Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-10

Public-Spirited Citizen
Mr.. Mccormick from early man.
hood regarded his large fortune more
in the light of stewardship en-
trusted to him than as personal pos
session. From that standpoint he
administered it according to his deem
religious convictions and very largely
for the benefit of the community and
those persons less fortunately stu
ated whom he believed needed his
help. Wherever misfortune occurred
and he knew of the circumstances
there he was, as soon as possible, to
oner aid and comfort. Particularly
was this true with regard to mem
bers of the Sunday school class that
for many years bore his name, one of
the largest in the country, by the
way, and pioneer among the mems
Bible classes of the word. He early
saw the need of men in the church
and his methods of interesting them
have been followed in the nation
wide campaigns which have built up
hundreds of such classes as he start
ed at Pine street in his young man
hood.
In q hundred varied ways the city
felt his influence, and always for
good Countless young divinity stu
dents went through college partly on
Mr.. McCormick's money, and never
knew whence the assistance came.
Dozens of needy ministers received
the gift of Libraries from him, and
to this day are not aware whence
the benefactions came.
Mr.. McCormick's foresight and
thoughtfulness were illustrated IN
his early support of the Public Lii
Drary, now meeting such q large
need in the life of the city, in his
organization of the savings bank
system that preceded the thrift cam
paigns of the present day and in his
interest in the Y. NJ. C. A., which,
during his association with it occu-
pied the place in Harrisburg it is just
beginning again to assume.
Mr.. Mccormick was a man of sim
pie manners and tastes. He was an
extensive reader and a great Bible
student. He lived quietly and in re-
cent years did not mingle much with
people. But he kept in constant
touch with affairs and used his in
huence extensively in every public
betterment plan that came to his at
tention.
Born Here in 1882
Mr.. Mccormick was the second son
of James and Eliza Buehler Nc
Cormick and was born in this city,
October 81, 1892. He received his
early education in the Harrisburg
public schools and later attended the
Harrisburg Academy and Captain
Partridge's Military Institute. In
1855 he was graduated from Yale
and came home to study law under
his father and was admitted to the
bars of Dauphin and Cumberland
counties. After his fathers death he
gave up the practice of law and
managed the estate left by his father.
Believer in City Beautiful
Mr.. Mccormick was at one time a
member of the Park Commission and
with the help of the late John Hof-
fer, laid the foundation for Harris
burg's wonderful park system. He
was public spirited and was always
an active and interested worker in
all undertakings which would bene-
fit or beautify the city.
one of the largest Bible classes
IN the country was taught by Mr.
Mccormick while he was an active
elder in the Pine Street Presbyterian
Church. Many homes have felt the
good influence of his personality and
he was widely respected and deeply
loved by those he had befriended
On the Fourth of July, Mr.. Nc
, Cormick used to hold corn and wa
termelon picnics for members of his
classes and for the men at Camp
Lambs Gap. They were widely look
ed forward to, and for years were in
stitutions in the life of the city.
Men who were broken down in
health and unable to coup with life's
battles received aid from the Help
ing Hand Mission which he started in
little room in tho rear of the Ohev
Sholom synagogue in South street
All of his good work was done with
out any publicity and he was we'll
known as a benevolent and kindly
friend among the poor and needy.
Found Library
In the Young Mems Christian AS
sociation, Mr.. Mccormick served for
one term as president of the local
organization and was q member of
the international committee.
Another association of which Mr..
Mccormick was an originator was
the Harrisburg Public Library He
served as its first president
Besides giving much time to
charitable institutions, the Harris
burg Hospital and numerous other
semi-public organizations, he was
| n successful banker and it was
he who started the dime savings as
sociation and paid all expenses un-
til it was we'll established. This work
continued for eighteen years and it's
| depositors numbered over 100000.
| He was associated with the Dauphin