i.Ev JOHN B.

LAIRD DIES IN 88th YEAR

Services Held in Presbyterian Church on Tuesday
With the death of the Rev. John B. Laird, D.D., on Saturday, August 29, 1953, the Presbyterian Church of Frankford lost a pastor and a friend and the community lost one of ij.s oldest and most devoted servants. Dr. Laird came to this commu:utY fifty-eight years ago to be pastor of the historic Presbyterian Church. He ,continued as pastor for 51 years, the longest pastorate in the Church's his[ tory, until his retirement in 1946, when he was made Pastor Emeritus. Dr. Laird was born on Valentine's Day, 1866, and raised by a farmer uncle in Lancaster County. His struggle for an education was difficult at first but he graduated from Millersyule Normal School and became a teacher. After some time teaching he entered Lafayette College from which he graduated in 1892. He graduated from Princeton Theological Semij nary in 1895 and was called to his Frankford charge after graduation. He earned a M. A. degree from Princeton University in 1903 and Lafayette granted him the honorary de.gree of D. D. in the same year.

Dr. Laird was active in community work. He was one of the organizers of the Frankford Hospital and a trustee till the time of his death. He was a Member and Director of the Frankford Historical Society. He initiated the approach, to Andrew Carnegie that resulted in the Free Branch Library at Frankford ave. and Overington st.,the 1st of its 'kind in Philadelphia. During World War I he was 'President of the Community Red Cross Chapter of 18,000 members. He helped establish the Frankford ,Day Nursery, and gave aid and guidance to the Northeast Boys Club. His Church also called upon him for much service beyond his immediate charge in Frankford. He was sent eight times to the Presbyterian General Assembly. He was Moderator of the Presbytery of Philadelphia North in 1898, and Moderator of the Synod of Pennsylvania in 1915. For 40 years he was a member of the Board of National Missions of the Presbyterian Church and for many years a trustee of Presbyterian Publications. He was for 47 years a trustee of Princeton Theological Seminary; for 50 years a trustee of Lafayette College; for 50 years a trustee of Wilson College for Women, 29 years of which he was President of the Board. A students activities Building at Wilson College at Chambersburg honors his name. He also served for 20 years as trustee of Lincoln University, 10 years of which he was President of the Board of Ti ustees. Dr. Laird was an original member of the Frankford Country Club; a past President of the Scotch Irish Society of Pennsylvania, a member of he Adelphia Club of Presbyterian Clerico and of the Union League. He is survived by his niece, Miss Hazel Laird who was his companion for many years, and With whom he lived at 1325 Arrott street, where he died, in his 88th year. Funeral services were held Tuesday Sept. 1st. at 1.30 p. m., in the Presbyterian Church of Frankford. The present pastor, the Rev. John D. Craig. presided and the address was given by the Rev. Jesse M. Corum, Jr., D.D. Pasor of the First Presbyterian Church of Norristown and long time ersonal friend of Dr. Laird. Also participating in. the service were the Rev. Ralph A. Tamaccio, pastor of the Fairfield Presbyterian Church of Fairton, N. J., who was since childhood a member of the Presbyterian Church of Frankford; the Rev. J. Christy Wilson, D. D., representing Pr,inceton Theological Seminary; the Rev. Stuart Nye Hutchinson, D. D., Pastor Emeritus of East Liberty Presbyterian Church, in Pittsburgh, and representing Lafayette College; and Dr. Paul Swain Havens, President of Wilson College for Women at Chambersburg, Pa. Other members of the Presbytery and members of the Session and Board of Trustees of the Church acted as Honorary Pall Bearers. The Deacons of the Church served as ush-