REV. JOHN B. LWD TO BE HONOR!

Community to tendet a Testimonial Dinner Celebrating 50 Years as Pastor of Frankford Presbyterian Church
Fifty years ago as a young clergyman, the Rev. John B. Laird, just out Of theological school, came to 'rank-' ford to his first pastorate. He is completing a half century of continuous service in the pulpit where his ministry began, at the old and historic Presbyterian Church of Prankford at Frankford avenue and Church street. Men and women of Frankford of all denominations and stations in life are planning to celebrate the 50th anniversary, joining with his other friends add associates in paying tribute to his devotion for so many years to the welfare and needs of the Northeast community. They have arranged a testimonial dinner to be held at the Bellevue-Stratford Ballroom on the evening of May 10th. The movement has reached such proportions as to give the Committee, real concern as to whether they will be able to accommodate the increasing demand for tickets. Jt will be one of the finest functions ever given by the residents of the Northeast. On the committee are many leaders, representing most of the community activities In this section. They are: Clarence E. Bertolet, Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; Frank P. Wilson, Northeast Phila. Chamber at Commerce Alvin A. Swenson, Board of Education, Dr. John L. Waldman, District Superintendent of Public Schools; Oscar Schaefer, Frankford Co-ordinating Oduncil; Mrs. 0. Rodger Melling, Woman's Club of Frankford; Miss Elizabeth Brinton, Frankford Y. W. C. A.; George W. Meckert, Frankor Exchange Club:, Thomas S. Howland Esq. District Governor Lions Club; E. Doug lass Hibbs, Frankford Lions Club; Jay B. Widler Frankford Optimist Club; S. Walter Fotilkrod Jr., Esq., Business Men's and Taxpayers' Association of Frankford; William H. French, Frankford Mercl).ants Association; S. Lloyd Moore, Esq., Board of Trustees Frankford Hospital; Mrs, Ross W. Mills of Women's Auxiliary FrankfOrd Hospital ;s. Ii .%.Iiflle., Finkfurd Day Nursery'; Lionel FL Backus. Frankford Post 211 American Legion; Mrs. James J .Blssinger, American Legi'on, Frankford Post Auxiliary; Miss Lillian K. Lightfoot, Soroptimist Club of Frankford; Clement B. Webster, Frankford Historical Society;. Clifford K. Fowler Frankford Air Raid Wardens; John B .Hartman, Frankford Trust. Co.; Robert L. Hilles, Second National Bk.; Bernard Effing, Frankford Checker Club; William F. Lotz, The Luncheon Club; Jacob H Crouse, Commuiijty Activities; Rev. Herman F Gohn, Frankford Ministerial Assn.; John H. Gossling, Bag., Committee of Laymen of Frankford Churches; R. Luther Young Anniversary Committee, Frankford Presbyterian Church. Justice Allen M. .Stearne, of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ,a native of the old Frankford section of Philadelphia, wfll .be toastmaster. The dinner committee Is beaded by Dr. Charles N. Sturtevant. The dinner is a signal honor to a plain and modest preacher who, besides successfully guiding one of the city's oldest churcheO for the past 50 years, has managed also to take part In every civic and welfare movement in the Nort,heast during that time. He came to Frankford, Dr. Laird recalls, in the "horse and buggy" days of 1895 when the churchyard provided ample shedding for sheltering of horses and vehicles. H4 succeeded the Rev. Thomas Murphy. whose ministi'v pxtei'ed nearly 46 years. Thus.' Frankford Pr(,sl)yterlan has had hut two ministers in the last 96 years. The Frankford Presbyterian Church was founded In 1770 by farmers and tradesmen of Frankford, among whom were Rudolf Neff and George Castor, and was already 125 years old when Dr. Laird took charge. Neff and Castor were soldiers in the Rnv&"tlon, and both are buried In the church -ard. Some of their descendants attend the church today Commodore Stephen Pe.eatur. naval hero, was a trustee of the chur'1i 185 years ago. William W. Foulkrod. one-time Congressao. froni the databt. ..waL pr5-. Ident of the church board. More than 3000 funerals have been attendd by Dr. Laird during the last 50 years. If he had to make a choice of his lifework again. "I would choose '()'be a minister," he states, "and if T were to choose the niace of my srv1ce, It would he the Frankfor.d Presbyterian Church.' Dr. Laird was horn on a farm in 'southern Lancaster county and attended a one room country school. hoforO preparatory studies at Millersville State 'rmal Sehool. Then for a time he taught in a rural school. He, was graduated from Lafayette Cohere. Class of 1892. and fr"m Prince tonTheo1orb'al Seminary In 1895, the year he qtnrtM1 in the ministry. Beyond the confines of his church and neighborhood his activities have henrnnsual for a ilergvmnn. He has been trustee of Lafayette College for 41 years, trustee of Princeton Theological Seminary for 39 years. and trustee of Wilson College for 41 years, for 25 of which he was president of the board. He also served one year as acting president of Wilson College. He has served as trustee of Lincoln Univeisltv. moderator of the Presbytery of Philadelphia North. moder,or of the Synod of Pennsylvania and presIdent o the Pennsylvania Scotch-Irish Society.