CHAPTER XIX

PASTORATE OF REV. FRANK R. NEFF, JR.

January 1, 1939 to September 15, 1942

Frank Robinson Neff, Jr. born September 4, 1907, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a son of Frank Robinson Neff and Mary Printz Mulliken Neff. He was educated in the Public Schools of Philadelphia; was graduated from Maryville College, Maryville, Tennessee, cum laude, in 1933; from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1936, with the degree of Bachelor of Theology, and in 1938, received the degree of Master of Theology from the same institution. He also did post graudate work at the University of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Neff was licensed   by the Presbytery of    and his first pastoral experience was as Student Supply, First Presbyterian Church, South Side, Bethlehem, Penna., 1936-1937. Subsequently he became pastor of three Congregations in Michigan, the First Presbyterian Church, Pickford, Donaldson Presbyterian Church, Dafter, and Stalwart Presbyterian Church, Stalwart, 1937-1938; pastor of the two Congregations at Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, and Scotch Ridge, 1939-1942; pastor, Everglades Community Church, Everglades, Florida. In September, 1946, - Mr. Neff became assistant professor of Bible, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, where he now resides. He has had a special interest in educational programs and technique and has been a member or chairman of the Committee on Education in every Presbytery with which he has been connected. He is a member of the National Association of Biblical Instructors, the. Religious Education Association, and the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis:

Mr. Neff married Isabelle Westwood Harrison of Vonore, Tennessee, on June 5, 1937, daughter of Walter Scott Harrison and Mary Julian Hutchison Harrison. Mrs. Neff was also a graduate of Maryville College and her father a Presbyterian Elder at Sweetwater, Tennessee.

Mr. Neff preached his first sermon in Mf. Pleasant, Ohio, on October 9, 1938, and also on the Sunday following, October 16, 1938; and on November 6, 1938, the Congregation voted him a call, which was accepted. He was formally installed February 9, 1939. Rev. W. L. Gilmore charged the pastor, Rev. Robert L. Stone, Bridgeport, Ohio, delivered the sermon, and Rev. - Stockman, Dillonvale, Ohio, charged the people.

A sketch of events of interest and significance during Mr. Neff's pastorate would include: January 21, 1939, authority to Mr. Neff to have the young people of the Church help with the evening service. January 29, also authorized Mr. Neff to take charge of the Sunday School at 10:00 A. M. in the absence of R. L. Dennis. February 15, 1939, a joint meeting of the Session and Trustees held to consider a budget of $2,100. for the new year, this to include $500. for the Building Fund (this is the first reference on record to a formal Budget at the beginning of the fiscal year), also agreed to raise money for the Building Fund by two separate offerings, without pledges, for the year 1939-1940; also instructed that new members be given early opportunity to pledge to the support of the Church. March 5, 1939, the Westminster Guild given permission to use the Church Sunday evening March 12 for presenting a sacred pageant "the Challenge of the Cross". March 26, 1936, a joint meeting of the Session and Trustees agreed that annual Congregation Meetings shall be in two parts, first, a meeting of the Church membership, with the pastor as Moderator; and second, a meeting of the members of the Corporation, whether Church members or not, which corporate meeting shall be in charge of the Trustees, (This is the first record of the distinction between the two meetings as defined). April 12, 1939, because so many organizations both in and out of the Church had requested the privilege of using the Church facilities, the Session defined policy in the following Resolution:

"Resolved that the Session is favorably inclined toward all efforts by all groups in the Church to aid the Church financially; requiring only that each proposed dinner, function or social be submitted in advance to the Session for approval as to the nature of the function, the date and the specified purpose for which the involved money is to be used".

May 26, 1939. Visit from Rev. W. L. Gilmore, former pastor. June 18, 1939, use of Church granted for purpose of organizing a W.C.T.U. July 9, 1939, death of Miss Lafie C. Reid at San Diego, California, noted. December 13, 1939, R. L. Dennis elected Superintendent of the Sunday School for 1940. March 13, 1940, authorized a plate commemorating Henry Zeyer on his special interest in the Primary Room. March 17, 1940, letter of sympathy and condolence to the Presbyterian Church at St. Clairsville in connection with the recent "terrible mine accident" affecting many members of that Church, their relatives and friends. April 28, 1940, Boy Scout Troop recently organized under the auspices of the Men's Brotherhood. June 9, 1940, the Congregation elected J. C. Keyser, R. C. Dennis, and Walter E. Ruckman, Ruling Elders, and these men were installed September 8, 1940, Frank L. Cleaver elected a delegate to the General Assembly at representing the Presbytery of St. Clairsville. Mr. Cleaver made report covering the General Assembly on Sunday morning June 23, 1940. Former pastor Rev. W. A. Martin, then at Galion, Ohio, preached at Mt. Pleasant August 25, 1940. September 15, 1940, approved participation in the Presbytery's Plan of Evangelization. Frank L. Cleaver resigned as Clerk of Session effective April 1, 1941, and Session agreed that thereafter and every third year the Clerk be elected by Ballot. November 27, 1940, R. L. Dennis re-elected Superintendent of the Sunday School for the coming year. January 15, 1941, Miss Kathleen Dennis appointed Assistant Church Organist. March 4, 1941, Session extended sympathy to Ruling Elder Walter Ruckman on the recent death of his father who had been a Ruling Elder in the Rayland Church. Evening services March 30 and April 6, 1941, dismissed in order to attend the Centennial Celebration of the First Presbyterian Church, Martins Ferry, Ohio. During 1941, $500. repaid to Board of National Missions. April 2, 1941, Frank L. Cleaver elected Clerk of Session for three years; and Charles Zeyer elected Assistant Superintendent, of the Sunday School. October 8, 1941, Session appointed a Committee of Asa O. Harbourt, M. C. Wells and Mrs. Velma Thomas to arrange for recognition of W. D. Bashore who has been Church Organist "for fifty years", and a gift was presented April 12, 1942. November 12, 1941, Mrs. Agnes Burriss Lodwick dismissed to the Buffalo Presbyterian Church, Cumberland, Ohio. December 3, 1941, R. L. Dennis made Superintendent of the Sunday School for 1942, and David Harbourt, Assistant Superintendent. January 14, 1941, passed Resolution on the death of Theodore Wells. Frank L. Cleaver, a delegate from the Presbytery of St. Clairsville to the Synod at Wooster June 22-26, 1942. August 16, 1942, Mr. Neff notified the Session of his resignation to fake effect September 30, 1942, in order to accept another field. At a Congregational Meeting held August 30, 1942, it was agreed to join Mr. Neff in asking Presbytery to dissolve the pastoral relations. Mr. Neff preached his last sermon as pastor at Mt. Pleasant, Sunday morning, September 27, 1942.

Rev. Frank R. Neffs's pastorate was characterized by much activity particularly among young people's groups including a revival of interest in the Young Peoples Society of Christian Endeavor. There was also increased emphasis on the orderly conduct of the business affairs of the Church, the preparation of annual Budget of receipts and disbursements and the presentation and explanation of same by the Trustees. Special services were held each year and Mr. Neff by exchange or other arrangement frequently had visiting ministers in the pulpit representing Boards or special causes, all of which broadened the horizon of the Congregation. Mr. Neff also stressed appropriate ritual in services, a reverance for the pulpit and its symbolism. Perhaps his predominent concern was with the educational processes and techniques of the Church School, the Missionary Societies, and other agencies of instruction in the Church.