“60th Anniversary History” by Elizabeth McClure, July 11, 1951
On Monday evening June 15, 1891, a small group of people met in Lohr’s Hall in the Lohr Building on the corner of South and Wood where the Singer Sewing Machine store is now located. They were a band of zealous Christians who left the Reformed Presbyterian Church for reasons they thought were just. A petition was drawn up at this meeting and signed for presentation to the Monongahela Presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church asking for the organization of a congregation.
The petition was presented at the meeting of Presbytery on June 30 and Dr. J. T. McCrory of the Third Church with his session was appointed to organize the petitioners into a congregation, on Monday evening July 6th. Elders were elected, a Sabbath School organized and a Young Peoples Society was formed. Mr. Walter Hazlett and Mr. John S. Crawford were two of the first elders.
On July 31st, 1891, a call was made to Mr. John Burnett to serve as the pastor. He accepted and was installed on August 14th. The congregation continued to meet in Lohr’s Hall until Jan. 13, 1895, when they entered their church building which was on the lot where our church now stands. There were many interesting highlights of this little group.
Lohr’s Hall has been described as a long narrow room on the third floor of the Lohr Building. This of course meant many stairs to climb, but these little inconveniences were passed unnoticed by this group of earnest workers who worshiped in a hall that contained only a platform, a table for a desk, and the needed chairs.
When the committee went to rent Lohr’s Hall they found just 50 chairs that went with the hall. Hoping that a few more people might come they bought 25 more. 75 chairs and 75 people came.
They had to have some music—but they had no organ. A young lady was asked at the first session to start the singing. Hesitating to try but certainly willing to make the effort, she sang the first verse alone. This lady was Miss Lydia Boal, our own Mrs Farren, who, as one former member puts it, can safely be called our first precentor.
Great praise was given the women of that early church who stood side by side with the men in days of difficulties and little money. The women scrubbed the floors, cleaned the windows, and did any other janitor work that was needed.
A Women’s Missionary Society was formed by Mrs. Harriett Burnett, mother of Rev. Burnett, on Sept. 19, 1891. The Social and Sewing Circle was formed in 1896 by Mrs. Burnett, the pastor’s mother. The women met in the Burnett home and, I believe, their first sewing was hemming napkins.
There were 37 charter members—3 of whom are with us to-night. Mrs. Thos. Steele, Mrs. Frank Farren and Mrs. Walter Hazlett. Miss May Crawford was also a charter member. I don’t need to tell this group what a faithful member she was. We miss her quiet presence at all the church meetings.
Dr. Gerstner spoke on Sabbath of the deep roots of this church implanted in the Covenantor Church. Prayer deepened these roots—for certainly this little group believed heartily in prayer. At the start they had a Prayer Circle and met in the homes. They had a prayer list and each day of the week was marked by prayers: for the members of the congregation, next for the officers of the church, for the prayer meeting on Wednesday, for the sick, for the means of winning others to Christ, then for members of other churches who worshipped with them.
They soon outgrew Lohr’s Hall and their thoughts were turned now to the raising of funds for the new church building fund. I read that some of the young women made and sold candy each week and some members kept chickens and sold eggs. They had one church dinner to make money, but as some of the· members disapproved of this method of raising money that dinner was the only one ever held and the writer of this particular part of this particular part of the church history added: “for which we can be duly thankful.“
As I stated before, they moved into the new church on Jan. 13, 1895. It wasn’ t long, however, until this church had to be remodeled to take care of the increasing membership.
On March 13, 1905, Rev. Burnett accepted a call to Monmouth, Ill. The Rev. T. D. Edgar was called from Cambridge, Ohio and began his work the first sabbath in May 1905. Dr. Edgar was with us for 27 years and under his kindly guidance the church soon outgrew the building it was in. Plans were drawn for our present building and in 1914 the old church was torn down. Naturally this was a time of mingled feeling—a feeling of gladness for the progress made by the church, and a feeling of sadness which usually comes at the passing of things with which we have been long associated.
As one of the early members put it—“an occasion of that kind represents the drawing of a curtain on the lives of the members of that time. Our experiences and associations—particularly our religious experiences and association are interwoven into the fabrics of life and character and become a part of us.“ The old church was a familiar place—it had sacred memories of weddings, baptisms and deaths. But the crowbar, pick and hammer soon went to work. During the building of this church, worship service was held in a tabernacle built in the park.
I found a poem apparently written by Mr. John Boggs.
And now old church, this house of God
In which His mercies dwell
This tabernacle of His Grace
To thee we bid farewell
But as we leave this dear old place
Which we have loved so well
We do not leave behind God’s grace
Nor bid our God farewell.
Needless to say the people of Second Church continued their good work while worshipping in the tabernacle and looked forward to the day when they could worship in their new building. The tabernacle was dedicated on Dec. 13, 1914. The corner stone was laid for this building on April 10, 1915. At that time Mr. J. R. Wylie was president of the Board of Trustees and Mr. F. G. Bishoff and Mr. T.S. Steele were elders. Mr. Steele and Mr. Bishoff are with us tonight and we know Mr. Wylie would be if his health permitted. I believe Mr. Steele and Mr. Bishoff became elders in our church at the same time in 1909—and we are happy that they can be a part of this celebration tonight.
Service was held in the new church on Feb. 6, 1916, and the church was dedicated on March 26, 1916.
The church continued to grow and as new calls came up—for mission work, temperance or any others—they were always answered by Second Church. Thirty-seven years ago one of the members wrote “We have always been a mission church and our aim has been to spread the gospel through missionary effort.” We still are a mission church.
The ministry of Dr. McConnell is still fresh in the memories of those here tonight. He came to us in 1932 and remained as our pastor until 1945. Dr. and Mrs. McConnell’s years were marked with many good works, but I believe their interest in young people and young people’s work was especially marked. Dr. McConnell left us to accept a position as Field Secretary, Dept. of Evangelism in the former Federal Council of Churches.
From 1945 to 1949 Dr. John Gerstner served this congregation as pastor. We will always remember Dr. Gerstner’s dynamic force, his scholarly sermons, and his charming wife who worked with him in her own quiet way. Dr. Gerstner received an appointment as a teacher in the Seminary. While we were searching for our next leader we found an excellent pinch hitter in Dr. Guy Wallace. We have enjoyed our association with Dr. and Mrs. Wallace, and I rather believe they like us.
Dr. Walter Young was next called and came to be our pastor last year. It would be useless to tell you of his good work. He can’t help [but] succeed with such a help mate as he has in Mrs. Young—a good mother and a great help in the many duties of the church that seem to fall on the shoulders of a minister’s wife. Second Church has truly been blessed in the excellent leaders she has had.
I know it is not wise to name people who have meant much to the church, because I am only human and I feel sure I am on dangerous ground for my memory may have failed me. If I have forgotten anyone I hope I will be forgiven. I must bring back to mind those men and women who meant so much to Second Church.
In the early church the names of Mr. McCance, Mr. John Boggs, Mrs. and Mrs. John S. Crawford, Mr. Matt Henning, Miss Elizabeth Boal, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hazlett, Mrs. Steele, Mrs. Farren and Mrs. George Newell stand out. Mrs. Newell had the distinction of having the first baby baptized in Second Church. Later we will always remember Mr. H. J. McCracken, Mr. W. C. Lowry, Mr. Thos. McMurray, Mr. Townsend, who served as S.S. Supt. many years, Mr. Alfred Bradley who taught in the Sunday School and was also an elder. Then there was Mr. Little and Mr. and Mrs. Dicks. Mrs. Dicks is still most faithful—even on our icy day this winter, when many much younger stayed home, she was in her accustomed place.
Then Mr. Gallaher who served on the Session and was Supt. of our Sunday School for a number of years. I feel sure we will never forget the work done by Sadie Henning and her sisters Clara and Mary, and Mrs. Emma Mitchell as teacher of Class No. 29. Mrs. Mitchell had the unique talent of cutting a pie in 10 pieces just as easily as 5 when it meant taking extra people home for dinner on Sabbath.
Then the work of Mr. Frank Farren could never be measured and oh so many others—the faithful ones who Sabbath after Sabbath filled their accustomed pews. My mind travelled back to our choirs—some of them just names to me now but I feel they should be brought to mind—Mr. Steward, our organist, Myrtle Lonerbaugh, a member of one of our earliest choirs, Miss Edith Price, Mr. Jones, Miss Sarah Logan, Juliet Bartletti and Mr. Charles Pearson, who was our organist for many years. I could go on and on but the works of these people have left their mark. My only hope is that we can carry on.
Our thoughts naturally turn on an occasion of this sort to Frances Turk who has served as our missionary in the Sudan for 30 years—half of the sixty years we are celebrating tonight.
I want to play special tribute to the young couples in our church today who not only attend faithfully, have their children here but give their time, their talents and their physical strength to make Second Church what it has always been—a church that the members are proud of.
I believe few people realize the number of hours Mr. Frank Davis spends on the work of the church. As chairman of this anniversary committee he has worked hard to make it a success. My respect for Mr. Davis and his work results in my being here in this capacity tonight.
No history of Second Church would be complete without a special tribute to Mrs. Edgar who has been with us for forty-six years. Those of us who have known her through these years love her for her kindly wisdom, her gracious manner, her splendid judgement, and her wonderful sense of humor.
Flowers of Memory
Around the many milestone set beside Life’s winding way—our memories take root—and wild flowers blossom there some day. Fragrant with remembered jobs—The thoughts we leave behind—mark the miles we travel down the pathways of the mind.
At the crises of our lives, by wishes, words and deeds—we make our milestones. Here we pause, and scatter wide the seeds—that put forth green and tender buds long after we have gone—and beautify the hallowed spot—when we have hurried on.
When we’re weary we can always find some quiet stile—from which to view the way we’ve come; to dream—to rest awhile—and as we’re looking back into the distance we can see—the flowers that grow beside the winding road of Memory.
______
Wilkinsburg Public Library Digital Archives:
Elizabeth McClure, “60th Anniversary History,” July 11, 1951.