The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-04-03
KEY west WOMEN
Their Homes and Gardens
BY MYRTLE COSGROVE
MRS. JOHN C. GEKELER

J Inc OOCIeCy Oh FIl6IlUS DSI-
ter known as "Quakers' is at
present very much in the public
eye This is mainly due to the
humane work OF the American
Friends Service Committee in
war torn Europe. Our unfort-
innate neighbOrs across the sea
have learned to place their trust
in these calm, gentle folks, who,
while assiduously striving for
peace. are at the same time feed
Ing the hungry and ministering
to their sick and wounded.
This sect had its rise in Europe
about the middle of the 18th CEN
lury. They were non-conform-
lists in many respects, declining
TO pay homage to king and court,
reServing that reverence alone
for their Creator. Holding no
belief in war they refused mill
tary srevice. They also declin-
ed to take oath in court. They
were firm believers in sobriety
of dress, plain living. thrift, in
dustry, and, above all peace and
serenity. Prosecuted by the
Church OF England many of them
sought religious freedom in
America. Among them were
Walter Roberds and his wife, Re
bekah Williams, who, in 1855,
left their home in Wales and
settled in Bucks County, Penn
sylvania. "A descendant of Wal
ter Roberds is the subject of this
weeks .ketch-Mrs. John c.
Gekeler, now making her home
in Key Wet. Mrs. Gekeler is
the wife of DR.. John c. Gekeler,
pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church, who was called here in
1882 from a former pastorate at
Homestead, Fla. Though far
from childhood home and family,
the pIccepts of the Quaker faith
have been. SO deeply ingrained by
heredity in Mrs. Gekeler that she
still carries many of them into
her daily life. Serenity, peace,
dignity poise, industry, firm re-
ligious beliefs and an apprecia-
ton of the true values of life
all these are a right royal herit-
age to her from Quaker forebears
She also has a superb sense
of humor which may or may not
be an inheritance from the
Friends She is justly proud
OF her great-granGmother, who
was an ordained minister of that
denomination Mrs. Gekeler was
born in the little Quaker city of
RichomOnd, Indiana. near Indian
apolis. She was educated at
Earlham College, a Quaker insti-
tuition located in her home town
She majored in music, which,
in a full end varied life, has been
her great and absorbing interest
She was one of those unusual
little girls who practiced piano
/ lessons for hours without being
urged, which no doubt accounts
for much of her musical pro-
ficiency. She studied instru-
mental music exclusively until
after her marriage when she took
up vocal training She has a
contralto voice, clear, strong and
beautiful Her forte is dramatic
singing and she has the splendid
ability to convey to her audience
by means of words and music,
perfect picture of her song. Liv-
ing her music she pourS it I'M
restrainedly forth in floods of
melody. She studied voice un-
der Laurence Cover of the Edin-
borough School of Music. His
forte being oratorio and church
music is probably the cause of
Mrs. Gekeler's preference for
singing Biblical texts rather than
secular music She feels the
melody is of secondary import
ance to words and sentiments.
She is especially fond of Easter
music. She is versatile person
dressed with many talents and as