Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-11-13

With a series of elaborate services
commencing tomorrow morning and
continuing eight days. the congregation
of the First Presbyterian Church one
of the largest and most influential in
Steelton, viii celebrate its thirtieth an
niversary.
Sermons by prominent out-of-town
clergy, elaborate musical exercises by
leading Central Pennsylvania artists
and historical sketches by local men
will feature the celebration.
A leading figure in the various SER
vices and ceremonies will be Professor
l.. f. McGinnes. superintendent of the
Steelton public schools. For the en-
tire thirty years since the foundation
of the congregation the veteran educa-
tor has been superintendent of the
Sunday school. Both Superintendent
McGinnes and Mrs. McGinnes are
charter members of the congregation.
A historical sketch of the First
Presbyterian Church has been pre-
pared by the Rev. c. Benjamin Segel-
ken. 1t follows:
The first service of the Presbyte-
rian Church, which begins the cele-
bration of its thirtieth anniversary to-
morrow, was held in Reehling's hall,in
the West Side. Sunday afternoon, June
20, 1882. The Rev. William A. West,
pastor at that time of the Westminster
Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg,
preached the sermon. The attendance
at this service was so encouraging
that arrangements were made to have
service every Sunday afternoon. The
Rev. George S. Chambers, pastor of
the Pine Street Presbyterian Church,
Harrisburg. preached on the second
Sunday afternoon.
''On the evening of September 81,
1882, meeting of the congregation
was held at the residence of John w.
Davis for the purpose of organizing a
Sunday school. The following officers
were elected: Superintendent, Prof.
l. i. McGinnes, who enjoys an un-
broken record as superintendent of the
school up to the present time. Assist
ant superintendent, Charles. P. Baker;
secretary. James f. Newlin; treasurer.
William Neely; librarian, Frank t.
McElroy: superintendent of the pri-
mary department, Mrs. l.. +. McGin-
| mes.
The first session of the sunday
school was held sunday afternoon, Oc-
tober 4, 1882, with an attendance of
90. The school and also the congre-
cation enjoyed a constant growth until
larger quarters became necessary. On
the evening of June II, 1855, the con-
Cregation decided to erect a church
building. The cornerstone was laid
July Is, 1885. after which the people
assembled in Central Hall when the
church was organized. The building
was dedicated with appropriate SER
vices on October ., 1855.
The constant growth of the con-
gregation and the Sunday school made
it necessary to enlarge the building.
Hence the present Sunday school quar-
teIs were built as an addition to the
church in 1896, The whole interior
of the church was changed at this time
and pews were installed. The present
building was dedicated June IS. 1897.
The congregation started with a
charter membership of 80. There has
been a slow, steady growth since that
time until at present the membership
is 230. OF the original charter mem-
bers nine are still members of the
church. as follows: Mrs. Kate Baker,
John w. Davis. Mrs. John w. Davis,
Mrs. Emma Kinney, Mrs. Charles S.
Davis, Prof. l.. T.. McGinnes, Mrs. l..
f. McGinnes, Winslow A. Miller, Mrs.
W. A. Miller. A reception will be ten
dered the charter members on Mon
day evening by the congregation.
The following pastors have served
the church: The Rev. w. G.. McDon-
aid, d. D., 1SS3-1SS4: the Rev. John
II. Croft. 1SS4-1S90; the Rev. John l..
McKeehan, 1S9O-1S96; the Rev. John
Mcdowell. 1S96-1S99; the Rev. w. b.
Cook, 19O0-1910; the Rev. c. Benjamin
Segelken. 1911.
The anniversary services will be-
gin tomorrow morning at II, when
the pastor Will preach the anniversary
sermon. He will take for his subject
Retrospect and Prospect" In the
evening the pastor will preach on the
most appropriate subject: "Presby-
terian Principles"
.One of the features of the ami
versary services will be the special
music on the new pipe organ. There
will be an organ recital Tuesday even
ing by Prof. Frank A. McCarrelI, of
Harrisburg, organist of the Pine Street
Presbyterian Church. There will also
be an organ recital of fifteen minutes
preceding the services on all the other
evenings. Prof. William r. Stonesifer,
organist of Grace Methodist Episcopal
Church, Harrisburg, will be the or
ganist on Monday evening, Prof. Nc
Carroll will be the organist Wednes-
day, Thursday and Friday evenings
besides giving the recital on Tuesday
evening. The public is cordially in
vited to all the services"