Organizational Sketch:
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Two Decades of Synodical - A Brief History,
by Mary R. Edwards
(Slightly condensed by Marie C. Wallis)
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At the 1948 Meeting of the Bible Presbyterian Church in General
Synod session at Nashville, a committee of Commissioners was appointed to
study the possibilities of organizing a Women's Synodical Society. No action
was taken during that year. At the General Synod meeting in Baltimore in
June, 1949, an enlarged committee met with some interested women on the
Saturday of that Synod. As a result of the interest shown then, Dr. R.G.
Rayburn was appointed as Chairman of a committee to consider such an organization.
Mr. Calvin Harrah and Mr. C.J.T. Straub, with Mrs. Clyde Kennedy, Mrs. Charles
Richter, and Miss Mary R. Edwards completed the committee to work out organizational
possibilities. The work of the committee began with correspondence. Suggested
constitutions were sent in from various churches across the country. In
the fall of 1949 a committee meeting was held in St. Louis at the First
Bible Presbyterian Church with the three committeemen and Miss Edwards present
(the other women could not come, from the West Coast and the East; but were
given full reports.
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First Annual Meeting - June 1950
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At the General Synod in June 1950 held in St. Louis, Dr.
Rayburn met with all interested women; there were about 50 in attendance.
Miss Edwards was appointed by Dr. Rayburn to act as secretary since she
had so acted for the Synod-appointed committee. In the course of approximately
three hours, a suggested constitution which had been sent out previously
to each of the churches of the denomination, was discussed fully, article
by article, and section by section, under the very able direction of Dr.
Rayburn. Each article and each section of both Constitution and By-laws
was discussed, explained and voted on. Finally a complete constitution took
shape and was accepted in its entirety by vote of these women. Through all
this Dr. Rayburn was very careful to emphasize again and again that Synod
was neither forcing or asking the women to organize. Some requests had been
made for a women's organization, and so this committee had been activated.
The women at this meeting voted overwhelmingly to have an organization and
to use the constitution just formulated. So after lunch that day the first
annual meeting of the Women's Synodical Society was held. Officers were
nominated and elected, and a program of music, devotions and missionary
challenge was held.
The next two meetings were held at the time of General Synod
on the East Coast and on the West, in New York City at Shelton College in
June of 1951, and in Pasadena at Highland College in July of 1952. During
these two years we grew, and learned that in spite of the hard work of the
original committee of Synod, the first accepted constitution needed some
alteration.
On June 8, 1953, at Faith Seminary in Elkins Park, the revised constitution
was presented to the Fourth Annual Synodical Meeting in printed form, following
the orders of the meeting the year before in California. But at the 1954
meeting, held June 5 in Greenville, South Carolina, Synod ordered the Membership
Article in the Constitution be changed, so that membership in the Women's
Synodical Society is not automatic with membership in a Synod church. So
at the annual meeting in St. Louis, June 4, 1955, a revised and updated
constitution was presented in printed form, not only showing the revision
required by Synod action, but also showing the change in name to Evangelical
Presbyterian Church. This is the constitution we are presently using though
our name has changed since. (The theme of this meeting was "Possessing
the land." The program cover had a picture of what was then the future
arch, but which is now an actuality. The scheduled address of the afternoon
was not given, as most of the ladies preferred to attend the meeting of
the General Synod.)
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Evangelical Presbyterian Church
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When the Synod met in St. Louis in April, 1956, a meeting
of the Synodical was called by the president, Mrs. Stanley Allen, via
telegram. However, there was not a quorum, so no business could be done.
But at the suggestion of Dr. Buswell, a minute was recorded that at the
next meeting of General Synod the Women's Synodical Society would also
meet. This meeting was held that fall in the hotel in Columbus where the
Synod was in session. A bare quorum conducted only such business as was
sufficient to make it a legal meeting.
On June 10, 1957, the Society met in the Faith Bible Presbyterian Church
in Wilmington, Delaware. The program was "Go Forward." This
was the first full meeting of Synodical since the division in the church.
At this meeting Miss Mary R. Edwards, the first recording secretary, was
elected president. (This was the first meeting she had missed since the
founding of the Society!) On June 23, 1958, the Society convened in Lakeland,
Florida. This summer-time meeting perhaps was the reason for a very good
attendance. In June, 1959, the gavel was turned over to Mrs. John W. Buswell
as ladies met with Synod at the Quarryville Presbyterian Home and conference
place.
In July, 1960, the Synodical along with Synod went south to the church
in Gainesville, Texas; then across the country in July of 1961 all the
way out to Tacoma, Washington, for a vacation Synod. There was a good
representation at this meeting. Back to the Midwest, and the meeting at
Covenant College and Seminary, with the Synodical lunching at the Salem
House where a model of the new building for Covenant College on Lookout
Mountain was on display. In 1963 in August to Harvey Cedars; in April
1964 to St. Louis again where the Synodical meeting and lunch were held
in the Pent House of the Famous-Barr in Clayton.
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Reformed Presbyterian Church,
Evangelical Synod
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The April 1965 Synod at Covenant College, Lookout Mountain,
was the historical occasion when the merger of our Evangelical Presbyterian
Church with the older Reformed Presbyterian Church too place. Synod was
very important, so the Synodical adjourned the business meeting to August
7, 1965, at Harvey Cedars, New Jersey, during Presbyterian Family Week.
In May of 1966 Synodical met with Synod at Colorado Springs, almost in the
shadow of the Garden of the Gods at Glen Eyrie. Unfortunately only one officer
was able to be at the meeting, so that business was a little lacking, but
excellent talks and a workshop or two were held. Back to Lookout Mountain
and Covenant College in May of 1967, and Wilmington, Delaware in May of
1968. The last meeting at Covenant College on Lookout Mountain in May of
1969 marked the twentieth annual meeting of Synodical. |
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Subject
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Box
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File
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Appeal Letter, 1961, from LaVerne
Rayburn, on behalf of Christian Education programs
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493
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1
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Constitution, proposed revision
of the Women's Synodical Society of the BPC, undated, 3p.
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493
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3
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Constitution, proposed, 1949, with
cover letter by Robert G. Rayburn and attached questionnaire, 4p.
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493
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4
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Covenant College, undated, Summer
Directory, 3p.
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493
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5
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History of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church, Evangelical Synod, 1973, by Marie C. Wallis [script
for sound-35mm slide program]; Bibliography; List of Audio-visual
resources; Bibliography on Scottish Covenanters prepared by Elizabeth
Clark (Mrs. Wyatt) George; 20p.
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493
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7
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Korea: Land of Sorrow and Blessing,
Foreign Missions Study Number Eight, 4p.; World Presbyterian Missions,
1958, Minutes of May 23, 2p.
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493
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6
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Miscellaneous materials on Missions,
including Report on Home Missions, 1957; Devotional Material
for the Missions-Minded Christian, 11p.; Footsteps of Progress--Twenty
Years with the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions:
1934-1954, 9p.; statistics brochures on National Missions giving;
Photo of Harvey Cedars Hotel [postcard]; Outlook brochure
with inserts on BPC agencies and missions
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493
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8
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Missionary Birthday Book, [calendar,
undated]
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493
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2
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| Synodical
Meeting, 1950, (1st), Minutes, two copies, typewritten, 2p. |
493 |
23 |
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Synodical Meeting, 1950, (1st),
Program for June 5th meeting and Minutes of the Synod Committee
on Women's Organization, including list of first officers of Women's
Synodical, 3p.
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493
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20
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Synodical Meeting, 1951, (2nd),
Program for June 3-4 meeting, Minutes, Constitution and Bylaws,
6p.; photograph of Synodical officers
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493
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18
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Synodical Meeting, 1952, (3rd),
Program for August 22nd meeting, newspaper clipping, photo of gathered
Synod and Synodical commissioners
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493
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17
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Synodical Meeting, 1953, (4th),
Program for June 8th meeting; Minutes; newspaper clippings; Report
of Outlook Committee; Ten Devotional Topics on Faith; photograph
of Synodical officers
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493
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16
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Synodical Meeting, 1954, (5th),
Program for June 5th meeting, Committee reports, At the Bar of
Justice, or, Mrs. National Council vs. Mrs. Bible Presbyterian Synodical;
newspaper clipping with photos; Outlook brochure; Footsteps
of Progress pamphlet, 48p.
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493
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15
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Synodical Meeting, 1955, (6th),
Program for June 4th meeting and Committee reports, 48p.
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493
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14
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Synodical Meeting, 1956, (7th),
Report on meeting of November 28-30 [adjourned without quorum];
letter announcing meeting in Columbus, Ohio
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493
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21
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Synodical Meeting, 1957, (8th),
Program for June 10th meeting
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493
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13
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Synodical Meeting, 1958, (9th),
Program for June 23rd meeting and Committee reports, 36p.; postcard
with photo of the Bible Presbyterian Church of Lakeland, FL, site
of the 1958 meeting
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493
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12
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Synodical Meeting, 1959, (10th),
Program for June 6th meeting and Committee reports, 41 p.
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493
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11
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Synodical Meeting, 1963, Report
of National Presbyterian Missions Committee, NPM brochure, and Treasurer's
Report
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493
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19
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Synodical Meeting,
1966, Program for May 6th meeting; Contacts newsletter,
vol. 3, no. 4, May 1966; Committee reports, 14p.
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493
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10
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Synodical Meeting,
1968, Program for May 16th meeting [RPCES]
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493
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9
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| Synodical
Meeting, 1974, Program for May 25th meeting and Committee reports;
Constitution [Revised, July 1970]; Pioneer Girls brochure |
493 |
22 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1951, (2nd), Minutes of June 4th; Registration list
of commissioners; Treasurer's report; 9p. |
493 |
23 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1952, (3rd), Minutes of August 22nd; 4p. |
493 |
24 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1953, (4th), Minutes of June 8th; 4p. |
493 |
25 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1954, (5th), Minutes of June 5th; 4p. |
493 |
26 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1955, (6th), Minutes of June 4th; List of Synodical
officers for 1955-1956; Constitution as Revised in June, 1955, 4p. |
493 |
27 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1956, (7th), Minutes of April 7th, held concurrent
with the 19th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church; Report
of November 28-30 meeting |
493 |
28 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1957, (8th), Minutes of June 10th; 4p. |
493 |
29 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1958, (9th), Minutes of June 23rd; Letter from William
A. Mahlow on the value of the Women's Synodical organization, 3p. |
493 |
30 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1959, (10th), Minutes of June 6th, Treasurer's report,
3p. |
493 |
31 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1960, (11th), Minutes of June 25th; Minutes of Executive
Committee Meeting of September 8, 1960; Letter of September 9, 1960
by Mrs. John W. Buswell; Minutes of Executive Committee Meeting of
April 17, 1961; 8p. |
493 |
32 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1961, (12th), Minutes of June 24th; 3p. |
493 |
33 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1962, (13th), Minutes of June 18th; 3p. |
493 |
34 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1963, (14th), Minutes of July 18th, Treasurer's report; Letter
from Dorothy R. Horner re times and locations of future meetings;
4p. |
493 |
35 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1964, (15th), Minutes of April 4th; resolutions; 5p. |
493 |
36 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1965, (16th), Minutes of August 7th; Minutes of Combined
Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Women's Synodical Society
and the Executive Committee of the Women's Society of the Philadelphia
Presbyterial, held on May 13th; 5p. |
493 |
37 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1966, (17th), Minutes of May 6th; Treasurer's report; 3p. |
493 |
38 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1967, (18th), Minutes of May 17th; Treasurer's report; 3p. |
493 |
39 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1968, (19th), Minutes of May 16th; Report of Fellowship Committee;
4p. |
493 |
40 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1969, (20th), Minutes of May 22nd; List of Officers; Correspondence;
Minutes of Executive Committeee Meeting of May 23rd; Delegates Registration
List; Treasurer's report; 19p. |
493 |
41 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1970, (21st), Minutes of July 25th; Minutes of Executive
Committee Meeting of July 27th; List of Delegates; Correspondence;
Bulletin Supplement articles; 26p. |
493 |
42 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1971, (22nd), Minutes of May 18th; Minutes of Executive Committee
Meeting of May 18th; Prayer Requests; List of Officers, Correspondence;
18p. |
493 |
43 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1972, (23rd), Minutes of May 13th; Supplement Docket and
Reports; Minutes of Executive Committee Meeting of May 13th and 18th;
Transcript of Jesus Christ Superstar; Correspondence; 37p. |
493 |
44 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1973, (24th), Minutes of May 19th; Minutes of Executive Committee
Meeting of Januar 9th; Dockets; Reports; Correspondence; 39p. |
493 |
45 |
| Synodical
Meeting, 1974, (25th), Minutes of May 25th; Minutes of Executive Committee
Meeting of May 27th; List of Synodical Officers; Correspondence; 7p. |
493 |
46 |
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2007. All Rights Reserved.
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