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In January, 1946, a new plan of "released time" for weekday
religious instruction was inaugurated in the public school system. This
was first held in the schools; then one year in the churches, but finally,
back into the schools where it is held now; except the High School students
who meet in the churches which pay for the teachers and materials, while
the schools allow us to use the rooms for the younger grades. In this program,
there are 24 teachers and 469 pupils from 5 Protestant churches as follows:
Trinity Episcopal, 62; Presbyterian, 98; Methodist, 186; Lutheran, 26;
Baptist, 97. The children of all faiths are included in this plan, the
Catholic and Hebrew High School students going to their respective churches,
while the younger ones are taught in the schools.
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The Music
Ministry
On Thursday, December 17, 1953, just before Christmas Sunday, our organist,
John B. Evans, suffered a heart attack. Russell Bates very kindly came
to the rescue and took over the Christmas music on only a few hours' notice.
John had served the church most faithfully from the fall of 1929-as well
as in earlier years when his father was choir director and was always willing
to play whenever and wherever he was asked. He had a record for perfect
attendance as organist; also a record of perfect attendance in Sunday School
for over 50 years, during which he served as pianist. As his full recovery
was considered doubtful, it was thought best to find a new organist and
on January 10, 1954, Mr. Tom Evans of Scranton took up his duties as organist
and choir director. He was widely known for his brilliant organ work, both
in church and theater, being an assistant organist at Elm Park Church.
He is also a composer, having given us a beautiful song entitled "Thank
your God for everything" which has become quite a favorite and which
he dedicated to President Eisenhower. Another composition called "The
Easter Suite" was born of an emergency, when his music was stolen
from his car as he was on his way to give a recital at the Masonic Temple
in Scranton on Maundy Thursday night in 1942. As a result, he had to improvise
for 45 minutes, with this suite emerging as a yearly performance, entirely
from memory, as he has never written down a note of it!
Through the initiative of David Stephens, then Chairman of the Music
Committee, a beautiful new Concert Grand piano was acquired for the Sunday
School Assembly room as a memorial to John B. Evans, who died on June 1,
1954, and Nelson Watkins, who died on February 13, 1954, after a life of
devoted service to this church. He sang in the choir for 37 years; led
the Sunday School singing for 30 years, and taught the Nelson Watkins Bible
Class for 45 years, besides having filled many other important offices
in the church. The new piano was dedicated on January 9, 1955, with Tom
Evans at the organ and his wife, Jean, also an accomplished musician, at
the piano. On May 10, 1955, a lovely concert was given by Jeanne Madden
Martin with Mrs. Evans at the piano and Mr. Evans sometimes at the organ
and sometimes the piano.
The names of all the wonderful people who have given so liberally of
their time and talent to the ministry of music would fill many pages; when
we began to list them, we gave up in despair, so we hope we'll be forgiven
for mentioning just a few. Choir directors since about 1932 have been Miss
Edna Hopkins (11 years), Rev. John N. White, the pastor, a talented musician
(about 4 years), and Mrs. Mina Vandenberg (9 years). Beside our regular
choir which contains members who have served most faithfully for many years,
we now have two others, the Children's Choir of youngsters up to 12 years
of age, with Mrs. Jean Henry Pugh as director; and the Youth Choir composed
of teenagers, directed by Miss Ruth Masters who has devoted her fine voice
to the church for upwards of 40 years.
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The Union
Services
During Holy Week of 1930, the Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist Churches
held union services the first four nights, joining for the first time in
a Communion Service on Holy Thursday night. This was a very memorable occasion
when churches of three different denominations could unite in probably
their most sacred Sacrament. This fine fellowship has continued down through
the years, with sometimes the Lutheran and Episcopalian brethren joining
in many services through the year, developing a splendid spirit of brotherhood
and co-operation. Within the past 25 years, Protestants have been observing
the period of Lent more than formerly, usually with special union services
once a week throughout the 6 weeks, beginning with Ash Wednesday.
Because of the falling off in attendance during the summer months, when
so many families move to nearby lakes, a fine plan was evolved in recent
years, whereby the Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist churches join for
9 Sundays, each preacher having 3 Sundays of preaching and 6 of vacation,
the services being held in the different churches in rotation.
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The Lay
and Full-time Leaders from the Church
For many years our women had been greatly interested in the Kansas City
Training School for Deaconesses, but when some of our own girls went there,
it became very close to our hearts. Louis Smith was graduated in June,
1932, Bertha Rogers 3 years later and Thelma Stuffer in May, 1940. These
girls have given in many years of service in that wonderful work and Thelma
is still the thick of things as Deaconess and Director of Religious Education
at the Broadway Temple in New York City, having acquired her Bachelor of
Arts and Master's Degree at New York University. Louise married Rev. Ernest
George and continued her work in a new role, as pastor's wife, now living
at Hawleyton, New York. Bertha pursued further studies and after 11 years
in deaconess work, married Mr. Theodore Heness, and is now living in East
Plymouth, Pennsylvania.
Other young people who have gone out to full-time service were Robert
Gevert, now serving as pastor in Margaretville, New York. William Gritman,
pastor of the Lake Ariel charge. Martine Burdick, who was graduated from
Syracuse University as a registered nurse and went as a missionary of the
WSCS to the Seward Sanitarium, Bartlett, Alaska. After serving 3 years,
she met the "man of her choice," Alfred Clayton, and they were
married on October 30, 1954. Elsie Lewis, who is now Director of Religious
Education at the First Methodist Church in Ithaca, New York was graduated
from Scarritt College, Nashville, Tennessee, with a Master's Degree. Don
Bartholomay, who has been active as a local preacher for the past few years,
is now serving the Clifford-Lenoxville charge in preparation for full ordination
as a minister. Vere Abbey-whose family was very active in this church-was
a missionary to Burma for many years, and died in 1943.
Although not trained for full-time service as such, Carrie Lesher Swingle
and her sister, Clara Lesher Burdick, have devoted many years to their
work in the Wyoming Children's Home in Binghamton, New York. Another person
who should be mentioned is Mrs. Gerald Blake (Alice Davison) of Scranton,
who grew up in this church and has been very prominent in the WSCS, having
been president of District and Conference respectively for several terms;
for 3 years was dean of the Conference School of Missions at Sky Lake;
a graduate of Syracuse University, she is a licensed local preacher, is
listed in "Who's Who in Methodism" and has been active in civic,
PTA and fraternal affairs as well as church work.
At the 4th Quarterly Conference held February 26, 1957, Merle Correll
was recommended to take the Course pursuant to becoming a local preacher.
Larry Addley is president of the Methodist Youth Fellowship.
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