Chapter X

OUTSTANDING LAYMEN

Solomon Keister—John Thomas—John W. Ruth—Hon. E. D. Miller—Isaac G. Jones— C. D. Spangler—Nehemiah R. Griffith—Henry Schum—Albert Keister.

MR. SOLOMON KEISTER

Solomon Keister, a widely known layman of Allegheny Conference, was born in Mt. Pleasant, November 24, 1816, and died near Scott-dale, on March 21, 1901. He was reared in a Christian home, having been baptized in infancy. Religious influence was felt from the first, his parents being pious people and their home being the stopping place of many ministers. The early itinerants often preached in the Keister home, a large room used as a tailor's shop serving the purpose until a public place of worship was provided. When his parents passed to their reward Solomon inherited a plot of ground which he subsequently gave to the Church. Being centrally located it remains to this day the property of the Church and the site of its present building. His devotion and his liberality were thus demonstrated early in his career and continued to the end of life, his last contribution being made to Otterbein College only a few days before his departure.

He read the Bible, not for use in controversy, but to know what it taught and then to do as it directed. Its wisdom and authority were never doubted. Revival meetings concerned him greatly and he rejoiced to witness the salvation of men. To him religion was an experience and a life and any body of believers a church of the living God. Worship implies the presence of God and the worshiper must become conscious of his presence. He was a mystic, no doubt, but his mysticism was the legitimate product of his Christian faith and needed no apology.

He firmly believed that there is a work of grace beyond conversion and that regeneration leads to sanctification. What the Church wrote in its creed he wrote in his personal experience and his daily life. He never professed to be sanctified but he was deeply interested in the writings of the best representatives of the doctrine as this is set forth in the New Testament. His common sense never failed him, just as his Christian faith never faltered. The command, "Be ye perfect," had its significance, and hence he never discredited the higher Christian life, as it was called, though some Christian people made light of

it while others dishonored the doctrine by conduct as unwise as it was un-Christian.

There are always Christians who are loth to speak of religious experience because it seems to them unreal and untrustworthy; to pray in secret, at the family altar and in the prayer meeting because prayer seems wholly subjective; to consider the more advanced teachings of the New Testament as no less binding than repentance and regeneration; to speak of heaven as a divine reality that concerns men here and now; but Solomon Keister never belonged to this group. He accepted the great facts of our religion as real, tremendously real, more real than earthly things because real in a higher sense. The things that are seen are temporal but the things that are not seen with natural vision, these are spiritual, these are eternal.

How often at his home he conversed with laymen and even ministers and how often they went away refreshed and reassured! His practical wisdom, his spiritual insight, his patience in dealing with men, his interest in the welfare of young and old, rich and poor, guided him in these private interviews in which so many sought his counsel and his financial aid.

He was regular in his attendance at his own church, Mt. Nebo, until he grew older, when he attended at Owensdale, though his membership was placed in the Scottdale Church. In his earlier years he was class leader with duties which are now but little known. The Sunday school, prayer service and quarterly conference all commanded his attention. His devotion to the local church prepared the way for his interest in the annual conference and the General Conference.

He approved education while many still opposed or were in doubt, and aided Otterbein and the Seminary morally and financially. He sent all his children to the former except one who did not desire to go. He assisted others also to prepare for their life work but these cases were scarcely known beyond those immediately concerned.

Solomon Keister was an asset to the church and not a liability. He was optimistic because he had faith in God. He was a patriot but not a politician. He adopted temperance before it became a political issue or an economic necessity. He stood for the right when slavery was a burning question and when the Civil War was being waged with changing fortune and unabated fury. Even in old age he read the papers and kept interested in the events that were blazing the course of history. His education was secured without the aid of schools; his modest fortune was accumulated by industry, economy and wise ventures; his extended influence grew up through the eighty-four years of his earthly pilgrimage. He had many friends from all ranks and classes of society, the common people who toiled for their daily bread, the educated and the educators, business associates and acquaintances, officials in Church and State.

When his end came he was ready. He finished his course with joy at five o'clock in the morning, the hour at which he was accustomed to arise. Just a few days before, he received the holy communion at the hands of his pastor. After the singing of the old hymn, "O Glorious Fountain," in which he joined, rising above age and infirmity, he cried out in an ecstasy of joy: "Hallelujah! Who wouldn't praise the Lord for such a salvation!"

Thirty years have come and gone but the name of Solomon Keister is cherished in the community where he lived for sixty years and in the church to which he gave a noble example of disinterested devotion. Without such men no local church and no denomination succeeds, but with them no denomination and no local church ever fails. Given the human agents, the divine presence and power are assured. Times change but faith remains, the faith that saves, removes mountains and overcomes the world and if we listen intently we can hear our Lord saying as of old, "Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer; Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life." The Christian who is crowned here is also crowned there, for when the Chief

Shepherd shall be manifested, he shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away. The crown of life and then the crown of glory!

MR. JOHN THOMAS

John Thomas, son of John Philip and Elizabeth Thomas, was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1833, and died in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1914. When just a child his parents moved on a farm near Greensburg, and later to Beatty, Pennsylvania, where he spent his boyhood days working on the farm in summer and going to school in the winter. In his teen age he worked in the construction of the Pennsylvania Railroad which was being built at that time.

At the age of nineteen, willing, strong and ambitious he set out for himself and in the month of September arrived in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, which as it proved was to be his future home and the sphere of his activities. He found himself with $1.25 of money and with the qualities of success. He became a plasterer at the wage of fifty cents per day. After a time, having saved a little money, he entered the mercantile business in partnership with Rev. A. J. Hartsock in a building 16x26 feet. This partnership ended a little later by thewithdrawal of Reverend Hartsock, and Mr. Thomas carried on the business alone. From this humble beginning he built up one of the largest privately owned mercantile establishments between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

As a business man and public spirited citizen Mr. Thomas was active and untiring. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Johnstown, president of the Johnstown Trust Company, a member of the Park Commission, one of the organizers of the Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital, served as president and trustee of the Mercy Hospital, was one of the organizers and directors of the

Y.M.C.A., besides numerous other lesser institutions and boards. It was very fitting, therefore, that the business houses of Johnstown should close their doors and suspend business during the hour of his funeral.

As a churchman his light shone the brightest. He was converted at the age of twenty and at once united with the First United Brethren Church, to which he gave sixty years of devoted service. He filled about all of the offices in the local church and was twice elected a delegate to the General Conference of his denomination. He was a trustee of Otterbein University, now Otterbein College, and of Quincy Orphanage and Home. These institutions along with Lebanon Valley College, Leander Clark College, Philomath College, Bonebrake Seminary, and other agencies of the church received large gifts to help them in their work, while a host of churches and private individuals will remember him for generous gifts in their times of need. He was a faithful attendant on all the means of grace and a sympathetic listener to the word of God. He never allowed business cares to keep him from the midweek prayer meetings and many will recall how he talked with God.

He was a rare character, scrupulously honest, of untiring activity and unbounded generosity. The fragrance of his life will linger with us. Like David, "He served his day and generation," and "While the outward man perished, the inward man was renewed." It was thus he lived and it was thus the life of Father Thomas went out.

MR. JOHN W. RUTH

John W. Ruth, son of Abram and Elizabeth Ruth, was born near Scottdale, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1848, and died February 12, 1920.

He spent his youth on the farm where he developed a rugged body and laid the foundation for his useful life. From the farm he went to Scottdale, where he purchased and managed the Westmoreland Planing Mill.

He was a business man of exceptional ability. For about forty years he operated his planing mill. He was one of the founders of the First National Bank of Scottdale in 1881, and continued as a director until his death. He was a stockholder of the Scottdale Savings and Trust Company. He was treasurer of the United States Cast Iron and Foundry Company and for many years a director and the treasurer of the Westmoreland County Fair Association.

Mr. Ruth was actively identified with the fraternal organizations of his town, being a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Knights of Malta. During his later years he was not so active in his relations to these organizations, but held his membership until death broke the bonds.

As a churchman, his influence was far reaching. His contributions to the various causes, both local and general, were numerous and large, mounting into the thousands. Few causes of the church came to him in vain. He determined where his gifts would go and then gave gladly and liberally of both time and money. A sample of his usefulness is seen in his unselfish advice and wise counsel given in the erection of the Otterbein Press Building at Dayton, Ohio, and the three buildings erected at the Otterbein Home, by which there was a saving to the church in materials, etc., of several thousands of dollars.

In Allegheny Conference he was the treasurer of the Preachers' Aid Fund until his health failed, when he was succeeded by his son, Homer M. Ruth, the present incumbent. Three times his conference sent him to represent it at the General Conference. He served on several of the boards of the denomination and always with credit to himself and helpfulness to his church. His interest in the church was manifested by an extended visit to our missions in Africa. His visit is bearing fruit in that field today.

His life-long friend, Dr. W. R. Funk, summed up his life as follows:

"1. He was a matter-of-fact man—no deceit in his make-up.

"2. He was a real friend—so many people are your friends as long as they can use you. They drop you as soon as you cannot do something for them.

"3. He was big hearted—his sympathy was often extended when the world knew nothing about it. He cared little for publicity.

"4. He was very sensitive—no man felt a slight or an insinuation more than he. Often he would give no reply or take no action of retaliation, but felt keenly the situation and would remember it.

"5. He was ready to forgive a wrong when there was evidence of a desire on the part of the other party.

"6. He was naturally and actively a Christian. The last number of years he was a great reader of the Word of God.

"7. He was a consistent contributor to the Kingdom of God."

Thus the record of his life has been well written. The going of such men entails a deep sense of loss to friends, church and Kingdom.

HON. E. D. MILLER

Ephraim D. Miller was born in Milford Township in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, May 4, 1846. At the age of seventeen he began teaching in the public schools and followed this vocation, mostly in Maryland, until 1872, when he joined his brother, Hon. Joseph D. Miller, in the mercantile business in Rockwood, Pennsylvania, then a small hamlet at the confluence of Cox's Creek and the Casselman River.

As a teacher Mr. Miller was rated among the most successful of the profession. As a merchant he was a very popular salesman, but, perhaps, a too lenient creditor. He finally sold his mercantile interest to his brother.

He served as postmaster of Rockwood for twelve years and was always courteous, obliging and popular. In 1890, he was elected a member of the House of Representatives in the General Assembly. He was re-elected in 1892 and acquitted himself with credit.

Mr. Miller was a man of fine intellectual endowments; a lifelong student; a man widely and deeply versed in literature and a thorough Bible student.

His conversion was one of the early triumphs of Miss Jennie Smith, the noted railroad evangelist. Mr. Miller, after his conversion, at once united with the United Brethren Church and served it faithfully until released by death. For more than thirty years he was superintendent of the Sunday school. He served in a number of the various offices of his local church and always with credit and faithfulness. His conference honored him by sending him as one of its lay delegates to the General Conference.

For fifteen years he served as Pure Food Commissioner for his district in the state of Pennsylvania and was still active when called by death, July 7, 1916. He had almost attained the "three score years and ten" being in his seventieth year when his summons came.

The Church is the richer for his having lived and the poorer because of his death. His life was such that "he being dead yet speaketh."

MR. ISAAC G. JONES

Isaac G. Jones was born in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1832. As a boy he worked on the canal and followed the tow path for two years. When a young man he learned the plasterers' trade in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Being of a roaming disposition he went to sea as one of the crew of a sailing vessel and was gone for twenty-two months and later worked on coast vessels.

He resumed his trade in 1856 in Johnstown and followed it there for fifteen years. He then moved to Somerset in 1871 and engaged in the lumber and planing mill work. He served two enlistments in the Union Army and was wounded in the battle of Chancellorsville.

He was an active member of the United Brethren Church and a great prohibitionist. He was very active in church work and all forms of civic righteousness. He will long be remembered for his special work among the prisoners of the county jail, where he conducted Sunday school for a long period of years and many a life was made better through his ministrations. "Pa" Jones was greatly missed by his church and town, but his life was such that he is still speaking through the life he lived.

MR. CONRAD D. SPANGLER

Conrad D. Spangler was born in Shanksville, December 12, 1854. He grew up and received the education to be had at the hands of the

schools of his day. He engaged in the mercantile business and was successful, having the confidence of his neighbors and friends. He was converted and joined the Shanksville United Brethren Church under the pastorate of Rev. Daniel Shank, in 1872. Mr. Spangler was a student of the Bible and a reader of good books. He was a reader of The Telescope and familiarized himself with the program of his denomination. He had those natural qualities that made him a leader in all civic and religious movements and he was held in high esteem by his neighbors. He secured quarterly conference license under Rev. Wm. B. Dick, Presiding Elder, but never served a charge.

He did quite a lot of preaching and other public speaking and was a clear thinker and a lucid speaker. It was a great loss to his local church and the community when, on September 19, 1899, he passed on to his eternal reward. The influence of his good life lingers still in both his local church and the community in which he spent his life.

MR. NEHEMIAH R. GRIFFITH

Nehemiah R. Griffith was born on his father's farm near Conemaugh, September 13, 1837. He attended the common schools of his day and one term of normal. He taught five terms of public school and then turned his attention to farming, in which he was very suc-

cessful. He retired from all forms of activity in 1900, and died July 11, 1920.

Mr. Griffith was converted in early life and became a faithful and consistent member of the United Brethren Church. When the Walnut Grove, now Homestead Avenue Church, was established he identified himself with the movement and was a heavy contributor to it. He became the first class leader of this class and was a trustee from its beginning until within a short time of his death. With his family he was faithful to the church of his choice and with them loyally supported it by their influence, presence and means. His memory remains to inspire those who come after him.

MR. HENRY SCHUM

Henry Schum, Sr., the son of Jacob and Catherine Schum, was born at Royersburg, Berks County, Pennsylvania, July 20, 1830. When he was thirteen years old his father died and he thereafter made his home with Reverend Leinbaugh, of Reading, Pennsylvania.

Learning the trade of blacksmith he followed it all his life until his retirement at the age of seventy. In 1859, he came to Altoona, and secured work in the railroad shops. He continued in this work until he was retired in 1900. He was converted in 1866, and shortly after his conversion he united with the then young and struggling First United Brethren Church. He at once became active and, in 1869, was elected treasurer, serving continuously until 1910, at which time his church elected him treasurer emeritus. A natural leader in finance his church greatly profited by following his leadership. He was delegate to the annual conference a number of times and served on many of its committees. Henry Schum was a man of strong faith and convictions and his life was so exemplary and faithful that both the young and the old were glad to seek his advice and counsel and follow his leadership. His church has

placed a bronze tablet on the wall of the church in recognition of the long and faithful service he rendered, but he, himself, wrote upon the tablet of the hearts of his fellowmen. After a brief illness he went to his reward August 5, 1914, at the age of eighty-four.

One, writing of him said, "Father Schum was a great churchman, a noble example as a citizen, a true friend; was honored and revered by all who knew him and was surely one of the 'Fathers' of his church and conference."

MR. ALBERT KEISTER

Albert Keister, a son of Solomon and Sarah Stauffer Keister, was born near Scottdale, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1894. He attended the Tintsman School, which is now called Owensdale. He became a miller by trade and also superintended the farm of his father. In 1871, he was converted in a meeting held in the Jacob's Creek Methodist Episcopal Church by Reverend Leonard. He then united in church membership with the Nebo United Brethren Church. Later he became a charter member of the Scottdale Church and served it as class leader for two years, Sunday-school superintendent for three years, and as trustee and treasurer for forty-seven years.

Mr. Keister represented his church as delegate to annual conference a number of times and served on various committees. The conference elected him on the board of the Church Extension and Missionary Society and here he served for a quarter of a century. Five times he was elected to represent his conference as a delegate to the General Conference where he served with credit. He was elected a member of the Church Erection and Home Mission Board of the denomination by the General Conference. Mr. Keister's beneficence was extended to the various interests of the Kingdom and especially to the building of new churches. The welfare of his church was his deep desire and for it he toiled and sacrificed. He died May 26, 1929, and his body was buried in the Scottdale Cemetery.