USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > East Liberty Presbyterian Church : with historical setting & a narrative of the centennial celebration, April 12-20, 1919 > Part 17
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It would be difficult to enumerate the most interesting fea- tures of the exhibit, so great was the variety; yet each object, mute but eloquent, revealed something of the life and customs of the noble pioneers, who had builded so well for future gen- erations, and whose names we shall always revere.
The collection of rare editions of hymnals and sacred books included the Bible used by the Rev. John Joyce when he preached his first sermon to the East Liberty congregation in 1828.
Another interesting Bible was an illustrated edition printed in Nuremburg, dated 1747.
Olden time song books used by the choir leaders, small hymnals without the music and with almost unreadable print, especially by candle light, and many other books, equally inter- esting to the book lover, covered the tables.
The valuable collection of oil portraits included those of Mrs. Barbara Anna Negley, and several of her descendants, as well as those of a number of other distinguished citizens of East Liberty.
Portraits painted on ivory, miniatures and old ambrotypes, photographs of childhood days and antique costumes brought to mind many happy days and dear friends of long ago.
The original silver communion set, consisting of twelve mas-
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sive goblets and two tankards, long since discarded for the modern individual sets, was suggestive of the sacramental serv- ices of these people of sainted memory, and interwoven very closely with the life of the church.
The beautiful needlework of the ladies of the early days was well demonstrated in the quilts of every age and pattern. Among this choice assortment was a beautiful silk quilt made and presented to Mrs. Kumler by a mission band of the church, called the "Earnest Workers," in charge of Miss Lizzie Lig- gett.
Most attractive were the samplers worked in wool on per- forated cardboard. The quaint scene, suggestive motto and bright, but artistic, color scheme showed the taste and industry of the girls of the early period.
Cases of rare old china, each piece with a history all its own; time pieces, lanterns, candles, chairs, war trophies, and many other most precious and valuable articles contributed largely to the interest and success of the exhibit.
The arrangement and care of the relics during the exhibit were largely in the efficient hands of Mrs. R. Heberton Negley, Miss Sarah Aiken, Mrs. Nathan B. Henry, Miss Minnie McFarland, Miss Fannie Werdebaugh, Miss Alice McConnell, Miss Annie Irwin and Miss Mary Ortman.
The exhibit rooms were open to visitors Wednesday, Thurs- day and Friday of Centennial week and many guests enjoyed the curios and recalled happy memories of bygone days.
GREETINGS
One of the many gratifying features of our very delightful Centennial Celebration was the assurance through the many greetings received, that our distant friends were with us in spirit, and that their cordial thoughts and good wishes were wafted from all directions and over many miles of space.
Our thoughts, also, were of the absent ones whose presence would have been an added joy on this occasion.
Especially was this true of our missionaries, those who have gone into the Master's service from this church, as well as those who represent us on the mission field at home and abroad. To each and every one, East Liberty Church responds with a cordial Centennial Greeting "In His Name."
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CENTENNIAL COMMUNION SERVICE GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1919
6
HE Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed," said, "This do in remembrance of Me," as He instituted the precious memorial of the Lord's Supper.
So, as the shadows of the night gathered on Good Friday, the generally accepted anniversary of the vicarious death of the Son of God that sinners might have Life Eternal, the church members gathered to participate in the Centennial Eucharist. This memorial is usually celebrated in the morning, but any one who has ever had the privilege of attending a similar serv- ice at night will agree that the observance under such condi- tions, all else being equal, is fraught with a peculiarly impres- sive significance and solemnity.
Dr. Sneed, with the assistant pastor, the Rev. Harry A. Gear- hart, and a former assistant, the Rev. G. A. Frantz, now pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Van Wert, Ohio, ascended the pulpit as the organist rendered Stainer's "Processional to Calvary." A hush fell over the large audience as the choir followed with the appropriate and well rendered anthem from "The Crucifixion," "God so Loved the World."
The devotional exercises included the singing of the hymn, "O, Sacred Head, Once Wounded," by the congregation, and was followed by a baritone solo by Mr. James C. Baird, for many years an esteemed member of the church choir. The rich, vibrant tones of Mr. Baird's powerful voice, feelingly mellowed to the strains of "There Was Darkness Over All the Earth," from the same oratorio as the preceding anthem, formed an impressive prelude, blending into the choir's fine rendering of "The Appeal to the Crucified."
Another hymn was sung by the congregation, followed by the reception of new members, after which the Rev. G. A. Frantz delivered the communion sermon, which was marked both in subject and delivery by an impressive spirituality, afford- ing an effective preparation for the spiritual feast of the Lord's
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Supper which ensued, the elders assisting, as usual, in the dis- tribution of the elements. We are pleased to present a resumé of Mr. Frantz's address.
Melodious strains from the organ of familiar, well loved hymns floating softly through the auditorium during the pass- ing of the elements added another tender touch to an already soul-impressive observance of the Lord's Supper.
The service closed with the usual devotional exercises, the congregation joining in the precious hymn, "Till He Come."
"Till He come! O let the words Linger on the trembling chords; Let the little while between In their golden light be seen; Let us think how heaven and home Lie beyond that 'Till He come.'
"See the feast of love is spread, Drink the wine, and break the bread : Sweet memorials,-till the Lord Call us round His heavenly board ; Some from earth, from glory some, Severed only till He come."
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SYNOPSIS OF COMMUNION SERVICE ADDRESS
THE REV. G. A. FRANTZ
THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JESUS
HAVE been thinking today, through the hours our Lord has been hanging on the cross, of His last will and testament, for He, too, made one.
I. He had some property. He left this. What else can any one do with property? But how different from us He was! He did not seem to care what was done with it. Wills we make often look like our effort to reach out through time our dead hands to control forever property which was ours to use for a span of days only.
(1) His clothes belonged by law to the soldiers who slew Him. They took them. He willed it so. I have often won- dered what became of those garments. Did they make those soldiers better men, because they had protected His dear body? Perhaps not; no more than our putting on a creed, which is the garment of a great faith, can give us the power of the liv- ing belief.
(2) His purse He left. You will leave yours. There are no pockets in a shroud. Jesus made no mention of it. He got it who wanted it most. Judas kept it for the thirty pieces of silver.
These were His items of property. He disposed of them in a way befitting their worthlessness.
II. But Jesus had some treasures. And He directed speci- fically where they were to go.
(1) He had His mother. He saw, from the cross, the pain of desolation in her eyes ; and He gave to her another son, and to John a mother. It is so that He gives gifts to His beloved. Treasure yours for His sake.
(2) He gave His pardon to the thief who knew his spirit's need ; to the soldiers for their dark part, though they knew not that they needed forgiveness. We share in the rich inheritance of His pardon. Why not be as honest as the thief, and ask for it?
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(3) He left his peace to His friends. None other can receive it. He must be near to breathe it upon us. No others have peace. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. There is no unrest to His pardoned. His peace belongs to His pardoned.
(4) When the dread darkness was passing, and all was finished, with a victor's shout, with a loud voice, He cried : Father, in Thy hand I trust my spirit. In a very real sense He had never taken His spirit out of God's hand. He willed that it should rest there forever and forever. That is the safest keeping for our most priceless treasure.
On the old landed estates of the old world, a good master left some thing in his will for every one, from eldest son te lowest servant. So we have a part in the "inheritance incor- ruptible and undefiled," left to us by the last will and testa- ment of Jesus. God forbid that ours should be the garments, or the worn and useless purses, when we so much need His pardon and peace. "Father, forgive them." "My peace I give unto you." These treasures, O Lord, we humbly ask as our portion forever.
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SOLDIERS' DAY SERVICE APRIL 19, 1919
LARGE concourse gathered on the afternoon of April 19th, when the atmosphere was permeated with the sentiment of Christian patriotism.
Veterans of the Civil War and the Spanish War, with World War soldiers and Boy Scouts took part in the beautiful religious-military services incident to the unveiling of the rich bronze tablet presented by the pastor and his wife, Dr. and Mrs. Frank Woolford Sneed, to the church in mem- ory of the one hundred twenty soldiers who went into their country's service from East Liberty Church, three of whom made the supreme sacrifice.
The beautiful "Pilgrims' Song of Hope" furnished an organ prelude in harmony with the occasion, after which the audi- ence joined heartily in the singing of "America."
With Dr. Sneed and Mr. Gearhart in the pulpit were Chap- lain George M. Duff and Capt. Roy F. Miller, a member of this church, who entered the service while still a student at Western Theological Seminary, both of whom we rejoiced to have with us on this occasion.
Chaplain Duff led in prayer, after which Mr. James C. Baird rendered the baritone solo, "Soldier, What of the Night?" in his usual masterly manner.
Mr. Gearhart read the Scriptures, and the choir sang a touching anthem from Grieg.
The veil was then drawn from the artistic and rarely beauti- ful tablet which graces the west wall of the transept, by Miss Josephine Paull and Miss Anna Kahle, sisters of two of the boys who were called higher.
The massive tablet is of bronze richly embossed in conven- tional floral design, with wreathed pillars on either side, the gift being a beautiful expression of Dr. and Mrs. Sneed's affec- tionate appreciation of the willing and patriotic service ren- dered to their country by the soldier boys under Dr. Sneed's pastoral care. As a member of the National Service Commis-
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sion of the General Assembly, Dr. Sneed made frequent visits to the war camps, and thus came in close touch with the soldiers in their camp life.
The tablet is inscribed as follows :
IN HONOR OF THE MEMBERS OF THE EAST LIBERTY PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION WHO PATRIOTICALLY ANSWERED OUR COUNTRY'S CALL FOR SERVICE IN THE GREAT WAR FOR THE FREEDOM OF HUMANITY A. D. 1914 - A. D. 1918 AND IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO THEREIN MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE
ALVAN CLEMENTS CLARENCE KAHLE
JAMES DANA PAULL
Dr. Sneed's able address of presentation, in which he read the foregoing inscription, and Capt. Roy F. Miller's gracious response, are herewith appended.
During the service a deep solemnity pervaded the silent audience as they stood reverently at attention.
Col. Roseman Gardner addressed the Veterans, the Soldiers and the Boy Scouts, eloquently exhorting all to foster the spirit of Christian loyalty and patriotism.
The choir rendered "Allegiance to the Flag" and the con- gregation joined in one verse of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," which concluded the services in the auditorium.
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IN HONOR
OF THE MEMBERS OF THE EAST LIBERTY PRESBYTERIAN CONCREGATION
WHO PATRIOTICALLY ANSWERED
OUR COUNTRY'S CALL FOR SERVICE IN THE GREAT WAR FOR THE FREEDOM OF HUMANITY
F.D. 1914 - A.D. 1918
AND IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE
WHO THEREIN MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE
ADVAN CLEMENTSPCLARENCE C.KAHLERJAMES DANA PAULL x
MIELNOOD AUGUSTINE
RAYMOND S.ECKLES
JOSEPH S. MATSON
· PAUL C.ACCUSTINE
ROBERT NENTW:SLE WARD FISHERANS
JOSEPH S.BAIRD
RA.CLYDE FERGUSON
ROBERT J BAUMAN EDWIN BLACK
CALTINWY FLEESON.
GEORGE M .. BET:ER
NE VILLE AF RESON
HERBERT CBRENN
IAN FORBES
FRANCICO.BROWN
ROBERT 3 MALER EARL MITCHELL
JOSEPHS. BROWN
NORMAN B.BROWN
. ROLAND NE MORCAN
HENRY W.FULTON
GARRETT DUNBAR BRYCE
ALAPENCE KºCARTHY
ARTHUR D.MCILVAINE
ALLAN BREVIN CRARAM
C. LOCKHART MAKELIT
CHARLES C.CRAWFORD
MILFORD CARZY JR. FRANKS.CRAWFORD: CLYDE W.CAMPBELL
ALBERT C.COM.L. JACOB E.CRIME CEO. VINCENT HALLER
HARRY E.OVER
ROBERT W.CLARK
RALPH A HERROD
WENMAMAHICKS
MISS ELLEN J. HOBBS
ALEXANDER H.HUNTER
J.SCOTT HARTJE "
PRANK SNEED HAINER:
WIRUPLE HAINER
THEODORE ?. HANNA C.DIXON VARNACY
HOWARD DEFISRAEL
GEORGE M.DUFF
CHARLES WW.JENNINGS
JOHN WYNNE DAVIS
ROBERT MIDAVIS BURTON A DARRACH ROBERT, DICKEY
NK W.DICKSON EDWARD J DIETER
LUBBERT
CLARENCE FDOERR
CHACALUBBERT
SAMUELBRAMARD WEST
HENRYDUNCAN
" THATER LYON
HAROLDW.DUNCA
PRESCOTT LLY
ZREM EDWINFTARDUM
MEMORIAL SERVICE TABLET Presented by Dr. and Mrs. Frank Woolford Sneed.
GEORGE PAULL . JAMES T.PRENTICE. JAMES H.PHILLIPS EARL REICHARD. EDMUND W RIDALE THOMAS S. SCHULTZ EUGENE M.SCHUMAN : JAMES & SHARP
CHARLES M.CORBITUR GEORGE S.CUNNINGHAM AHOWARD CARROLL CHARLES MECHRISTLER EMERY C.CHAPIN
DONALD S.CLEMENTS
CEORCER.SLOAN ' MARK ASMITH. ROBT.NELSON SOPER .. R. ALDUS XISHENZ BURTON J.SPEAKER SIDNEY A.STEWART
EDWARD A KEISLING" MARSHALL 3 KIEHL WILLIAMC.KING VERNARDA KIRSCHLER WILLIAMV LAIRD
SUMNER EVANS THOMAS ELMER SWARD JOHN WHITE
CHESTER ?. CLARK
HUCHL.COBB
MALIAM FOSTER
HOWARD R.FISHER
CECACE RAULTON
NORWELL B.BROWNE
LLOYD W.BUERMAN JOHN C.BUCHANAN EDWIN A BUCHANAN
THOMAS D.NEWELL.JR.
WALTER W.PARDEE
HONOR ROLL
ALVAN CLEMENTS
CLARENCE C. KAHLE
JAMES DANA PAULL
M. ELWOOD AUGUSTINE
PAUL C. AUGUSTINE JOSEPH S. BAIRD ROBERT J. BAUMAN EDWIN BLACK GEORGE M. BEVIER HERBERT C. BRENN FRANCIS D. BROWN JOSEPH S. BROWN NORMAN B. BROWN
WENMAN A. HICKS MISS ELLEN J. HOBBS ALEXANDER H. HUNTER J. SCOTT HARTJE FRANK SNEED HAINER J. RUPLE HAINER THEODORE F. HANNA C. DIXON HARNACK HOWARD DEF. ISRAEL
NORWELL B. BROWNE
GARRETT DUNBAR BRYCE
LLOYD W. BUERMAN
WILLIAM C. KING VERNARD A. KIRSCHLER
WILLIAM M. LAIRD
JOHN C. BUCHANAN EDWIN P. BUCHANAN CHARLES C. CRAWFORD MILFORD CAREY, JR.
FRANK S. CRAWFORD
CLYDE W. CAMPBELL
ROBERT W. CLARK CHESTER F. CLARK
RALPH K. MERRILL RICHARD KING MELLON
LESLIE MacM. MERRILL HENRY C. MURRAY ROY F. MILLER
MATTHEW T. MELLON
ROBERT B. MILLER EARL MITCHELL
DONALD S. CLEMENTS WILLIAM A. DUCKHAM GEORGE M. DUFF JOHN WYNNE DAVIS
ROBERT L. DAVIS
BURTON A. DARRACH ROBERT DICKEY FRANK W. DICKSON EDWARD J. DIETER
CLARENCE F. DOERR
WM. HENRY DUNCAN
HAROLD W. DUNCAN RAYMOND S. ECKLES ROBERT N. ENTWISLE HOWARD FISH EVANS WM. CLYDE FERGUSON CALVIN WM. FLEESON NEVILLE A. FLEESON IAN FORBES WILLIAM FOSTER
JAMES T. PRENTICE JAMES H. PHILLIPS EARL REICHARD EDMUND W. RIDALL
THOMAS S. SCHULTZ EUGENE M. SCHUMAN
JAMES R. SHARP GEORGE R. SLOAN
MARCUS A. SMITH
GEORGE P. FULTON
HENRY W. FULTON WILLIAM FREW WILLIAM L. FULLER
ALLAN BROWN GRAHAM
WILLIAM GATES, JR. RALPH E. GILL
ALBERT C. GILL JACOB E. GRIME GEO. VINCENT HALLER RALPH A. HERROD
ROBT. NELSON SOPER, JR.
ALDUS K. SHENK BURTON J. SPEAKER
SIDNEY A. STEWART
SUMNER EVANS THOMAS L. WAINWRIGHT VOIGHT ELMER S. WARD JOHN WHITE
SAMUEL BRAINARD WEST ZAREH EDWIN YARDUM
WM. A. LUBBERT CHAS. A. LUBBERT L. THAYER LYON PRESCOTT L. LYON JOSEPH S. MATSON
HUGH L. COBB CHARLES M. CORBIT, JR. GEORGE S. CUNNINGHAM A. HOWARD CARROLL CHARLES M. CHRISTLER
EMERY C. CHAPIN
ROLAND M. MORGAN A. H. MCCLELLAND J. CLARENCE MCCARTHY ARTHUR D. MCILVAINE
WILLIAM F. MCAFEE C. LOCKHART MCKELVEY
W. J. MeSHANNIC THOMAS D. NEWELL, JR. HARRY E. OVER
WALTER W. PARDEE GEORGE PAULL
HOWARD R. FISHER
CHARLES' W. JENNINGS
EDWARD A. KEISLING MARSHALL B. KIEHL
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
ADDRESS OF PRESENTATION THE REV. FRANK WOOLFORD SNEED, D.D.
This has been a great week in the life of East Liberty Church. It is personally gratifying to me that two of the one hundred twenty names of our Honor Roll are ministers, Chaplain Geo. M. Duff and Capt. Roy F. Miller.
This Centennial week would be incomplete unless some special recognition was made of the one hundred twenty mem- bers of the congregation who responded to their country's call. I feel that I speak not only for myself but for the whole church when I say that you are the idol of our hearts. And we say this with no lack of appreciation of the valuable services of those who remained at home. It is a joy to me to testify to the faithful, untiring labors of those who could not go. Scores of men and women finished the tasks you left unfinished when your country called you; and some broke down beneath the load, and thus made the supreme sacrifice as really as those who fell in action. But even these, if they could speak to us today, would say, Give first place to those who wore the uni- form.
To you was committed a difficult and perilous task ; and you did not fail. Future generations will tell of you and your achievements, and will revere your memory as we revere the memory of the fathers of '76.
It was my duty and privilege many times to speak to the men in uniform before they went overseas. These occasions stirred me deeply. Twice I was asked to speak at a flag raising when groups of soldiers were present. This was the feeling that possessed me, and to it I was impelled to give expression: The most precious thing to a true American citizen is that flag we call Old Glory. It has never been borne by an army of oppres- sion, but has always led an army of deliverance. It stands, as our President has said, "for honor ; not for advantage," and it has never been defeated in war.
You can imagine the feelings of those at home when they placed it in your hands and started you on your long and perilous journey. Those were anxious days a year ago when
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mile after mile the Allied army was pushed back toward Paris, and we knew that our own fellows, bearing our flag, were drawing near and nearer to the front line every hour. Men, we worked with a fury; we thought deeply; and we prayed often. Every day, at twelve o'clock, the old church bell was rung to remind people, far and near, to stop and pray. The faithful Red Cross workers turned aside from their im- portant task for five minutes and bowed their heads and lifted up their hearts to the God of battles. The good women gath- ered here every Thursday morning for prayer, and for prayer alone.
News came that things looked desperate, and that General Pershing had decided to throw into the breach our best- seasoned troops, the regulars and the marines. The nation was on tiptoe; men and women spoke to eath other in subdued tones, when speak they must; we knew our boys were dying; we were nerved for the sacrifice, but would it avail? The fu- ture of the world was at stake. Men, it was a supreme hour for you, and for us. I can assure you that we were all in that battle. Some of you in uniform were on the firing line; others, denied this privilege, would gladly have exchanged places with you. Young men and women at home were working as though all depended on them. Aged men and women, who could do little else, lived with God in prayer.
Then the news came that the line held fast, the Hun was stopped and his retreat had begun, from which you never allowed him respite until he cried for mercy. From the hearts of millions, from assembled congregations, went up to God thanksgiving, genuine and true. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," we sang with a new meaning. We honor you for what you did in that crucial hour.
We want to honor you also for what you are. We believe you are the cleanest, bravest and best army that was ever put into the field. Make no mistake; we are under no delusion regarding you. We followed you with rather critical eye. We knew that you could not be moral failures and at the same time military successes, and there was too much at stake to take any risk. This is why many even men of the world joined with the church in providing, at great cost, the things neces-
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sary for your moral and spiritual welfare. Some, to be sure,, made moral failures, but most of you have come back braver and better men than you were before. You have caught the spirit of the noble ideal expressed by our President to the first departing army, September 3, 1917, when he said: "You are undertaking a great duty. The heart of the whole country is with you. The eyes of the whole world will be upon you, because you are, in some special sense, the soldiers of freedom. Keep yourselves fit and straight in everything, and pure and clean through and through. Let us set a standard so high that it will be a glory to live up to it, and then let us live up to it, and add a new laurel to the crown of America." And you have. For this we want to honor you.
This high standard we believe you will continue to main- tain. You are again among us to rejoice our hearts and to inspire our confidence. We only wish that all the rest could be here today.
My comrades, I wonder if you realize the significance of this tablet bearing your names, about to be unveiled. The highest honor the church can confer upon her members is to allow their names to be inscribed within her sacred walls while they yet live. In thus honoring the dead we take no risk, for their work is finished; but in thus honoring the living, we express a confidence that should to you be inspiring.
And now a word for those who cannot speak-who will not come back-who made the supreme sacrifice. Three gold stars appear upon the tablet. They mark the names of those who sleep.
JAMES DANA PAULL ALVAN CLEMENTS *
CLARENCE COURTNEY KAHLE * "Rest ye in peace, ye Flanders dead. The fight that ye so bravely led We've taken up. And we will keep True faith with you who lie asleep With each a cross to mark his bed,
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And poppies blowing overhead, Where once his own life blood ran red. So let your rest be sweet and deep, In Flanders fields.
"Fear not that ye have died for naught, The torch ye threw to us we caught, Ten million hands will hold it high, And Freedom's light shall never die! We've learned the lesson that you taught In Flanders fields."
"Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er, Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking; Dream of battled fields no more, Days of danger, nights of waking."
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
ADDRESS OF ACCEPTANCE OF MEMORIAL TABLET CAPT. ROY F. MILLER
If I were to describe my feelings in coming here I would say they were reluctant-reluctant not because of this speaking, for I deem it a privilege ; not because of the surroundings, for I con- sider them home; but I am reluctant to accept for my comrades a gift which to every thinking man in uniform appears like im- posing on good nature. You have so filled our cup with your kindness that it has long since run over. We feel that this tablet should rather have been our gift to you, your memorial rather than ours.
When the call first came in the spring of 1917, and then successively throughout the following eighteen months, it was the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers that were left behind that played the parts of heroines and heroes. Many has been the gray-haired mother who has sent away a son with a smile and then climbed to the attic or some other retreat to hide the tears that a smile could no longer cover. Many has been the sister who has waved an enthusiastic good-bye with a handkerchief and then when the train was out of sight used that same handkerchief to wipe the eyes that no longer could feign a cheerful "Good-bye! Good luck! God bless you."
I would not for a minute underestimate our own feelings at that time, but when we reached camp we forgot about it. There everything was hustling from morning until night and when there was no work, there were so many companions to sympathize and jolly with that a person could not get blue if he wanted to. But it was different with you. You had the more sober lot. Yours were clothes of sombre shades, in fact black at times-ours were the uniforms with all their splendor and color. Yours were fears by day and dread by night-ours was a loss of fear and dread. You had the soot and the grime and the toil without the glory. We had some of the toil and a little mud, but to us was given the glory. So I say that every thinking soldier is reluctant of still further honor after you have done so much. He would rather see yonder tablet engraved: "To the thousands of unarmed who never had the
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