Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

We thank the Missionettes for theirgift of four couafes, to be used at dinners and social affairs at the church.DENISONPromotion Day in the Sabbath Schoolwas observed by a program, September25. Glimpses of the year's work weregiven: Bible, Psalms and Catechismmemory work and Bible Lessons presented through questions, answers and flannelgraph. A new class, to be taught byMrs. Dale Blackwood, has been added.Small awards were given to all pupils.Dr. G. M. Robb of Kansas City assisted most ably in the communion services,September 30-October 3. His messageswere stimulatingand challenging. Thefellowship of Mr. and Mrs. Robb in ourhomes was much appreciated. Miss MaryFrances Braum was received into themembership of the congregation by profession of faith and Mrs. Harold McCrory bycertificate from the Hebroncongregation. Margaret Louise, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Phillips, andKevin Robert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Maine of Topeka, received the sacrament of baptism.October 8 at 3 P.M. Miss KathleenMcCrory and Mr. Dale Blackwood wereunited in marriage in a church ceremony performed by their pastor, Rev.M. W. Dougherty. They are at home ona farm three and one half miles southwest of Denison.MID-WEST PRESBYTERY MEETINGMid- West Presbytery met at Clarinda,Iowa, in the Clarinda Church Tuesdayevening October 4, 1955, at 7:30 P.M.The retiring Moderator, Rev. BruceStewart, gave an inspiring message, using the second chapter of Titus as histext.The following officers were elected :Moderator, Rev. Joseph Caskey; Clerk,Rev. Paul Faris; Assistant Clerk, Elder W. A. McElroy.On Wednesday the devotionals wereled by Rev. R. W. Caskeyand Rev. M.W. Dougherty. In the reports given onthe spiritual growth in the congregations, some were very encouraging.The committee working with theHome Mission Secretary to investigatethe possibility of startinga church inWichita, reported that three lots werepurchased and they hope to buy anotherone adjoining on which to build a smallchurch in the near future. They arealso looking for some one to man theproject. They feel that it will be a realchallenge.Presbytery adjourned Wednesday evening at 5:30 P. M. to reconvene at 3:00P. M. Thursday in Topeka, Kansas, forordination and installation ofDonaldMcClurkin. Wednesday evening theClarinda congregation gave part of thecentennial program theyearlier in the summer.had presentedAt 3 P.M. Thursday, Presbytery reconvened in the United Brethren Churchin Topeka to hear the trial sermon andexposition of a portion of scripture byDonald McClurkin. Dr. C. E. Caskeyand Rev. Bruce Stewart examined thecandidate as to soundness in the faith,adherance to the distinctive principles ofthe R. P. Church and personal piety. Inthe evening Dr. G. M. Robb preachedthe ordination sermon. The ordinationprayer was offered by a former pastorof Mr. McClurkin, Rev. Wylie Dougherty, during which there was the layingon the hands of the Presbytery. Dr. C.T. Carson addressed the pastor and Rev.D. C. Ward the congregation. A handclasp of welcome was extended by thepresbytery and congregation. Therewere numerous friends from our neighboringcongregations. Those in the receiving line included Mr. and Mrs. Calvin McClurkin of Morning Sun, Iowa,father and mother of the new pastor,and Mrs. George Aiken, his aunt, andher son George.At 9:3C the Midwest Presbytery adjourned to meet next year at Denison,Kansas, Rev. Donald McClurkin pronouncing the benediction.The Topeka Congregation held a reception for their pastor and the Presbytery immediately following the installation.THIRD CHURCH, PHILADELPHIAA very interesting feature of the September meeting of the Women's Missionary Society, which was held at thehome of Mrs. John McClay in the Mayfair,was the reading of excerpts fromthe first Minute Book of the MissionarySociety back in December 1870. Therewere seventeen charter members in this"Female Missionary Society" and manyof their family names, Boyle, Steele,Clyde, Mackie, Armstrong, Forsythe,Blair, McFarland, are still beloved andfamiliar in our own congregation and inthe church at large. The membershipincreased to 37 within a year. Rev. R. J.Sharpe was pastor of Third Philadelphiaat that time. Its prime objective was"to raise funds for Missionary purposesboth Foreign and Domestic" and "anyfemale member of the congregation orfemale adherent or anyfemale of goodmoral character outside the congregation"could become a member. The firstmonies disbursed w.ere for the familiesof Rev. R. J. Dodds and Rev. J. S. Buck.Our pastor, Rev. George W. Price,gave us a summation of his experiencesat White Lake Camp the first Sabbathafter his return from vacation. We prayour Lord's blessing upon all of the efforts put forth to give our Juniors andyoung people a saving knowledge of ourRedeemer and to bring them to a decision to accept Him as their personalSaviour and give their lives to His service.Weeklyprayer meetings were resumed on September 14 with twentyfivepersons present. Special prayerswere offered for Miss Margaret Frazierwho is recuperating from an operationon her leg; and for Mrs. Carl Keefauverwho is in a cast in Temple Hospital, having broken her hip when she fell in herhome. Earnest petitions are also beingmade for Dr. John Peoples. He too is apatient in the Temple Hospital.We are glad that Miss Isabel Crawford's foot injury was not too serious.She continues to serve very efficientlyas superintendent of Sabbath school.September brought worshiping visitorsfrom the South, North, and West. Mr.and Mrs.Evans from our mission inSelma, Alabama, who were guests oftheir son and daughter who reside inPhiladelphia; another daughter, MissE. F. Evans, from Boston, who cameto Philadelphia to visit her father whilehe was a patient in Jefferson Hospital;and Mrs. Frank Barrington of Ojai,California, who spent several weekswith her sister, Miss Elizabeth McHatton.Dr. F. M. Wilson and Mrs. ThomasGill joined Miss McHatton at the airport to see Mrs. Barrington take off inher homeward flight. Our hearts werewarmed by the presence of Miss AnnaTaylor, now a resident of the Presbyterian Home in West Philadelphia, andMr. and Mrs. Robert Adams and children of Springfield, Penna. They wereaccompanied by Lois' mother, Mrs.Piper of Pittsburg. We welcomed alsoMr. and Mrs. James Carson of theUnited Congregation.Attendance at morning worship hasincreased since manywho spend theirsummers away from Philadelphia havereturned to their homes and various professions. Elder and Mrs. George J. Fisher left on September 26 for a two weeksvacation in Ohio.ECHOES . . . frompage 281grace. Where will you get these muchneeded virtues? Ask God for them. Asyou follow His leadership you may leadothers successfully.A parting wordbe generous in encouragement and appreciation of allthe efforts made by your officers, committees, and members, and you will be apopular and successful President.Here's to youMr. President.October 26, 1955 287