere of superior education which pervades it, but for the order and
society that prevail there. With
all these attractions then, it may not be thought strange that even a
farmer, eighty miles distant, should break away from the harvest fields
(as I did to-day) in order to spend a summer Sabbath there.
The only regret I had on starting was my wife's inability, owing to
ill-health, to accompany me, though she kindly consented to my going.
So taking the 2:40 P. M. train at Meadville, I arrived at Lakewood,
where we took passage on the "Vincent" for Chautauqua, arriving
in the evening in time to hear Dr. Baldwin's lecture on China, which was
illustrated with panoramic views of that interesting country.
At 9 A. M., Sunday following, after my first night of quiet repose
in Chautauqua at "Matthew's Cottage," kept by William H.
Matthew, on Ramble Avenue, I listened with pleasure and profit to an
address to teachers, delivered by Prof. Henry Drummond, of Glasgow,
Scotland, whom I never saw or heard before, and may never see or hear
again, but he proved such a clear thinker and distinct speaker that the
lasting impression he left on me was of a nature to cause me to love him.
At 11 A. M. I found myself in the Amphitheater, a unit among an
immense multitude attracted thither by the announcement that the Rev.
Sam P. Jones, of Georgia, the evangelist, was to hold forth.
The building is said to seat 6,000 persons, but, on this occasion,
not only every possible space, including the aisles, was occupied, but
even outside was a large number collected.
For his text Mr. Jones selected the words of Pilate:
What I have written I have written [John xix, 22.], and the force
and eloquence with which he dwelt on conscience and record are beyond my
power to describe, yet within my limit to be greatly benefited thereby.
Among his many potent sayings he remarked:
"The editors claim they have made me," and I ask, Can
they make another man like him? Referring
to bishops, he said: "No
bishop ever made me; no bishop will ever judge me."
I love to see a man enjoy freedom, especially the one who is made
free by embracing the truth--Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free.
In my library is a book I bought May 17, 1886, entitled
"Sermons and Sayings, by Rev. Sam P. Jones,"
which I have read with interest and benefit.
I had both heard and read of him before I possessed this book, and
after a careful perusal of his Gospel sermons and wise sayings, I came to
love the great evangelist, so that nothing less, in my way of thinking,
would satisfy me than peeing and hearing him for myself.
Even then I had to advance another step in my acquaintance with
him, by shaking hands and enjoying a brief interview with him before
leaving Chautauqua, which I succeeded in accomplishing (His address,
"Sam P. Jones, Cartersville, Ga.,"
was written by himself at my request in my diary at an interview I had
with him in his room at the Hotel Athenaeum, Chautauqua, at nine o'clock,
Monday morning, August 1, 1887. It
was a genuine pleasure to me to share in this interview and shake hands
with Mr. Jones, and at parting to hear him say, as he again took my hand:
"God bless you, my dear brother--Good-by!").
August 4, 1887--On this day the Methodist Episcopal Churches on
State Street and State Road held a Sunday-school picnic in Mr.
J. Hempson's grove, two and one-half miles east of Meadville, on
which occasion the children and youths enjoyed a right happy time.
After refreshments and amusements the children assembled round the
stand to unite in singing and taking part in the further exercises of the
day. Our pastor then called on the superintendent, Brother St.
John, of State Street Church, to deliver an address, which he did, and in
the course of his remarks he said they would like to hear something from
Mr. F. C. Waid, about Rev. Sam Jones, for he
(Mr. Waid) had just returned from Chautauqua, where he had heard Mr.
Jones. "If we get Mr.
Jones even second-handed," added Brother St. John, "it will be
good, for he is the most noted preacher in America."
I will not aver how much of Mr. Jones I tried to tell them, but I
will say I have loved that man ever since I saw and heard him at
Chautauqua. "And my love
takes in the Sunday-school children and everyone in the community," I
continued in my remarks from the stand.
I said further: "Brother
Sam P. Jones helped me wonderfully in my Christian life; and now I
wish to help some one else. The
question is--How can I do it? This
leads me to make this offer to our two Sunday-schools, who are here
assembled. If you desire to
increase your libraries, I will give $30 on condition that you raise the
same amount to purchase books for our Sunday-school; the $60 to be equally
divided between State Street, Meadville and the State Road Sunday-schools
(December 24, 1887, I left $15 at Brother Miller's,
Meadville, for State Street Sunday-school library, and on March l8, l888,
I had the pleasure of hearing that our Sunday-school board had not only
accepted my offer as above, but were ready to buy books.
Good news to us; we are to have $30 worth of new books for our
Sunday-school library. Our
Sunday-school, according to our superintendent’s report, March 31, l888,
in Quarterly Conference, is about eighty. State Road Pilgram’s Home having rather a prosperous year,
for which we have abundant reason to thank the Lord). Our Sunday-school at State Road, though not large, has been
occasionally increased, but not as often as it should have been.
No addition has been made to it since June 14, 1879, at which time
there were added 135 books at a cost of $25. My kind publishers, in their preface to my SOUVENIR, have
asserted in two words much of my real character--UNTOLD KINDNESS.
This was a trait in the life of my father, and I find it apparent
occasionally in my own life, like cream in a pan of milk coming unbidden
to the top. It is a pleasure
to help on a good cause, but it is no less so, as opportunity may offer,
to lead in a good cause. The
blessing of the Lord maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.
August 17, 1887--My wife and I were favored with an invitation to
attend the fiftieth anniversary of the wedding of Mr.
and Mrs. Samuel Falkenburg, of Woodcock Township.
They live but two miles from our home, and Mr. Falkenburg has
resided on the same farm from my earliest recollection.
This contented and honored couple have passed their
three-score-and-ten, Mr. Falkenburg being aged seventy-five and his wife
seventy-one. Fifty years of
married life are attained by only a few of the human family, and it is
fitting that such an event should be duly celebrated by a "golden
wedding." What added to
our pleasure, and I may say surprise, was meeting among the eighty or so
guests, two of my old schoolmates, William Densmore,
of Erie, Penn., and John Y. Gilmore,
editor of the Sugar Bowl and Farm Journal, New Orleans, La., the latter
being accompanied by his youngest son and daughter, all three having
arrived here yesterday evening, on a visit to Mr. Gilmore.
We were, in fact, as much pleased and surprised as when we met J.
Y. Gilmore and daughter at the residence of his brother, William,
in Minnesota, in September, 1881. Where friends and kinsmen meet Enjoyment seems complete.
This date reminds me of what occurred one year ago to-day. I received 300 copies of my SOUVENIR from my publishers,
Messrs. Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, for free distribution, nearly
all of which have been disposed of, Mr. Falkenburg
accepting of one. His
friendship to our family began with my parents before I was born.
There is happiness in trying to please an aged friend; like the
"golden wedding," age demands our best respects.
August 23, 1887--My wife and I had the pleasure of visiting Mr.
and Mrs. J. F. Breed, whose home is within less than two miles of
ours; our acquaintance dating back to my early recollections.
This worthy couple, who are nearing the close of the fifty-fourth
year of their married life ( Mr. and Mrs. Breed were married September 12,
1833. Indeed I was surprised
when Mrs. Breed said they were married in 1833 the year I was born in. "What!" I
exclaimed, "You have been married nearly as long as I have
lived!" They are still
(December 28, 1889) living, and I hope they may see many more years of
married life), came here from Massachusetts in 1838; and our visit was
full of interest and pleasure in hearing them talk of the many incidents
of days gone by. My parents
and Mr. Breed were friends, often exchanging work on their farms.
I understand Mr. Breed is now in his seventy-seventh year, and Mrs.
Breed in her seventy-first. They
have led a very industrious life, and bear their ages remarkably well.
September 1 to 10, 1887--[My son Guinnip
and I make a tour to New York, Long Branch and Essex (Conn.), an account
of which will be found at page 63.]
September 12, 1887--William B. Trevey;
pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Saegerstown Circuit,
Meadville District, died at the Methodist Episcopal parsonage in
Saegerstown, above date, at the age of about thirty-two years.
His remains were taken to Moundsville, W. Va., for interment.
It was my privilege and pleasure to form an acquaintance with
Brother Trevey about four years ago, and this Christian friendship has
increased in strength ever since until his departure to the "Better
Land." Mr. Trevey was
attending Allegheny College in the fall of 1883, when he came out to State
Road with Brother Allen, who was at that time
our pastor. Presiding Elder Brother
Merchant also came along, as he was desirous of changing pastors at
State Road in order to favor Brother Allen, who seemed to have more work
at State Street than he could accomplish, especially as he had sickness in
the family. I have always
loved our Elder, for he labored to make things harmonize.
He wished not only the consent of Brother Allen and Brother Trevey,
but also of each society, and when Brother Trevey preached to us we could
say how we liked him. After
others had given their opinion, I remember I was called on for an
expression as to how I would favor the change, both men being present, and
my reply was to this effect: "This
reminds me of the presidential election; I voted for James
G. Blaine, but I intend to prove loyal to our Government if
Cleveland becomes President." I know I love Brother Allen; his sermons have done me good,
and I have listened also with pleasure and profit to Brother Trevey.
The latter had filled the appointment at State Road nearly two
years, and had about completed his second year at Saegerstown and Blooming
Valley, where we heard him so frequently that he seems as still our
pastor. Blooming Valley is
only one mile east of us, and here Brother Trevey preached every second
Sabbath afternoon, so we had the opportunity of attending, even if we had
preaching at State Road on the same day in the forenoon.
The last two visits Brother Trevey paid
us were immediately prior to his illness, the one being on the occasion of
my wife's sickness, and the other soon thereafter (in August), when he was
accompanied by our pastor, Mr. Miller, which
was his last appearance in our home.
My wife and I, however, called to see him just two weeks to a day
before he died, and then we had our last conversation on earth.
At that time there seemed to be hopes of his recovery. I recollect saying to him:
"You expect to get well."
"Yes," he replied, "I think my time to go home has
not come yet," and as we shook hands at parting he said, "Come
again." Two weeks from
that Monday his spirit fled.
Brother Trevey was, I think, one of those even-tempered men, well
calculated to win the good-will of all, and the Meadville Tribune, in its
obituary notice, says of him: "He
had an army of friends, whom he had won in four years."
He was fond of flowers, and frequently alluded to them in his
sermons. I never knew him
fail to interest the Sunday-school scholars when addressing them, his love
for children being a marked characteristic.
Many of Mr. Trevey's friends have now in their possession his
photograph, as also that of his wife, both being excellent likenesses.
Brother Trevey, in giving his testimony for Christ, says:
"I was converted in early childhood, so that my whole life has
been given to Him." How few, even Christians, have a record like this!
A whole life given to Christ!
No wonder Brother William B. Trevey's
influence will scent like the rose when its leaves are faded and the stalk
is dead. He and his wife
always had many warm friends here, who, like myself, appreciate their
pictures (husband and wife being taken together), of which a large number
have been circulated since Mr. Trevey's death.
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