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Philipsburg First Presbyterian Church |
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Easter Our History Activities
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PHILIPSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 1844 – 1987
FORWARD
Sunday, November 29, 1987 has been set aside to commemorate the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the reorganization of our church. It is only fitting, therefore, that we establish where we have been so that we can better chart where we are going. The committee in charge of compiling the history of the Philipsburg Presbyterian church was fortunate in having a number of sources for gathering material. In 1936, Mr. J. M. Straw had presented a brief history of our church for presentation to the Presbytery as a permanent record for the Committee of History and Records of that body. Again in 1953, the Westminster Fellowship under the leadership of Glenn Shankle added to and updated a history of the church. Miss Juanita Hoyt, in preparation of the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the present church sanctuary, reprinted a history from 1909 to 1959. The work of these people has been of immeasurable value to the committee on church history. Mr. Don Swires has been very helpful by answering questions that we raised about the early church as he remembers it. Even of greater help has been the church bulletins and newspaper articles he had gathered. He lent us copies of the Daily Journal, April 2, 1938; June 2, 1926; October 5, 1952; and January 29, 1953. Our appreciation is extended to Mr. Swires. Much of our information came from the Session Meeting Minutes of the early years. It was with regret that many of the early years are lost to us because of the loss of some of the books in a fire. Fortunately, those were years when persons compiling earlier history accounts were able to interview members of the congregation who were active in church affairs at that time. Perhaps these records that we have available can be preserved so that sometime in the future, when it becomes necessary to update our church history, all of the information will be available to them. We truly hope that this is the case. Copies of all of this material will be put away for safekeeping. Thank you for permitting us to work together to make our one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary possible. Anniversary Committee The Presbyterian Church of Philipsburg was first organized by an act of the Huntingdon Presbytery on January 9, 1844. Prior to that time, Presbyterians living in that community were served by supply preachers. The worship services were held in what is known as the Union or “Mud” Church. Following the actin of the Presbytery on January 15, 1845, the Rev. Mr. W. J. Murphy was installed as pastor. His services would be shared by both the Fruit Hill Church and the Mount Pleasant Church. This relationship continued until October 5, 1847 when, at the request of Rev. Murphy, the contract was dissolved. From that time until 1862 the church was weak, and it was served only occasionally by supply preachers. However, though there were but eleven members, they were able to convince Presbytery to reorganize the Philipsburg congregation. With George Stiner and William Roberts as previously installed elders, the reorganization was completed and the church was once again ready to serve the spiritual needs of the people. This event took place on September 27, 1892. The new organization was much stronger and in April, 1864, they called the Rev. Mr. W. O. Wright for one half of his time and service. He was ordained and installed as pastor at an adjourned meeting of the Presbytery held by courtesy in the Philipsburg Methodist Episcopal Church on June 15, 1864. The Rev. Wright continued as pastor until April 15. 1868. By his request, the relationship was terminated. The church was once again without the services of a full time pastor. Supplies were intermittently appointed by the Presbytery. The Rev. Mr. Sargent, as Stated Supply, was most often called on to fill this position. The Rev. Mr. Thomas Thompson and the Rev. Mr. N. H. Miller, DD., followed the Rev. Mr. Sargent. These men also served as pastor for the Osceola Mills Church as well as neighboring Presbyterian Churches. -1-
Until 1878, the services of the congregation were held in the Union Church. In that year, at a cost of $2,500.00, a new building was erected on Second Street. The Presbyterian Church had their own place for worship. As before, they had no regularly installed pastor. In February, 1881, the Rev. Mr. W. W. Woodend became the pastor. He remained until 1883. The Rev. Mr. M. L. Cook followed, but his pastorate continued for little more than a year. During this period in time, many of the men who came to the Philipsburg charge were part time pastors serving other churches in the area. Mr. S. A. Cornelius, a licentiate, was made States Supply in July, 1885. The following April, after his completion of theological courses, Mr. Cornelius was ordained to the Presbyterian Ministry and installed as pastor of the church. This pastorate continued until the fall of 1889. Rev. Cornelius dissolved the relationship. The Rev.Mr. Oliver Hemstreet was elected in February, 1890, but he declined the call. Supplies were once again named until October 28, 1890, when the Rev. Mr. E. F. Johnston became pastor. He continued to serve until August, 1892. It might be well to note that during this time it was not uncommon for the entire Session to be composed of two members and the pastor as moderator. Meetings were held at irregular times, as many as three or four in one week if the need arose. The most common purpose of such meetings was to accept or instruct new members. Often it was necessary to adjourn to a private home to receive the proper responses from prospective communicants. Many of these people were too ill to attend the session’s meeting. From early Session Meeting Minutes, after a person was found to be most acceptable, the closing comments were, “having made a satisfactory profession of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, he was admitted to the sealing ordinance of the Lord’s Supper.” The congregation after 1890 continued to grow. It soon became necessary to add two wings to the church structure. This new addition was to be used for Sunday School rooms. Little by little, the strength and power of the church was growing. - 2 - The Rev. Mr. Means succeeded the Rev. Mr. Johnston. The manse, which was until this time located on Ninth Street, was moved to Second Street for greater convenience. The ministry of the Rev. Means was terminated by his sudden death February 15, 1901. Once again, supply preachers continued to serve the congregation. May 1, 1901, the Rev. Mr. R. P. Miller, DD., was elected pastor. It was in some ways a very difficult time for the members. Yet this was one of the most successful periods in the history of the church. On July 4, 1907, the church was badly damaged by fire, which started from an exploding skyrocket. It was necessary to abandon the site and move to the corner of Fifth and Presqueisle Streets where suitable ground had been secured. During this time, services were held in the Protestant Episcopal Church through the generosity of the vestry of that church. S beautiful new church built of native stone was dedicated on January 31, 1909. The cost of this new building was $35,000.00 and at the time of the dedication, this debt was paid in full. The Rev. Miller surrendered his pastorate January 25, 1919, to assume his duties of Executive Secretary of the Huntingdon Presbytery. The dissolution of the relationship was effective February 12, 1919. Almost a year passed before a new pastor was obtained. On January 27, 1920, the Rev. Mr. John T. Scott was installed. It was during this installation that the admonition “praise him up, pray him up, and pay him up” was given. The church thrived during Rev. Scott’s tenure, and a new manse was erected on the adjoining property, which had previously been acquired for the sum of $3500.00. Rev. Scott became ill, but he continued to serve the people of his church. There were many periods when Rev. Scott had to be absent from the church. During the closing months of his life, the Rev. Mr. Frederick McKendrick, a returned missionary, took charge of church affairs. On Jun 2, 1926, Rev. Scott died. A call was issued to the Rev. Mr. Ralph W. Illingworth, Jr., and on December 19, 1926, he began his pastorate. The work of the church continued - 3 - to ;expand and it soon became necessary to build a new unit for the Sunday School. Work began in 1928, and a year later it was completed.. The cost of this unit was A$50,000.00. This entire amount, except for $6000.00, was raised by the time Westminster Hall was completed. At the same time, changes were made in the church auditorium as well as rooms were placed in the basement of the church itself. All of this took place at a time when our country was in a state of near depression. Rev. Illingworth continued as pastor until Jul 1, 1936. At that time he resigned to become Secretary of the Presbyterian Home and the Executive Secretary of the Huntingdon Presbytery. The pulpit was supplied until the election of the Rev. Mr. Charles Maclay on November 1, 1936. Rev. Maclay came to Philipsburg from the Presbyterian Church at Fannettsburg, PA. He was considered to be con- servative in his theology. He was well known locally for his public speaking. He remained in Philipsburg until 1949. His retirement was due to illness and he did not return to active ministry. In March, 1949, a call was issued to the Rev. Mr. C. Edwin Houk of the Mt. Lebanon Presbyterian Church. He accepted and was installed May 10, 1949. This association continued until his resignation in October, 1952. During Rev. Houk’s pastorate the institution of the Board of Deacons was established. The Young Couples’ Club was started and the Westminster Fellowship was revived. There was a substantial increase in the membership during these years. Rev. Houk accepted a call from the Third Presbyterian Church of Uniontown, PA. For a short period of time, the church was served by numerous speakers. On February 10, 1953, the Rev. Mr. Carl C. Gray, formerly of the Calvary Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, Pa., was installed as the fifteenth pastor of the church. During his years of service, he was well-accepted within the community. His sincerity and dedication to his calling made him a true “shepherd of his flock.” A Boy Scout and a Cub Pack were active for many years. The Junior Choir was formed and became a part of the first service on Sunday mornings. The Westminster Fellowship thrived under Rev. Gray’s leadership. On May 30, 1982, the Rev. Carl Gray retired from - 4 - active service after twenty-nine years of service to the Philipsburg Presbyterian Church. He was awarded the title of Pastor Emeritus by the congregation. Rev. Gray and his wife Betty reside in Philipsburg. The church was without a full-time pastor until October 10, 1982. At that time, a call was given to the Rev. Mr. Robert LaForce. Rev. LaForce enjoyed working with the youth of the church. It was during his tenure that Junior Church was started to allow the adults and parents an opportunity to enjoy the service without distractions. Rev. LaForce resigned his pastorate February 28, 1985. At present he is serving a church in the Philadelphia area. An Interim pastor, the Rev. Mr. Morrison Rider, was appointed by Presbytery to minister to the congregation. The members enjoyed the relationship with this former missionary. He continued to serve from May 1, 1985 to October 15, 1986. Rev. Rider then moved on to a similar position at the Osceola Mills Presbyterian Church. When asked about coming out from retirement, “ministers never retire from their job” and this is especially true of Rev. Morrison Rider. The Pulpit committee issued a call to the Rev. Mr. William Moore of the Northumberland Presbytery. He accepted and was installed as pastor on October 26, 1986. He has begun to build the congregation and is especially interested in the youth of the church. His talent as an artist has added immensely to the Children’s Sermon during morning service. He has been actively involved in the reorganization of the couples’ club, which recently acquired the name of the “Good Time Gang.” He has been organizing bus trips to various places within one day’s travel and the response has been very good. If there is seminar within reasonable driving distance, he and his wife Carol attend so that we all benefit from changes and new information. He is known as “Pastor Bill” by many of his congregation and friends. Over the many years memorial gifts have been given to the church. Some of these have fallen prey to time. However, there are some which even today enhance the beauty of the sanctuary or the building. Among these are the carved pulpit from the G. F. Holdren family; the Lectern Bible from Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Jackson; the Lectern, Communion Table, and Baptismal Font - 5 - from the R. B. Stauffer family; the stained glass window “Christ at Prayer in the Garden” by Mrs. Anna Lock in memory of her brother, Charles B. Maxwell; the window “The Good Shepherd” from Mrs. L. W. Nuttall in memory of her father, Mr. Daniel DuBree; the window “The Transfiguration” given in memory of Mr. Thomas G. McCausland, Sr. and Thomas G. McCausland, Jr. by Mrs. Thomas G. McCausland; the Moller organ and chimes given in memory of Mrs. Dollie Stine Maxwell by her husband, Charles Maxwell with additional funds from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation (Mr. Maxwell did not live long enough to hear the organ played); the chimes in memory of William Bragonier from the family; the most recent, the outside lighted cross in memory of Katherine Kirk from her estate. No history of our church would be complete without giving recognition to those young people who have gone out as missionaries or as pastors from our church. One of the earliest to go into the Lord’s service was Miss Jessie Scott. Miss Scott joined with our church by letter from the First Congregational Church in Washington, D.C. on March 26, 1882. She later withdrew her membership to attend the Presbyterian Mission, Mary Holmes Seminary, Jackson, Miss. After a period of study, she was readmitted to our church membership on September 29, 1895. At this time, she entered the mission field and for many years served in South America, particularly in Columbia. The Rev. John Thompson Peters, Ph.D., was baptized in our church in 1909, not many months after its dedication. After graduation from the local high school, he went to college at Lafayette, Western Theological Seminary, and the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. After serving a number of pastorates in Pennsylvania, he went on to become Secretary of Stewardship and Promotion of the United Presbyterian Church in the USA, General Secretary of the Department of Stewardship and Promotion of the General Council, Chairman of the Department of Stewardship and Benevolence of the National Council of Churches, and Chairman of the Committee on Religion in American Life. He returned to be guest speaker at our Fiftieth Anniversary service in 1959.
- 6 - In more recent times, we have been privileged to have several young men choose the ministry as their life’s work. The first of these men was the Rev. Mr. Carl Gray, Jr. After attending Westminster College and Princeton Theological Seminary, Rev. Gray was installed as Minister in the Presbyterian Church on April 16, 1972, at the Summit Hill Presbyterian Church, Lehigh Presbytery. At present, Rev. Gray is pastor of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Highland, Illinois. The last young man to go from our church was the Rev. Mr. John Scott Milsom. Rev. Milsom attended Westminster College and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He was ordained Minister in the Presbyterian Church on February 2, 1977. His first church was Worthington, Pa. At present, he is pastor at the Risertown Maryland Presbyterian Church.
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