Want to keep up with all the latest Library news and events? 
Rev. Jacob Brittingham
Rector of St. Luke's church in early years of 20th century
— from the Wheeling Intelligencer, March 23, 1922.
St. Luke's Congregation Expresses Appreciation of Dr. Brittingham's 33 Years of Service With Nice Gift
POPULAR RECTOR OF ISLAND EPISCOPAL CHURCH IS PRESENTED WITH A FORD SEDAN
RECOVERY OF BELOVED MINISTER FROM ILLNESS IS OCCASION OF HAPPY GATHERING
DR. BRITTINGHAM BECAME RECTOR OF ST. LUKE'S 33 YEARS AGO THIRD OF THE MONTH
Dr. Jacob Brittingham, rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church on the Island, last evening, was presented with a 1922 spring model Ford sedan by the members of his congregation, who gathered to express their joy at his recovery from a quite severe illness, and to express their appreciation of his thirty-three years of arduous and untiring service in their behalf as rector of St. Luke's, and as Dr. Thomas F. Downing, spokesman for the congregation in presenting the gift, aptly put it, to provide "a means to help Dr. Brittingham rest a little while performing his duties and making pastoral calls."
Dr. Brittingham was the recipient of a delightful surprise by the members of his congregation, after the early service at St. Luke's which was conducted by Rev. Hunter, rector of Bellaire Trinity church. Mr. Robert Lee Boyd, one of the vestrymen of the church and very prominent in all church affairs, visited Mr. Brittingham in the residence after the service with a request that he come to the parish room, as the members of the church were most anxious to see him. Dr. Brittingham who owing to his recent illness had not conducted the services, appeared in the room, and Dr. Thos. F. Downing, appointed spokesman for the congregation, made the presentation speech.
In his remarks to Dr. Brittingham, he stressed the gratitude of the congregation for his long and patient, untiring service to the congregation, and said that the gift from them as his friends, in token of their love for their rector.
Complete Surprise
Dr. Brittingham was led to the door of the church to see the machine. His surprise was complete. He thanked his congregation with the heartiest sincerity, saying quite frankly that they had gratified a long felt want of his; that he had needed a car in his pastoral work and that it would be always a source of joy and pleasure. He quoted the Bible phrase which he said he had been reading just the night before, expressing just what he had believed had come out of his illness: "And the evening and the morning were the first day,: meaning that from the darkness of the evening had sprung the light, the dawning of a new day for him," which had come through the illness through which he had just passed.
"The light of a new day always follows that of darkness and suffering. I am an optimist, and I believe that just as surely there will be a new day and the dawning of better things for us all out of the depression and chaos which has been the portion of the world in the last few years," said Dr. Brittingham.
Friends and members of the congregation crowded around Dr. Brittingham to congratulate him and express their pleasure at his recovery, at the conclusion of his words of thanks.
[ newspaper article from the vertical files in the OCPL's Wheeling Room ]
