Evening star., 1962-05-19

SAAC AAOAAAC 6AON AloL1 . dl otll01
the present attractive, modern
establishment accommodating
259 persons.
I'VE have tried to operate
this home in q way that those
who are guests feel they are
making the place a happy one
through their own activities"
DR.. Lang explained.
To this end he has encour-
aged the varied interests pre-
valent in the homes program.
One way the guests entertain
themselves is through informal
programs put on to observe
special holidays or events. Sew
eral years ago the elderly men
and women. despite the fact
that their ages averaged in the
eighties, produced plays for
their own and visitors pleasure.
Progress in Buildings
DR.. Lang takes juStifiable
pride in the way the physical
plant has grown during his ten
ure. When he came in 1910,
a building erected in 1915,
which replaced the original one
built in 1895. was being used.
Through the years the pres
ent enlarged home came into
being. For example, in 1916 the
staff residence was erected. A
year later the Maryland Synod
building, having private rooms
for IS guests. was put up. In
1s48 the chapel was con-
structed, and three years after
ward the Central Pennsylvania
Synod 1nfirmary was erected.
The main building was en-
larged in 1856.
The Williamsburg (Pa.) ma
tive gradually edged into his
present work. Following receipt
Of his Bachelor Of Divinity deg
rec from the Gettysburg Theol-
ogical Seminary in 1922, he
served a parish in jefferson,
Nd. from 1922 to 1925 and
then went to st. Peters Lu-
theran Church, Middletown,
Pa. from 1926 to 1910. In 1884
he was named to the board Of
the home.
Succeeds Superintendent
From then on his interest In
the home and its guests gradu-
ally grew. When the noted DR..
John Weidley, first pastor-su-
perintendent Of the home, re-
tired in 1910, DR.. Lang's inter-
est had grown so much and his
ability was SO well recognized
that he was asked to take the
job.
He did so with some trepida-
ton. for DR.. Weidley had made
an enviable record, one which
DR.. Lang has equalled If not
surpassed. DR.. Weidley had
served as pastor of Reforma-
ton Lutheran Church in Wash
ington before becoming pastor
superintendent OF the home.
DR.. Lang has no definite
plans for retirement except to
follow q hobby Of years.
Mrs. Lang and I, whenever
we had a chance. travelled by
trailer throughout the coun-
try" he explained. Now we
hope TO do some more trailer
travelling, only at a leisurely
pace. For the next few years
we plan to see the United States
again in this easy fashion"
To Move 10 Carlisle
The couple has a son, the
Rev. Robert L. Lang, jr., pastor
Of Bethlehem Lutheran Church,
Harrisburg. Pa, and a daugh-
ter, Rachael Lang, a visiting
nurse in Carlisle. Pa. They
plan to move to the latter city.
Born in 1897, DR.. Lang at
tended Gettysburg College and
the University of Pittsburgh
before joining the Navy in
World War I. In 1888, Gettys-
burg Seminary honored him
with a Doctor of Divinity de-
gree for his outstanding work.
On Thursday more than $50
Lutherans from the District of
Columbia. Maryland, central
Pennsylvania. West Virginia
and Virginia will honor DR.. and
Mrs. Lang at a $50 pm. teSti-
monial dinner in the home
Eighteenth and Douglas streets
NE.
Earlier, at $3.50 pm. DR.. John
G. Stuff will be installed as
paStor-superintendent and DIR
Carl r. Simon as assistant
pastor-superintendent of the
home at a service in the chanel