150TH ANNIVERSARY1856 - 2006

A History ofOLIVET COVENANT

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

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"When I survey the wondrous Cross on which the Prince of Glorydied...Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."

--Isaac Watts

DEDICATION

For faithful service to Olivet Covenant Presbyterian Church as Elder,Trustee, Organist, Choir Member, Orchestra Leader, Historian andso much more, we dedicate this 150th Anniversary Booklet to

ARTHUR W. RUSSELL

Art has been a member of Olivet Covenant for all of his eighty yearsand has been involved in active leadership since returning fromWorld War II. Like his father before him, Art has been "Mr. OlivetCovenant" for this generation.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Our sincere thanks to the many who contributedhistorical information for this publication.

From Olivet CovenantMary McClellan, Mildred Maier, Al Ernst, Bob Marsh, Jim McClellanand Art Russell.

From Robert GrahamHazel Breig, Jean Mackey, Joe and Catherine Milligan and BruceSaul.

From ZionAl and Edna Irion, Ann Karle and Florence Russell.

In addition, special thanks go to Art Russell, Bobbie King and JimmyLetteer for providing photographs, and to Stefan Wyschynskyj for hiscreative and technical assistance in converting the 140th booklet to an“edit-friendly” format, and for scanning and enhancing photos, editingtext and overseeing print production.

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PREFACE The preface below was provided by Olivet Covenant’s faithful

historian, Art Russell, for the 140th Anniversary booklet. For thisupdated 150th Anniversary booklet, we have included theinformation from the previous booklet (with some minor edits) andadded a new chapter covering the ten year period (1996-2006) sincethe 140th booklet was published. It has been a privilege to be Pastoras we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Olivet Covenant and toprovide, to the best of my ability, some of the milestone events of these last ten years.

Rev. Linda JaymesNovember, 2006

Preface to the 140th Anniversary Booklet

Accepting the challenge to update and rewrite the 140th History ofOlivet Covenant, I made a number of trips to the beautiful PresbyterianHistorical Society building at 425 Lombard Street, almost in the shadow ofIndependence Hall. It is probably the finest facility of its kind in any Protestantdenomination in the land, and I encourage my readers to pay it a visit. In thiscombined Library and Museum are contained a considerable file on OlivetCovenant that greatly aided my research. In addition, I was custodian of thelarge pile of cardboard boxes of records, photos, programs, etc. of the churchsaved by my father during his 75 years as a member. Not only was Dad theunofficial resident historian, but over those years he served as Elder, Trustee,Clerk of Session, Sunday School Teacher and Sunday School Superintendent, atone point doing them all simultaneously. He was affectionately referred to as“Mr. Olivet Covenant”. He was baptized in 1891, joined in 1903 and he attended until his death in 1978.

But the story goes back farther than that. A glance at the first Session MinuteBook at the Historical Society shows the Elders taking in their first group of newmembers with “Martha Russell” on top of the list. The Russells have been hereever since, through four generations, an unbroken line of 140 years. With theseas my credentials, I hope you will find this story of Olivet Covenant of interest.

Arthur W.RussellNovember 1996

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Preface

Chapter 1 In The Beginning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Chapter 2 The First 100 Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Chapter 3 An Amazing Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

The King’s Daughters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

The PSSSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Chapter 4 The Jammen Bible Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Charles S. Drain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Chapter 5 Christian Endeavor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Chapter 6 Evening Vacation Bible School . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Chapter 7 Puerto Rican Ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Chapter 8 The Unchanging Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Chapter 9 Our Musical Heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Chapter 10 Olivet Oddities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Chapter 11 Robert Graham Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Chapter 12 Zion Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Chapter 13 Into the New Millennium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

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Second and Third BuildingsBuilt 1865 and 1896

Jeremiah C. ChanceFounder of

Olivet Covenant

First ChurchBuilt 1856

Chapter OneIn the Beginning....October 1682 saw William Penn, an English Quaker, sailing up theDelaware River and settling the city of Philadelphia. A century later itwas the largest English speaking city outside of the British Isles andserved as our nation’s capital during most of the Revolutionary War.

Presbyterians entered the city shortly afterwards and in 1692, the Rev.Francis Makemie conducted worship for a small group of immigrantsfrom England, Scotland, and Ireland. For the next six years theycontinued to worship in a small frame building they shared with aBaptist congregation at 2nd and Chestnut, known as the “BarbadoesWarehouse.” In 1698, Jedidiah Andrews, a graduate of Harvard, cameto minister to the group and organized them as The First PresbyterianChurch of Philadelphia. Today this congregation (now located at 21stand Walnut Streets) can lay claim to a valid statement that they are theoldest Presbyterian Church in America in continuous existence.

Our Claims to FameI. HistoricallyFirst Presbyterian Church organized seven new churches,including Calvary Presbyterian located at 15th and LocustStreets. Calvary Church in turn organized six more churcheswith Olivet being the first of that number. By this genealogyOlivet traces its heritage as a direct outgrowth of the originalFirst Presbyterian Church in America.II. LocationThe original city of Philadelphia lay in an area bounded Eastand West by the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers and North andSouth by Vine Street and South Street. History books tell us thatto the northwest of the city was located the summer home ofRobert Morris, signer of the Declaration of Independence,financier of the Colonial Army, and close friend of GeorgeWashington. Our church deed shows our land was part of thatMorris Estate. Our original address was known as “22nd andWashington Streets,” and our plot of ground was purchasedfrom the Robert Morris heirs.

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The same history books tell us that during the long hot summerof the Continental Congress, Washington frequently traveled tothe Robert Morris summer home, now known as the Lemon HillMansion, to escape the heat of the city. Conjecture makes uswonder if he passed by our land on these visits and that is whythey named it “Washington Street”? Interestingly, in 1854,they had to rename the street, because there was already anotherWashington Street in Philadelphia, so they chose “MountVernon Street” still a reference to the first president.

The site of Lemon Hill Mansion, on a hill high above the schuylkill River, was apart of a large tract reserved in William Penn’s time as a proprietary manornamed Springettsbury.

From 1770 to 1799 Robert Morris, one of the Signers of the Declaration ofIndependence and a great patriot of the American Revolutionary period,established his country seat, the Hills, on a 300 acre portion of this manor. Inaddition to agricultural pursuits Morris built “A Large & Elegant GreenHouse” flanked by Hot Houses and having gardener’s quarters, vaults and rootcellars. With its surrounding gardens this became one of the show places of thetimes. A 1794 painting of “Robert Morris’ seat on the Schuylkill” by JeremiahPaul in Historical Society of Pennsylvania collection shows Morris’ elaboratedwelling and greenhouse structure to the east and downhill from the empty siteof the future Lemon Hill Mansion.

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Would You Believe? ...We doubt that any current church member today has any idea howmany Presbyterian churches have come and gone from the small areabounded by Broad Street to Fairmount Park and Vine Street to GirardAvenue, generally referred to as the “Fairmount” and “SpringGarden” sections of the city. The impressive list shown belowchronicles the story. As we alone stand above the demise of thesecongregations we cannot but pause and give thanks to God for blessingus and allowing us to present a continuous witness in thisneighborhood. Our thanks and gratitude to the members and officers ofthe past and present who were faithful and dedicated for 150 years. Asone outsider commented on our staying power, “You folks must bedoing something right!”

1832 Fairmount Presbyterian23rd & Callowhill Streets

1835 Second Reformed Presbyterian22nd Street above Vine Street

1842 Spring Garden Central PresbyterianAddress unknown

1846 Spring Garden Presbyterian11th Street below Green Street

1848 Third Associate Presbyterian20th & Buttonwood Streets

1849 Logan Square Presbyterian20th & Vine Streets

1858 West Green Street Presbyterian19th and Green Streets

1860 North Broad Street PresbyterianBroad above Spring Garden Street

1877 Corinthian Avenue PresbyterianCorinthian Avenue below Poplar Street

1892 Welsh Presbyterian21st Street below Fairmount Avenue

Editor’s Note: From 1946-1996 we also lost 3 Methodist, 2 Baptist, 1 Lutheran, 1Episcopal, 1 Moravian and 1 Christian Missionary Alliance Churchin the sameneighborhood area. The only remaining church from any of the above denominations isTrinity Baptist at Pennock and Poplar Streets.Historical Directory of Presbyterian Churches and Presbyteries of Greater Philadelphiaby Kenneth Hammonds 1993.

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Chapter TwoThe following chapter is an exact reprint, word for word, from the “History of Olivet Covenant,” published in the 100th AnniversaryProgram in 1956.

The First 100 YearsO n A p r i l 1 6 , 1 8 5 6 , a n e w c h u r c h w a s i n s t i t u t e d a n d o r g a n i z e d i n t h e

c i t y o f P h i l a d e l p h i a b y a d e p u t a t i o n f r o m t h e T h i r d P r e s b y t e r y . T h ec h u r c h c o n s i s t e d o f 1 6 m e m b e r s a n d m e t i n a n e w c h u r c h b u i l d i n g o nt h e c o r n e r o f 2 2 n d a n d Wa l l a c e S t r e e t s . T h e n a m e g i v e n t h a t c h u r c hw a s ‘ “ O l i v e t . ”

L o o k i n g b a c k a f t e r o n e h u n d r e d y e a r s , i t i s s t r a n g e t o r e a l i z e t h a t o u rc h u r c h w a s t h e r e s u l t o f a m i s s i o n a r y p r o j e c t . T h e “ M i s s i o n a r y A s s o c i a -t i o n ” o f t h e C a l v a r y P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h s o u g h t t o e s t a b l i s h S a b b a t hS c h o o l s a n d p r a y e r m e e t i n g g r o u p s i n p o r t i o n s o f t h e c i t y d e e m e d m o s td e s t i t u t e , a n d a c o m m i t t e e — J e r e m i a h C . C h a n c e , j . L . N o y e s , a n d L . P r a t t— o r g a n i z e d a S a b b a t h S c h o o l i n A p r i l , 1 8 5 5 , m e e t i n g o n C o a t e s S t r e e tn e a r 2 4 t h S t r e e t . A p r o g r a m o f a g g r e s s i v e v i s i t a t i o n t h r o u g h t h e n e i g h b o r -h o o d b r o u g h t s u c h r e s u l t s t h a t t h e r e n t e d b u i l d i n g i n w h i c h t h e s c h o o lm e t s o o n b e c a m e t o o s m a l l . I n l a t e 1 8 5 5 M a t t h i a s W. B a l d w i n a n d J o h nA . B r o w n , o f t h e C a l v a r y C h u r c h , p u r c h a s e d a l o t o n 2 2 n d a n d Wa s h i n g -t o n S t r e e t s ( n o w M t . Ve r n o n ) a n d p a i d f o r t h e b u i l d i n g w h i c h w a se r e c t e d a t 2 2 n d a n d Wa l l a c e S t r e e t s . A n d f r o m t h i s m i s s i o n S a b b a t hS c h o o l t h e O l i v e t C h u r c h w a s f o r m e d .

T h e R e v. E d w i n D . N e w b e r r y w a s t h e f i r s t p a s t o r o f t h e c h u r c h , o r -d a i n e d a n d i n s t a l l e d o n M a y 2 n d , 1 8 5 6 . H e h a d b e e n w o r k i n g w i t h t h ep e o p l e a s a m i s s i o n a r y a l m o s t f r o m t h e i n c e p t i o n o f t h e S a b b a t h S c h o o lg r o u p . I l w a s f i t t i n g t h a t h e s h o u l d b e t h e f i r s t l e a d e r o f t h e s m a l l f l o c k .R e v e r e n d N e w b e r r y s e r v e d a s p a s t o r u n t i l O c t o b e r 1 , 1 8 6 1 , a n d d u r i n gt h a t t i m e t h e m e m b e r s h i p i n c r e a s e d t o m o r e t h a n 2 5 0 m e m b e r s .

T h e g r o w i n g y o u n g c h u r c h n e x t c a l l e d t h e R e v. Wi l l i a m W. Ta y l o r t oi t s p u l p i t . I n s t a l l e d o n N o v e m b e r 3 , 1 8 6 1 , h e s e r v e d f o r m o r e t h a n n i n ey e a r s , u n t i l A p r i l 11 , 1 8 7 1 . A p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 4 0 m e m b e r s w e r e a d d e d t ot h e c o n g r e g a t i o n u n d e r h i s l e a d e r s h i p . I t w a s d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d t h a t t h e r ew a s e r e c t e d t h e l a r g e c h u r c h b u i l d i n g w h i c h s t o o d o n t h e c o r n e r o f 2 2 n da n d M t . Ve r n o n S t r e e t s f o r e i g h t y y e a r s . O n c e a g a i n M a t t h i a s W. B a l d w i nw a s t h e c h i e f c o n t r i b u t o r t o t h e b u i l d i n g f u n d , a n d M r. J o h n A . B r o w na l s o m a d e a s u b s t a n t i a l g i f t . T h e n e w b u i l d i n g , f r e e f r o m d e b t , w a s d e d i -c a t e d i n O c t o b e r , 1 8 6 5 . T h e o r i g i n a l c h a p e l b u i l d i n g w a s t h e n a l t e r e d s ot h a t t h e s e c o n d f l o o r a c c o m m o d a t e d t h e S a b b a t h S c h o o l , a n d t h e f i r s tf l o o r w a s u s e d f o r p r a y e r m e e t i n g s a n d o t h e r s e r v i c e s .

O n O c t o b e r 2 9 , 1 8 7 1 , t h e R e v. L o y a l Y. G r a h a m w a s i n s t a l l e d a s p a s t o ra n d s e r v e d f o r t h i r t y - f i v e f r u i t f u l a n d e v e n t f u l y e a r s . H e c a m e t o O l i v e tw h e n t h e s i t u a t i o n w a s d a r k : M e m b e r s h i p w a s o n l y 1 4 0 a n d l e s s t h a n 1 0 0p e r s o n s w e r e i n a c t i v e a t t e n d a n c e a t s e r v i c e s . B u t h i s e f f o r t s w e r e b l e s s e df r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g . D u r i n g h i s t h i r t y - f i v e y e a r s o f s e r v i c e , a p p r o x i m a t e l y3 , 2 0 0 m e m b e r s w e r e a d d e d t o t h e c h u r c h r o l l , w i t h a n o v e r - a l l a v e r a g eo f 9 1 n e w m e m b e r s p e r y e a r . T h e c h u r c h r e a c h e d i t s m e m b e r s h i p p e a kd u r i n g t h i s t i m e , a t t a i n i n g a t o t a l o f 1 , 3 5 0 m e m b e r s , p r o b a b l y i n y e a r 1 8 9 6 .

A b o u t t h e t u r n o f t h e c e n t u r y n o t a b l e c h a n g e s b e g a n t o t a k e p l a c e i nt h e n e i g h b o r h o o d . M a n u f a c t u r i n g e s t a b l i s h m e n t s s t a r t e d t o m o v e i n t o t h ea r e a i n g r e a t e r n u m b e r s , a n d m a n y o f t h e l o v e l y h o m e s g r a d u a l l y b e c a m ea p a r t m e n t h o u s e s a n d b o a r d i n g h o u s e s . A t r a n s i e n t p o p u l a t i o n b e g a n t ot a k e t h e p l a c e o f t h e f a m i l i e s o f t h e c h u r c h , w h o m o v e d a w a y f r o m t h ea r e a i n t o t h e s u b u r b s a n d o u t l y i n g d i s t r i c t s o f t h e c i t y. A l l o f t h e s e f a c t o r sa d d e d t o t h e w o r k o f t h e p a s t o r , s o i t w a s f e l l p r o p e r f o r h i m t o h a v es o m e a s s i s t a n c e . F r o m 1 8 9 3 t o 1 9 0 5 v a r i o u s y o u n g m i n i s t e r s w e r e c a l l e dt o a s s i s t D r. G r a h a m , n a m e l y R e v. F r a n k D e Wi t t Ta l m a g e , R e v. C h a r l e sH . A l f o r d , a n d f i n a l l y R e v. A l e x a n d e r Vi n t o n . T h e R e v e r e n d M r. Ta l m a g ew a s t h e s o n o f D r. D e Wi t t Ta l m a g e . o n e o f t h e r e n o w n e d p r e a c h e r s o f t h el a s t c e n t u r y.

D u r i n g t h i s g r e a t p e r i o d i n O l i v e t ’s h i s t o r y, t h e c h u r c h — a m i s s i o n a r yp r o d u c t i t s e l f — w a s i n s t r u m e n t a l i n e s t a b l i s h i n g t w o o t h e r P r e s b y t e r i a nc h u r c h e s i n P h i l a d e l p h i a : T h e c h u r c h k n o w n t o d a y a s R o b e r t G r a h a mP r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h , 2 5 t h a n d T h o m p s o n S t r e e t s ( f i r s t k n o w n a s P a r kP r e s b y t e r i a n S a b b a t h S c h o o l a n d t h e n a s t h e H e b r o n M e m o r i a l P r e s b y -t e r i a n C h u r c h ) , a n d t h e c h u r c h n o w c a l l e d E a s t P a r k P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c ha t 2 5 t h a n d I n d i a n a Av e n u e . A t h i r d c h u r c h w a s a i d e d b y t h e w i l l o fM r. J a c o b B r a n d s t e t e r , a n O l i v e t m e m b e r , w h i c h p r o v i d e d m o n e y f o r t h ee s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a c h u r c h i n w e s t e r n P e n n s y l v a n i a . T h e O l i v e t C h u r c ho f E l r a m a , P a . , w a s t h e b e n e f i c i a r y o f t h e b e q u e s t .

A l s o d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d t h e o r i g i n a l c h a p e l a t 2 2 n d a n d Wa l l a c e S t r e e t sw a s r e p l a c e d b y a n e w c h a p e l a n d S a b b a t h S c h o o l b u i l d i n g . T h e n e wb u i l d i n g w a s f o r m a l l y o p e n e d a n d d e d i c a t e d o n S e p t e m b e r 2 3 , 1 8 9 6 , a n di t s e r v e s t o d a y a s o u r c h u r c h b u i l d i n g .

O n t h e t h i r t y - f i f t h a n n i v e r s a r y o f D r. G r a h a m ’s p a s t o r a t e , h e r e s i g n e df r o m t h e p u l p i t , s u c h r e s i g n a t i o n t a k i n g e f f e c t J a n u a r y 7 , 1 9 0 7 . I t i si n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t d u r i n g D r. G r a h a m ’s t e n u r e t e n y o u n g m e n w e n to u t f r o m O l i v e t i n t o t h e m i n i s t r y, a n d t w o o f t h e s e w e r e h i s s o n s , L o y a l Y.G r a h a m , J r . , a n d R a l p h L . E . G r a h a m .

D r. G r a h a m w a s e l e c t e d p a s t o r e m e r i t u s o f t h e c h u r c h ; t h e R e v. M a t t h e wJ . H y n d m a n s u c c e e d e d h i m a s p a s t o r a n d w a s i n s t a l l e d o n A p r i l 4 , 1 9 0 7 .

I n t h e f i r s t y e a r o f h i s m i n i s t r y a n i m p o r t a n t s t e p w a s t a k e n w h e nt h e s e s s i o n o f O l i v e t C h u r c h i n v i t e d t h e C o v e n a n t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c ht o c o n s i d e r a m e r g e r o f t h e t w o c o n g r e g a t i o n s . C o v e n a n t C h u r c h h a d al o n g a n d h o n o r e d h i s t o r y o f i t s o w n . H a v i n g b e e n f o u n d e d i n 1 8 3 5 a st h e S e c o n d R e f o r m e d P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h , m e e t i n g a t 2 2 n d a n d C a l l o w -h i l l S t r e e t s , i t c a m e u n d e r t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h ,U . S . A . , i n 1 8 8 5 , a t w h i c h l i m e i t b e c a m e t h e C o v e n a n t P r e s b y t e r i a nC h u r c h . T h e p r o p o s a l t o m e r g e w a s a c c e p t e d b y C o v e n a n t C h u r c h , a n dt h e u n i o n o f t h e t w o c h u r c h e s w a s e f f e c t e d o n S e p t e m b e r 7 , 1 9 0 8 . D r.H y n d m a n w a s i n s t a l l e d a s p a s t o r o f t h e O l i v e t - C o v e n a n t P r e s b y t e r i a nC h u r c h o n O c t o b e r 1 3 , 1 9 0 8 .

T h e n e i g h b o r h o o d c h a n g e s w h i c h h a d b e g u n t o w a r d t h e e n d o f D r .G r a h a m ’s s e r v i c e w e r e m o r e a n d m o r e i n e v i d e n c e a n d , i n d e e d , s e e m e dt o a c c e l e r a t e w i t h e a c h p a s s i n g y e a r. T h e c h u r c h m e m b e r s h i p w a s i n c r e a s -i n g l y a f f e c t e d b y t h e s h i f t o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n t o o u t l y i n g d i s t r i c t s .

I n 1 9 1 5 a r e s u r g e n c e o f m e m b e r s h i p w a s r e a l i z e d a s a r e s u l t o f t h eB i l l y S u n d a y c a m p a i g n i n P h i l a d e l p h i a . I n t h a t y e a r e i g h t y - t w o n e wm e m b e r s w e r e a d d e d t o t h e c h u r c h r o l l a t t h e E a s t e r s e a s o n c o m m u n i o ns e r v i c e , a n d m a n y o f t h e s e r e m a i n e d a s f a i t h f u l a n d a c t i v e m e m b e r s o f

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t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n t h r o u g h t h e y e a r s . B u t t h e t r e n d a w a y f r o m t h e c e n t r a lc i t y c o n t i n u e d .

D r . H y n d m a n r e s i g n e d a s p a s t o r o f O l i v e t - C o v e n a n t i n J u n e , 1 9 3 3 ,h a v i n g b e e n e l e c t e d p r e s i d e n t o f t h e P r e s b y t e r i a n M i n i s t e r s ’ F u n d i n M a y.T h e c o n g r e g a t i o n , r e l u c t a n t t o s e e a b e l o v e d p a s t o r d e p a r t f r o m i t s m i d s t ,e l e c t e d h i m p a s t o r - e m e r i t u s o f t h e c h u r c h , i n w h i c h p o s i t i o n h e r e m a i n e du n t i l h i s d e a t h i n N o v e m b e r , 1 9 4 9 .

S i x m o n t h s a f t e r D r. H y n d m a n ’s r e s i g n a t i o n , i n D e c e m b e r 1 9 3 3 , t h eR e v. H o w a r d L . F r a m e a c c e p t e d t h e c a l l o f t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n t o b e c o m et h e n e w m i n i s t e r . T h r o u g h h i s a g g r e s s i v e l e a d e r s h i p t h e s t e a d y d e c l i n ei n m e m b e r s h i p o f t h e c h u r c h w a s h a l t e d , a n d d u r i n g h i s t e n y e a r s o fs e r v i c e i t r e m a i n e d f a i r l y c o n s t a n t .

M r. F r a m e r e c e i v e d a c a l l t o C a l v a r y C h u r c h o f H i g h l a n d P a r k , P a . ,i n N o v e m b e r o f 1 9 4 3 a n d h a s c o n t i n u e d m o s t s u c c e s s f u l l y i n t h a t p a s -t o r a t e f o r t h e p a s t t w e l v e y e a r s .

O u r p r e s e n t p a s t o r , t h e R e v e r e n d C . G o r d o n R e y n o l d s , c a m e t o O l i v e t -C o v e n a n t i n N o v e m b e r 1 9 4 4 , t a k i n g o n t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f m a i n t a i n i n gt h e c h u r c h a s a C h r i s t i a n i n f l u e n c e i n F a i r m o u n t . T h e w o r k o f t h e c h u r c hp r e s e n t e d a r e a l c h a l l e n g e b y t h i s t i m e . T h e n a t u r e o f t h e c o m m u n i t y h a dc h a n g e d t o s u c h a n e x t e n t t h a t m a n y c h u r c h e s w e r e f i n d i n g i t d i f f i c u l t t om a i n t a i n t h e m s e l v e s i n t h i s a r e a .

A n e a r t r a g e d y s t r u c k t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n i n A p r i l 1 9 4 5 . O n t h e S a t u r d a yn i g h t b e f o r e E a s t e r a s u d d e n s t o r m o f h u r r i c a n e f o r c e l i f t e d a l m o s t h a l ft h e r o o f f r o m t h e m a i n a u d i t o r i u m b u i l d i n g a t 2 2 n d a n d M t . Ve r n o nS t r e e t s . I n s p e c t i o n r e v e a l e d t h a t t h e w h o l e s t r u c t u r e , e r e c t e d i n 1 8 6 5 , w a sw e a k e n e d a n d t h e c o s t o f r e c o n d i t i o n i n g t h e b u i l d i n g w a s p r o h i b i t i v e .I n s u r a n c e d i d n o t c o v e r t h e d a m a g e . T h e h a r d d e c i s i o n w a s f i n a l l y r e a c h e db y t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n t h a t t h e b u i l d i n g s h o u l d b e r a z e d c o m p l e t e l y, a n dt h i s w a s d o n e a t a c o s t o f $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 .

T h e n i t w a s n e c e s s a r y t o r e m o d e l t h e c h a p e l b u i l d i n g t o p r o v i d e as a n c t u a r y f o r t h e w o r s h i p s e r v i c e s . Wi t h i n a y e a r , a n d b y t h e e x p e n d i t u r eo f a n o t h e r $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 , t h e f i r s t d o o r a u d i t o r i u m o f t h e b u i l d i n g w a s c o n -v e r t e d i n t o a c h a r m i n g a n d c o n v e n i e n t , p l a c e o f w o r s h i p . I n s t e a d o f a l l o w -i n g t h e e v e n t t o b e t r a g i c , t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n a p p l i e d i t s e l f t o t h e j o b o fr a i s i n g t h e f u n d s t o p a y f o r t h i s b i g t a s k .

D u r i n g t h e l a s t e l e v e n y e a r s o u r c h u r c h h a s w i t n e s s e d a v e r y d e f i n i t er e n a i s s a n c e . R e c k o n i n g b y c h u r c h m e m b e r s h i p , t h e r e h a s b e e n n o m a t e -r i a l i n c r e a s e i n t o t a l n u m b e r s o n t h e c h u r c h r o l l ; b u t r e c k o n i n g b y r e n e w a lo f s p i r i t a n d r e v i t a l i z a t i o n o f t h e c h u r c h , t h e g r o w t h h a s b e e n l i t t l e s h o r to f a m a z i n g . U n d e r t h e i n s p i r i n g l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e p a s t o r , a n d w i t h t h ed e d i c a t e d c o o p e r a t i o n o f t h e o f f i c e r s a n d m e m b e r s , t h e c h u r c h i s m e e t i n gt h e c h a l l e n g e o f i t s t a s k t o m i n i s t e r t o t h o s e w h o d w e l l i n i t s s h a d o wa n d t o s e n d t h e l i g h t o f t h e G o s p e l i n t o t h e c o m m u n i t y. T h r o u g h a v i g -o r o u s p r o g r a m o f v i s i t a t i o n e v a n g e l i s m , c a r r i e d o n b y t h e m e n o f t h ec h u r c h , m a n y u n c h u r c h e d p e o p l e i n t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d h a v e b e e n r e a c h e da n d a r e b e i n g w o n f o r C h r i s t a n d t h e c h u r c h .

A l t h o u g h t h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f c h u r c h m e m b e r s m a y n o t h a v e i n c r e a s e dg r e a t l y d u r i n g t h e s e p a s t y e a r s , c h u r c h a t t e n d a n c e h a s i n c r e a s e d 1 0 0 p e rc e n t o v e r t e n y e a r s a g o , a n d a t t e n d a n c e o f c h u r c h m e m b e r s o n m o s t S u n -d a y m o r n i n g s i s e x c e p t i o n a l l y h i g h , a p p r o x i m a t i n g 6 5 p e r c e n t o f t h o s eo n r o l l .

T h r o u g h a n e x t e n s i v e p r o g r a m o f r e p a i r s a n d i m p r o v e m e n t s , t h e c o n -g r e g a t i o n h a s f r e e l y c o n t r i b u t e d t h e n e c e s s a r y f u n d s t o p o i n t a n d p a i n t

15

t h e e x t e r i o r o f t h e c h u r c h b u i l d i n g , r e n o v a t e t h e b a s e m e n t a n d o t h e rr o o m s o f t h e c h u r c h , r e d e c o r a t e t h e s a n c t u a r y w i t h p a i n t i n g a n d n e wc a r p e t i n g , i n s t a l l a n e w h e a l i n g s y s t e m , a n d o t h e r i m p o r t a n t i m p r o v e m e n t s .A g i f t o f n e w p e w s b y a f r i e n d o f t h e c h u r c h f u r t h e r e n h a n c e d o u r s a n c -t u a r y . T h e m e n o f t h e c h u r c h h a v e d e m o n s t r a t e d t h e i r e n t h u s i a s m a n dl o y a l t y t h r o u g h t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n o f t i m e a n d l a b o r f o r m a n y o f t h e s ep r o j e c t s . A n e w p h a s e o f t h e p r o g r a m i s a b o u t t o c o m m e n c e w h i c h w i l lp r o v i d e a n e w r o o f f o r t h e b u i l d i n g .

A f t e r o n e h u n d r e d y e a r s o f s e r v i c e , O l i v e t - C o v e n a n t i s s t i l l s h o w i n gf o r t h a f r e s h n e s s o f s p i r i t a n d a n i n c l i n a t i o n f o r t h e w o r k o f t h e L o r dt h a t i n d i c a t e s t h e e x t e n t o f h e r d e d i c a t i o n . W h i l e w e h a v e e v e r y r e a s o nt o b e p r o u d o f o u r s p i r i t u a l a n d p h y s i c a l p r o g r e s s , w e s t i l l m u s t b e h u m b l ea n d r e a l i z e t h a t a n y m e a s u r e o f s u c c e s s w h i c h i s o u r s c a n b e c r e d i t e do n l y t o t h e b l e s s i n g s w h i c h G o d h a s c o n t i n u a l l y p o u r e d o u t u p o n u s . ToH i m b e a l l h o n o r a n d g l o r y, a s w e l o o k a h e a d f r o m t h e t h r e s h o l d o f an e w c e n t u r y o f s e r v i c e f o r H i m .

I t i s , o f c o u r s e , r e a l i z e d t h a t a c h u r c h i s o n l y a s g r e a t a s t h e p e o p l ew h o l a b o r i n i t a n d w h o d e d i c a t e t h e m s e l v e s t o t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e L o r d .T h r o u g h t h i s c e n t u r y o f h i s t o r y, O l i v e t - C o v e n a n t h a s s e e n m a n y m e n a n dw o m e n w h o h a v e g i v e n u n s t i n t i n g l y o f t h e m s e l v e s t h a t t h e g o s p e l o fC h r i s t m i g h t b e p r o c l a i m e d a n d t a u g h t b y t h e c h u r c h . N o d o u b t e v e r y o n er e m e m b e r s e s p e c i a l l y o n e o r m o r e p e r s o n s u n d e r w h o s e i n f l u e n c e h ec a m e i n t h e c h u r c h , b u t s p e c i a l r e c o g n i t i o n s h o u l d b e g i v e n t o s o m e w h ol e f t t h e i r m a r k u p o n t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n .

J e r e m i a h C . C h a n c e w a s o n e o f t h e f o u n d e r s o f t h e S a b b a t h S c h o o li n 1 8 5 5 , w a s o n e o f t h e f i r s t t w o e l d e r s o f t h e O l i v e t C h u r c h , a n d s e r v e df o r 4 5 y e a r s a s s u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f t h e S a b b a t h S c h o o l .

H e n r y R . R a i g u e l w a s a l s o o n e o f t h e o r i g i n a l t w o e l d e r s o f t h e c h u r c ha n d h e l d t h e p o s i t i o n o f C l e r k o f S e s s i o n f r o m 1 8 5 6 u n t i l h i s d e a t h i n 1 8 8 7 .

M r s . S a r a h D o d w o r t h g a v e h e r s e r v i c e a s s u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f t h e P r i m a r yD e p a r t m e n t f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4 0 y e a r s , f r o m a b o u t 1 8 7 2 t o a b o u t 1 9 1 2 .

N o a h O v e r t o n d e v o t e d l y t e n d e d t h e c h u r c h b u i l d i n g a s i t s s e x t o n f o rm o r e t h a n 4 0 y e a r s , u n t i l h i s d e a t h i n 1 9 4 9 . H e w a s t r u l y a k e e p e r o ft h e t e m p l e o f t h e L o r d .

C . R u s s e l l M o r r o w, w h o s e r v e d a s p r e s i d e n t o f t h e B o a r d o f Tr u s t e e s ,w a s t h e o r i g i n a t o r o f t h e e x t e n s i v e b u i l d i n g a n d r e p a i r p r o g r a m w h i c hh a s p l a c e d o u r b u i l d i n g i n i t s p r e s e n t f i n e c o n d i t i o n . H e w a s c a l l e d h o m eb e f o r e s e e i n g t h e r e a l i z a t i o n o f h i s p l a n s .

T h e r e a r e t h o s e a m o n g u s w h o a r e s t i l l s e r v i n g , a f t e r m a n y, m a n yy e a r s , e s p e c i a l l y J a m e s L . R u s s e l l , p r e s e n t C l e r k o f S e s s i o n a n d s e n i o re l d e r. H e h a s s e r v e d t h e c h u r c h i n m a n y c a p a c i t i e s , a s s u p e r i n t e n d e n t o ft h e S a b b a t h S c h o o l . a s t r u s t e e , a n d i n m a n y w a y s f o r w h i c h t h e r e a r en o c a t a g o r i e s .

We r e m e m b e r , t o o , M r. Wa l t e r K e t l e y w h o w a s o r g a n i s t o f t h e c h u r c h f o rf o r t y - n i n e y e a r s . W h i l e n o l o n g e r h o l d i n g t h a t p o s i t i o n , h i s i n t e r e s ti n a n d l o v e f o r t h e c h u r c h h a s n e v e r c e a s e d .

A n d e v e n a s w e w r i t e , h i s t o r y i s b e i n g m a d e a s O l i v e t - C o v e n a n t m o v e sa l o n g f r o m d a y t o d a y i n t h e a r m y o f t h e L o r d . O u r y o u n g m e n a n dw o m e n , w h o a r e g i v i n g o f t i m e a n d t a l e n t s , w i l l b e t h o s e t o c a r r y o n t h ew o r k o f C h r i s t a s t h e t a s k i s h a n d e d t o t h e m b y t h e i r e l d e r s . t h e c h u r c hc a n n o t f a i l a s l o n g a s i t t a k e s i t s s t r e n g t h f r o m H i m w h o i s a l l - p o w e r f u la n d r e t u r n s u n t o H i m t h e g l o r y a n d h o n o r w h i c h b e l o n g t o H i m a l o n e .“ B l e s s e d b e t h e n a m e o f t h e L o r d ” !

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MINISTERS OF OUR CHURCH

Contd .

Rev. William W. Taylor, D.D.1861 - 1871

Rev. Matthew J. Hyndman, D.D.1907 - 1933

Rev. Edwin D. Newberry1856 - 1867

Rev. C. Gordon Reynolds, D.D.1944 - 1959

Rev. Loyal Y. Graham, D.D.1871 - 1906

Rev. Howard L. Frame1934 - 1943

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Rev. Robert N. Biederman1982 - 1991

Rev. John D. Evans III, D.D.1967 - 1970

Rev. John D. Scott, Jr.1961 - 1964

Rev. Douglas Harley1993 - 1996

Rev. C. Gordon Reynolds, D.D.1971 - 1981

Rev. Linda Jaymes1998 - Present

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ORGANISTSProf. F.T. Baker . . . . . . . . .??? - 1884 Dr. Mark Karlberg . . . . .1976 - 1999

C. Virgil Gordon . . . . . . .1895 - 1902 Paul McFadden . . . . . . . .1999 - 2002

Walter Ketley . . . . . . . . . .1902 - 1947 Eugenia Zipf . . . . . . . . . .2002 - 2003

Laury Greene . . . . . . . . . .1947 - 1964 Art Russell/Robin Roach 2003 - 2006

William Kolb . . . . . . . . . .1965 - 1976 Edith Rodebaugh . . . . . . .2006 - Pres

SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTSJeremiah C. Chance . . . . .1855-1900 Robert C. Walters . . . . . . .1962-1966

Edwin J. Cummings . . . . .1901-1905 Joseph Milligan . . . . . . . . .1966-1970

Edwin E Glenn . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1906 Ronald McClellan . . . . . . .1970-1975

Thomas Beardwood . . . . . .1907-1909 David Wenker . . . . . . . . . .1975-1977

J. Wilson Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1910 Marilyn McClellan . . . . . .1977-1979

Edwin R Glenn . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1911 Lillian Robinson . . . . . . . .1980-1982

Augustus Hugo . . . . . . . . . .1912-1917 Marcia Papson . . . . . . . . .1982-1985

James McNutt . . . . . . . . . .1918-1926 Robert C. Walters . . . . . . .1985-1988

James L. Russell . . . . . . . .1927-1941 Arthur W. Russell . . . . . . .1988-1990

John S. McClellan . . . . . . .1942-1950 Dr. Mark Karlberg . . . . . .1990-1994

Thomas R. Marsh . . . . . . .1951-1952 Marilyn Perez Hako . . . . .1994-1995

Arthur W. Russell . . . . . . .1953-1955 Karen Lea . . . . . . . . . . . . .1996-1999

Robert C. Walters . . . . . . .1957-1958 Karen Lea/Robin Roach .2000-2001

Albert Ernst . . . . . . . . . . . .1958-1962 Art Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2002

Diana Stankus . . . . . . . .2003-Present

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100th Anniversary Sunday School 1955

Sunday School 1914

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Chapter 3An Amazing Sunday School 1855 -1996

The Sunday School movement as we know it today was foundedby Robert Raikes in Glouchester, England in 1780. It took acentury to reach America (and where else but Philadelphia). BishopWilliam White, Rector of Christ’s Episcopal Church, is creditedwith organizing the first one and then forming a committee ofclergy from other denominations to further its work. By 1824, inPhiladelphia alone, virtually all churches had a Sunday School andthe Sunday School Union was formed with thousands enrolled inall denominations.

Olivet was actually organized as a Sunday School, and by the turnof the century we had a friendly competition going with BethanyPresbyterian at 22nd & Bainbridge Street (John Wanamaker’sChurch) for the largest Sunday School in Philadelphia. We peakedaround 1895 with 1,300 members and held the lead for a couple ofyears, but then Wanamaker left us in the dust as his grew to 5,000members, becoming the largest in the world at that time.

It is of more than passing interest to note that in those days we had1,300 in the Sunday School, but only 1,000 on the church rolls.Today the ratio in America in all denominations is quite theopposite, with normal church rolls twice or three times larger thantheir Sunday School’s. This is partially the result of the fact that inthose days church families had many children, while at the sametime, the average longevity for adults was around 45 years. TheRussell family is prime example: Grandmother Russell had ninechildren (all enrolled in our Sunday School at the same time) whileGrandfather Russell died at the age of 50.

Our large building in which we now meet, dedicated 110 years ago,was a unique structure designed to house the giant Sunday Schoolpopulation. The upper floor with its 16 classrooms was laid out sothat some 500 to 600 students could sit on the main floor, and withthe folded doors open in each classroom, everyone would havedirect eye contact with persons on the elevated center stage.Downstairs in the area now encompassing the Nursery, Choir

21

Room and Office areas was a steeply raduated granddstandarrangement to hold upwasrds of 300 children, which faced towardthe large room we now think of as our sanctuary. A remarkablewoman by the name of Sarah Dodsworth taught this huge class forsome 50 years. We have a memorial stained glass windowdedicated to her. The present Zion Hall was a gymnasium (believethis! for basketball) along with pool tables and a ping pong area.The Sunday School sponsored basketball and baseball teams, andlater softball and bowling teams, all competing in various churchleagues.

Editor’s note: At the turn of the century when the building waserected, Sunday Schools all met in the afternoon, ours from 2:30 to3:30 P.M. Since 90% of the families lived within walking distanceof the church, after church you went home for the big meal of theday, and then walked back for afternoon Sunday School. Thiscontinued until the 1930’s when the Sunday closing laws werechanged, allowing entertainment and sporting events, along withstores, to open on Sundays. The demand then was to change toallow people these secular activities and today all Sunday Schoolsthat we know of are conducted during the morning hours.

The King Daughter’s Class 1951 -1991In 1949 Lillian Robinson joined Olivet and took over the teachingof the young ladies Sunday School Class, and soon after the classchose the name the “Kings Daughter’s Class,” taken from Psalm45:15.

Back before the war the Sunday school sponsored a number ofsocial events for the adults and children. An Annual SundaySchool Picnic in the summer, a Strawberry Festival in the springand a Christmas Play in December. By the 1950’s these had alldisappeared and there wasn’t much in the church calender for socialinteraction and fellowship involving the families of the church.

22

In 1950, sensing the need, the Kings Daughter’s decided to start a“Mother’s & Daughter’s Banquet” as an annual event. It was animmediate success. In the beginning we had outside talent, bookreviews, speakers and fashion shows. The banquets were successfulbut something was missing in that we were not involving our owntalent. Since many of the class were choir members it was decidedto present our own musical productions as the featuredentertainment. Since Lillian was a good musician herself, as well asa natural born leader and MC, we switched to this format and funtime began.

At this point we asked for help from the husbands and fathers andArt Russell formed an orchestra and the musicians helped presentsome great shows. The musical programs were presented with thehelp of choir members and the “Singing Waiters”. Some of theproductions were “Everything is Coming Up Roses”, “The Soundof Music”, “Show Boat”, “Reflections”, “Around the World”and “Spirit of 76” to name a few.

We continued on for 40 years until 1991. We did not have aBanquet in 1981 due to the death of Pastor Reynolds. In 1991 wehad our 40th Banquet - “The Ruby Banquet”. This was our lastone and was well received. The class disbanded at that time due tothe illness and loss of some of our members and of course ourextremely talented and dedicated teacher, Lillian Robinson. Allgood things must come to an end, but the delightful memories ofthose 40 years will linger with us forever!

Mildred Maier

The PSSSA of Philadelphia

On Monday night, April 19, 1880 a historic moment occurred whenan impressive group of Sunday School Superintendents and Pastorsfrom the largest Churches in downtown Philadelphia gathered andfounded the Presbyterian Sunday School SuperintendentsAssociation of Philadelphia.

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Among the six superintendents that made up the steering committeewas our founder, Jeremiah Chance, along with John Wanamaker.Wanamaker was elected the first President and this Associationremains active today, now the oldest Sunday School organization inAmerica in continuous existence. Olivet has been an active memberthrough its entire history, now 126 years old. Olivet has had foursuperintendents serve as president of the PSSSA (in this order):John McClellan, Charles Drain, Arthur Russell and LillianRobinson. More recently, Rev. Linda Jaymes and another Olivetmember, Diane Glodek, have also served as president.

As an example of our continued involvement, in May of 1995 ourSacred Sounds Orchestra and choir were in charge of their 115thAnniversary Program, where a 135 voice choir, 35 pieceorchestra, 20 voice children’s choir, performed before a standingroom only audience in the large Huntingdon Valley PresbyterianChurch. Olivet itself has hosted the Association on more than 20occasions in the 20th Century, and for the last decade or so it hasbecome the tradition to celebrate the annual anniversary of theorganization in April with a musical held at Olivet CovenantChurch.

Founded April 1880

Presbyterian Sunday SchoolSuperintendent’s

Association

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Chapter 4The Jammen Bible Class 1935 -1965

No chapter in the history of Olivet Covenant in the 20th Century ismore amazing than the formation of the Jammen Bible Class, 1935-1965. In the heart of the Depression when the Church and SundaySchool were in deep decline, a young man in his twenties namedCharles S. Drain (always called “Cholly” Drain) came to ourchurch from Wilke Memorial Presbyterian Church in Kensington.He answered a need we had to take over a small class of teenageboys and the rest is history. Following is an excerpt we found in a20th Anniversary Program of the class, probably written by Chollyin the year 1955. We print it here in its entirety.

“There went out with him, a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.”The J ammen B ib l e C l a s s was o rgan i zed J anua ry 5 , 1935 . Mr. J ames A . Mc-

C le l l an had p r ev ious ly t augh t a c l a s s o f boys i n t he O l ive t -Covenan t P r e sby t e r i anSunday Schoo l , wh ich fo rmed t he nuc l eus o f t he o r i g ina l member s , name ly, E lmerBoyd , F r ank Langwor thy, Ha ro ld Langwor thy, F r ank La Mor, Robe r t B . Mar sh ,John S . McCle l l an and Edward F. Ke i che r t .

At f i rs t , i t was cal led “The James A. McClel lan Memorial Bible Class ,” in memoryof this sainted man of God, who had touched the l ives of these seven Charter members ,and who , fo r yea r s , had been a Chr i s t i an f r i end o f Char l e s S . Dra in , J r.The name was shortened to “Jammen” ( taking the ini t ia ls of Mr. McClel lan’s nameand adding the word “men”) on October 18, 1936, upon appearance of the f i rs tClass monthly paper edi ted by Robert B. Marsh, which bore the name spel ledtha t way.

J ames L . Rus se l l , Supe r in t enden t o f O l ive t -Covenan t Sunday Schoo l i n 1935 ,was t he one who was l ed t o a sk “Cho l ly” Dra in t o become the t e ache r. The f i r s tC l a s s e l e c t i on r e su l t ed i n Robe r t B . Mar sh , a s P r e s iden t ; John S . McCle l l an , a s Vice -P re s iden t ; F r ank Langwor thy, a s Sec r e t a ry. Thus t he B ib l e C l a s s began .

In 1936 . S t an l ey O l l i s became P re s iden t , bu t s e rved on ly un t i l J une , whenFrank Langwor thy was e l ec t ed C la s s P r e s iden t . The f i r s t bus ine s s mee t i ng washe ld on Oc tobe r 12 , 1936 . I n J anua ry, 1937 , was begun t he p l an o f a l l t h e J ammena t t end ing Morn ing Church once a mon th and s i t t i ng a s a C l a s s i n c en t e r o f Chu rch .This project cont inued unt i l the old Church was demolished in 1945 by a hurr icane.

J ames A . McCle l l an , J r. . b ecame J ammen P re s iden t i n June , 1937 . Mon thsl a t e r (March 6 , 1938 ) t he C la s s he ld i t s f i r s t s e rv i ce apa r t f r om the Ma in SundaySchoo l i n downs t a i r s l e c tu r e r oom. These f i r s t f ou r Sundays downs t a i r s f e a tu r edthe r enowned Ha rmony Trumpe te r s a s Spec i a l Mus i c .

I n June . 1938 , J . Emer son Woodrow was i n s t a l l ed P re s iden t , and du r ing t ha tyea r t he C la s s Cons t i t u t i on and By-Laws we re adop t ed . On May 14 th , t he f i r s tSunday at tendance to go over 100 present was celebrated. 110 being off ic ia l count .

Edward F. Re i che r t e l e c t ed P re s iden t , 1939 . w i tne s sed on Oc tobe r 29 th a g r ea tmee t i ng w i th Rev. Pe r cy Crawfo rd speak ing be fo r e 106 J ammen , w i th many con -ve r s ions r eco rded .

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November 5 . 1939 , i naugu ra t ed t he f i r s t Co -Ed Sunday, w i th 36 l ad i e s p r e sen tt o c e l eb ra t e t he occa s ion w i th 88 J ammen . On December 10 th , s ame yea r, t heo r ig ina l J ammen Ma le Qua r t e t o f Hensha l l Roach , F r ank Pea rce , Wi l l i am andJoseph Mi l l i gan was fo rmed , w i th Samue l Fo r tuna t e a s a ccompan i s t . The re havebeen two subsequen t qua r t e t s ove r t he yea r s , composed o f C l a s s member s .

On J anua ry 5 , 1949 , i n Kug le r ’s Res t au ran t was he ld t he 5 th Annua l Banque tw i th Dr. Wi l l i am Ba rnes Lower, gues t speake r, and t he mus i ca l f e a tu r e was r ad io ’sf amed “Mus i c Mas t e r s ” . The f i r s t Ten Ta l en t Ten Awards we re p r e sen t ed . N inedays l a t e r, t h e f i r s t i s sue o f “The Mugwump” appea red—and i t h a s been a week lyf ea tu r e o f J ammen eve r s i nce .

H o m e r A . R o d e h e a v e r, B i l l y S u n d a y ’s s o n g l e a d e r, w a s J a m m e n ’s g u e s t o nMarch 17 , 1940 , w i th 102 p r e sen t .

Albert W. Ernst succeeded to Jammen Presidency in June, 1940, and ClaytonF. Robinson became Secre ta ry. At tendance cont inued a t a l l t ime h igh . Dur ingthis per iod, the Presbyter ian denominat ional Sunday School Quarter ly featured adouble-page center spread photo and news ar t ic le of the Jammen Class , with theheading, “One of the Nat ion’s Largest Young Men’s Bible Class in Presbyter ianism.”And t o t h ink—an Ep i scopa l i an was t he P re s iden t t ha t yea r !

June , 1941 , s aw George F. S innamon become P re s iden t , and t he fo l l owingDecember c ame t he Pea r l Ha rbo r t r agedy wh ich was soon t o dec ima te t he J ammenranks un t i l on ly 13 young men r ema ined on t he member sh ip ro l l s . Th i s c a l ami tycaused t he Sunday Schoo l Assoc i a t i on on Apr i l 13 , 1942 , t o change t he J ammento a “Co-Ed” C la s s , i n o rde r t o p r e se rve i t s r i ch he r i t age .

Frank La Mor was elected President in June, 1942, but was cal led into theU.S. Army a few months la ter, and Alber ta Davis succeeded him. John Heck.the Secretary, and Stanley G. Thompson, the Treasurer, were also both draf tedinto mil i tary service before they could serve out their terms; and Al Ernst , who waschosen to f i l l the unexpired term of Secretary Heck, was l ikewise inducted into theArmy. Desp i te these se tbacks , the Jammen never fa i l ed to mee t each Sundayregu l a r l y a t 2 o ’ c lock a l l du r ing Wor ld War I I .

On Oc tobe r 4 , 1942 , Sue Mi l l i gan (Mar sh ) became C la s s P i an i s t , and fo r 12fa i t h fu l yea r s , headed t he mus i ca l p rog rams o f t he J ammen .

So many member s o f t he C la s s we re i n Unc l e Sam’s Armed Fo rce s by 1943 ,t ha t t he Annua l Banque t was a t t ended by on ly 25 t ha t yea r. The P re s iden t s du r ingthose t r y ing t imes we re : Lo i s Ros t i ck , 1943 ; Geo rge Koeh l e r, 1944 ; J ames A . Mc-C le l l an ( s econd t ime ) 1945 , and John L . Mar sha l l , 1946 .

In 1947 , w i th Gus Mas i a s P r e s iden t , t he J ammen sponso red a Boys ’ & Gi r l s ’C lub fo r ne ighbo rhood ch i l d r en a t 3 o ’ c lock Sunday a f t e rnoons , wh ich Cha r l e s H .S . K ins l ey and a commi t t e e con t i nued fo r s eve ra l yea r s .

Dur ing t he P re s idency o f Ar thu r W. Russe l l i n 1948 , t he J ammen C la s s Bowl ingTeam won t h i rd p r i z e i n Wes t Ph i l ade lph i a Chu rch League , and i n t he summer o ft ha t yea r, t he J ammen So f tba l l Team won f i r s t p l ace Trophy i n Nor th Ph i l ade lph i aChurch League . Unde r P r e s iden t Rus se l l t he a t t endance began t o r e ach p r e -wa rlevels until the 1949 Mother ’s Day Service was celebrated, with a total of 118 present.

Clayton F. Robinson was elected to the Presidency in June, 1949, and James A.McClel lan was again re-elected Secretary, having served in that important off ice s ince1947. He has been re-elected Class Secretary every year s ince that date .

Unde r P r e s iden t Rob in son , t he J ammen i l e s we re o rgan i zed on November 20 ,1949 . One week l a t e r, a r e co rd 1506 canned goods we re co l l e c t ed fo r t he P re sby -t e r i an Hosp i t a l , Ph i l ade lph i a . $115 .67 was t he J ammen o ff e r i ng t ha t yea r f o r t heP re sby t e r i an Orphanage .

The 15 th Annua l J ammen Banque t on J anua ry 21 , 1950 i n t he Church , had“Cho l ly” Dra in a s speake r, and 109 p r e sen t . Subsequen t l y, t he J ammen Choruswas o rgan i zed by Sue Mar sh .

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On Apr i l 2 1950 Homer Rodeheaver ’s second appearance a t Jammen Bib leClass brought an al l - t ime record at tendance of 134, plus 12 Jammeniles . On Mother ’sDay, 1950, with the Vienna Opera Star, Gertrude L’Arronge, as speaker and solois t ,126 adul ts and 15 Jammeniles a t tended.

Thomas R Mar sh t ook up P re s iden t i a l r e spons ib i l i t i e s i n June , 1950 . H i sadmin i s t r a t i on f ea tu r ed 9 o ’ c lock Sunday N igh t J ammen Hymn S ings and t he f i r s tJammen Chorus Musicale held annual ly each spr ing s ince, with splendid at tendances.

Harold Mulvaney was Jammen President , 1951, fol lowed by Clyde A. Pugh, 1952;C. Russel l Morrow, Jr. , 1953; and s ince then, our present leader, Wil l iam A. Drury.

311 have been enrol led as members of Jammen Class in 20 years , and two youngmen have entered the Gospel Minis t ry (Gordon Jones and Thomas K. Marsh) .

Two Jammen members have been Superintendents of the Olivet-Covenant SundaySchool in recent years (John S. McClellan and Arthur W. Russell). Five of the lastseven Elders elected to Church Session have been Jammen (Chas. H. S. Kinsley,Robert B. Marsh, Thomas R. Marsh, John S. McClellan and Clayton F. Robinson).Of the present Board of Trustees, numbering 15, representing Olivet-Covenant Church,six are Jammen (James A. McClellan, Harold Cassidy, Chas. H. S. Kinsley, JohnS. McClellan, Clayton F. Robinson and Arthur W. Russel l) . The Class Leader,“Cholly” Drain, also serves on both Boards.

“The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.”

The class continued after this account for another 15 years withmany outstanding accomplishments too lengthy to relate. Ofspecial mention though was our music program, which featuredJohn Marshall, songleader, and the “Twin Pianos” of ArtRussell and Sue Marsh. Then as a predecessor to the UnchangingTruth (see chapter 8) Sue Marsh directed the Jammen Choruswhich traveled about the Philadelphia area conducting musicalprograms for many years.

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CHARLES S. DRAIN1909-1988

We think it worthy to mention some other unusual facts. Cholly wasso talented in his teaching ability that in the postwar years, everySunday morning he taught a men’s class of 50 at 10 AM in thePalmyra Methodist Church, New Jersey, then rushed over to theCalvin Presbyterian Church in West Philadelphia at noontime,teaching another large men’s class, finally arriving at Olivet in timeto teach the Jammen Class at 2 PM.

He came up with the unique idea to teach the Uniform SundaySchool lesson one week ahead at Olivet. Scores of teachers fromother churches and our church would attend the afternoon sessions,then the next week use his notes to teach their own classes in theirmorning Sunday Schools. Between the ones he taught personallyand satellite ones elsewhere, hundreds of pupils received his lessonideas each week.

Cholly, a printing company salesman, had a remarkable careerdoing the Lord’s work. He was also an Elder and SS Teacher, heserved as President of the Presbyterian Sunday School Association,the Presbyterian Summer Evangelistic Committee, PhiladelphiaBible Society, Presbyterian Social Union, Pennsylvania ChristianEndeavor, Pennsylvania Sabbath School Association and even arare layperson Moderator of our Presbytery. No one who ever met“Cholly” will forget those days.

“Cholly” Drain

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Chapter FiveChristian Endeavor 1883 -1996

During the first thirty years in the life of Olivet, Robert Graham andZion churches there were no youth organizations for young people,outside of Sunday School in Protestant Churches. In 1881, Dr.Francis Clark, pastor of a Congregational Church in Portland, Mainesensed the need for something more for youth. He founded anorganization called Christian Endeavor and when the word gotaround outside his own church, it expanded and grew beyond hisfondest dreams. It spread to other denominations and became trulyInterdenominational, Interracial, and International. It still continuesto this day, 135 years later.

The movement reached our city in 1883 with a Presbyterian churchthe first member. It grew in Philadelphia so quickly that the city soondivided into eight independent branches. Olivet, Robert Graham,and Zion all became members of Schuylkill Branch CE. By 1889the national organization held its convention in our city and reported7,062 societies with 485,000 members. Additional conventions wereheld in Philadelphia with the 1935 and 1959 conventions in thelifetime of many still living. Olivet Covenant marched in the parades,always a part of the fun. On both occasions we rented big trucks andentered floats. At the 1935 Convention held at Convention Hall therewere 14,000 delegates, and the parade lasted all day with 50,000participants. Christian Endeavor has a great history.

For the first fifty years of the 20th Century Olivet had 4 societiesmeeting each Sunday: Juniors, Intermediates, Seniors and Adults.In the local Schuylkill Branch we were hosts to numerous rallies andbanquets. The most memorable was the 1939 “Schuylkill On ParadeRally” held at our church. John S. McClellan was that year’sPresident and the rivalry for the Attendance Award flags werefocusing on Zion versus Olivet. The meeting was held in our largechurch sanctuary with some 950 persons in attendance. It was the firsttime we used the balcony in 30 years. Olivet came in first with Ziona close second. That was the last large crowd to fill our big auditorium before the storm destroyed it.

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CE had a great influence on our three congregations with many ofour members becoming leaders in the local branch, city, state, andnational CE organizations. From Robert Graham: BillHutchinson, Lyle Olmstead, and Sue Marsh. From Zion: FrancesBecker, Marian Biggard, Ed Hild, Elizabeth Darrell, Anna Karle,Mom Klose, Lou Klein, Walt and Peggy Maienshein, and LenaSchubert. From Olivet: Cholly Drain, Tommy Marsh, JohnMcClellan, Harold & Jean Mulvaney, Edith & Edna Oilis, Art &Gladys Russell, Dave & Janet Wenker.

Officials at Presbytery have commented that the mergers of Olivet,Robert Graham, and Zion were just about the best and smoothestthey have ever seen. There is no doubt that the close friendshipsand relationships formed as we worked closely together for years inCE visiting each other’s churches for business meetings, rallies,hymn sings and banquets, was largely responsible for this highlysuccessful meshing of our congregations.

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Chapter SixEVENING Daily Vacation Bible School 1958 -1998

There is nothing unusual about a church having a Daily VacationBible School but our church in 1958 pioneered a new idea, unheardof at the time. DVBS at night! On these two pages we havereproduced the special report published by the Session in 1975 ...reprinted here in full.

VacationBible School

1975OLIVET COVENANT UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

22ND AND MT. VERNON STREETSPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

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A SPECIAL VBS REPORTOR

(The Nine Busiest Nights of the Year)OLIVET PIONEERS AN IDEAMost of today’s members are unaware that just a little over twenty years ago (during Rev.Reynolds first ministry), the Session of our church made the decision to try running anEvening Vacation Bible School (VBS).

The idea was a daring one since nobody had ever heard of a church conducting such aschool at night. The idea, of course, was to make it possible to draw upon the talents ofthe men and women of the church who had day time jobs, and therefore, not available toparticipate in a VBS program.

WOULD ANYONE COME?The big question, of course, was whether you could get children to attend at night andwould adults, who had worked a full day time shift, be willing to come to the churchevery night for two weeks and staff a VBS program?

Suffice it to report that it was an instant success and every year since, we have seen theschool filled with children and have been blessed with an unusually large and talentedstaff of adult workers. Over the years (through three pastorates), we have had our shareof problems, mostly the result of over-crowding and have actually reduced the age spanwe will accept, in order to be more effective with the limited facilities we have availableat 22nd & Mt. Vernon Streets.

PRESBYTERY’S LARGEST VBS?Over the years, the make-up of the neighborhood has been mirrored in the racial andreligious mix of our student body, including blacks, whites, Puerto Ricans, Catholics,Jewish and even Oriental children.

As you can see by the statistics reported herein, the year 1975 was no exception, andalthough comparative records are not available, we have good reason to believe that OlivetCovenant (with 267 children registered and 40 adults on the staff) is the site of the largestand most active Presbyterian VBS in the city of Philadelphia, if indeed, in the entirePresbytery.

BUSY HANDS AT WORKUnlike most schools, our goal is to provide each child with a hand work project he canmake and complete and take home each night. As always, it was a very busy departmentas they handled the formidable task of first designing and then accumulating the manymaterials necessary. In addition, they must instruct both teachers and children nightly.This year, our talented hand work personnel were able to provide our students with morethan 1,000 individual hand work projects to take home. The expressions on the childrenas they depart each night, clutching their personal hand work project, represents one ofthe greatest rewards to the staff.

SPECIAL HELPERSA special vote of thanks goes to Mr. Robert Fitch (elder at First Presbyterian Church ofSpringfield, Del. Co.) for the outstanding job he did again of organizing and directing theoverall program. We are also delighted to report that several key members of this year’sstaff come from the newly merged Zion congregation; therefore further strengthening ourteaching capabilities.

SUMMARYOver these two decades, thousands of children have passed through our school and havereceived instructions in our curriculum, always one that is Christ-centered and Bible-based. We will have to wait until eternity for an accounting of the young lives we mayhave touched during these years for our Lord.

Both Pastor and Session want to take this opportunity to thank all the members of ourstaff for their service, which we saw administered with a large measure of enthusiasticdedication, Christian love and compassion.

The Session

3333

MR. ROBERT FITCHGENERAL SUPERINTENDENT

STAFF

BUS DRIVERSRev. Reynolds

Jose RiveraArt Russell

Dwight Shumway

DVBS 1975Attendance Per Night

Attendance by Department

PRE-SCHOOL DEPARTMENTSupt. Janet Wenker

Arlene KiddCatherine MilliganJoyce McClellanGladys RussellMarion RussellVanessa TorrenceLynn Walsh

PRIMARY DEPARTMENTSupt. Joe Milligan

Hazel BrcigLori KolbSusan McCoolPam RiveraLillian Robinson

MIDDLER DEPARTMENTSupt. John McClellan

John GibsonMarilyn McClellanJeanne ScottDwight ShumwayThenya Torrence

JUNIOR DEPARTMENTSupt. Art Russell

Frances BeckerJosephine FoxBill KolbDoug McClellanCheryl McCoolEthel OsinskiJose RiveraMark RobinsonElaine ShumwayDavid Wenker

HANDWORK DEPARTMENTMildred MaierClayton RobinsonLois RobinsonHelen Smith

AUDIO DEPARTMENTKevin RoachLeroy RobertsDavid RussellRobin Walsh

Staff &Night PreSchool Primary Middler Junior Teachers Pupils Total

1 23 33 24 32 38 112 1502 31 35 29 33 33 128 1613 36 37 29 48 32 150 1824 38 40 29 61 33 168 2015 38 45 25 48 29 156 1856 36 33 26 56 30 151 1817 35 29 26 51 30 141 1718 17 13 24 34 29 88 1179 25 29 30 45 29 129 158

Totals 279 294 242 408 283 1223 1506Av/Nite 31 33 29 45 31 136 167

(A) Total (B) % Attended Attended AttendedDept. On Roll Attendance Av. per Night (B) (A) On Night Five Nights Nine NightsPreSchool 51 279 31 60 8 29 0Primary 57 294 33 58 7 36 4Middler 60 242 27 45 10 28 6Junior 98 408 45 46 22 37 9Totals 266 1223 136 51 47 130 19

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Editor’s Note:Enrollments and attendance reached a peak in the 1970’s asillustrated for 1975. From this point it went through a long declinerepresenting the change in the demographics of the neighborhood asyoung working couples, mostly white collar workers, moved in. Itbottomed out in 1985 with just 26 enrolled. It then amazingly startedup again and averaged 80 per year in the 90’s. Suffice it to say thatthe rest of the world has caught up. With so many parents in theworkplace churches are switching, and now 40% of all schools areheld at night. VBS at Olivet continued through 1998 until there wereno longer enough adult volunteers to manage the program.

1996 Students

1996 Staff

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Chapter SevenThe Puerto Rican Ministry 1962-1975

The decade following World War II saw a surge of immigration to thecontinental United States from the island of Puerto Rico with severalhundred thousand of them settling in the large cities on the east coast.Philadelphia was very much a part of this picture with the first wave ofPuerto Ricans settling in the Spring Garden area, attracted by thelocation of the Spanish Chapel on the comer of 19th & Spring GardenStreets. It seemed that almost overnight those of us who had never met aPuerto Rican now were surrounded by these Spanish speaking nominallyCatholic folks. At one point it was estimated that 50,000 were locatedwithin the Spring Garden area from the Delaware river to the Schuylkillriver. As an example, at its peak, one large apartment house in the 2200block of Green Street housed 18 families with 40 children. Suddenly Olivet was in the middle of a foreign speaking mission field.

To our credit, we were the only Protestant church in the Fairmount/Spring Garden Street area that reacted to make a real effort to reach thesefolks with the Gospel message. As an apparent answer to prayer, a giftedSpanish speaking, piano playing school teacher, Miss Jean Linder, fromthe Delaware County Christian School, was led to Olivet, joined ourchurch and volunteered her services. We welcomed her and soon we hadour first Spanish speaking Sunday School class underway. Through herefforts we soon gained additional help with a series of Hispanic Christianmen, who we put on salary as assistants to the then Pastor GordonReynolds. At its peak we had Spanish speaking Sunday School classeswith both Spanish and english for children and adults. We added monthlyBi-lingual Evening Services with, at times, our Pastor speaking, thenimmediate translation, or our Spanish leaders speaking in both languages.It made for some amusing experiences in the musical portions, as wesimultaneously sang from both English and Spanish hymnals.

Estudie su Biblia con amigosen su propia - el Espanola

aOLIVET COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN IGLESIA

Calles 22 y Mt. VernonFiladeltia

Toda la familia sea bienvenidaA las doce y media

los domingos.ENGLISH SERVICE - 10:45 A. M.

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By far the most successful and long lasting relationships was the yearswith Carlos and Eva Cortes, strangers who walked into a midweekPrayer Service as we were praying for additional help. Carlos said, “TheLord has led me here to this church, can I be of help?” Jean, Carlos, andEva made a wonderful trio for many years. Following the Cortes family,we found Jose Rivera and his wife Pam, graduates of Philadelphia College of Bible, who together continued the work until its conclusion.

Almost as suddenly as the flood of Hispanics came to our immediateneighborhood, they drifted away to neighborhoods to the north and east.The Kensington, Hunting Park and Feltonville areas of Philadelphia havenow become the center of the Hispanic population. Only a relativelysmall number remain here from those exciting, challenging and colorful days in the history of our church.

Eventually Carlos obtained Seminary training and then felt led to returnto the island, where he has started and pastored four churches. To this daywe consider them as part of our missionary outreach and give themsupport. When we bought our last church van, we sent the old one toCarlos for his work. He reported back that his church van was the onlyone in Puerto Rico equipped with snow tires. Jose Rivera is now pastoring a church in the Chicaco area.

Jean left the Philadelphia area, eventually met and married anotherMissionary working in South America, and now is semi-retired in the LosAngeles area, still carrying on a mission to the Spanish speaking Mexicanpopulation of Southern California.

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Chapter EightThe “Unchanging Truth” 1970 -1978

No chapter in the 20th Century story of Olivet Covenant is more unusualor colorful than that of the Unchanging Truth Chorus and Orchestra.It began in the mind of our young Organist and Choir Director, BillKolb. Bill began his ministry at Olivet in 1965 at the age of 18. Fiveyears later in the summer of 1970, Bill had the occasion to witness aconcert by the Continental Singers and Orchestra, a nationally knownpopular group of Christian musicians, as they traveled across the country on tour.

On Labor Day 1970 Bill was with most of our younger choir members atthe CE Schuylkill Branch Labor Day Conference, in Upper Milford, PA.As always, the speakers challenge the young people to return to theirchurches and serve the Lord better than before. Bill presented to ouryoung people his vision to serve the Lord in and out of our church, witha choir and orchestra modeled after the Continentals. Our young peoplereturned and went to work practicing and planning. They requested theChurch Session to let them present a concert at the New Year’s EveWatch Night Service, December 31st, 1970. Bill had already enlargedthe group beyond our own members and the debut came off beautifully. The rest is history.

The Olivet Covenant members who were part of that initial group were the following, as they were known then:

Scott Hartman Kevin Roach Janet RussellBill Kolb Russell Roach Bruce SaulCheryl Kolb Leroy Roberts Carol DegutisLori Kolb Lois Robinson David WenkerMarilyn McClellan Mark Robinson Alan PapsonRon McClellan Marcia McClellanDavid Russell Joyce McClellan

The opportunities soon came to take their message of vocal andinstrumental music, embellished in each program, with sketches anddramas, to other churches. Their first outside engagement was at ThirdReformed Presbyterian Church, and Somerton Methodist Church,both in Northeast Philadelphia. Over the next eight years they grew insize to more than 30 members. Their reputation spread and they took

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annual tours that saw them travel in the next 8 years, several thousand miles in a half dozen states, in addition to scores of local churches.

As happens with all youth groups they grew older and on to college andmarriages, and it had to come to an end. Today three of their number arein the ministry and most of the others are serving as Elders, Deacons,Trustees, Sunday School Teachers in Olivet and many other churches.Many are still using their musical talents in the service of the Lord in other areas. (See the Sacred Sounds Orchestra Chapter 9)

Talk to any of those who shared in this ministry and they will tell you thatthe experiences and the opportunities of witnessing they received throughthe Unchanging Truth had a profound and enriching effect upon theiryoung lives.

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Chapter NineOur Musical Heritage

Our church has had an impressive history of innovation andaccomplishments in the field of Christian music. A search of the archivesshows copies of special programs going back to Civil War days, indicatingthat we had choirs and an orchestra playing on most every special occasion..At one point the Sunday School itself had an orchestra that played everySunday for some 30 years during the Assembly time in the large room upstairs.

By the end of the 19th Century, Olivet had a well known organist, Dr. C.Virgil Gordon, and as Choir Director Mr. C. Austin Miles, a nationallyknown gospel composer and choir director. We can only assume that themusic matched these talented professionals on the staff. In addition, thetalented hymn writer Eliza E. Hewitt was a member of Olivet from 1890-1905. (See separate biographies at the end of this chapter.)

By the 1930’s the orchestra was down to 3 or 4 members and by 1939 it haddisappeared. Except for Stan Ollis, Jr. and John McClellan, trumpeters,who played on special occasions, our music program went into decline.There was one exception: the Jammen Bible Class had an impressive orchestra that continued until the war decimated it in the early forties.

Soon after organist Bill Kolb arrived in 1965 things began to change, assome of our young people began showing excellent musical talent and tookup various instruments in their schools. By 1976 they were proficientenough to begin the Unchanging Truth Orchestra (see chapter 8) and theyalso began to be used by Bill to supplement and enhance our church choir programs on special occasions.

Following the disbanding of the Unchanging Truth, the writer collaboratedwith Mark Karlberg, the new organist, to seize the opportunity to direct theyoung musicians into a new ministry, and soon was born the Sacred SoundsOrchestra, a group of Christian musicians from both our church and nearbycongregations in the Philadelphia area. Primarily they played at our ownchurch on Christmas, Easter and Homecoming Days. Soon otherchurches heard about it and many asked if they could be a part of whatwas a unique and exciting sound, not normally found in any except the largest suburban churches.

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The first big step in that direction was the addition of the EcumenicalSingers from Kensington led by Director Ray Sauer. This quicklyexpanded our horizons and we became an interdenominational group,including some Roman Catholic singers. Over a 20 year period we gavesome 40 seasonal concerts at Olivet Covenant, involving hundreds ofsingers and instrumentalists directed by our talented organist, Dr. Mark Karlberg.

In addition, the Sacred Sounds Orchestra and the choir membersconducted a number of large musicals outside of our own church. Someof the largest ones were presented at Westminster Mayfair Church,Olney Presbyterian, and twice at Bethany Collegiate, Havertown with600 in attendance each time. The most ambitious was conducted at UpperMoreland High School in Huntingdon Valley in 1981 with 300 in thechoir and 1300 in attendance. This was sponsored by the NortheastPhiladelphia Ministerium and the Huntingdon Valley Presbyterian Church.

At Olivet Covenant, one of the most memorable programs in recent yearswas presented in 1991, when Jane Emily Roach brought her choir from St.Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Laurel Springs, New Jersey across theriver to join us. That night Olivet was jammed packed with 425 inattendance, the largest crowd in 60 years. The program presented theChristmas portion of Handel’s Oratorio, “The Messiah,” with a 97 voicechoir, 28 piece Sacred Sounds Orchestra and 21 Voice Children’sChoir. It was truly a night to remember as attested by the standing ovation.

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ELIZA E. HEWITT

Eliza E. Hewitt lived from 1851 to 1920. Although records are sketchy,she is believed to have been a member of the Olivet Presbyterian Churchfrom 1890 to 1905 (the merger with the Covenant Church did not occuruntil 1908). Unlike C. Austin Miles, who wrote music, Eliza was a poet or lyricist who wrote words that were put to music.

She composed the words to scores if not hundreds of hymns, sometimesunder the pseudonym Lydie H. Edmunds. The hymns were very popularin her era, some with enduring qualities that have lasted to this day. It isa rare hymnbook indeed that does not contain several Eliza Hewitt hymnssuch as “When We All Get to Heaven,” “There Is Sunshine in My SoulToday,” and “My Faith Has Found a Resting Place.”

Eliza E. Hewitt collaborated with many different musicians to set herwords to music, but she seemed to favor a composer named John R.Sweeney more than the others. Mr. Sweeney was the organist at theBethany Collegiate Presbyterian Church, located at 22nd and BainbridgeStreets in Philadelphia, only about 1-1/2 miles south of Olivet. Sweeneycomposed the music for Hewitt’s “Sunshine in the Soul,” “More aboutJesus,” and “Will There Be Any Stars?” We refer to this collaboration as the 22nd Street connection.

The hymns of Eliza Hewitt have been sung for many decades. The wordsare true and Scriptural, and their meaning and message are always crystalclear. Jesus Christ is always exalted as Savior and Lord, which is why webelieve that her songs will echo down the corridors of time until Jesuscomes again.

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C. AUSTIN MILES

Over the years Olivet has had many fine musicians, but never one morefamous than C. Austin Miles, who we understand served as ChoirDirector 1895-1905. One of his hymns, “IN THE GARDEN,” has beenrated as one of the best known hymns of the 20th Century, now publishedin millions of hymnbooks. The following is an excerpt from a book “THEN SINGS MY SOUL” by Robert J. Morgan..

C. Austin Miles was a pharmacist who began writing gospel songs andeventually became an editor of hymnals and songbooks, as well as apopular music director at camp meetings, conventions, and churches. Hishobby was photography, and he found his darkroom perfect fordeveloping not just his photographs, but his devotional life. In its privacy and strange blue glow, Miles could read his Bible in total privacy.

One day in March, 1912, while waiting for some film to develop, heopened the Bible to his favorite chapter, John 20, the story of the firstEaster. Miles later said: “As I read it that day, I seemed to be part of thescene . . . My hands were resting on the Bible while I stared at the lightblue wall. As the light faded, I seemed to be standing at the entrance of agarden, looking down a gently winding path, shaded by olive branches. Awoman in white, with head bowed, hand clasping her throat as if to chokeback her sobs, walked slowly into the shadows. It was Mary. As she cameto the tomb, upon which she placed her hand, she bent over to look in andhurried away. John, in flowing robe, appeared, looking at the tomb; then came Peter, who entered the tomb, followed slowly by John.

“As they departed, Mary reappeared, leaning her head upon her arm atthe tomb. She wept. Turning herself, she saw Jesus standing; so did I. Iknew it was He. She knelt before Him, with arms outstretched andlooking into his face, cried, ‘Rabboni!’ “I awakened in full light, grippingmy Bible, with muscles tense and nerves vibrating. Under the inspirationof this vision I wrote as quickly as the words would be formed the poem exactly as it has since appeared. That same evening I wrote the music.”

In addition to “In the Garden,” Austin Miles is the author of several othergospel songs, including “A New Name in Glory” “Dwelling in BeulahLand,” and “If Jesus Goes with Me I’ll Go Anywhere.”

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Chapter TenOlivet Oddities

Who named our church? Matthias W. Baldwin, millionaire owner of thelargest steam locomotive company in the world, during the golden age ofrailroads, who had his huge plant at Broad & Spring Garden Streets. Mr.Baldwin, elder at Calvary Presbyterian Church, gave the full amount tobuild the first church. Only condition - that it be named after a BiblicalMountain. He eventually funded five additional churches, all named aftermountains. He also made a generous contribution in 1865 for our secondbuilding. “Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet,which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.” Acts J:12(KJV)

Have you paid your pew rental?? Congregational Annual Reports beforethe turn of the century show that about half the annual church income camefrom pew rentals. Since the primitive coal furnaces were inadequate in coldweather, the pews that rented first were near the floor heating grates. In thebalcony the bleacher seats were free. Programs often contained pleas for people to pay up rentals which were in arrears.

The story of the “Bells”. Our present building was topped off with a belfryand a bell to hang within. Since the previous two church buildings had notowers the congregation couldn’t wait to ring the new bell. It didn’t lastlong ... the nearby neighbors complained loudly. The bell was soonremoved and stored in a balcony room. In World War II the bell was donated to the war effort for scrap metal.

In 1950 then Pastor Gordon Reynolds begged us to install new electronicchimes played through loudspeakers in the belfry. The men of the churchinstalled them, pulling them up on long ropes to the 100 foot cupola. Ourliterature was changed to read, “The Church of the Cheery Chimes”. Didn’tlast long ... the neighbors complained about the noise. Eventually welowered them back down to install the current illuminated panels and cross. No one has complained about that.

The mystery tower. The front cover of the anniversary program of 1869shows the two then existing church buildings, with a free standing soaringpointed spire between the buildings?? Yet there is no record that it was everbuilt.

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The mystery building. Although none of our church literature or photosshow it, a book by Philadelphia Presbytery printed in 1894 shows a glossphoto of a large building with a big rosetta circular stained glass window.It is on the site of our present building . . . once again we have no record ofit, when it came and where it went?? The blue prints for our present structure give no evidence that it wasn’t built from the ground up??

“Usher, where is the restroom”? The second church building built in1865, located where we now have our parking lot, was a massive structure,seating 1000 on the main floor and 200 in the circular balcony. The mainfloor was steeply sloped for good viewing of the choir loft and large .pipeorgan, the longest pipes being 32’ high. There were many ornate stainedglass windows (four of them now at the front of our present Sanctuary) andthree large hanging candle chandeliers, originally gas lit, later converted toelectricity in 1924. This 8000 square foot building contained no side rooms,no cloakrooms and no restrooms! A lady who asked that question wouldbe directed to go to our building next door, to the far end and up two flightsof stairs. For our church complex at the turn of the century, (that betweenthe two buildings could hold 2000 people) . . . there were two booths for the men and two for the women. And these were the good old days?

The underground stream. Ever wonder why the ceiling in ZionFellowship Hall is so low? In the original plans it was to have been severalfeet higher. But when excavation began they found an underground streamrunning through the property, and they could not dig deeper for the floor.The stream is still there and our sub basement has a well and sump pumpto keep it dry. In 1993 a month of record rains overwhelmed the sump and the broiler area was flooded with several inches of water.

The old water barrel. Believe it or not, up until World War II we had nowater fountain. But under the front stairway was a 30 gallon old oakenwooden barrel. On Sunday the janitor filled it with a couple of buckets ofwater. Alongside was one tin cup which everybody used for their drink! I must admit the water did have an unusual taste.

Our darkest moment. On April Fool’s Day 1945, the day before Easter, inthe fourth year of World War II, a violent storm ripped off the roof of theold church ... It was condemned and had to be promptly torn down. We had$100,000 fire insurance, but not a penny for wind damage. The cost to do this work exhausted all the money in the small treasury and we were broke.

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A blessing in disguise. The huge auditorium had been a white elephant foryears, draining the resources of the small congregation of that time, withhigh heat and maintenance costs. In addition, there was no offstreet parking. But almost overnight, God took care of both problems.

Most Embarrassing Moment. In 1915 the noted evangelist Billy Sundaycame to town and a great Tabernacle was built where the Library on theParkway stands. Billy was a former professional baseball star, loud,profane, scrappy and a heavy drinker, before his startling conversion. Withlimited Bible training he became a fiery evangelist attracting crowdssimilar to Billy Graham in the second half of the 20th Century. Our pastor,Dr. Hyndman, was the exact opposite personality. Very proper, non athletic,a scholar with an earned Doctor’s degree. He refused to go hear the evangelist or to support the campaign in any way.

The people and the Session supported it wholeheartedly and it was a bigsuccess. Shortly after the revival we took in 82 new members, 60 of themon one Sunday. Imagine the embarrassing situation it presented the goodpastor, to have to warmly welcome them into the fellowship of the church, after he so strongly criticized the one who led them to the Lord.

Our saddest moment. We had not recognized Gordon Reynolds for hiswonderful ministry with us over the years, so we decided to have a bigcelebration for his 25th Anniversary. As the year approached we discussedwhether to -have it in the spring or in the fall. Since he arrived in Novemberwe decided to wait for the fall season. Unfortunately, Gordon died suddenlyon the Saturday before Palm Sunday ... and we never had our Anniversary Celebration.

Our godly janitor, “Noah Overton”. For nearly 50 years we hada wonderful beloved janitor at Olivet. A member of the African MethodistChurch and deeply spiritual, Noah sat in the front hallway during services,with the door open, to hear the sermon with his bible in his lap. In thoselong-ago days he had to tend three huge coal furnaces, two under the bigauditorium and another in the present building. During frigid weather hewas known to sleep in the church on Saturday nights to keep the firesstoked and burning. Before electricity Noah also had to be under the pipeorgan to provide the muscle to pump the wind bellows by hand, so theorgan would play, during the service. (Harry Yocum are you listening?) Forthe Session’s 100th Anniversary photo the elders had Noah pose with them, a touching tribute to his dedication.

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Seven Pastors - Seven Wives. Up until 1996 the church had seven pastors,and seven pastor’s wives. Yet the last two ministers in that period weresingle. How can that be?? Answer: One pastor, Dr. Hyndman, had three wives!

Pastor Reynolds’ claim to fame. Pastor Reynolds served with us for 10years, went to two other larger churches for 11 years, returned to Olivet andserved another 15 years. In the 200 year history of the Presbyteryencompassing several hundred congregations and several thousand ministers, he is the only one who ever came back to the church he once left.

Pastor Beiderman’s claim to fame. There is a long list of ministers in ourPresbytery that started out as missionaries, and then retired from that workand took pastorates in our local churches to finish their careers. Our pastorBob Biederman did the reverse: he left the pastorate and became a missionary. (And if he hadn’t, he might never have met his wife, Ana!)

What happened to the Covenant Church? After the merger in 1908 itwas sold to the St. Hedwicks Polish Roman Catholic Church. Located at22nd & Vine Streets, it was demolished when the Vine Street Expresswaywas built. St. Hedwicks moved to 24th & Brown Streets. When you godown the expressway ramp behind the Parktown Apartments you are driving through the front door of old Covenant church.

The sign in Zion Fellowship Hall. Over our stage hangs the sign, with thefamous saying of William Carey, considered the father of the foreignmissionary movement, a favorite of Pastor Reynolds. “Attempt GreatThings For God . . . Expect Great Things From God”. Few of today’smembers know that this raised letter sign, was hand carved by a life termprisoner from Eastern State penitentiary. During the prison’s final 8 yearsPastor Reynolds was the Protestant Chaplain at this maximum securityinstitution around the comer. It was one of his many converts who made the sign as a gift to Gordon and our church.

After Gordon had been chaplain for a while we found it not unusual toknow that some of our visitors in church services were ex-prisoners. We learned to refer to them as, “graduates from the institution.”

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We are part of history. Our present 111 year old building is listed inWashington, D.C. in the Register of National Historic Landmarks. Weare also on the official list of historical churches, compiled by the NationalHistorical Preservation Society of America with headquarters in Philadelphia.

Trivia Facts. Question: What major events in the life of Olivet occurred in years ending with a “Five”?

Answer:1835 Covenant Church began 1945 Church destroyed1855 Olivet began 1965 Robert Graham merger1865 Large church built 1975 Zion Church merger1895 Sunday School built

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Chapter ElevenRobert Graham Memorial Church 1884 -1965

The history of this church is shorter than the others connected with Olivet Covenant, but, in many ways it is the most unusual.

To begin with, Robert Graham is the only church that changed its namehalfway through its existence, and the only church to be named after a maninstead of a Bible reference. It is the only church whose Pastor left to jointhe Navy to become a Chaplain, and the only one to call as Pastoran ex-Roman Catholic Priest-and one who was not an American citizen.Robert Graham was also unusual in that it changed its location three timesand had its new sanctuary furnished with theatre style armchair seats, rather than pews.

The church started as a mission Sunday School under the care of the OlivetChurch. The school was organized at 28th and Girard Avenue over adrug store, in September of 1877. Soon thereafter a mission of the nearbyGreen Hill Church merged with it and they moved to a location at 25thand Jefferson Streets, and preaching services were added. The Presbyteryorganized it as the Hebron Memorial Presbyterian Church on February1, 1884. The congregation moved a third time to 25th and ThompsonStreets in 1893. Prior to that time they were served by several supply Pastors, Rev. J. W. Kirk, Rev. William A. Patton and for the longest period Rev. Marcus A. Brownson from 1881 to 1883.

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In October 1883 the Rev. Robert Graham began his labors under the care ofthe Session of Olivet Church, and things took off. By February 1884 theywere large enough to organize as a church and finally after seven years asa Mission they were a congregation. For a number of years services wereheld in a small Chapel. Ground was broken for a church edifice on the 10thof May 1892. The cornerstone was laid on July 16th and on April 16th,1893 the church was dedicated, with the Rev. J. Addison Henry preachingthe sermon. Hon. George S. Graham, Hon. George D. McCreary and RobertHinckley, Esq. made addresses in the afternoon, with the Rev. D. McAuley preaching in the evening.

The church was constructed of brick and stone in a modified Gothic styleof architecture. The two fronts are composed of Avondale marble withIndiana limestone trimmings. It was fifty six by eighty feet and wouldcomfortably seat 450 persons, with rooms in the rear for Pastor’s Study,Ladies Parlor, young men’s room, library, and one for the PrimaryDepartment of the Sunday School. The report states that it was furnishedwith neat and convenient opera chairs with folding seats and racks forbooks and overcoats. They must have been unusual seats. The cost of the building and furniture came to a staggering $25,000.

The chairs lasted nearly 50 years but the congregation thought it was timeto change and in 1941 used pews were purchased from the Holland Presbyterian Church in South Philadelphia.

Pearl Harbor struck on December 7, 1941 and a few weeks later, on January28, 1942 Robert Graham’s Pastor, the Rev. John C. Castle, enlisted in theNavy as a Chaplain. The church was appointed an Associate Pastor, theRev. Arnold B. Come, for the balance of the war. When the war ended, Rev.Castle went elsewhere, not returning to the church. Thereupon thecongregation made an unusual decision: they called to the Pastorate theRev. Jose Fernandez, a Spanish Ex-Roman Catholic Priest who was previously in charge of the New Orleans, Louisiana Diocese.

This might not stir up a big storm now, but it was quite an event in those days. He had experienced a stirring conversion experience, and when theword got around, he was in great demand, speaking and preaching inchurches throughout the city. Large crowds attended and unfortunately tookhim away frequently from his little church. Rev. Fernandez (who was thenmarried to a Baptist preacher’s daughter) even had his life’s story printedin book form. It was an exciting and colorful period in the life of the church.

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During his ministry there was a big upsurge in children and young people into the Sunday School, perhaps attracted by his celebrity status.

In 1950 Pastor Fernandez left and the Robert Graham chuech continued itsunusual history by calling as Pastor the Rev. R.R. Williams, a Welshmanfrom the British Isles. He was followed by Rev. I. Sturger Schultz, Rev.Harold Murphy (obviously an Irishman) and finally, Rev. Glen Fishbeck.

Any history of Robert Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church shouldinclude some mention of the dedicated lay people who taught the children.There was Viola Hunt in the Beginners’ Department. Then there wasElizabeth McCauslin who taught the Primary Department. She was alsoorganist and director of both the Junior and Senior choir. The McCauslinfamily was a real “pillar of the church” for many years. They produced afine Christmas pageant every year and special music for every otheroccasion. Margaret Hurst was another faithful assistant in the SundaySchool. Joe Milligan served with distinction as long time elder and Clerk of Session.

Robert Graham also had a very active Christian Endeavor Society - Junior,Intermediate and Senior. Lyle Olmstead led the Intermediates and Bill “Hutch” taught the Juniors.

In 1965 the congregation voted to disband after 81 years of ministry. Theychose to return to their mother church and were welcomed with open armsby the congregation of Olivet Covenant. The building was sold to theUnited Baptist Church for $35,000.

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Chapter TwelveZion Presbyterian Church 1882 - 1975

The following historical account of the Zion Church is an exactreproduction of the accounts found in the 60th AnniversaryProgram published Sunday, April 7th, 1962. Author unknown.

The beginning” of this work was as ear ly as October, 1878, when on a Saturdayafternoon two men were walking along 28th Street north of Girard Avenue. Allalong north 28th Street and 29th Street westward were great wide open spaces asfar west as the Schuylki l l River, with hi l ls and val leys dot ted here and there withancient , farmhouses and barns . These two men were not real es ta te speculatorslooking for opportuni t ies to turn valuable real es ta te into prof i ts for money. Theirinterests were in the Kingdom of God, and they were looking for a sui table locat ionto begin a Sunday School . The two men were the Rev. Dr. J . Richelsen, Pastor ofthe Corinthian Avenue Presbyter ian Church and his organis t and par ish teacher,Mr. C. Theo Albrecht . They found here a community of a large German populat ionwhich at that t ime had no church faci l i t ies whatever. The resul t of their invest iga-t ion was the beginning of a Sunday School in the same year in a s ingle room at 1417N. 28th Street , where a large s ign announced, “Deutsche Missions—Sonntag-Schulejeden Sonntag um 2 Uhr nachmit tags .” A Mr. Schopp made the benches for thisroom. Sunday School teachers were brought over f rom the Cor in th ian AvenueChurch, such as Messrs . Veigel , Karl , Schopp. Schladensky and the Misses Locher,

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Barbara Jaeger. Staidle and others . Seventeen chi ldren at tended the f i rs t meet ing;but a t the end of the year 1878 the school had an enrol lment of e ighty chi ldren. Alarger room was therefore found in the home of one Ebert on the corner of 28thSt ree t and Go ldbeck St r ee t (now ca l l ed St i l e s St r ee t ) . Bu t when the schoo lincreased i ts enrol lment to over 200 then the ent i re upper f1oor over the drug s toreat 28th Street and Girard Avenue was rented. The constant ly growing work madei t imperat ive that one man should devote his ent i re t ime to the work. Such a manwas found under the guidance of God’s providence in the person of a s tudent a t theBloomfie ld Seminary, Bloomfie ld , N.J . His name was Jacob Loch . In Augus t .1880, Mr. Loch was formally commissioned by the Corinthian Avenue Church toassume charge of the work. Mr. Loch was a ta lented and able young man, who puthis whole hear t into the promotion of this work. But there was need for a bui lding.And thus a parcel of ground on 28th Street facing Mt. Pleasant Street (now cal ledCabot Street) was purchased; but s t range to say, bought without money, t rust ing infai th that somehow the money would be raised. Soon the ground was cleared andin 1881 the Chapel was dedicated. And again without money, and again t rust ingthat God in some way would provide the money. And then as now the fai thfulwomen were looking about for ways and means to ra ise the necessary money. Andso the f i rs t “Frauenverein” (Ladies’ Aid Society) was organized in December. 1881.Such names as Bart , But t inghausen, Sturm, Elsner, Peters , Schimpf, Lutz , Pfender,Marr and Wulfes were prominent in that f i rs t society.

OUR FIRST CHURCH BUILDING

In the spr ing of 1882 the people requested the Presbytery of Phi ladelphia thatthey might be organized into a Chris t ian congregat ion. Their request was grantedand on Apri l 13, 1882, the Church was organized as the “Zion German Presbyter ianChurch,” with 70 charter members . 29 of whom were received by a le t ter of dis-mission from the Corinthian Avenue Church, and 41 upon Confession of Fai th . Thefirs t e lders were: Louis Lutz , Wil l iam Schladensky and Peter Kredel . The f i rs tTrustees were: X. Pfender, F. Stadler, P. Kredel , A. Brenner, E. Elsner, F. Reichertand H. Schloendorf . At a meet ing of the Session held Apri l 18th. 1882. among thosewho uni ted with the Church were Mr. August Klose. Sr. , Mr. August Klose, Jr. , andMr. Otto Klose. In May, 1882. Rev. Jacob Loch was formally instal led as the f i rs tPastor of this Church, the family of Mr. Hambrecht had made a pulpi t which waspresented to the Church. The f i rs t Confirmation services were held by Pastor Lochin 1883 with 30 members . Space forbids us to ment ion al l the names of Confirm-ands, who during the his tory of this congregat ion were consecrated to God. PastorLoch confirmed during his minis t ry a t this Church 115 persons; his successor PastorBernhardt 36, and his successor Pastor Albrecht 1631; during the year of inter-

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mission by a Rev. Hinke, 28 were added; Pastor deBeer, f rom 1919 up to 1932 con-t inued 534 persons, which makes a total of Confirmands up to and including the year1932, of 2344 persons. Although many of these have broken fai th with God andChurch, yet many also are today among the most act ive and fai thful members of thisCongregat ion.

Under the splendid leadership of the gif ted young Pastor Loch another piece ofground adjoining that on which the Chapel had been bui l t was purchased on whichthe future church was to be bui l t . Then with the suddenness of a most unexpectedsurprise and to the deepest regret of the congregat ion, their beloved Pastor Lochresigned his pastorate in May, 1886, in order that he might accept a cal l f rom theLu the ran Sche rmerhorn Church a t Brook lyn , N .Y. Hi s successo r, Rev. H . F.Bernhardt , became Pastor in June, 1886, leaving, however during the month ofAugust , 1887. That year was perhaps the darkest in the his tory of the Church. Themembership had been scat tered, those who remained were discouraged and dis-hear tened; the t reasury of the Church was exceedingly low. the total receipts ofthe ent i re year f rom al l sources during 1887 were but $300.00. the debts had notbeen reduced; the interests on the mortgages had not been paid. Yet God helped inthis t ime of greatest need and sent to the Church a man, who under God, was to leadthe Congregat ion to a most blessed and happy per iod of many years of s teadyprogress.

RKV. C. THEO. ALBRECHT, D.D.

The Rev. C. Theo. Albrecht , D.D. , ment ioned before as one who with PastorRichelsen had begun this work, and who was then Pastor of a Church at Rahway,

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N.J . , was cal led. With a great deal of re luctant fear but wi th a humble fa i thin God’s guidance he accepted the cal l , and in December, 1887. entered upon hiswork. In January. 1888, he was instal led as Pastor by the Presbytery of Phi la-delphia . And be i t sa id to the credi t of the Presbytery, i t paid the Pastor ’s ent i resalary for several years . Pastor Albrecht faced many diff icul t problems, which ledhim to seek God’s help in earnest prayer many, many t imes. The Congregat ionral l ied around their new Pastor, a spir i t of hear ty uni ty and co-operat ion prevai led.God’s hand rested with the most loving helpfulness upon the work, and through Hisgood Providence these the best years in the his tory of the Church brought numerousblessings. The Word of God prevai led might i ly and souls were added to the Churchbel ieving in the everlast ing Gospel of Jesus Chris t . Thoughts for a new Church-bui lding were put into act ion and under God’s gracious care plans for the new bui ld-ing were la id . The f i rs t donat ion for such was a contr ibut ion of $100.00 by PastorAlbrecht himself . I t was indeed a happy day when in November, 1890. the newChurch was dedicated at a cost of $20,000.00, with an indebtedness of $18,000.00.The las t cent of the las t mortgage was paid in ful l on May 28th, 1919, when at aspecial meet ing the mortgage was burned. In 1890, Mr. Harry Speidel was electedTreasurer of the Congregat ion, and under his earnest and fai thful endeavors thef inancial condi t ion was decidedly improved. Due to his conscient ious and carefulbookkeeping the congregat ion was safe ly guided through th is per iod of heavyindebtedness . Other men l ike him were led by the Spir i t of God to serve theirMaster in this work. Such men as August Klose, Jr. , Carl Rohde, Gustav Schrenk,Joseph Nerl inger. John Kraemer, August Lidle , Fr. Rauser, Fr. Ley, David Jent ,Theo. Roessler, G. Jaeger, P. Jehle , Dr. Geo. Neuber, C. Sommer, Otto John andmany others . As we think of them now, we real ize that many of them have gone tothe great Beyond and s tand in the Presence of Chris t , whom they have humblytr ied to serve.

Short ly before Chris tmas, 1902, the Congregat ion had the pleasure to dedicatethe new pipe-organ which had been instal led at the cost of $2,000.00; and no onewas bet ter qual i f ied to play this instrument than the gif ted and ta lented youngorganis t , a son of this Church, Mr. Fred. Rauser, who occupied this posi t ion unt i lthe summer of 1918. In 1905, a t Chris tmas- t ime, three hew church-bel ls , one apresent f rom Mrs. L. Alter, were dedicated. The cost of these with the rebui ldingof the church-tower was $2,600.00. The bel ls have separate names; the largest oneis cal led “Fai th ,” the second largest “Love” and the third “Hope.”

However, one of the most blessed resul ts of the work of this Church was theconsecrat ion of young l ives for ful l - t ime service for Chris t to the Gospel-minis t ry.The fol lowing young men went for th f rom this Church into the Gospel-minis t ry:Rev. Otto Klose, Rev. R. J . But t inghausen, Rev. A. Block, Rev. August Jung, Rev.K. J . Stadelman, Rev. Eugene Burger and Rev. Fr. Leypoldt .

The arduous work of Pastor Albrecht began to te l l on his physical condi t ion.Towards the close of the year 1916 he fel t i t to be for the best interests of the Churchto lay down the task in which he had been so earnest ly engaged for a lmost 30 years .

This Booklet is wri t ten with the utmost determinat ion that every good whichthis Congregat ion l ias ever been or is now accomplishing is due to the goodness of

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God. We are jealous of the honor to God and to Him alone; but we thank God withan exceedingly great joy that He has sent Pastor Albrecht to this Church and usedhim to promote His honor and g lory in th i s communi ty. Pas tor Albrecht wasappointed Pastor-Emeritus of this Church in 1917. He continued to worship at thisChurch until February 22, 1925, When on the evening of that Lords Day God calledhim home. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy ofthy Lord!”

For almost two years the Congregation was served by Rev. Win. Hinke, whoonly served as Stated Supply until the Congregation should call a new Pastor. In1917, Rev. Hilko deBeer, D.D., Pastor of the Peters Memorial Church at St. Louis,Mo., was called; he accepted and entered upon his work here on April 14th, 1918.During the year 1931 it pleased God to take from this Church one who had beenidentified with the work of this Church ever since i ts beginning, one who loved hisLord and Saviour with all his heart , one who served as the Superintendent of thisSunday School for almost forty years, who had served as an Elder for almost thirtyyears, one who had won the hearts and the love of thousands of children to lead themto Christ , Mr. August Klose, who entered into the rest which remaineth for God’sChildren on August 14th, 1931. I t was with the deepest regret , yet with humbleresignation to God’s superior wil l , that the Congregation parted from this dearBrother, knowing that “our loss is his gain!”

The Board of Session at the Fift ieth Anniversary consisted of the followingmen: H. Speidel, C. Rolide, John Lutz, John Zopfi , Will iam Guckes and PastordeBeer. The Board of Trustees consisted of the following men: John Zopfi . Will iamGuckes , Raymond Schaeffer, John Ri t t inger, Alber t I r ion. Char les Kremp, FredWidman, Herman Stockinger, Charles Stecher, George Bohrer, George Herre, Sr. ,John Nerlinger, Harry Huder, Frank Huder. Will iam Perl , Charles Mosebach, JosephHepp, Frank St ie fe l , Alber t Block and Car l Rohde . The only char te r mem-bers st i l l l iving at the t ime of the Fift ieth Anniversary were Mrs. Martha Rohde, Mr.Pfender, Mrs. Barbara Jaeger, who was also the Church-Visitor. The membershipof the Church at the t ime of the Fift ieth Anniversary was 794, although the Churchhad many inact ive members who are not included in this number. In 1927 theChurch purchased a piece of ground 50 by 70 feet immediately north of the Church-building, at the cost of $6,000.00, which was entirely paid for at the end of 1930, thecredit for this being largely due to the exceptionally efficient work of the Treasurer,Mr. R. Schaeffer.

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The Gethsemane Stained Glass windows as located at Zion,before they were transferred to Olivet.

Rev. Hilko De Beer Rev. Robert J. Walsh

TheZION MEMORIAL WINDOWS

as they appeared from 1925 - 1974

In memory ofRev. C. Theodore Albrecht D.D.

Third Pastor at Zion1887 - 1916

Pastor Emeritus1917 - 1925

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On the occasion of Zion’s 80th Anniversary in 1962, this updatedaccount was published.

THE EIGHTIETH ANNIVERSARY

The Eightieth Anniversary of our beloved ZION is to be celebrated on the 7thof April this year of 1962. In the preparation of the historical booklet referring tothis event we were urged to look into the booklet of our “Golden Anniversary,”when on April 10th, 1932, we celebrated fif ty years of our beloved Church. Wewould l ike to refer to the closing sentences of that historical day. Quote: “Thus fif tyyears were completed by the grace of God, Who with the greatest of love has led us,and who has been patient with us, and Who has been pleased to use us for Hisown glory.”

Thirty years have been passed since that was writ ten. And now in 1962 wewould humbly please God, that we may continue with Him to greater and betterservice to Jesus Christ!

The passing of t ime has brought many changes. None of our former chartermembers are with us any more. Of the Board of Session of that period many havegone. Of the Board of Trustees some twelve or more have gone to the l ife beyond.Yet God has wonderfully blessed ZION. In the rapid changes of a restless andsorely troubled world He has never failed to guide and to lead us. Like He broughtIsrael through a desert , so has He brought us through every uncertainty! Unto usHe promised, even as He did to Israel , saying to us: “My presence shall go withthee; thereby will I lead thee.” (Exodus 33 :14).

The World Wars have disturbed the world during the first half of this century.The first World War ended in 1918, the second in 1945. During these ZION didnot hesitate to be loyal to our beloved Nation. 192 young men and women of ZIONeither enlisted or were drafted into the armed service. Yet by the grace of God wedid not have one “Gold Star”; although several of the young men were affected bythe consequences. In 1943 our Pastor deBeer volunteered for temporary service;and was appointed to serve at the Coast Arti l lery Base in North Carolina, where heserved for a period of six weeks. Nor did ZION hesitate to participate in the finan-cial obligation; members of ZION purchased Government Bonds in large quantit ies.The Korean war which followed the second World War did not seriously affect us.But the restlessness of this period was most trying on the entire world; and has sincethen and is even now troubling l ike a stormy sea with much uncertainty for thefuture But God’s promises never fail . ZION is located in a city-community wherethe need of Gospel preaching is so clearly evident. May ZION continue to preach“Christ and Him crucified.” May it be a beacon-light in our community to point toGod! Attendance a t the regular preaching services var ies . In 1933 the Sess ionreported an average attendance at the German services of from 125 to 150 persons.In the same year our Confirmation class consisted of 35 boys and girls . PastordeBeer was highly honored by the Presbytery of Philadelphia to be elected theModerator of the Presbytery for the year of 1934-35. This honor was a highlightin our history; as ZION had never thus been honored before. The Rev. Dr. Evans,the Moderator of the General Assembly of our denomination preached from theZION pulpit . This too was an unexpected honor for our dear ZION. During 1933we reported a membership of 898 persons. However i t would seem that our Sunday

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school was decreasing. This was evidently due to the change of residents in ourcommunity. Many of our own people moved away, and those coming into ourneighborhood were not interested, and had to he won over to the Church. HoweverGod provided a Brother for us, who had great courage and faith in God’s unfailingword when Mr. Purnell B. Darrell was to become General Superintendent of ourSunday School. Under his efficient leadership the Sunday School progressed nicely;every department was strengthened. The evening services, which had become sopopular, had the large at tendances. On Easter Sunday, March 21st . 1937, ourattendances were as follows: At the 10 A.M. service there were 648 present; at theSunday School 393 and at the evening service 401; or a total for the day of 1442 per-sons. Our Confirmation class of that year had 42 members. On Easter Sunday,1938, we had an attendance of 1482; and in the following year of 1939 a total of 1429.No one was more particular in keeping a perfect record of our attendances than Bro.Perl. He was always so exact and so meticulous to give a correct report. Suddenlyand very unexpectedly, God called him home from our midst. Mrs. Perl presentedour Church with a beautiful brass cross in memory of her beloved husband on April11th, 1951. Also later she presented the Church with a sound system.

Our Confirmation classes were decreasing every year. Pastor deBeer confirmed976 boys and girls.

Our four C. E. organizations have proven to be very helpful to lead the youngof our Church into the love and attraction for “Christ and the Church!” Not enoughpraises can be said for the helpful activities of our C. E. The first German C. E.Society in the world was organized in ZION.

During the years passing by, it became evident to Pastor deBeer, that it mightbe desirable if a change in pastorate were to occur. The Congregation continuedtheir love and loyalty to him; but the community which had to be won for Christdemanded the services of a younger man. Thus in 1954 Pastor deBeer resignedfrom the pastorate of ZION Church. In the month of June, the Congregationjoined the Pastor in a request to the Presbytery of Philadelphia for dissolution ofthe relat ion between Pastor deBeer and ZION. The request was granted. theCongregation requested that he be appointed Pastor Emeritus. It was with deep regret thatPastor deBeer and family ret ired from the work where he had laboredfor a period of over 36 years. He is at the present time living with Mrs. deBeer atBeverly, New Jersey.

The Church now being vacant looked about for a successor. the Rev. DanielYoungman was called to become their new Pastor, he was installed by the Presbyteryof Philadelphia in 1955. However his term of service was very short. After abouttwo years he left ZION. The Church was again vacant.

But God provided in our hour of dire need. and sent His servant, the Rev. Dr.Fred C. Kuehner, who has since become dean of the Theological Seminary of theReformed Episcopal Church. The spir i tual l i fe of our Congregation was great lyblessed and strengthened under Dr. Kuehner ’s fai thful preaching of the Wordof God.

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During this per iod a Pulpi t Commit tee , under the leadership of Chairman Mr.Fred Widman, worked to f ind a Pastor. The goodness of God led them to a def ini techoice of a Pastor. The Rev. Robert Walsh was ordained and instal led as Pastorof ZION Church on the 19th day of June, 1959. Humbly wai t ing before God, seek-ink the wisdom of the Holy Spir i t , desir ing great ly to preach the message of theGrace of God in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Chris t , Pastor Walsh began his workat ZION, and is carrying i t on in the name of God unt i l th is c lay, and fur ther i f i tpleases God.

God cont inues to bless ZION with a f ine s taff of dedicated, consecrated workers .Our Sunday School , under Super in tenden t Mrs . Anna H. Gehr inger, shows anenrol lment of 110. Mrs. El izabeth J . Darrel l , ass is ted by Mrs. Carol ine Nixon andMrs. Raymond Tindal l , cont inues her work with the very l i t t le chi ldren.

We rejoiced great ly las t year when a Men’s Bible Class was revived, and con-t inues to make progress under the f ine leadership of teacher Mr. Horace Lyon, whois a lso serving on the Board of Elders .

The Women’s Bible Class is so happy with the lessons taught by teacher MissFrances Becker, who is a lso superintendent of the Intermediate Chris t ian Endavor.Mrs . Har r ie t Guckes i s Super in tendent o f the In te rmedia te Depar tment o f theSunday Scl iool , where she is ass is ted by Miss Annegrete Scherer, Miss Els ie Guckesand Miss Mar ian Biggard who i s a l so Super in tendent o f the Jun ior Chr i s t i anEndeavorers .

The Home Department of our Sunday School , under the leadership of MissFlorence Klose, has for ty members . Miss Klose cont inues her vis i ta t ion of themembers and dis t r ibut ion of f lowers to the s ick.

We rejoice in the way God is cont inuing to ra ise up leadership for the work ofthe Gospel of the Lord Jesus Chris t f rom the ranks of our own young people . MissJeanet te Erickson teaches the Junior High Class , and assis ts Miss Frances Beckerwith the work of the Intermediate Chris t ian Endeavor.

Mrs. Helen Fenner, Superintendent of the Primary Department , is ass is ted byMrs. Edna Yopp Liebel and Mrs. Bet ty Jane Doty.

Mr. Erwin Morrison, a young man of our Church, is a s tudent for the Minis t ryat the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Episcopal Church, and is the teacherof our Phi laphronia Class . Erwin is a lso act ive in our Chris t ian Endeavor here a tZION, and in the work of our Schuylki l l branch. Miss Cynthia Gurgul , one ofZion’s young women, is the new president of the Schuylki l l Branch of Phi ladelphia’sIntermediates . And s t i l l another of Zion’s young women, Miss Ei leen McGaw, is as tudent a t Beaver Col lege, where she is preparing to serve the Lord in the work ofChris t ian Educat ion.

Give of thy sons to bear the message glor ious:Give of thy weal th to speed them on their way;Pour out thy soul for them in prayer victor ious

And al l thou loudest , Jesus wil l repay.

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The Board of Elders and the Board of Trustees , under the direct ion of chairmanWill iam R. Guckes, have served Sunday morning breakfast to our Congregat ion onnumerous occasions. The men of our Church have enjoyed preparing breakfast forthe Congregat ion, our people have enjoyed the food, and at tendance at the WorshipService has a lways shown a marked increase on the morning when breakfast isserved.

A new member of the ZION family is our Organis t and Choir Director, Mr.James Houseman, who has been providing splendid music for our Worship Services .The choir has responded wel l to Mr. Houseman’s t ra ining as they cont inue to br ingthe Congregat ion the message in music .

A new organizat ion in our Church is the Women’s Missionary Society underthe direct ion of Mrs. El izabeth J . Darrel l . These ladies are a par t of our denomina-t iona l organiza t ion , the Phi lade lphia Presbyter ia l . A Church wi th a v is ion forChris t ian service throughout the ent i re world is a Church that is serving Chris t inthe most complete sense.

Also missionary minded is our Alumni Chris t ian Endeavor, under the leader-ship of John Frick, whose members under the direct ion of Miss Frances Becker,presented a most impressive Missionary Conference. The Alumni are act ive in thework of present ing services a t some of our Ci ty Rescue Missions, the Seamen’sChurch Inst i tute , the Home on Mount Vernon Street and the Phi ladelphia GermanProtestant Home in Lawndale .

The Young Women’s Auxi l i a ry, under Pres iden t Margare t Schmol l , and theLadies’ Aid, under President Els ie Guckes, have been of t remendous service to theirChurch. Last year, the Auxil iary turned over s ix hundred dol lars to our Trustees .Our Church Visi tor. Els ie Guckes, cont inued to br ing cheer to s ick rooms andcomfort and hope to those in dis t ress with her prayers and le t ters .

The morning and evening worship services are showing increasing at tendances.A Thursday evening Prayer Meet ing service was begun three years ago, the power-house of the Church. We bel ieve God is answering the prayers of His people fortheir beloved ZION.

What are the possibi l i t ies and prospects for our Church? In terms of service,we serve One greater than the Church; we serve the l iving God, Father, Son andHoly Spir i t . Our God is e ternal , unchangeable , therefore God does not depreciate .In terms of need, the world needs a Saviour more than ever in a l l i ts his tory. Wehave the message of the Saviour to give to the world. In an age of violence and ofhatred, the world needs to learn of grace and love as i t never before needed to learn.We have that message of the grace of God in the Chris t ian Gospel ; we have a s toryto te l l to the nat ions, a message that God is love.

That the neighborhood and the world have changed means nothing, our Godhas not changed. The message that we proclaim is s t i l l able to reclaim l ives for Godthrough Jesus Chris t , the Saviour of the world.

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Chapter ThirteenINTO THE NEW MILLENNIUM

NEW CENTURY, NEW PASTOR

Early in 1998-even before the new millennium began-Olivet Covenant took its ownstep into the future when it called the Rev. Linda Jaymes to be the church's firstwoman pastor. This was viewed with surprise by some and with skepticism by others,yet for still others a woman pastor was considered a rather "matter of fact"development at the end of the 20th century. After almost nine years, the relationshipbetween pastor and congregation has proved to be a good match. Pastor Linda's solid,Biblical preaching, along with her musical background fit very well into the heritageand personality of the church. Each week she sings with the choir and on occasionplays the guitar when special music is needed. All in all, it has been a mutuallybeneficial relationship between congregation and pastor, one that we hope will continue for years to come.

THE CHANGING NEIGHBORHOOD

In the ten years since Olivet's 140th anniversary, many things have changed besidesthe pastoral leadership. The neighborhood around the church underwent a dramatic"re-gentrification," with many homes selling in the $500,000 to $1,000,000 range.There has been an explosion of young mothers (and fathers!) pushing baby carriages,and in an effort to connect with these families, Olivet has opened its doors to playgroups that meet twice each week during the winter. In fact, the facility with itsparking lot offers many opportunities for outreach into the neighborhood, and inrecent years the building has been used by a wide variety of groups. It has been usedfor teaching basketball skills to young girls; a quilting group's monthly meetings; thePhiladelphia Flute Society's concerts; the Mural Arts Program community meetings;nearby churches' Deacons retreats; Alpha Pregnancy's training events; blooddrives…and the list could go on and on. Perhaps the most exciting development interms of building use has been the transformation of unused Sunday Schoolclassrooms into office space for other Christian organizations and artist studios for Olivet's Artists in Residence program (more about this later.)

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE

After 150 years, Olivet Covenant continues to impact people here and around theworld in many and various ways. Every month session members meet at each other'shomes for prayer and fellowship, recognizing the need to set aside time for prayerbeyond their monthly business meetings. Worship continues to be the center ofchurch life, with 50-60 of its 75 members usually in attendance. Coffee hourfellowship after worship is lively and friendly, giving relationships an opportunity togrow as members get to know each other better. Adult Sunday School is well

attended, as are ongoing mid-week Bible studies and other small groups. The 14-member choir continues to surprise newcomers and visitors with its rich, harmonioussound, and its annual special Christmas program attracts not only members but neighbors and friends as well.

Another aspect of congregational life over the years has been church picnics. For thefirst half of the 20th century, a big social event of the year was the Church/SundaySchool picnic. For the first thirty years it was held at Lemon Hill and later atStrawberry Mansion, both locations in nearby Fairmount Park. As time went on, itmoved to Woodside Amusement Park and Willow Grove Park, but with the demise ofWillow Grove Park, the picnics came to an end. But as the new millennium began,picnics once again became a time of fun, food and fellowship, thanks to the Leafamily of Blue Bell. They have opened up their spacious home and large backyard,where there is room for a volleyball court, horseshoes, croquet and a heated, in-ground swimming pool.

WORLD MISSION

Something else Olivet Covenant can be proud of is its commitment to mission, bothlocal and global. This little congregation continues to help support eight localorganizations and ten missionaries who serve not only in the US but also in Bolivia,Russia, Germany, and Haiti, and each year there are special offerings for World Visionand Baby Manna. In addition, in 2005 the congregation was invited to give towardthe Indonesian tsunami and hurricane Katrina relief efforts. As a result, the missionbudget of $12,000 was surpassed by congregational giving that totaled just under $25,000! Clearly, the Olivet congregation has a heart for mission!!

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MUSIC MINISTRY

Olivet Covenant continues its reputation of a strong andvigorous musical heritage. Visiting preachers and othersfrequently comment on our accomplishments, includingour singing Pastor. Elder Bruce Saul directs the choir andhas pioneered the idea of using recorded performancetrack CD's to accompany the choir, which allows us to sing with a simulated full orchestra background. At thesame time we've been blessed with having a number oftalented individuals who have served as church organists.In just the 8+ years since Pastor Jaymes has been with us,they have included Mark Karlberg, Paul McFadden,Genie Zipf, Sue Marsh, Art Russell, Robin Roach, and Eydie Rodebaugh.

BUILDING UPKEEP

It would be remiss to discuss building use without also mentioning the role of Olivet'strustees in this regard. Rarely will you find an old building like Olivet's so well caredfor by a small congregation numbering approximately 75. Yet that is exactly the case.As most other churches have met with declining membership, they have been unableto keep up with the maintenance and repairs that old buildings demand. But notOlivet! God has provided not only the finances needed for upkeep, but more importantly, trustees who have been wise stewards of God's gifts.

Since 1996, major repairs and improvements have included a new boiler, replacementand/or repair of stained glass windows, replacement of both planters in the parking lot,roof repairs and replacement of drainage pipes concealed in the walls, termiteextermination and related repairs, remodeling of 3rd floor ladies room, water fountainreplacement, repair of leaks in the heating system, purchase of snow blowers,replacement of windows on the upper floors, recoating the parking lot andredecoration of the Wallace St. and 22nd St. entrances, as well as the pastor's office.Last but certainly not least was the conversion of upper level Sunday School rooms toartist studios, including individually controlled electric baseboard heaters in eachstudio. Clearly, this old building continues to be a challenge, but God and the trustees have been faithful to meet every need as it arises.

An ongoing (and ironic) challenge to the upkeep of the property actually beganseveral decades ago. Through a quirk of fate and unknown to the congregation orofficers, the church edifice was certified by the Historical Commission as a "NationalHistoric Building." On the surface it sounds great, but unfortunately it causes ongoinggrief. This designation means we can't make any improvements to the exterior of thechurch without the approval of the Philadelphia Historical Society. For example, wehad to request approval for a new church sign at the corner of the parking lot. As itturned out, it took two years and hundreds of extra dollars to get the sign. To makematters even worse, the sign turned out to be inferior, and unfortunately once it's in place you can't remove it.

OLIVET SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

A year before the Olivet Church was chartered, the Sunday School was organized bythree laymen from the Calvary Presbyterian Church in Center City, with JeremiahChambers as it's first leader. They met in a storefront on what is now FairmountAvenue (then known as Coates Street), near 24th Street. In April of 2005 we had aspecial celebration marking the Sunday School's 150th anniversary. A number of ourmembers came to church dressed in period costumes dating from the Civil War era.The weather was beautiful and the participants stood out on the pavement, greetingarrivals in their top hats, tails, side burns, fancy floor length dresses and bonnets. Itwas interesting to watch the expressions of passersby in cars and buses. Instead of aregular worship service, Art Russell related some of the historic details of the SundaySchool and hymns dating from the period were sung, including a trio made up ofHaley Brown, Samantha Stankus and Rev. Jaymes. It was a special day that will not soon be forgotten.

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PRESBYTERIAN SUNDAY SCHOOLSUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

Philadelphia Presbytery is the location of the PSSSA, a unique organization in ourdenomination. It was organizied in 1880 and our founder, Jeremiah Chambers, was amember of the first steering committee. Well-known businessman and Sunday Schoolteacher, John Wanamaker, was the first president. The association's record is amazing,meeting eight times each year in different locations and they have not missed ameeting in 126 years, except for snow cancellations. In the last half of the 20thcentury the PSSSA has met at Olivet Covenant numerous times and we have had sixpresidents: Charles Drain (1947); John McClellan (1956); Arthur Russell (1962); Lillian Robinson (1985); Linda Jaymes (2002 and Diane Glodek (2006).

In 1977 the Anniversary Prgram was scheduled for Olivet Covenant and Art Russellsuggested it be celebrated with a "Night of Music." It was so successful that eachpresident since then has asked to continue the tradition. In 1980 the 100thAnniversary Program was held at Bethany Collegiate Church in Havertown, with a110-voice choir and 17-piece orchestra that included twenty members of OlivetCovenant. To celebrate the 125 Anniversary, the association returned to OlivetCovenant, and with only a few exceptions, the annual anniversary meeting has been held here ever since.

Active past presidents from left to right:Art Russell, Linda Jaymes, Gordon McMordie, Jean VanDeventer, Bob Lorah, Jeanette Feraco, DonVanDeventer, Gladys Manners, Ernestine Staton, Ken Alexy, Sam Fortunato & Anthony Kazlouski.

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MEMBERSHIP CHALLENGES

In the post-Christian era we live in, most churches (especially small ones) havestruggled with membership decline, Olivet included. The local church is no longerthe center of social life, and younger generations often have other priorities besidesmaking commitments to the church. As the congregation has aged, our Children'sSunday School has been reduced to a small handful of children. Even Olivet's verysuccessful VBS program had to be discontinued after the summer of 1998 due to alack of adult volunteers needed to manage the children. In addition, over the last tenyears many long-time and faithful members have gone home to be with the Lord,including Frances Becker, Mary Fritz, Jennie Saul, Anna Roach, Joe & CatherineMilligan, John Muller, Al & Edna Irion, Audrey Sabroski, Beulah King, MarionBiggard, Mildred Maier and Miriam Shaffer, as well as one of our much-loved newer members, Syd Blandford.

ENVISIONING THE FUTURE

In spite of these discouraging factors, however, there is much to be thankful for andOlivet Covenant Church continues to look to the future with hope. Olivet's financialcondition has improved dramatically over the years, due mainly to gifts from theestates of former members. This has enabled the church to remain solvent in spite ofthe fact that member giving does not meet expenses. Even so, the leadership must becommended for doing something that most endowed churches refuse to do, namely,Olivet started to spend down a portion of its assets on various forms of outreach. Afew years back we entered the Field Education Program at Princeton Seminary, whichplaces seminarians in churches ten hours a week for one academic year, in order tohelp them gain ministry experience. Dan LaVorgna was our first student, followed the next year by Dan Morrison.

We might have continued with that program except that some three years ago thesession had an "Aha!" moment when the elders recognized that God had not blessedOlivet with nearly $500,000 merely for the sake of having money in the bank! So theytook a bold step of faith. Through a partnership with the Coalition for Christian

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Outreach, they hired Andy Campbell, a young man with two years of seminarytraining, to do outreach ministry at the University of the Arts and with young adultsin the neighborhood around the church. Andy also has proved to be an excellentpreacher, filling the pulpit approximately once per month. Along with his wife andtwo toddler daughters (one born after arrival at Olivet), he has brought new life andexcitement to the congregation. It has been wonderful to see little ones in the nurseryagain after several years without babies in the church. At one point Andy quipped thatthere are many ways to help a church grow, and he and his wife, April, were doing their part to make that happen!

UNIQUE PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Over the years, Olivet Covenant has been blessed to have some very unique andspecial people as members and friends. At the end of the 19th century there was aconnection with John Wanamaker through Olivet's participation in organizationsfounded by Wanamaker: the Sunday School Superintendents Association, the men'sSocial Union and the Summer Evangelistic Committee. At the beginning of the 20thcentury, composer C. Austin Miles (In the Garden) was Olivet's organist, and hymnlyricist Eliza Hewitt (When We All Get to Heaven, There is Sunshine in My SoulToday) was a member. The Olivet Choir sang as part of the combined choir at BillyGraham Crusades in the City, and some of our members were counselors at the Crusades.

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As we move into the 21st century, the trendcontinues. While Rev. Jaymes was leading aworship service at Presbyterian retirement centerRydal Park, she met a woman who told her that shehad grown up in Olivet Covenant and had beenbaptized, confirmed and married by one of Olivet'spastors. The woman, Helen Dietsch, was at thattime over 100 years old but still livingindependently, blessed by good health and a keenmind. Helen started attending our annualHomecoming services, which were always heldright around her birthday in November, celebratingher 104th, 105th and 106th birthday with us. Thelast time she was able to come, one of our youthasked her what she thought of all the changes thathad occurred during her lifetime, and her responsewas, "It blows my mind!" Up until the very end, Helen's intellect was intact and hermemory was sharp. Sometime after her 107th birthday the Lord finally took her homepeacefully, in her sleep. Though relatively brief, Olivet Covenant's friendship with Helen Dietsch was an inspiration to all who knew her.

Another special relationship developed between Olivet Covenant and a youngcouple, Alice Yafeh and Donald Deigh. Rev. Jaymes met Alice while on retreat, andinvited her to worship at Olivet Coveant. Alice, a native of Cameroon who wasstudying for her PhD at Princeton Theological Seminary, began attending with herfiancé, Donald Deigh, a native of Sierra Leone. Donald "just happened" to be lookingfor a church home and both Alice and Donald found that home at Olivet Covenant.Soon after becoming members they were married at Olivet Covenant in a uniqueservice that blended some of their African traditions with our American ones. It wastruly an international affair, with guests from many parts of the world in attendance.Afterwards, the reception in Zion Hall complete with African food, was a warm and wonderful time of fellowship with Christians from around the world.

ARTIST STUDIOS

Perhaps the most courageous and forward-looking decision that Olivet made in recentyears was to open up classroom space to other Christian organizations. The building's24 small classrooms had hardly been used in the last 50 years, but that hasdramatically changed. The eastern regional office for the CCO, an organization thatpartners with churches to do campus ministry, is now housed in our building, as is theoffice of the Summer Evangelistic Committee, an organization begun by JohnWanamaker, to place seminarians in Philadelphia's struggling Presbyterian churchesfor summer work. Most exciting of all, the entire fourth floor of the church buildinghas been transformed into artist studios. In May of 2004, Dayton Castleman, a young

artist also working for the CCO, was visiting the CCO office and noticed all theunused space at the balcony level above the gym. It was Dayton's vision to turn thatspace into art studios-and the rest is history. The occupants are all young, Christianartists of varied denominations, who cannot afford studio space. This is cutting-edgeoutreach which attempts to encourage Christians to "take back" a legitimate place inthe arena of visual arts. In addition, it provides a way to draw Christian artiststogether in a unique community in which they can share their faith, encourage eachother and critique each other's works. After two years, this outreach endeavor is stillin its early stages and God only knows where this venture is headed and what theoutcome may be. But Olivet believes that God is the One who has given the visionand so He will bring it to completion in his own way and in his own time. In the meantime, the Olivet Covenant congregation is privileged to be along for the ride!

FUTURE HOPES AND DREAMS

In summary, as times have changed, Olivet Covenant has sought to remain faithful tothe Gospel of Jesus Christ, which never changes. The membership may be small, butmembers' hearts are big-an Olivet tradition that we pray will continue for the next 150years and beyond. Trusting in God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, webelieve this church will continue to serve God in this community and around the world until Jesus comes again. Amen and Amen!!

--Rev. Linda JaymesNovember, 2006

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OLIVET COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH22nd & Mt. Vernon Streets

Philadelphia, PA 19130215-232-2019

ocoffice@verizon.netwww.olivetcovenant.com

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Behind the pulpit the oldest items in the church. The walnut carved woodwork and organ pipes from the original Covenant Church built in 1835.

In the forefront is the unusually ornate marble pulpit, withinlaid mosaic colored tiles, and brass trim.

Presented by the Society of Willing Hearts. April 17, 1892