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. |
|
|
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
|
©PCA Historical Center, 12330 Conway Road, St. Louis, MO,
2007. All Rights Reserved.
|
