The following items of history about Falls Presbyterian Church appeared in the Church Bulletins during the 150th Anniversary Year of 2006

 

This is not intended to be a complete history of the church.  These are random items of interest concerning that history.

 

 

1.            Where and when did our church begin?  In 1855 several Presbyterian men and women of Falls of Schuylkill first met in several of their own homes for Bible Study.   After just a few months they rented a room in the Old Academy building on Indian Queen Lane .   The Old Academy was the birthplace of Falls Baptist Church (1938), St.  James the Less Episcopal Church (1846), Falls United Methodist Church (1837), St.  Bridget's Roman Catholic Church (1850), Grace Reformed Episcopal grew out of a mission of St.  James the Less, Falls Presbyterian (1856), Redeemer Lutheran Church (1889)

 

2.            The First Presbyterian Church Falls of Schuylkill was officially organized or "born" in 1856.  Also born in the year 1856 were: Booker T.  Washington (Educator and Human Rights Activist), George Bernard Shaw (writer and playwright), William Willett (the inventor of daylight saving time), Sigmund Freud (developed modern psychoanalysis), Woodrow Wilson (28th President of the United States), Lyman Frank Baum {author and creator of the Wizard of Oz), Robert Edwin Peary (first to reach the North Pole), Eddie Foy (father of the Seven Little Foys)

 

3.            The first preaching service as a group of believers, before official formation of the church, was January 1856 in Old Academy building.

 

4.            Prior to 1854, East Falls (Falls of Schuylkill) was a "town", a part of Philadelphia County, but not part of the City of Philadelphia .   The city and county were consolidated into the city in 1854.   The Mayor of Philadelphia in 1856 was Richard Vaux after whom Vaux Street was named.  He was Mayor and East Falls was part of the city at the time our church was born. 

 

5.            In October, 1855, a petition, signed by 34 individuals, was presented to the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia requesting that body to organize them into a distinct church to be known as the First Presbyterian Church of the Falls of the Schuylkill.   The petition was favorably received and a committee to attend to the business of organization was appointed.    The committee consisted of Rev.  Job F.  Halsey, Rev.  Joseph Nesbitt, Rev.  Joseph Beggs, and Elders Robert Magee and Francis H.  Latch.

 

6.            The committee to form a new church convened on the 7th of November, 1856.  Rev.  Job F.  Halsey preached a sermon from the Gospel of St.  Mark, Chapter 5, Verse 19, after which the church was duly organized by the admission of ten members by certificate and twelve on profession of their faith.  

 

7.            At the time the church was formed in 1856, it had no regular pastor.  Various pastors and lay people conducted services for the first 4 years, including Rev.  Joseph Beggs. 

 

 

 

8.            The Sabbath School , which for many years acted as a somewhat separate entity, was actually organized before the Church itself, in February 1856 in The Old Academy building, by Mr. John Kinnier.  The Church and the Sabbath School had their own leadership and total control of their own treasury until the mid 1940's.  Even though many of the people involved were leaders in both organizations (John Kinnier was a Session member of the new church as well as the head of the Sabbath School), the independence of the Sabbath School (later known as the Sunday School) was considered to be extremely important.  Over the course of the first 100 years of the church there were some conflicts between the two groups.  These seemed to have generally been resolved each time.  In general both segments of the church worked together to fulfill the overall mission of Falls Presbyterian.  In the last 25 years, both organizations have worked as one, with what is now called Christian Education actually being directed by a committee of Session.

 

9.            The new church elected two persons as their first elders.  Mr. John Kinnier (who organized and lead the first Sabbath School ) and Mr. John Hope were elected at that same time.  Mr. Hope served only until 1859 when he moved to center city and joined another church.  Mr. Kinnier continued to serve as the only elder until 1873 when he transferred his membership to Germantown Presbyterian.  

 

10.        The first Communion Service of the newly organized church was conducted at the Old Academy in December 1856.

 

11.        The church’s first pipe organ (not the current organ) was played for the first time on Nov 27, 1870.  That Organ was gift of Mr. James Dobson.  James Dobson was one of the owners of Dobson’s Mill of East Falls .  In the 150 years of this church, we have had only two pipe organs. 

 

12.        Our current pipe organ was originally built into the church building on Ridge Avenue , near School House Lane .  It was first played on March 13, 1906.  Then in the 1940’s it was moved into our current church, here at Vaux St and Midvale Ave.   The organ was built by a company called Bartholomay.   Funds to purchase this organ came from church members and from the Carnegie Foundation  (Falls Methodist obtained their pipe organ in very much the same way and at the same time).  The cost of moving the organ into the new church was paid for, in part, by Dobson Family.

 

13.        The Bartholomay Pipe Organ in this church has always been repaired using restoration methods.  While individual components have been periodically replaced, the organ functions exactly the same as it did when it was first built, 100 years ago.  It contains no new electronic or microprocessor parts.  It operates with basic electric and pneumatic control.  The fact that it has not been modernized makes it a truly classic and historic instrument.  Chimes were added later.

 

14.        After meeting in the Old Academy for over ten years the growing congregation was quickly outgrowing that space.  Rev.  Joseph Beggs had for some years envisioned a church building of its own for Falls Presbyterian.  A site was purchased for our first church building on Nov 30, 1866, for $1,800.  It was located on Ridge Avenue , close to School Hose Lane and backed up to what is now known as Kelly Drive . 

 

15.        The cornerstone of the Ridge Ave church was laid on September 7, 1867, and our very own church building was dedicated on October 11, 1868.  It cost $8,000 to build.  It was made of stone and stucco and had no steeple.  Inside, the Sanctuary was finished in dark wood pew, trim and carved wood ornamentation and light plaster walls.  We are still not sure what type of window glass was used when they were first installed.  However, the general shape of the windows was very much the same as the windows in our current church.

 

16.        Major renovations to church in 1879 included, the interior ceiling being raised to the level of the outside roof, two large chandeliers added to increase the sanctuary lighting, the redesign of the front of the church, the sanctuary and basement Sunday School room frescoed with "beautiful designs" and new carpet put in the aisles.  This was all done for $1,900.  In 1884 new cushions for the pews and all new carpeting were installed.  These textile products appropriately came from the Dobsons Mills of East Falls,

 

17.        A new Sabbath School Building was added to the church in 1890.  This addition was made to the back of the original sanctuary building, adjacent to what is now called Kelly Drive .  Ground was broken by Miss Sarah Dobson on April 22, 1889.  The total cost was $10,000.  The building was dedicated on May 11, 1890 with addresses by the Hon.  George S.  Graham, then Philadelphia District Attorney and Mr. John Wanamaker founder of the world's largest department store of its time.

 

18.        The church's first manse was built at 4504 Ridge Ave , very near the church in 1875.  We know very little about this house.  It was described by Rev.  Beggs as a "fine large and commodious edifice built of brick".  But for many years it had no city water and no inside bathroom.  The cost of the new manse was $3,600

 

19.        Starting in early 1856 with just a few members, by 1897 the Sunday School attendance had reached 438.  Similarly the church itself started in the later part of 1856 with 22 people, the membership of the church grew to 418 in 1906, just 50 years after its founding.

 

20.        Brothers James and John Dobson were born in England and moved to Philadelphia around 1854.  They bought a small textile mill at Ridge and the Wissahickon Creek.  That mill was later moved to Ridge and Scotts Lane and was greatly expanded.  It became perhaps the largest commercial textile ventures in the country at the time and was certainly the largest employer in the community through the second half of 1800's and into the early 1900's.  Both Dobsons had large mansions in East Falls .  James and his family became members, generous benefactors and leaders of this church.  John and family joined St.  James the Less, Episcopal Church.

 

21.        The longest pastorate of the church: Rev.  Joseph Beggs 1859 - 1894 (35 years), second longest Rev.  Elvin Kessler 1956 - 1987 (31 years)

 

22.        The shortest fulltime pastorate was Rev.  Samuel Wilbert Steckel 1914 - 1917 (3 years)

 

23.        There have been 12 fulltime ministers of this church; Beggs, Doyle, Thompson, Glasgow, Royer, Steckel, Cooke, Muyskens, Harvey , Kessler, Potts, Rick-Miller.

 

24.        The church has had three homes (manses) for the use of previous pastors.  The first was at 4504 Ridge Avenue (adjacent to the Ridge Avenue church building).  The second manse at 3413 Midvale Avenue .  It was a few doors below our current church building.  The third manse at 3400 Coulter Street , adjacent to this church, was designed by Mr. William K. Harrison and was built in 1962, and is currently being rented.

 

25.        For many years Falls Pres did not have a Board of Deacons.  It is likely that the functions of the Deacons were performed by the Session and other church organizations such as The Ladies Aid Society.  However, on April 13, 1932 our church elected its first Deacons.  They were Frederick Kehs, Samuel McClenahan, John Morrow and Russell Weer

 

26.        Among our current members the person with the longest service as a Deacon of this church, (both active and reserve) is Joan Spedding Goffredo.  She became a Deacon of this church in January 1971

 

27.        Among our current members the person with the longest service as an Elder of this church, (both active and reserve) is William K.  Harrison, who began his service in January 1971

 

28.        As was stated in a previous item, our first Elders were John Kinnier and John Hope, both elected to the Session in 1856.  Our first woman Elder was Miss Margaret Jones, elected to the Session January 31, 1971.  The second woman to be an Elder is Mrs.  Lorraine Harris, elected December 30, 1973.

 

29.        Falls Presbyterian has always been a "family" church, with Session leadership often crossing many generations within our church families.  For example: In 1891 Josiah Linton was elected to the Session, Ross Beggs Linton (named after our first pastor) in 1911, W.  Horace Linton in 1915 and James S.  Linton in 1946.  Similarly, William J.  Harrison in 1951, his son, William K.  Harrison in 1972, Bill's son Keith Harrison in 1985, and Bill's other son, Eric Harrison in 2001; Samuel McClenahan in 1969, his son David in 1981 and his other son Robert in 1985; Walter MacIndoe Sr.  elected in 1911 (was also Clerk of Session for many years), son Walter Jr, in 1939 (clerk of Session for over 40 years) and Walter Jr's brother, Laurence in 1940.  This listing is not intended to include all families represented on our Session.

 

30.        Falls Pres adopted a "Unicameral" System on Feb 11, 1996.  As an incorporated entity, in the eyes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we are required to have a Board of Trustees.  As a Presbyterian Church, we are required to operate under the leadership of a Session.  For the first 140 years of the church the Trustees and the Session took care of the temporal needs and the ecclesiastical needs of the church respectively.  In 1998, at a time of declining membership, the church joined a growing trend to combine the functions of the two boards into a single, unicameral board, under the name of the Session.  Even as membership has increased again, this unicameral system has turned out to be a very effective way to lead Falls Pres at this time in its history.  

 

31.        The last persons to be elected as "Trustees" of Falls Presbyterian, before the unicameral system was instituted were: Eric Harrison, Robert McClenahan, and Melvin Rummell.  They were elected in 1995.

 

32.        The current member of Falls Presbyterian that has been a member, continuously, for the longest time is Mrs.  Bessie Groves Congdon.  She became a member in June 1929.  She is also the oldest member of the church.  Her family connection to the church goes back to Martha Groves who became a church member on March 19, 1869.

 

33.        The following persons all joined this church on Apr 1, 1945: J.  Dell Shivers, George W.  Minges Jr., Dorothy Minges, Inger Henrickson (Harrison), Eleanor Furman (Fletcher), Edna Crooks (Ames), Eleanore MacIndoe (Butler ), Edith Furman (Miller), and Margaret Jones, Mary Schwartz, Helen Wahl and others.  These forty (40) persons were the first people taken into membership in the new church on Vaux Street . 

 

34.        Jean Mackey and her sister Harriet were in a group of 12 that were the first new members at the very beginning of Rev.  Elvin H.  Kessler's 31 year pastorate. 

 

35.        Carol Conway Dougherty, Robert McClenahan, Charlotte Scavetti Dobson, Norma Sharp Hawk, Thomas Kessler, Deborah Deming, Mary Deming and several others all became members on April 18, 1957.  This group was the first young adult Communicants Class conducted by Rev.  Kessler.

 

36.        The first person baptized during the 31 year pastorate of Rev.  Elvin H Kessler was Beth Ann Angle on March 18, 1956.  He conducted the marriage of Beth Ann and James Broach on October 23, 1987.  The next to the last person that Rev.  Kessler baptized near the time of his retirement was Beth Ann and James' son, Alexander Broach, on August 9, 1988.  (The last person he baptized was Courtney Kyle on September 24, 1989). 

 

37.        Around 1913, the famous Evangelist, Aimee Semple McPherson, held Revival Meetings in the hilly woods near Midvale Avenue and the present Vaux Street , the location of this church building.  McPherson was born in 1890 and died in 1944.  She was a very controversial, Pentecostal, itinerant preacher.  She was a real rarity at the time, in that she was a female preacher in a male dominated field.  She was the founder of the Foursquare Gospel Church which is still in existence and was run by her son Rolf for many years.  He was born in 1913, the same year she visited East Falls .

 

38.        Articles placed in the cornerstone of the Vaux Street church: Holy Bible, pictures of Mr. & Mrs.  James Dobson and some of their family, picture of Rev.  Muyskens, some coins, newspapers, history of the church, church, and Sabbath School , choir and officer roles.

 

39.        In the year 1917, Mrs.  Florence Dobson Spencer made provisions in her will to leave a significant sum of money to the church for the purpose of building a new church, to be known as The James and Mary Dobson Memorial Church , in memory of her parents, .  This happened over 8 years before the members of the church decided that they needed a new church building.  Mrs.  Spencer met an untimely death on June 19, 1930 in an automobile accident at Ridge Ave and Butler Pike.  Negotiations with the Dobson family resulted in a compromise about the name of the church.  At the request of most members, it was agreed that the name of the church would remain unchanged.  However, to honor Mrs.  Spencer's request and the memory of all that her parents had done for our beloved church, the new building would be known as "The James and Mary Dobson Memorial Building ".  Please see the bronze commemoration plaque in the Narthex.

 

40.        The Groundbreaking Ceremony for our current church building was held on Jan 26, 1941.  The first spade of earth was turned by Mrs.  Bessie Dobson Altemus, daughter of James and Mary Dobson and sister of Mrs.  Florence Dobson Spencer whose bequest helped to make it possible.

 

41.        As has previously been stated, the congregation voted in 1925 to build a new church building.  The plan was to complete the construction in just a few years.  The parcel of land at Vaux Street and Midvale Ave.   (a location requested by Mrs.  Mary Dobson) was purchased for $27,000.  However, actual construction was not started.  Because of the Great Depression there was not enough money collected to engage a contractor.  It took several years and Mrs.  Spencer's tragic death (her bequest) to allow us to accumulate enough money to sign a contract with a contractor. 

 

42.        The first Service held in the new (our current) church was a Christmas Eve Service on December 24, 1944.  At that time, the interior and some of the outside of the church was not yet finished.  The building was not officially dedicated until November 1945.

 

 

43.        The last Wedding in old church on Ridge Avenue was that of Mr. Samuel McClenahan and Miss Clara Neely, on Mar 28, 1941.  The first Wedding in the new church on Vaux Street was the marriage of Mr. John Napier and Mrs.  Emily Clark Shepley, on Oct 10, 1945

 

44.        The first Infant Baptism in the Vaux Street Church (Feb 18, 1945) was Alan James Conway, son of Edith Haviland Conway (Gotwals) and Howard Conway Jr., and brother of Carol Conway Dougherty

 

45.        The first baptism with "new" (current) Baptismal Font (gift of Mr. and Mrs.  Guy P Bible in memory of a beloved son) was on July 19, 1945.  At that time Eleanor Snyder Drain, daughter of James and Mildred (Kyle) Snyder was baptized.

 

46.        The first hymn sung in the new church was “ America ”

 

47.        One current member worked on the planning committee of the 100th Anniversary Celebration: Mrs.  Inger Harrison.

 

Minutes for History

 

The following five articles, each called a “Minute for History” were presented at various Morning Worship Services of the Falls Presbyterian Church during its 150th Anniversary Year 2006.

 

Minute for History for March 2006

 

Today I would like to talk about two people that have made positive differences in this church. 

 

The first of these is James Dobson.  For those of you who don’t know about the Dobsons, James Dobson and his brother John were born in England and moved to Philadelphia around 1854.  Together they bought a small textile mill at Ridge Ave and the Wissahickon Creek.  They quickly expanded the business and moved it to Ridge Ave and Scotts Lane , where it grew and prospered.  One source says that by the 1870’s the Dobson Mill was the largest commercial business in the world.  While this claim is probably an exaggeration, needless to say, the mill was the largest employer in East Falls for many decades, until it closed in the 1920’s.  The mill and its owners significantly affected the lives of thousands of East Falls residents and their many descendents. 

 

The list of contributions to this church from the James Dobson family is long and impressive.  As we have mentioned before, the church’s first organ, major renovations to the interior of the first church building, the installation of the current organ (Twice!), the renovation of the old manse on Ridge Avenue, the payment of many, many bills at times when the church couldn’t afford to pay them and major portions of the creation of this beautiful building come from either James himself or from his wife and children.  Remember that this is the James and Mary Dobson Memorial building.  In addition to his financial contributions, James Dobson served as President of the Board of Trustees for a number of years and was a true church leader.

 

Many years later, another man came into the life of the church.  His name was Frank Brook.  Frank had none of the remarkable financial and community successes that marked James Dobson’s life.  Frank was a worker for the Post Office for a number of years.  He had a slight deformity of his back that somewhat affected his physical abilities.  In almost every way, his life and that of James Dobson were very different.  But in a couple of ways they were remarkably similar.  Frank’s grandfather came to this country from Ireland about the same time that the Dobson’s arrived here.  His grandfather, John Neely, joined this church in 1872 followed by his father a number of years later.  (By the way, I should say that Frank’s grandfather was Bob’s and my great grandfather.   Frank was our cousin.) To continue, Frank’s family was a part of this church for many years.  He joined the church in 1932.  He was chosen as a trustee for a number of years and was elected as the Financial Secretary, serving in that important job for many years.  This is the same job that Inger Harrison has held for a few years herself.  When Frank retired from his job at the Post Office, (a bit early because of his back), he felt a call to spend several days a week working around the church.  He and another faithful member of the church, Elmer Hemphill, personally planted all the azaleas and the rhododendrons on the lower side of the church.  While his wonderful creation has faded some, please imagine this beautiful space before all these high trees grew up to create too much shade, crowding out the entire bank of flowering shrubs.  Through their hard work and dedication the beauty of our house of worship was enhanced for many years.

 

I believe that the story of these people has something to teach us.  Different as they were these two people both deeply loved this church.  Each gave generously within their means and capabilities.  Each made a strong impact on the physical and spiritual wellbeing of the church.  And most importantly, had they lived at the same time, they would have been joined, each Sunday, in worshipping the Lord together, sitting in the same pews, equal before their God.  Before the Lord their differences disappeared.  Their common love of the Lord and the church was all that mattered, and this church is better for the faithful service of Frank and James and many, many others like them.

 

Minute for History for April 2006

 

Today’s moment for history will be about Christian Education here at Falls Pres.  Presbyterianism has always emphasized teaching and Christian Education.  In fact the minister of a Presbyterian Church is known as a teaching Elder (Being different from a Ruling Elder or member of the session.) Our teachings also tell us that even Jesus was often called a rabbi or teacher.  The concept of teaching in addition to preaching and pastoring is central to our faith.

 

Here at Falls Presbyterian we find that our Sunday School, which can also be called a church school or a Christian Ed program) was actually started before the church was.  It was formally organized in February of 1856, nine months before the church was formed.  Bible studies and children’s studies had been conducted more informally for over 2 years prior to that.

 

For many years the Sunday School operated as a very separate organization.  While there was an obvious close tie between the two, they operated separately.  At Falls Pres the person that started the Sunday School, Mr. John Kinnier, was also the first person elected as a ruling elder when the church was formed.  There are numerous instances in the history of the church when the Sunday School and Church did not get along.  There were a few times when open hostilities existed.  These even led to one or two people leaving the church.  The arguments seemed to have been about independence and territory.  There never seemed to be great differences over theology or even teaching methods.  Even the treasuries of the church and the Sunday School were separate with different treasures until the 1990’s. 

 

After the Ridge Avenue church was built, the Sunday School met in the basement.  About 20 years later a very large addition was put onto the back of the church.  It was larger than the church itself had been.  In 1892 there were 236 members in the church.  In that same year Sunday School membership was 433.  Christian education was considered to be at least as important as was the worship service.  In the first half of the 1900’s Sunday School was held on Sunday afternoons.  The Church and Sunday School were the most important thing in the lives of many.  My mother, for example, having nothing to do on early Sunday mornings, joined the Grace Chapel Sunday School (which was a block and a half away on Ridge Ave.   Then she went to Worship at Falls Pres, Sunday School at Falls Pres, and Christian Endeavourer after dinner, followed by evening service.

 

In the mid 1800’s the Sunday School organizations throughout the city and really throughout the country often led the way in religious life.  There were several Sunday Schools in East Falls alone that were not really associated with a church.  These were not educational institutions associated with denominations.  These were actual Sunday Schools.

 

As I mentioned before, Christian Education is one of the hallmarks of Presbyterianism.  It is in fact one of the basic disciplines of most religions.  I thought it would be interesting to understand the role that Christian Education, Bible Study and Sunday School has played in the life of this church.  It would do us all well to consider their role in our faith lives today.

 

 

Minute for History for May 2006

 

As we look at the history of Falls Presbyterian Church we see that this church has been a living, breathing part of our nation and its history.  We spent some time last week, re-living the founding of the church.  In 1856, we saw that the church was, in part, a product of the beginning of the industrial revolution.  As you look at the nation and East Falls in those years you saw a country that was growing up.  Much of the country had been already been explored.  A new form of government had been formed.  A democracy, though very different from today, was in place and was about to be severely tested with Civil war.  People that had existed as farmers, fishermen and tradesmen were getting involved with business and manufacturing.  Large chemical plants and mills were springing up all over East Falls and Philadelphia .  Great population shifts were taking place.  Native Americans were being pushed out of their centuries old lands.  Large numbers of immigrants from Europe were streaming into the industrialized cities.  In Philadelphia these people were mostly from Ireland and Italy .

 

Racial tolerance of both the people brought here against their will from Africa and of those overpowered Native Americans was a new and fairly limited concept.  For a country and a city that had been founded on religious tolerance, there were great strains and separations between Jews, Catholics and Protestants.  Even the differences and isolation between various protestant denominations were highly evident in the mid 1800’s.

 

Into this scene stepped our church.  The people represented the nation in 1856.  Factory workers and even the factory owners joined in the church with the farmers and fishermen of the past.  With many people arriving directly from Ireland and joining the church right away, language difference probably was an issue.  Reading and writing skills most likely spanned the entire spectrum of literacy.   All of this reflected the society around us.

 

Immediately after the church got started at the Old Academy , the Civil War began.  Just four years before our first church was built, that same location along Ridge Avenue was the site of a very large Union Army encampment, housing hundreds of union soldiers preparing for a possible battle near Philadelphia . 

 

At the same time, the nation had to deal with issues that had been simmering for many years.  The church grew up in this era of uncertainty and of deep questioning; trying to determine in what value decisions the church should be involved.  It is clear to me that the people of the church were aware of racial injustice.  It is also clear that the church though not necessarily the leader we would now think they should have been, did make slow progress in understanding and change of attitude.  Maybe wishing it had been different, it seems that in some of these issues this church, for many years reflected the nation as a whole.  I think we can humbly and cautiously say that in more recent years this church is stepping forward in civil rights and mutual respect.

 

In the year 1900, a major hurricane struck Galveston Texas , thousands died.  What famous catastrophe took place just 100 years ago? , the San Francisco earthquake struck.  Just 2 years ago a deadly Tsunami killed hundreds of thousands of people throughout Asia and Africa.  What is the common thread to Falls Pres concerning these events? Our records show that the church made strong efforts to raise money and awareness for the victims in all these major disasters.  World War I involved about 15 members of our church in the fighting in Europe.  One member died in his country’s service in that war.   A few years later the great depression forced us to delay the construction of this building for a number of years.  The church also supplied food and supplies for many people suffering through that economic disaster.  A lack of available building supplies and building funds delayed construction for more years just as we were recovering from the depression.  The country and our members were totally involved with World War II.  Letter writing, bandage making and sending treats from “home” to the soldiers were just some of the activities Falls Pres did to support the soldiers and the country.

 

Another member was lost to the Viet Nam War.  We have gathered and prayed together when FDR died, when JFK was shot, when Martin Luther King was killed, when wars started and ended, and when 9/11 shook our lives and security.

 

I could go on.  But I hope you see that this church is not just a place to attend services on Sundays.  It is a place that lives with us.  It is family who we join with to get through the events of history, both great and small.  It is our connection with our God and our faith to guide us and support us as we encounter the uncertainties and challenges of life.  This church lives on, with us, as a reflection of us all, both in the past and in the years yet to come. 

 

Minute for History August 2006

 

This tribute to Dr.  Harvey was read to the Congregation of the First Presbyterian Church, Falls of Schuylkill (Falls Presbyterian Church) on Sunday, August 27, 2006 as part of its 150th Anniversary Year Celebration.  It was then sent to Robert and Mona Harvey in Florida along with a giant greeting card signed by many church members and friends.

 

Today I would like to tell you about one of the former pastors of Falls Presbyterian Church, the Reverend Doctor Robert E.  Harvey .

 

In the year 1943 this church was in one of the most interesting times in its history.  As you may remember in 1925 the church, under the pastorate of Rev Cooke, had decided to relocate from its former Ridge Avenue home to a new facility up the hill to what was then the newer, more residential section of the community.  The Ridge Avenue building was in need of many costly repairs and its location was becoming increasingly isolated and more commercial.  Money was raised and a new property was purchased.  However the realties of the great depression prevented actual construction.  A number of years later, due to a generous bequest the building program was re-started and ground was broken in 1941 during the pastorate of Rev.  Muyskens.  However within a few months construction ground to a halt with the beginning of World War II and the inability to obtain the needed construction materials.  We can talk more about the building of this church at a later time.

 

But here is the situation in 1943.  The Ridge Avenue church had been sold and had had to be vacated in 1942.  With the building of this church suspended, the congregation was meeting in the Young Men’s Association Building on Indian Queen Lane (now known as the Carfax Building ).  Rev Muyskens had left also in 1942 to accept another pastorate.  The prospects of finishing the new church building was uncertain, as the war was still going on and the projected costs of completion were rising with every month of delay.   The church was without a permanent home and without a pastor.  The dreams of a new church building, in an expanding part of the neighborhood and all the renewal that was to be happening was on hold.

 

Into this situation stepped a young man of 28 years, named Robert Harvey.  He was selected to be the new pastor and started in this role on May 25, 1943 In fact his installation service was held on that Tuesday evening in the Market Square Presbyterian Church in Germantown because we did not have a suitable facility for such an important service.  Mr. Harvey as he was known by many (he received his doctorate later in his career), is a man of unusual drive and purpose. 

 

I should add that Mr. Harvey is currently living in Florida at the age of 91.  Several of us here today have been privileged to know him.  Mr. Harvey is not well and struggles both physically and with the ability to stay alert.  I’ll fill you in on his condition in a moment. 

 

But right now I want to tell you about this pastor who was able to re-invigorate this church and its spirit.  He was faced with a lowering membership that was getting impatient meeting in a small gymnasium, sitting on folding chairs, with no organ and little of the beauty of this sanctuary.  But the Young Men’s building, our temporary church building sat in the literal and symbolic shadow of the Old Academy .  The people of the church in a time of uncertainty and upset could look out the window and see where it had all begun almost 90 years before.

 

Along comes Mr. Harvey with unbridled spirit and optimism and a true vision for this church.  First he tackled the financial issues that would hold back completion of this church building when the materials became available.  He led a number of church members in a drive to finish the church.  He and these others knocked on the doors of members, neighbors, businesses and other organizations to raise the needed money.  Enough money was raised to obtain a reasonable mortgage and church construction was finished enough to hold a service on Christmas Eve in 1944.  He has since mentioned that it was difficult to balance the need to ask for money while not begging.  He felt it important to try to maintain the church’s and his personal integrity.  I understand that a significant contribution from a local brewery was actually torn up when received because of his feelings about the business of its donor.  He also upset some members when he worked to consolidate a number of various treasuries and organizations within the church.  Changes that seem so reasonable and sensible now, made him vulnerable to some strong criticism.  As one reward for his work, Robert Harvey was married to his wife Jeanne in December of 1945 in this sanctuary that he had helped to completion.  He and his wife adopted 3 children and lived in our Midvale Avenue Manse. 

 

His next mission was to seek new members.  This he did with great enthusiasm and drive.  He used many so-called normal approaches and a few more unconventional methods that included a sound truck and greeting and speaking to people on street corners.  Some of these very evangelist methods did not go over with a few of the more staunch Presbyterians.  It is hard to access the success of theses methods.  But it is clear that Mr. Harvey ’s enthusiasm and purpose caught on.  Almost 400 persons became members during his 13 year pastorate.

 

Perhaps his greatest accomplishment, remembered by many of us, was that he was a minister of the people and especially of the children and young adults.  He led outings, picnics, played sports with us and was always into making the church experience more fun.  He was there in all parts of the people’s lives.  He visited, comforted and supported his flock.  He became a good and faithful friend, leader and pastor.  Mr. Harvey heard and followed a new call on November 30, 1955 as he moved to Trenton, Michigan.  Later he took several pastoral positions in the Miami area.  His wife Jeanne died a number of years ago and he married Mona, who lovingly takes care of him in his advanced years.  Inger received a wonderful letter from Mona just a few weeks ago.

 

So today let us honor this man who struggles in a nursing facility in Miami Florida .  His legacies are around us and his spirit is present in our new pastor and much of what God and our church are trying to accomplish today.

 

Minute for History for October 2006

 

During the past few months we have spent this time together to talk about our church and its history.  We have been looking at our history as a way to study what it means to be a church, to be a church family, and to understand what it means to be given the responsibility of being trustees of God’s church.  This is not just some organization that has a 150 year old history with a 60 year old building to maintain, a budget to keep, grass to cut and leaves to rake.  This is God’s Church.  A group of people that got together 150 years ago to be such a church.

 

Now please don’t think that I am not aware of the importance of these important building issues.  They are vital to us.  We all spend valuable time, effort and financial resources to maintain this beautiful facility and therefore to provide for its ministry.  It has been interesting to me that our written history is full of details of buildings and organizations, budgets and treasurers reports.  Clearly, without these things this church would not have become what it is. 

 

But the history of this church is about much more than buildings and administrative work.  Our church is about its people and a mission to spread God’s good news.  Our written history is aggravatingly missing detailed information about us, the people.

 

On Sunday, when we approach this Church, as we round the corner and gaze upward, what do we see? Do we see just a beautiful lawn and garden that requires lots of effort to keep it looking as good as it does.  Do we see only the jobs everywhere we turn, painting, rotting baseboards, water leaks galore, lights that burn out, speed bumps in our older carpet, window sills that have vanished over time, work, work and more work? We probably see committee meetings, weekly jobs, controversies and disagreements, myriad clerical and administrative jobs, endless duties and responsibilities? Yes these things are here.  Yes, God has entrusted this beautiful church facility to our care.

 

Today I ask you to look again the next time the church comes into your view.  Look beyond all the work that we do.  See the church within this building.  Here is our church family.  Here is a wonderfully diverse cross section of our world, gathered together under this one roof, under the outstretched arms of God.  Here, as a family, you are all my sisters and brothers.  The church is our mother and God is our Father.

We do not come here to shield ourselves from the world, to ignore our problems or to deny our differences.  We come here to join together in the many, many things that we have in common, to place ourselves into the care and wisdom of God, and to enjoy an exhilarating time in His presence.  Here we do not come to ignore our diseases, our cares and worries, our disagreements, but to place them into the hands of God.

 

Because the written history of the church regrettably has so little about the people how can we understand the people that helped to begin this church.  We do it by looking at us today.  We are just like our founders of 150 years ago.  People of simple, yet diverse faiths, working, playing, worshipping, and LIVING together.  We look at history to put into perspective what it is that we are all about, what it is that we are doing together.  We look at history to understand that adversities come and go, people come and go, the world spins on around us, but this church, not this building, this church goes on.  We are on a great mission.  We follow generation after generation that have shared this vision and this responsibility. 

 

The history that we are taking an entire year to study has taught us to keep our focus on the real church.  The people are the church, they are our family.  For example Mr. Kinnier who was our first Elder 150 years ago is like our great, great grandfather.  He is not just a name.  We share perhaps the most important aspects of our spiritual beliefs with this man we never met.  We share our faith, our love, our hopes, our dreams.  We learn from him, we are inspired by him.  His dream to start a church is our dream to sustain a church.  And he is just one of over 2000 that have come before us.

 

In about three weeks we hope to enjoy a celebration of the actual anniversary date of November 7th.  We have a wonderful anniversary/homecoming service planned for Sunday the 5th.  We already know that many people that have been associated with Falls Pres over many years will be here.  Former pastors, former choir members, former members and friends.  I know that most of you do not have immediate family connections that date back to the early days of the church.  Bob and I feel privileged to know that our great grandfather and grandmother joined this church in about 1872.  This is fun and exciting to know.  But what we have been talking about this morning is that all of us are part of this church family that dates back 150 years.  We relate to our founders because we share this church with them.

 

Following the service on November 5th will be a luncheon.  Its primary purpose is to provide us all a time to fellowship and interact together.  This would be impossible to do in the context of a worship service. 

 

Celebration is an important part of our lives.  This allows us to set aside some time to appreciate each other and what we are doing together, to meet old friends, to make new friends.  Celebration makes us feel good, it energies us, it brings us together.  Celebration allows us to take pride that we are involved in a very great thing in a very challenging world. 

 

Hopefully all of this year will have served to renew us, charge as and send us out to continue the good work.  Yes, that includes taking care of this building.  But most importantly in means that we must continue to build our church as a family and as a place centered on our God. 

 

Remember this old children’s game, with a slight modification: This is the church and this is the steeple, but be sure to open the door and see all the people.  

 

Roll of Elders for the first 100 years in the history of Falls Presbyterian Church

(List does not include elections or re-elections after 1956)

 

Name                                                  Years of Service on Session

John Kinnier                                                        1856 – 1873

John Hope                                                           1856 – 1859

James McMurtrie                                                1872 – died 1894

Samuel McKinney                                               1872 – 1875

John Maxwell                                                      1874 – died 1904

Josiah Linton                                                       1891 – died 1912

George B.  Gallagher                                           1891 – 1895

James Starrett                                                      1891 – 1940 (became Elder Emeritus)

Samuel H.  Mayberry                                          1895 – 1900

Charles E.  Hunt                                                  1900 – 1914

Alexander Starrett                                               1900 – 1940 (became Elder Emeritus)

Louis Floge                                                         1911 – 1915

Walter MacIndoe, Sr.                                          1911 – died 1946

Ross B.  Linton                                                    1911 – 1914

Herbert Johnson                                                  1913 – 1922

George Hamilton                                                 1915 – died 1928

David Borland                                                     1915 – died 1943

W.  Horace Linton                                               1915 – died 1927

Charles A.  Palmer                                              1 916 – died 1924

William J.  Porter                                                 1922 – died 1928

William H.  Halstead                                            1924 – died 1934

John Montgomery                                                elected did not serve

William A.  Fitzpatrick                                          1928 – died 1955

William J.  Calhoun, Sr.                                       1932 – died 1937

Frederick Kehs                                                    1933 – died 1938