Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-15
DIR. J. R. DAVIES,
CLERGYMAN,DI DIES
Former Pastor of Bethle-
hem Presbyterian Church
Succumbs
WAS NOTED PREACHER
Declined Pacific Coast Pulpit
to Retain Clerical Ac.
tivities Here

The Rev. Dr John n. Davies former
pastor Of the Bethlehem Presbyterian n
I Church. and president of the Board Of
Ministerial Relief and Sustenance OF the
! Presbyterian Church. died at his home
in the Fairfax Apartments. German
town. today
Death was due to a complication of
diseases. Doctor Davies was active in
his clerical work until he vas taken i'll
about four weeks ago. Recently he
! made an extended tour throughout the
I West in the interests of the board OF
which he was secretary.
Several years ago Doctor Davies was
called 70 the pastorate of the Em-
manuel Church, of Los Angeles Calf,
one Of the largest if not the largest
Presbyterian church on the Pacific
coast, He declined the call
Doctor Davies was one of the most
noted after-dinner speakers in this city.
Doctor Davies had often been a COM
missioner to the General Assembly, He
was a member of the General Assemblies
evangelical committees and also a mem
b"r Of numerous boards and committees
Of the assembly. lie had been pastor
Of Bethlehem Church for twenty Years.
dUing which DoriOd 1t has become one
Of 'hc largest and most influential in
thn city.
Doctor Davies was born August Q.
1859, in Aberganenny Monmouthshire.
England, the son Of Thomas Y. and
Hester Davies.
Began Work as Iron Molder
His father died in Doctor Davies $
early youth, and he was compelled to
work for the support of his mother and
himself during the years when he should
have been Mt school He learned the
trade of an iron molder and emigrat-
ed TO this country with his mother. late
in the summer of 1871. reaching New
York almost penniess
He secured work in foundry in
Scranton. where he remained nearly five
years. He was determined to get an
education, and in the fall of 1877 he
entered Lafayette College, from which
he was graduated with honor at the
completion Of his four-year course.
Willie at Lafayette he took second
prize in the Junior oratorical contest
During the summer months following his
graduation he preached at Olyphant,
l.ackawanna County, and in the fall
entered the class of "a in the Prince
ton Theological Seminary. He pursued
his studies under the greatest Difficult
ties. While a sophomore he earned his
living by waiting on table at students
club, and during the remaining year. in
college he rang the college bell and did
odd chores about the institution
Rose Rapidly in Ministry
His first charge was tile Langcliffe
Church. at Avoca. near Scranton, his
next at Tyrone. In 1892 he was called
to the Fourth Avenue Church, New York
city, TO succeed the late Dr. Howard
Crosby. He remained there until 1898
when he accepted a call to Bethlehem
Church
Doctor Davies was a director of the
Princeton Theological Seminary, for
mer alumni trustee of Lafayette College
and member of the Phi Beta Kappa
Society. He was appointed by the Pres
byterian General Assembly to represent
the Church at the Quadrennia Methodist
Episcopal Conference held at Saratoga
Springs in May of 1916.
Doctor Davies married Miss Isabella
VI. Moffatt of Scranton. when still n
young man. They had three children
Mrs. Charles E. Law. who lives in Okla
homa: Miss Hester Davies. named after
her paternal grandmother. a teacher at
the Stevens Academy, Germantown, and
a son. DR.. John r. Davies, Jr., who is
dSoIStdll " II. L IdlIclS PACKARD, an
eminent nose and throat specialist.
The fact that Mayor Smith had oc-
Casionaly attended his church often
reminded Doctor Davies of an interest
ing coincidence. It seems that former
Mayor Stokley, who was three times
elected chief executive Of Philadelphia.
was a lifelong member of the Bethle-
hem Church. and constant attendant
at the services there until stricken with
his last illness.
Mr.. Stokley lived on Broad street
above Diamond, almost directly across
the street from the church. which is To-
Gated on the northeast corner of Broa d
and Diamond streets. Former Mayor
Samuel II. Ashbridge also was a mem
Der of the Bethlehem Church.