PCA Historical Center

Archives & Manuscript Repository for the Continuing Presbyterian Church

Harry H. Meiners, Jr. Papers

Manuscript Collection # 22

Box# 327

Content Summary: Correspondence; Minutes, financial reports and other documents for national and local level work within the RPC,GS and RPC,ES denominations.

Span Dates: 1957 - 1970

Size: 1 cu. ft.

Access Restrictions: None

Collection Citation: Meiners, Harry, Papers, Box 327, Folder __: item description, PCA Historical Center, St. Louis, MO.

Biographical Sketch: [edited from the Memorial brought before the 149th General Synod [1971] of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod by the Rev. Dr. Franklin S. Dyrness and Rev. Wilber B. Wallis]--
Reverend Harry H. Meiners, Jr. was born in 1919. After college he took his seminary training at Westminster Theological Seminary, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia.

Upon completion of his seminary training in 1950, he began to serve as the pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Duanesburg, New York, a member church of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America, General Synod. He served in this post until 1959, resigning due to the contraction of polio, which made it difficult for him to continue in active ministry.
He moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico in July of 1959 for health reasons. Though his body was frail, it did not limit him in his desire to be of utmost service in the Lord's work. He was largely responsible for the University Presbyterian Church of Las Cruces joining with the our denomination. That church has not only a fine membership from that community, but a strong student ministry to New Mexico State University located there. Since the church property adjoins that of the University, it has a most strategic location. Mr. Meiners has on several occasions served as interim pastor and moderator of the Church. He was held in highest esteem by the Church and not only ministered there but also at Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church in Alamogordo.
Mr. Meiners was one of the leaders largely responsible for the growth of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America and then in the union with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. [Note: the EPC referred to here was originally named the Bible Presbyterian Church, Columbus Synod, taking the EPC designation from 1961 until its merger with the RPCNA, GS in 1965; it is not to be confused with that EPC which began its existence in 1981 and which continues today.] He served as the Stated Clerk of our denomination from the time of the Union in 1965, having served in the same capacity in the Reformed Presbyterian Church since 1960. He was most proficient, conscientious and accurate. He manifested a great compassion for God's people and a deep loyalty to Christ.
At the 148th General Synod [1970], Mr. Meiners gave notice that he would be resigning at the time of the 149th General Synod due to a serious heart attack. Although it was not easy to give up this position which he loved, he was making every effort to turn over the responsibility and endeavoring to make it easier for his successor to take over the work. Just recently he suffered another serious heart attack and was again hospitalized, but seemed to be improving. Just the Sunday prior to his homegoing, he attended both Morning and Evening Services of the Las Cruces Church. He spoke of his great yearning to continue to have an active part in our denomination through the ministry of prayer. On Sunday, May 9, early in the morning, he quietly slipped away to be with the Lord. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and three sons. His oldest daughter graduated from Covenant College last year and the next two children are now students of the College. [one son has gone on to serve as a missionary with the PCA's Mission to the World agency.]
A great leader and faithful servant has been taken from us. We will all deeply miss our brother who was so gracious and kind and brought so much encouragement to our movement. God's ways are past finding out. Again, we are reminded that men come and go, but God and His work go on forever. May his homegoing challenge all who knew him to be more faithful in service to the Lord, looking forward to the day of the appearing of our Lord. Mr. Meiners was faithful until death and to him has been given the Crown of Life. He has heard the word of His Master, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant...Enter thou into the joy of the Lord." Matthew 25:21.

Finding Aid is normally located in folder number 1 of each box.

Subject

Box

File

Administrative Committee, 1965 – 1966, Correspondence

327

5

Administrative Committee, 1967, Correspondence

327

4

Administrative Committee, 1968, Correspondence

327

3

Administrative Committee, 1969 – 1970, Correspondence and undated materials

327

2

Chaplains, 1966, 1968 – 1969, Correspondence

327

6

Christian Training, Inc., 1963 – 1966, Correspondence

327

8

Christian Training, Inc., 1967 – 1969, Correspondence and undated materials

327

7

Contributions, Correspondence in re, 1959 – 1962, 1968

327

9

Correspondence and Directory, 1965 – 1967

327

10

Foreign Mission Board, 1960 – 1963, Minutes

327

44

Foreign Missions, 1959 – 1960, Correspondence

327

18

Foreign Missions, 1961, Correspondence, August – November, 1961

327

16

Foreign Missions, 1961, Correspondence, January – July, 1961

327

17

Foreign Missions, 1962, Correspondence

327

15

Foreign Missions, 1963

327

14

Foreign Missions, 1964 – 1965, Correspondence

327

13

Foreign Missions, 1966, Correspondence

327

12

Foreign Missions, 1967 – 1969, Correspondence

327

11

Foreign Missions, Miscellaneous, undated

327

46

Form of Government (FOG), 1966 – 1968, Correspondence re amendments to the RPCES Form of Government [53 leaves]

327

20

Form of Government (FOG), 1969, Correspondence in re

327

19

Fraternal Relations, 1961 – 1962, Correspondence

327

24

Fraternal Relations, 1963 – 1964, Correspondence and undated materials

327

23

Fraternal Relations, 1965 – 1966, Correspondence and undated materials

327

22

Fraternal Relations, 1967 – 1969, Correspondence re Plan of Union between RPCES and OPC [30 leaves]

327

21

General Synod, 1949 – 1959, Correspondence

327

26

General Synod, 1960 – 1963, Correspondence

327

25

General Synod, 1964 – 1965, Correspondence, Finances

327

30

General Synod, 1966 – 1967, Correspondence, Finances

327

29

General Synod, 1968 – 1969, Correspondence, Finances

327

28

General Synod, undated, Correspondence

327

27

General Synod, undated, Correspondence, Finances, Forms and Brochures

327

31

General Synod, undated, Correspondence, Minutes

327

32

Miscellaneous

327

45

National Presbyterian Missions, 1965 – 1966, Correspondence

327

48

National Presbyterian Missions, 1965 – 1966, Literature

327

49

National Presbyterian Missions, 1967 – 1969, Correspondence

327

47

News Articles

327

50

Pastors and Pulpits, 1965 – 1967, Correspondence [sampling]

327

33

R.P. Letter Exchange, 1969, Correspondence

327

38

Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America, General Synod, 1966, Financial Statement, Financial Reports

327

41

Reformed Presbyterian Foundation, 1965 – 1968, Form Letters

327

51

Reformed Presbyterian Foundation, Printed Materials

327

52

Requests for Information, 1957 – 1959, Correspondence [sampling]

327

37

Requests for Information, 1960 – 1964, Correspondence [sampling]

327

36

Requests for Information, 1965, Correspondence [sampling]

327

35

Requests for Information, 1966 – 1969, Correspondence [sampling]

327

34

RPCES, 1968, Financial Statement, Financial Reports

327

40

RPCES, 1969, Financial Statement, Financial Reports

327

39

Statistics and Reports, 1966 – 1969 [sampling]

327

53

Westminster Chapel, 1962 – 1965

327

55

Westminster Chapel, 1966, 1970

327

54

Westminster Chapel, Photographs and undated materials

327

56

World Presbyterian Missions, 1965, Financial Statement, Financial Reports

327

43

World Presbyterian Missions, 1968, Foreign Mission Board, Goals and Program

327

57

World Presbyterian Missions, 1969, Financial Statement, Financial Reports

327

42

 

 

 



Pastor Harry H. Meiners, Jr.
1919 - 1971
[from a photo in the Westminster Alumni Bulletin, Vol. I, No. 1, Summer 1957]