CUMBERLAND EVENING TIMES headline: Swaying Church Floor Alarms Clergymen. Large Congregation at McFarland Funeral, Oldtown, Withdraws to Floor Below
"Prompt action on the part of the officiating clergyman probably prevented a serious accident and loss of life yesterday afternoon at Oldtown during the funeral services of Rev. John Melvin McFarland, pastor of the Oldtown M.E. Church who died from a gunshot wound sustained Friday while hunting.
"Prior to the arrival of the cortage from the McFarland home, a large congregation filled the Oldtown M.E. Church to the doors. a perceptible swaying of the building and vibration of the church auditorium was noted by Rev. Harry G. Spencer of Piedmont; Rev. Benjamin F. DeVries of Cumberland and other clergy. After a brief conference, the congregation which jammed the church and aisle was asked to withdraw to the room below, used for Sunday school purposes. An overflow congregation stood outside the church while the service was held, and it was with difficulty that the body could be take in and out of the church.
"Fourteen Methodist clergymen attended besides scores of relatives and friends from nearby points in addition to members of the congregation in the Oldtown circuit.
"The church was built a few years ago."
from "A Tribute" written by Rev. H.G. Spencer:
"The many friends of Rev. J. Melvin McFarland, both ministers and laymen, were shocked when a few weeks ago they learned of his tragic death. They were comforted, however, when they remembered his beautiful, consecrated Christian life. He loved his Lord passionately and labored in His Kingdom untiringly.
"It was the writer's privilege to know Brother McFarland intimately, knowing him first as a fine young layman in beautiful Winchester, VA. Brother McFarland was licensed to preach by Rev. B.F. DeVries in the Quarterly Conference of Market Street Church. In April 1917, he was appointed pastor in charge of Union Grove Circuit, where he served faithfully for three years, and from there was sent to serve on the Old Town Circuit. He was in the second year of his ministry in the latter place.
"In the little less than five years that he served as pastor of these two rural charges, he gave full proof of his ministry. Souls were saved under his preaching, believers were strengthened, and the churches were built up. He was of the heroic mold, born in the mountains, a farmer's lad, he grew to be a strong, sturdy man, continually enjoying good health.
"We wonder if ever a finer spirit of heroism was seen on any field of battle than that he displayed the last day he lived on earth. When the fatal wound had been received from his own gun, he turned his car around, drove over a lonely road for about three and a half miles, getting out on the way to open and close a gate, then going on to the home of a friend, telling them of the accident and asking to be driven to the hospital fifteen miles distant. When those miles of bad country roads had been covered, he helped himself in getting out of the car, and finally on to the operating table.
"He was a man of prayer and a clear and forceful preacher, and Jesus Christ was in the center of every service that he preached, there to bless, and to heal and to save. But the secret of his success was in his beautiful life. Members of his flock said on the occasion of his funeral: 'He lived it, and we knew that he had.'
"After the funeral service in the Old Town Church, his friends in the ministry gently bore his body to his last resting place in the Old Town Cemetery, and then with bowed heads wended their way back to the village in which he had lived, and their thoughts were about the lonely young widow and the five fatherless children who were going back to their parsonage home without their loved one."
"Prompt action on the part of the officiating clergyman probably prevented a serious accident and loss of life yesterday afternoon at Oldtown during the funeral services of Rev. John Melvin McFarland, pastor of the Oldtown M.E. Church who died from a gunshot wound sustained Friday while hunting.
"Prior to the arrival of the cortage from the McFarland home, a large congregation filled the Oldtown M.E. Church to the doors. a perceptible swaying of the building and vibration of the church auditorium was noted by Rev. Harry G. Spencer of Piedmont; Rev. Benjamin F. DeVries of Cumberland and other clergy. After a brief conference, the congregation which jammed the church and aisle was asked to withdraw to the room below, used for Sunday school purposes. An overflow congregation stood outside the church while the service was held, and it was with difficulty that the body could be take in and out of the church.
"Fourteen Methodist clergymen attended besides scores of relatives and friends from nearby points in addition to members of the congregation in the Oldtown circuit.
"The church was built a few years ago."
from "A Tribute" written by Rev. H.G. Spencer:
"The many friends of Rev. J. Melvin McFarland, both ministers and laymen, were shocked when a few weeks ago they learned of his tragic death. They were comforted, however, when they remembered his beautiful, consecrated Christian life. He loved his Lord passionately and labored in His Kingdom untiringly.
"It was the writer's privilege to know Brother McFarland intimately, knowing him first as a fine young layman in beautiful Winchester, VA. Brother McFarland was licensed to preach by Rev. B.F. DeVries in the Quarterly Conference of Market Street Church. In April 1917, he was appointed pastor in charge of Union Grove Circuit, where he served faithfully for three years, and from there was sent to serve on the Old Town Circuit. He was in the second year of his ministry in the latter place.
"In the little less than five years that he served as pastor of these two rural charges, he gave full proof of his ministry. Souls were saved under his preaching, believers were strengthened, and the churches were built up. He was of the heroic mold, born in the mountains, a farmer's lad, he grew to be a strong, sturdy man, continually enjoying good health.
"We wonder if ever a finer spirit of heroism was seen on any field of battle than that he displayed the last day he lived on earth. When the fatal wound had been received from his own gun, he turned his car around, drove over a lonely road for about three and a half miles, getting out on the way to open and close a gate, then going on to the home of a friend, telling them of the accident and asking to be driven to the hospital fifteen miles distant. When those miles of bad country roads had been covered, he helped himself in getting out of the car, and finally on to the operating table.
"He was a man of prayer and a clear and forceful preacher, and Jesus Christ was in the center of every service that he preached, there to bless, and to heal and to save. But the secret of his success was in his beautiful life. Members of his flock said on the occasion of his funeral: 'He lived it, and we knew that he had.'
"After the funeral service in the Old Town Church, his friends in the ministry gently bore his body to his last resting place in the Old Town Cemetery, and then with bowed heads wended their way back to the village in which he had lived, and their thoughts were about the lonely young widow and the five fatherless children who were going back to their parsonage home without their loved one."
CUMBERLAND EVENING TIMES headline: Swaying Church Floor Alarms Clergymen. Large Congregation at McFarland Funeral, Oldtown, Withdraws to Floor Below
"Prompt action on the part of the officiating clergyman probably prevented a serious accident and loss of life yesterday afternoon at Oldtown during the funeral services of Rev. John Melvin McFarland, pastor of the Oldtown M.E. Church who died from a gunshot wound sustained Friday while hunting.
"Prior to the arrival of the cortage from the McFarland home, a large congregation filled the Oldtown M.E. Church to the doors. a perceptible swaying of the building and vibration of the church auditorium was noted by Rev. Harry G. Spencer of Piedmont; Rev. Benjamin F. DeVries of Cumberland and other clergy. After a brief conference, the congregation which jammed the church and aisle was asked to withdraw to the room below, used for Sunday school purposes. An overflow congregation stood outside the church while the service was held, and it was with difficulty that the body could be take in and out of the church.
"Fourteen Methodist clergymen attended besides scores of relatives and friends from nearby points in addition to members of the congregation in the Oldtown circuit.
"The church was built a few years ago."
from "A Tribute" written by Rev. H.G. Spencer:
"The many friends of Rev. J. Melvin McFarland, both ministers and laymen, were shocked when a few weeks ago they learned of his tragic death. They were comforted, however, when they remembered his beautiful, consecrated Christian life. He loved his Lord passionately and labored in His Kingdom untiringly.
"It was the writer's privilege to know Brother McFarland intimately, knowing him first as a fine young layman in beautiful Winchester, VA. Brother McFarland was licensed to preach by Rev. B.F. DeVries in the Quarterly Conference of Market Street Church. In April 1917, he was appointed pastor in charge of Union Grove Circuit, where he served faithfully for three years, and from there was sent to serve on the Old Town Circuit. He was in the second year of his ministry in the latter place.
"In the little less than five years that he served as pastor of these two rural charges, he gave full proof of his ministry. Souls were saved under his preaching, believers were strengthened, and the churches were built up. He was of the heroic mold, born in the mountains, a farmer's lad, he grew to be a strong, sturdy man, continually enjoying good health.
"We wonder if ever a finer spirit of heroism was seen on any field of battle than that he displayed the last day he lived on earth. When the fatal wound had been received from his own gun, he turned his car around, drove over a lonely road for about three and a half miles, getting out on the way to open and close a gate, then going on to the home of a friend, telling them of the accident and asking to be driven to the hospital fifteen miles distant. When those miles of bad country roads had been covered, he helped himself in getting out of the car, and finally on to the operating table.
"He was a man of prayer and a clear and forceful preacher, and Jesus Christ was in the center of every service that he preached, there to bless, and to heal and to save. But the secret of his success was in his beautiful life. Members of his flock said on the occasion of his funeral: 'He lived it, and we knew that he had.'
"After the funeral service in the Old Town Church, his friends in the ministry gently bore his body to his last resting place in the Old Town Cemetery, and then with bowed heads wended their way back to the village in which he had lived, and their thoughts were about the lonely young widow and the five fatherless children who were going back to their parsonage home without their loved one."
"Prompt action on the part of the officiating clergyman probably prevented a serious accident and loss of life yesterday afternoon at Oldtown during the funeral services of Rev. John Melvin McFarland, pastor of the Oldtown M.E. Church who died from a gunshot wound sustained Friday while hunting.
"Prior to the arrival of the cortage from the McFarland home, a large congregation filled the Oldtown M.E. Church to the doors. a perceptible swaying of the building and vibration of the church auditorium was noted by Rev. Harry G. Spencer of Piedmont; Rev. Benjamin F. DeVries of Cumberland and other clergy. After a brief conference, the congregation which jammed the church and aisle was asked to withdraw to the room below, used for Sunday school purposes. An overflow congregation stood outside the church while the service was held, and it was with difficulty that the body could be take in and out of the church.
"Fourteen Methodist clergymen attended besides scores of relatives and friends from nearby points in addition to members of the congregation in the Oldtown circuit.
"The church was built a few years ago."
from "A Tribute" written by Rev. H.G. Spencer:
"The many friends of Rev. J. Melvin McFarland, both ministers and laymen, were shocked when a few weeks ago they learned of his tragic death. They were comforted, however, when they remembered his beautiful, consecrated Christian life. He loved his Lord passionately and labored in His Kingdom untiringly.
"It was the writer's privilege to know Brother McFarland intimately, knowing him first as a fine young layman in beautiful Winchester, VA. Brother McFarland was licensed to preach by Rev. B.F. DeVries in the Quarterly Conference of Market Street Church. In April 1917, he was appointed pastor in charge of Union Grove Circuit, where he served faithfully for three years, and from there was sent to serve on the Old Town Circuit. He was in the second year of his ministry in the latter place.
"In the little less than five years that he served as pastor of these two rural charges, he gave full proof of his ministry. Souls were saved under his preaching, believers were strengthened, and the churches were built up. He was of the heroic mold, born in the mountains, a farmer's lad, he grew to be a strong, sturdy man, continually enjoying good health.
"We wonder if ever a finer spirit of heroism was seen on any field of battle than that he displayed the last day he lived on earth. When the fatal wound had been received from his own gun, he turned his car around, drove over a lonely road for about three and a half miles, getting out on the way to open and close a gate, then going on to the home of a friend, telling them of the accident and asking to be driven to the hospital fifteen miles distant. When those miles of bad country roads had been covered, he helped himself in getting out of the car, and finally on to the operating table.
"He was a man of prayer and a clear and forceful preacher, and Jesus Christ was in the center of every service that he preached, there to bless, and to heal and to save. But the secret of his success was in his beautiful life. Members of his flock said on the occasion of his funeral: 'He lived it, and we knew that he had.'
"After the funeral service in the Old Town Church, his friends in the ministry gently bore his body to his last resting place in the Old Town Cemetery, and then with bowed heads wended their way back to the village in which he had lived, and their thoughts were about the lonely young widow and the five fatherless children who were going back to their parsonage home without their loved one."
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