JAMES DARSIE.

      Among our pioneers in Western Pennsylvania, no name shines brighter than that of James Darsie. His self-denying and multitudinous labors for over half a century have left an indelible impress on our cause in all that region. His pure and spotless character is still held in affectionate remembrance by thousands who sat under his pulpit ministrations. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, September 13, 1811, and died at Braddock, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1891, aged seventy-nine years, seven months and three days. His education was received mainly in the academy of Walter Scott, in Pittsburg, where he grew to manhood. At the age of twelve years he made a, public confession of his faith, and was baptized. How early in the history of our religious movement that was will be appreciated when I say that there were at the time not over five hundred disciples in the United States. The year of his baptism was the year the first number of the Christian Baptist was published.

      Three years after his entrance into the church he began to speak in its meetings, though painfully diffident, but at the age of twenty, in spite of this drawback, he had developed marked ability as a, speaker. At twenty-five we find him going forth as an evangelist to plant the standard of the Cross in many of Pennsylvania's towns and villages, and to give himself wholly to the work of preaching. Something of the struggles and self-denials of that early day may be gathered from the statement be often made that during the first twenty years of his work as a minister, his total compensation was $150. With a young and growing family to support many were the anxieties which beset him, and many the makeshifts by which he sought to provide for those dependent on him. But he never ceased the work of regular preaching. Like Paul he could say: "These hands ministered unto my necessities and to them that were with me." We, of a later generation and of an easier time, should study well the heroism of our brave pioneers, and try to catch something of their spirit.

      As a preacher, James Darsie had several striking characteristics: A rapid though distinct utterance, a most orderly presentation of his theme, the copious use of scriptural quotations, a, vein of beauty and sublimity, and the constant habit of exalting the Lord Jesus Christ. He was pre-eminently a gospel preacher. He grew to manhood in the very "cradle of the Restoration," and knew thoroughly its true breadth and spirit and presented with a clearness and power its distinctive teaching.

      He was twice married, and reared a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters. Three of his sons, John L. Darsie, of Hiram, Ohio, George Darsie, of Frankfort, Kentucky, and Lloyd Darsie, of Chicago, Illinois, are preachers of the ancient gospel. Three of his grandsons, also, are preachers of the same gospel: Charles Darsie, of Paulding, Ohio, George Darsie, Jr., of Massillon, Ohio, and Clyde Darsie, of Pueblo, Colorado. May his sons and grandsons all be as worthy men as he, as loyal to the New Testament gospel, and as [433] devoted to its restoration in the world.

      The scene of his regular labors included Connellsville, Bethel, Redstone, Cookstown, Pleasant Valley, Pigeon Creek, Library, Somerset, Braddock, and other localities equally familiar to those acquainted with our people in Western Pennsylvania.

      At the time of his death, which was the result of an accident, he was serving the large church in Allegheny as assistant minister, and in spite of the burden of his nearly four score years, was entirely equal to his arduous duties. Indeed, so great was his physical vigor, and so sound and perfect his physical health that there seemed every prospect that his life would have been prolonged another decade, at least.

      Among the interesting data from which this brief sketch has been prepared, is a manuscript letter of Alexander Campbell commending him to the confidence of the churches of Illinois, whither, at the time he contemplated removing. The letter is as follows:

BETHANY, VA., July 24, 1844.      

      "To the brethren of Illinois to whom these presents may come. Favor, mercy and peace be multiplied through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ, our Lord:

      "I take pleasure in introducing to your acquaintance, Christian confidence and esteem, the bearer, brother James Darsie, long known to me as a faithful and exemplary Disciple of Christ. He has labored some eight or nine years in the proclamation of the Word, and for the last three as all evangelist in Western Pennsylvania. His labors have been very acceptable to the brethren and beneficial to the cause. If the Lord direct his way to you I have every reason to believe that he will be a blessing to the brotherhood and a helper in the cause of Reformation, and (I) doubt not that he will be cordially received and helped in his way by all the brotherhood whithersoever the Lord may open to him a field of labor.

"A. CAMPBELL."      

[COC 433-434]