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In the early part of 1903, Rev. Murray C. Reiter, then a student
at the Western Theological Seminary, occupied the pulpit of the
church. So well did Mr. Reiter perform his part and so
admirably did he impress the congregation, that he was chosen
unanimously as the first pastor of the Mendelssohn Presbyterian
Church. Mr. Reiter continued to fill the pulpit of the
church until his graduation from the Seminary in May, 1903 when,
after his ordination in this church, he assumed full pastoral
charge of the congregation. The members of Mr. Reiter's
first session were Mr. J.M. Miller, James Grubbs and David S.
Bradshaw.
In August, 1907, after a fruitful pastorate, Mr. Reiter asked
the congregation to release him in order that he might accept a
call to become pastor of the old Hill Church at Canonsburg, Pa.,
the church, where years before the father of Woodrow Wilson
served as pastor. Mr. Reiter later went to Bethel Church
as pastor.
Rev. Richard H. Coulter, D.D., of Canonsburg, Pa., became pastor
in March 1903 and served faithfully until ill-health forced him
to resign in the spring of 1914. During Dr. Coulter's
pastorate, the auditorium of the chapel was enlarged and the
basement room for the Sunday School was provided.
Following Dr. Coulter, Rev. Thomas Robinson accepted a call to
the church. Mr. Robinson entered his new field of endeavor
with much enthusiasm, laboring often under difficulties, but
with determination to serve faithfully and well. This he
did and his pastorate was a very successful one which covered a
period of six years. Rev. Edgar R. Tait, then pastor of
the Herron Avenue Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, was called to
be our next pastor. His task had the appearance of being
an arduous one, for it was now evident that a new church
building would be needed soon. |
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Mr. Tait handled the situation in a capable manner, and in a
short time sufficient money had been subscribed and plans
formulated to start building our present edifice. The
architect chosen was J.C. Fulton & Son, Uniontown, Pa., and
though the construction was not placed in the hands of a
contractor, Mr. F.S. Conn, also of Uniontown, was employed as
superintendent of building operations. Doing most of their
own contracting, together with the excellent help of many of our
Wilson town folks--not all members of our |
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own congregation--and the local Steel Corporation, the building
was completed at an approximate cost of $85,000 for a building
that ordinarily would have been valued at approximately
$125,000.00. Landscaping, painting, carpeting, pulpit
flags, balcony pews and other extras followed in due course of
time to make the church more comfortable and beautiful.
Thus today we have one of the finest church buildings in this
vicinity and in the Presbytery. |
