USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the brethren of the Eastern district of Pennsylvania > Part 12
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The Philadelphia Church has produced some saintly characters.
Catharine Evans
deserves more than a passing notice. We shall leave one who knew her in life, tell us of her.
"' Blessed is the memory of the just,
Though dead, in their works they live and shine;
And from the silence of the dust,
Still speak in words divine.'
Heb. II : 4; Rev. 14: 18.
" The above words are eminently appropriate to the honored and beloved, Catharine Evans, the subject of the following re- marks, called out by her holy death, and the many Christian virtues of her long and saintly life; 'by which she being dead yet speaketh.' The text is peculiarly applicable to her, as we are constantly reminded of it by hearing her words of exhorta- tion and pious counsel, repeated by those around us. Know, too, that they are not without their blessed effects on many.
"Rev. 14: 13 is also beautifully illustrated in the sanctified influence of her many good works. Of her it may truly be said, ' Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow
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them.' Her works follow her in the living members she brought into the fold by her religious ministrations, who are trying to walk in the footsteps of her holy example. In every relation in life, as a wife, a mother, and a Christian, she was a pattern of propriety, piety and usefulness.
"Her advantages in the way of pious instruction, in early life were many, for her mother was a Christian of more than usual excellence. Her pastor also, the late venerated Peter Keyser, by whom she was baptized and brought into the church, was to her a Christian minister indeed; and well did she profit by his ministrations, as in after years by those of her beloved pastor John Fox, who stood by her dying bed, still exercising the functions of his holy ministry in her last hours. It was a blessed sight, when her venerable pastor stood by the bed-side with her three daughters, and son-in-law, Jacob Reiff, when she took her last earthly leave of them, giving each a separate charge, as she did to all around her in her last moments. And well and long will her holy words be remembered by all who were privileged to hear them .- A. P. J."
We have spoken of her being the first fruits of the church in Philadelphia. She died June 25, 1866; and is buried at Germantown. Services by John Fox, John Um- stad and Jacob Spanogle.
Our church history would be more rich, more sanctifying were more told about the consecrated mothers and sisters in Israel. We might mention "Kitty" Supplee. Bro. J. T. Myers tells how she took it to the Lord in prayer when her teeth (for she had artificial ones) were missing next morning. Then she dreamed that she should take up board number so and so of the kitchen floor and she would find them. She insisted on having the board taken up and there were her teeth. A rat had evidently been the robber.
And then old " Aunt Becky" Yarnall, the devoted mother who prayed and prayed and prayed, went to the attic after dinner to supplicate for her children, would not give up till she "had them all in the kingdom."
Recent History.
Elder S. R. Zug looked after the Philadelphia Church while he was a member of the Annual Meeting Committee
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to Eastern Pennsylvania, and was continued after he ceased to be a member of this Committee, until 1906, when T. T. Myers was ordained and took the oversight. September I, 1907, Bro. Myers moved to Huntingdon, Pa., having ac- cepted the chair of New Testament Theology in the Biblical Department of Juniata College. He had been pastor of the First Church of Philadelphia for sixteen years. He found it a mere handful of members struggling for ex- istence and left it a strong mother church bearing children.
Bro. Charles A. Bame came to Philadelphia following the removal of Bro. Myers. He took up the pastorate, while Bro. J. T. Myers was chosen elder in charge. Bro. Bame continued several years in Philadelphia, and left in the month of February, 1910. The following month D. Web- ster Kurtz became pastor of the First Church. Bame was rather evangelistic. He was, however, ultra-progressive, progressive beyond possible service. The prevention of a disruption of the congregation was a heavy task to the elder, Bro. J. T. Myers. Bro. Myers refused to continue as elder with Bame in the pulpit. The church to a member stood with Elder Myers. Bame found an opening as pastor of a Progressive Church in Dayton, Ohio. He was or- dained an elder in the Progressive Church of Philadelphia, however, before he left.
Bro. Kurtz is an able speaker. The attendance under Kurtz is described as healthy. Kurtz is instructive. Those who come into the church under Kurtz are likely to remain loyal. Kurtz is a scholar. He is one of the few ministers of the Church of the Brethren upon whom has been con- ferred the degree of D.D.
D. Webster Kurtz was born October 9, 1879, near Hart- ville, Ohio. His father, Elder John Kurtz, minister and for many years bishop of the East Nimishillen Church, Stark Co., Ohio, was born in 1831 near Reistville, Lebanon Co., Pa. His grandfather was Jacob Kurtz who migrated to Stark Co., Ohio, in 1854. His mother's name was Mary Bollinger, all of whose brothers were ministers in the Church of the Brethren.
He was the youngest of twelve children and was reared
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on a farm where he spent most of his time till he was of age. He attended high school and taught three years in a rural school. He attended college at Ada, and Alliance, Ohio, and was graduated at Juniata College in the A.B. course in 1905. After attending Yale Divinity School, he received the M.A. and B.D. degrees together with the fellowship of his class, in 1908. This entitled him to a year's study in European universities. He spent over a year in the study of theology and philosophy at Leipzig, Berlin and Marburg universities.
September 7, 1909, he was married to Ethel L. Wheeler, of Conn. From this time he taught Greek in Juniata College till April 1, 1910, when he accepted the pastorate of the First Brethren Church of Philadelphia. About 100 members were added during the first three years.
He was baptized by his father May 5, 1899; elected to the ministry December 20, 1904; and advanced to the second degree in 1906 at Brooklyn, N. Y. During the summer of 1913 he took a trip to the Holy Land and to the World's Sunday School Convention at Zurich, Switzerland.
Ordained to the Eldership, May 20, 1914.
Resigned at Phila., Aug. 1, 1914 to accept Presidency of McPherson College, Kansas.
B. THE GEIGER MEMORIAL CHURCH.
For some time previous to the founding of this mission some of the workers of the First Church of Philadelphia felt the need of branching out in city mission work. God has always called to the strong churches to give of their wealth and workers for the further extension of the King- dom. A committee, consisting of the Pastor T. T. Myers, S. S. Brownback and J. W. Cline, was appointed to in- vestigate and report a suitable location for the mission. After a wide investigation this committee decided that the best opening available was in the neighborhood of Lehigh Ave. and 26th St.
The mission was started on November 29, 1896, in the parlor of the residence at 2610 W. Lehigh Ave. with forty-
GEIGER MEMORIAL CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA.
7
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five scholars on the first Sunday and sixty on the following Sunday. Bro. J. W. Cline, who had been recently elected to the ministry, was chosen superintendent and Bro. S. S. Brownback was assistant. Those quarters were soon out- grown, and early in 1897, Bro. Brownback moved into the house on the southeast corner of Lehigh Ave. and 26th St., whose larger quarters served as the home of the mission for over a year. On November 27, 1898, the Geiger Me- morial Chapel was dedicated. Dr. M. G. Brumbaugh preached the dedicatory sermon assisted by Brethren T. T. Myers, J. T. Myers and J. W. Cline, the pastor in charge. A commodious parsonage was also erected by its side. Here the mission church and Sunday School had its home until December 29, 1907, when the new commodious church edifice was dedicated. Dr. M. G. Brumbaugh again officiated, assisted by Brethren T. T. Myers, I. N. H. Beahm, C. A. Bame and J. T. Myers, the pastor in charge.
The affairs of the mission were under the immediate direction of the First Church until 1906. On October 19 of this year the little band of workers were organized into the Geiger Memorial Brethren Church, the service being conducted by Bishops S. R. Zug, A. L. Grater, T. T. Myers and J. T. Myers. Since that time the church has had a steady growth, numbering at the present time about 140 members. From the founding of the church to the present time it has had the following pastors :
J. W. Cline, from the beginning to September, 1900; C. O. Beery, November, 1900, to September, 1901; L. M. Keim, December, 1901, to May, 1905; J. T. Myers, Septem- ber, 1905, to September, 1911; A. J. Culler, September, IgII to 1914.
The Sunday School has had a continuous growth and success and has an exceptionally good attendance and in- fluence when compared with the size of the church and the surrounding conditions. There are many churches in the immediate neighborhood and fully one-half the resident population is Catholic. It has grown from the small be- ginnings to an enrollment of 440 and an attendance during the season of about 275. It has maintained every form of
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Sunday School activity, Teacher Training, Teacher's Meet- ings, Cradle Roll, Home Department, Organized Adult Bible Classes, Circulating Library, Socials, Mid-week enter- tainments, Lectures, various forms of Athletics, and such other activities as the live institutional church finds helpful in winning and holding the young people of the city. Bro. S. S. Brownback has been superintendent ever since the beginning and Bro. E. T. Savidge has for many years been assistant. Great credit is due those who have so well taken charge of the Primary Department which has always been quite large. Sister Thomas had it in charge during the first years followed by Sister Croft, who later with her husband founded the Bethany Mission, then by Sisters Emily King- dom, Mrs. J. T. Myers and Mrs. A. J. Culler. During many of these years Sister Jessie Rae was assistant superin- tendent of the Primary Department, always being a most faithful helper. At the present time Sisters Kingdom and McCarty have charge of the department. The present pas- tor had the pleasure of baptizing some who started as in- fants in the Sunday School at the beginning, some of whom are now teachers and officers in the same school.
From the early days the Christian Workers' Meeting has flourished. There has also at times been a Junior Christian Workers' Meeting and at other times a Temperance Society for the children.
The Try-Circle (name of the Sisters' Aid Society) was organized about a year ago and has flourished remarkably well, doing much work for the needy, selling garments, and helping the church and Sunday School in many ways.
The Pastors.
The first pastor and one of the organizers of the work was Joseph W. Cline. He was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., in 1866, and received his education at Bridge- water College and the Temple University of Philadelphia. He also spent some time in Europe. He was the first super- intendent and pastor, and remained with the work for three years. He purchased the ground and directed the erection
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of the chapel and parsonage. In September, 1900, he was married to Miss Dora Emma Kuns, of Illinois, after which they moved to California, where they have since resided. During that time he was pastor of the East Los Angeles Church (three years) and of the Pomona Church for one year. He has since then been in business and active in the district and state Sunday School work. He was elected to the ministry and advanced to the second degree in Philadel- phia and ordained to the eldership in California. Bro. and Sister Cline have been blessed with two sons and one daughter.
Bro. Chas. O. Beery was the second pastor remaining for one year. He received his early educational training at Mt. Morris College and later in Juniata College. He also took a further course in the Juniata Bible School. He was married to Miss Ella Replogle, of Iowa, in 1898 and came to Philadelphia in 1900. From the work here he was called to the Plum Creek Church, near Elderton, Pa., where he was pastor for four and one-half years. During the past eight years he has been pastor of the Tyrone Church. He writes that he still believes in the Old Book and Its Salvation.
Lewis M. Keim, the third pastor of the church, was born near Harmonyville, Pa., August 2, 1873. His parents were members of the church at that place and all the six children were baptized at an early age, Lewis coming in at fifteen years of age. He was soon a Sunday School worker. He attended Brethren's Normal College at Hunt- ingdon and graduated from its English course in 1894. In July, 1893, he was elected to the ministry in the Coventry Church, after which he spent three years teaching school and preaching in the home congregation with occasional visits to adjoining congregations.
In order to prepare more fully for the ministry he went to Juniata College in the fall of 1897 and was graduated in the class of 1901 with the degree of B.A. In November of the same year he became pastor of the mission. Soon after beginning this work he was married to Miss Mary Myers, of Shirleysburg, Pa.
During his pastorate of nearly four years about forty
·
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applicants were baptized, the morning preaching service was established and plans for the organization of the mission into a church were discussed. After his pastorate here he accepted a call to the pastorate of the Plum Creek and Glade Run churches, where he remained three years. He is now Instructor in Ancient History in the Southern High School of Philadelphia.
Elder J. T. Myers, the fourth pastor of the Geiger Memo- rial Church, served in that capacity from September, 1905, to September, 1911. He was born in Somerset Co., Pa., in the Brothers Valley Church, September, 1851, and was baptized in February, 1867, in the Middle Creek Church, to which his parents had moved. He was elected to the ministry in 1871. The following year he came to Phil- adelphia and received a call to become pastor of the Ger- mantown Church. He accepted the call and remained as their pastor until 1877. During this time he studied under a Jewish Rabbi and attended the Lutheran Theological Sem- inary at Mount Airy. During 1875-6 he had charge of the "Brüderbote" or the "Brethren's Messenger." During the latter year, at the request of Brethren J. H. Moore and M M. Eshelman, he helped to start the publishing of the "Brethren at Work," he furnishing the printing out of both English and German type. He continued with the firm for one year, at the end of which time he sold out his interests to the other members of the company.
In 1877 he was married to Belle Quinter, eldest daughter of Elder James Quinter, and having had a previous call to the Green Tree Church, they immediately moved into the Green Tree Church, where they served in His cause for twenty-eight years. He was ordained to the eldership in 1905. In the fall of 1905 he received a call to this church, where he labored for six years. During his pastorate the church was organized and the new church built. Elder Myers is at present living at his home near Phoenixville, his health not permitting him to engage too actively in ministe- rial work.3
3 In 1913 he became pastor of the Parkerford church.
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The present pastor, Arthur J. Culler, was born of Breth- ren parentage, March 14, 1883. He was baptized when 12 years of age and at sixteen was superintendent of the Mt. Pleasant Church Sunday School. He graduated from the Louisville, Ohio, High School, and after teaching school for one year, he took a full business course. In the fall of 1903 he became a clerk in the editorial office of the Gospel Messenger, where he remained for one year. In 1904 he entered Juniata College, from which he graduated in 1908. In 1906 he was elected to the ministry and in 1907 advanced to the second degree. During the summer of 1907 he was supply pastor of the Altoona Church and during the summer of 1908 he served the Plum Creek and Glade Run churches. During the winter of 1907-8 he was student pastor of the Everett Church. During his college work he visited scores of churches in the interest of the Volunteer Mission Band of the college.
In the fall of 1908 he came to Crozer Seminary and the University of Pennsylvania, during which year he assisted in the work at the Geiger Memorial and preached at the Bethany Mission, baptizing twenty-three applicants at the latter place. The following summer he was supply pastor in the absence of Bro. Myers. He then entered Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University in New York City, remaining there for two years. The summer of 1910 was spent in study and travel in continental Europe. He received the degree of Bachelor of Divinity in the spring of 19II and accepted a call to the pastorate of the Geiger Memorial Church for the fall of that year. In September, IgII, he was married to Miss Mary Stover, of Warriors- mark, Pa., since which time they have been engaged in the ministerial work of the church. In 1912 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Columbia University for his work in the Department of Psychology and Re- ligious Education.
Sister Mary S. Geiger.
Widely known and loved throughout the Brotherhood for her devotion and zeal in the Master's cause, and for her
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interest in all the good movements of the church, Sister Geiger is more closely associated with the success of the Geiger Memorial Church than any one else. More than any pastor her consecration and faith has made the work possible. She still takes a live interest in all its affairs even though at the advanced age of 85 years. She was born February 25, 1828, and was confirmed in the Lutheran Church when fourteen years of age. Dur- ing her early years she came in contact with the Brethren at Harleysville and was impressed with their teachings. She was married to Dr. Henry Geiger in 1848, moved to Phil- adelphia in 1852 and was baptized in the Delaware River the same year. Dr. Geiger was elected to the ministry to- gether with David Harley in 1853 and took a great interest in the Sunday School and the work of the young people. During the trying years of the breaking up of the Marshall St. Church and the reorganization of the new Philadelphia Church their support in zeal and gifts went far to make pos- sible the founding of the new church. Dr. Henry Geiger died in 1885, leaving a widow, son and daughter. Since that time she has been found in all good works and it was her thought to found a mission and later a church in his memory. She first supported the mission, later she fur- nished all the funds for the erection of the chapel and par- sonage, and later still for the present commodious church building. She has always borne a large share of the neces- sarily heavy expense connected with a city church, an ex- pense too heavy to be borne by the mission in these earlier days. The work is very close to her heart and we pray that much good may be accomplished in His cause in this part of His vineyard.
A. J. CULLER.
C. THE FOUNDING AND DEVELOPMENT OF BETHANY MISSION.
Kensington is Philadelphia's manufacturing center. Mills and factories, in this section of the City, are multitudinous and the products are of great variety. There are carpet
HOME OF BETHANY MISSION.
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mills, woolen mills, cotton mills, hosiery mills, and other establishments that work in wood and metal. Consequently the residents, for the most part, belong to the laboring class. Again, as Philadelphia has been characterized as the City of Homes, Kensington may be described as that part of the City in which the homes have children in them. A high per- centage of the families are young and the children are at an age when they are most susceptible to moral and religious influence. The forms of vice which thrive in every city are equally thrifty in Kensington. Drunkenness probably stands first, followed closely by gambling, sexual immoral- ity and kindred evils. In a sentence, this is the home of great industries, of working people, of numbers of children, and many forms of sin and vice.
It is in the heart of this section that Bethany Mission, of the Church of the Brethren, is located. From the stand- point of the need of the field and the opportunity of touching the youth of the streets, and the masses of laboring people, the location could not have been better selected. The his- tory of the Mission is necessarily biographical because two individuals are responsible for its incipiency and almost wholly responsible for its support. The two persons to whom Bethany Mission owes its existence are Samuel B. Croft and his wife, Julia Croft.
Samuel Croft was born near Covington, Ohio, on June IO, 1857. He was a son of David and Catherine Croft, the latter being a member of the Church of the Brethren.
Julia Croft is a daughter of Larkin and Catherine Younce, both members of the Church of the Brethren, and was born near West Milton, Ohio, on August 29, 1863.
Brother and Sister Croft were married on September 9, 1882, and one year later came to Philadelphia where they have since made their home. On February 27, 1887, they were baptized at the old Marshall Street Brethren Church which now stands at Carlisle and Dauphin Streets and is known as the First Brethren Church of Philadelphia. They were active at the First Church for a number of years and it was here that Brother Croft was called to the office of deacon.
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After the building of the Geiger Memorial Church, at the request of the Pastor and others who were interested in the work there, Sister Croft devoted her time to that work for six years, at the end of which time they began work in Kensington.
Brother and Sister Croft had a strong missionary spirit from the beginning of their Christian life and at one time had almost decided to offer themselves to the Mission Board for the foreign field. They always contended that the Brethren as a people were too slow in taking hold of new territory and especially did they believe this to be true of the Philadelphia churches. With the exception of a few in- dividuals, the missionary zeal of our people at that time was exceedingly low.
In the face of discouragements and protests against leav- ing the other Church, Brother and Sister Croft began to look out a location for a Mission. In doing this, several things were kept in mind. In the first place they looked for a neighborhood that was without a church and in need of religious influence. Furthermore, they desired to locate in territory that was untouched by any other Brethren Church. These two principles have been a great factor in the rapid growth of the Mission. It was thus that their missionary zeal and the crying need of the field conspired together in starting the work in this part of the City.
After some difficulty, a house was rented at 3351 Ken- sington Avenue. This was a three-story dwelling house. The front room of the first floor had been used as a store- room. There was a tobacco store on one side of the build- ing and a club (speak-easy) on the other. Both were open seven days in the week and afforded an immediate problem.
At this time the financial problem was perplexing, but Brother Croft had passed through a valuable apprenticeship as bookkeeper in different firms of the City and was now in business as a small manufacturer. He assumed all the financial burden of the work and Sister Croft took on her- self the responsibility of pastoral duties. She canvassed the entire neighborhood the very first thing, going from door to door in search of children who were not in Sunday-
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school. At the same time she distributed the following announcement :
BETHANY MISSION of the BRETHREN CHURCH 3351 Kensington Avenue SUNDAY-SCHOOL 2:30 P. M. OPENS SUNDAY, June 12, 1904. A cordial invitation to all.
At the stated time, sixty-seven scholars met in the old store room for the first Sunday-school session. The only minister present was Elder Walter S. Long. His wife was also there. The main audience was made up of boys and girls, many of whom had never been under religious in- fluence either at home or church. Thus the work was launched.
The purpose that Brother and Sister Croft had in view in starting the Mission was to gather the boys and girls from the streets into the Sunday-school and give them plain Bible instructions, and at the same time exert over them the strongest Christian influence. Thus it was hoped to reach, indirectly, the parents at home, for it was evident that they would have to be touched by indirect methods. It is hard to convince a man who loves his beer better than religion that he ought to attend religious service even once during the week. But the desired result came. Sister Croft gained entrance into the homes where, in many cases, the moral, religious and domestic conditions were appallingly abnormal. She plead for a better life, more wholesome home conditions, and for a family religion. She visited the sick, conducted funerals, counciled the perplexed, and told the Christ-story to the sinful. In brief, she superintended the entire work. Brother Croft devoted most of his time to business in order to support the Mission financially. They both spent a great deal of time planning their work in order to do the most in the shortest time, do it efficiently and at the least possible expense.
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