The following includes original material on the first national conference as recorded in the Christian Nation, a denominational weekly periodical, the Minutes of Synod, and other publications.

How It Came About

In his report to the Synod of 1925, Dr. Delber H. Elliott, the National Young People’s Secretary and director of the Forward Movement, wrote:

“A point of great interest now in our Young Peoples’ work is the prospect of a Synodical Conference to be held next year. This proposal originated with the young people themselves. The convention in Kansas in 1923 requested the Y. P. secretary to ask the various presbyterials to vote on whether they would favor a Synodical Conference to be held at Winona Lake, Ind., in 1928. This was accordingly voted on at the various Young Peoples’ gatherings last summer. As a result every conference and convention voted in favor of holding it, with the possible exception of one, which favored the idea but doubted the practical outworkings of such a plan. Two asked that the date be set for 1926 instead of 1928.

“The matter of the date was then submitted to the individual societies with the result that all who voted, with three exceptions, favored the 1926 date. Ten societies gave no reply. This seems to establish the earlier date.

“It is a tremendous undertaking, but it should be one of the greatest events in the history of the Church, providing four or five hundred young Covenanters will attend. Seven or eight hundred usually attend the sectional gatherings, and if these delegations can be transported to one meeting center it should be a great season for inspiration and uplifting to the Young People of the Covenanter Church. It is your secretary’s judgment that this conference should not be undertaken unless there is reasonable assurance of at least four hundred young people being in attendance. The whole matter is therefore referred to Synod for ratification and advice.”

Synod 1925 indeed gave its endorsement provided that an attendance of not less than 400 could be reasonably assured.

During the 1925 presbytery youth conferences, election of officers for the conference were held, with the following results:

(See Link)

(Note: It must have been a busy year for President Paul D. McCracken, with these events: finished his seminary training in May, licensed May 12 by Pittsburgh Presbytery, married June 9 to Myra Alice Edgar, ordained and installed as pastor July 7 of Slippery Rock (later Rose Point) RPC, and president of the conference Aug. 5-12.)

Promotional Leaflets

Leaflets were prepared by the Young People’s secretary, Dr. Elliott, and were widely distributed to the attendees at the 1925 presbytery conferences. Winona was characterized at “A Real Rest Resort,” and the conference was advertised for “Recreation, Education, and Inspiration.”

Conferees were encouraged with these admonitions, “What Each Convention and Conference is Asked to Do:

• Sing these songs and others at meal times and during recreational periods. Appoint a song leader and a cheerleader.

• Vote on officers for the Synodical. After consultation with representatives of the various presbyterials a list of nominations is submitted for your consideration.

• Appoint a music committee, which shall arrange for a presbyterial quartet and an orchestra to perform during the recreational periods at Winona.

• Appoint a stunt committee, which shall arrange for a stunt or entertainment to be given by your presbyterial.

• Ascertain the number from your presbyterial who will plan to attend Winona.

• Send at once a full report on each of the above items to D. H. Elliott, Young Peoples secretary, Topeka, Kan.

Winona songs were written to be sung to tunes such as: “Pack Up Your Troubles,” “Hail! Hail! The Gang’s All Here,” “The Old Oaken Bucket,” “There’s a Long, Long, Trail,” and “The Little Brown Church.”

Further, young people were encouraged to use these “Winona Yells,” designed to build enthusiasm.

(See Link for the yells)

Synod’s Message to Winona

To the young people of the synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, in conference at Winona Lake, Ind., Aug. 6-15, 1926:

In accordance with the action of the late Synod (1926) at Walton, N.Y., I am sending you this letter convening the Greetings of Synod.

It is certainly one of the significant events of our time that the Young People of our Christian Churches hold such conferences as that which brings you together this year at Winona Lake. The wider acquaintance, the stronger friendship, the more thorough knowledge, the unified effort and the great enthusiasm that will result from such conferences will lead to truer services to humanity, to more unswerving loyalty to the Church, and to more ardent love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am tempted to say that no other young people’s organization of our generation possesses such a heritage of glory, or such golden promises for the future as are yours. You have come from homes in which you have been taught those ideals of life that are found only in the Word of God. Your standards are far in advance of those of many others. Today the eyes of our whole Church are fixed on you. Our hopes are in you. You will not fail us.

With your common interests, mutual sympathies and high purposes, you cannot but have a splendid time at beautiful Winona. May you come back home with the spirit of true optimism and infuse it into everyone you meet. And may we all have a brighter outlook of the kingdom of Christ, and smilingly set ourselves to the great, though sacrificial, work assigned us. —Robert Cameron Reed, Moderator of the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. Countersigned: D. C. Mathew, Clerk

Assessment and Description of the Conference

In the Sept. 22 issue of the Christian Nation, we read the following summary of the conference:

First Synodical Covenanter Young People’s Convention Winona Lake, Indiana—Aug. 6-15, 1926

A last the dreams of the young people of the Covenanter Church were coming true and they were on their way to Winona, some by autos, some by busses, some by train, and some walked several hundred miles. But they all reached there. In order of percentage in attendance the presbyteries were: Pittsburgh, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, Tri-Presbyterial, Colorado, Pacific and Central Canada—742 in all.

By Friday afternoon the crowds began to gather, and how exciting and good it was to meet all the friends one had known in the days of long ago, and, not realizing that they too were thinking of Winona, to turn around and see them once more face to face. It is impossible to find words to express the thrills of those days of renewed comradeship.

Such wonderful young people as gathered at Winona—one would call them the flower of the Church, yet they were just samples of the kind of young people the Covenanter Church produces. In all that number the absence of smoking on the grounds during the entire encampment was spoken of again and gain. As far as keeping their children in order, Father Adams and Mother Slater had an easy time. At every meeting the Christian Temple was packed to overflowing, with large numbers in the rear and up the side aisles.

One of the most impressive features of the convention was the singing of the Psalms. Non-Covenanters who attended from time to time were amazed at the beauty of it and how the young people sang from memory and with no instruments. They had never heard the like before. It truly was thrilling—700 young voices singing the Psalms.

Another feature was the morning worship. Each morning different groups gathered in various parts of the grounds. Here was a group of young men, there were the young girls, here a mixed group, out on the lake a boat full of boys, in some of the cottages family groups. First, one would start a psalm, then another group would start, then another, until from every part of the grounds the Psalms were wafted on the air. Mrs. T. J. Slater had an early morning prayer group for the young girls in addition to this, and it grew in interest and attendance each day.

Though there were so many regular meetings, and the afternoons were given over to athletics, a number of voluntary discussion groups were held in the afternoons that were exceedingly well attended. One was on “The Educational Challenge to the Church” led by E. Raymond Wilson. Another was on “Young People’s Problems.” Another day Mrs. A. A. Wylie held a most profitable junior workers’ conference.

One of the most enlightening of these discussion groups was the one on evolution led by Dr. John Coleman, and in which Dr. R. J. G. McKnight and Rev. F. E. Allen, who is considered an authority on the subject outside our Church as well as among our own people, took part. The evening services were all intensely interesting and entertaining.

Welcome Night

The Christian Temple was crowded. Al the officers were on the platform. Dr. Elliott opened the convention with prayer and then Mr. R. A. M. Steele held a service of praise, and oh what singing! When all joined in the Lord’s prayer, a visiting minister remarked that he had never heard it said in unison so well before. There were 440 registered before this first meeting, and the enthusiasm ran high from the start.

Dr. J. C. Breckenridge, secretary of the Winona Assembly, gave a warm welcome in which he said, “I am satisfied that I have a rare privilege in welcoming to a place like this the young people of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in its National Convention. Covenanters were our closest friends in the early days in Pennsylvania. Not one young man or young woman has gone astray of those Covenanter homes in Mercer County, Pa. We welcome you because of the folks you are. Covenanter is a name we should remember more. We cannot refer to the blessings of civic liberties without that word read nor read the Scriptures without it—covenant of grace and covenant of works. You are a people who have laid hold of a great word. We welcome you from whence you have come—from the East and West, from the North and South—and I am satisfied your coming will mean what you have longed to have it be. We welcome you because of the purpose of your coming, that you may know, not only one another better, but to know your Lord better.

Miss Lucy Franke, of Second, N.Y., and president of the Tri-Presbyterial, responded in her usual happy, charming manner, and held the interest of her audience, who agreed with her that we were glad to be at Winona.

Rev. Paul D. McCracken then delivered his president’s address. In part he said: “This is a moment I can never forget. I do not believe there has ever been audience of Covenanter young people like this before. We have reached the climax and culmination of a dream we have had for three years. Winona is to us the center of the universe. For the last four or five days from all directions on all roads we have met folks coming on the spokes of that great wheel centering here. What is our purpose in coming here tonight? Perhaps for Winona Lake itself. Perhaps to see what it would be like to meet so many Covenanter young people. But here is a deeper significance. The thing way down deep in our hearts is that we want a spiritual revival of Christ and of Christian service—to get acquainted with God.” Just there he struck what proved to be the keynote of the Great Convention.

Get Acquainted Night

This meeting had been planned for The Inn, but such crowds were not counted on. The place was packed so solidly they finally had to overflow out on the lawn. But everybody had a wonderful time meeting old friends and making new. Then there was music, and refreshments followed and plenty of cheer.

Seminary Night

The entire Seminary was there—eight students and two professors. Remo Robb was in charge and did his part well. Dr. R. J. G. McKnight led in prayer. The ministerial quartet, composed of Wylie Doughtery, Remo Robb, Paul McCracken and A. J. McFarland, rendered splendid music and kept up our spirits, which were already pretty high. The four students who did not have singing voices proved they were excellent in oratory.

Roy Fullerton gave a fine talk on the curriculum that includes, along with Hebrew and Greek and church history, a course in domestic science. As the boys do their own cooking they learn economy—the worse the cooking the less they eat.

R. H. McKelvy talked on “opportunities for Christian work in the seminary,” telling of the outside work the boys do in teaching in the Sabbath schools, lecturing on missionary work, holding services, singing over the radio, and, best of all, preaching the Gospel.

Frank Lathom told of the “social side of the seminary.” Like old wine it is rare. But they have a group of men who strive to enjoy the things that all can enjoy. Being between two congregations they enter into the social side of both. He drew our tears when he told of the last night they had before Paul McCracken graduated, but the saddest fact is that as yet there is none to take his place.

Robert Ward made a stirring appeal for men, real men, to help carry on the work of the Covenanter Church, and to enter the ranks of the ministry.

Dr. R. C. Wylie gave a splendid and timely address on the seminary itself, praising the young men and making a plea for more “as good as we already have.” Then he gave a serious summary of the fourfold division of the work in his department in the seminary:

1. Thoroughgoing systematic study of the Word of God;
3. Study of the whole system of Christian truth as it has been unfolding;
5. Study of these truths in their relationship to other systems of truth;

7. How to put it across.

   It was a wonderful night and all were proud of their seminary—professors and students.

College Night

Dr. Robert Clarke presided, and as usual could not suppress his sense of humor. The program was exceptionally fine with a college “quartet made up of five.” Their leader, Paul Slater, said they had “only had two rehearsals but could sing ten times as well as the seminary quartet.” Then they tried to prove it. Everyone enjoyed them.

Agnes Steele and Gertrude Anderson gave splendid readings. Wylie Dougherty brought greetings from Sterling College. He is a trained singer and his vocal solos were greatly appreciated. E. Raymond Wilson told of his contemplated trip to Japan. Then there were three three-minute talks on “Why I Went to Geneva,” by Mary Curry, Rev. Bruce Martin and Dr. W. J. Coleman. Dr. J. S. Martin gave a talk on the Geneva alumni.

The McBurney quartet from Orlando, a musical family, entertained us with their minstrels. They were constantly in demand all through the convention.

Frederick Stalwerk Shaw, affectionately known by the student body as Fritz, who has charge of Geneva buildings and grounds, was introduced and gave a timely and amusing response. Sam Boyle gave a chalk talk on going to the Relays in Philadelphia, and Dr. Robert Park presented a movie on Geneva.

Dr. M. M. Pearce, president of Geneva, made the closing address on the value of Geneva, and made a strong plea for Covenanters to send their children to the college their Church has provided for them. Dr. Pearce as always was most eloquent.

Missionary Night

The program this night was a pageant, “By Their Fruits.” The leading parts were taken by Lael Acheson, Gertrude Anderson, Mildred Henderson and John McKnight. All the missionaries present had a part in this, and there was a great host of them. It had a stirring appeal.

Evangelistic Night

This was in the charge of Synod’s Evangelistic Committee, with Rev. E. K. Patton presiding. There were a number of splendid addresses telling of the work of the Gospel Teams. The Winchester Girls’ Gospel Team was there, and each took part—May Keys, Ethel Dunn, Florence Milligan, and Mary Curry. O. H. Curry, chairman of the Men’s Gospel team, made a splendid address. Gordon Casey, of Second, N.Y., told of the work of the School Bag Gospel League. Sam Boyle gave an evangelistic chalk talk.

Friday Night

On this evening the speaker was Rev. M. E. Dodd, D.D., pastor of the Baptist Church of Shreveport, La., who spoke on “The Constraining Love of Christ.” He gave a most forceful address.

On the night of the Junior Pageant, Rev. Paul Coleman put on a telling film giving indisputable facts concerning the evils of tobacco.

Sabbath Days

Both Sabbath days were happy ones. The first Sabbath morning Rev. D. R. Taggart explained the psalm and Dr. R. H. Martin gave a splendid and practical sermon on “What Our Young People Can Do to Maintain the Sabbath in America.” In the afternoon an hour of praise and devotion was spent with Rev. Bruce Martin with a male choir leading the singing, and Rev. J. D. Edgar in charge.

Dr. R. J. G. McKnight gave a most effective and convincing sermon on Modernism in the evening, which held the audience from start to finish. His text was Isaiah 36. He said Modernism is too difficult to define. It is a denial. There is no such thing as definite view of Modernism. It is as old as sin. It was Modernism that talked Adam and Eve out of Eden. It has been in every age of the human race because it denies that God acts in the way He says. The storm center in all theories of evolution is the supernatural. Modernism rules out the supernatural because it does not fit in with its philosophy.

The Last Sabbath

That was a memorable day. We had been working up toward it all week. The morning service with Rev. H. G. Patterson presiding, and the wonderful prayer of Rev. George S. Coleman, and the fitting explanation of the Psalm by Rev. T. C. McKnight, and the appealing sermon of Dr. Pearce, all prepared the way for what was to follow. Rev. J. R. W. Stevenson says of the afternoon service:

Sabbath Afternoon

“Several years ago when a certain diplomat was chosen to represent the United States in Japan, comment was made in the following words, “Much will be expected of him in Japan.” The young people attending the conference at Winona appeared to realize that much would be expected of them at Winona. From the first there was a splendid spirit manifest, and day by day the interest increased naturally reaching a climax on the closing Sabbath.

“We have heard much of Sabbath afternoon devotions at Synod, but we doubt if ever they equaled the last Sabbath afternoon at Winona with the young people. The period from three o’clock to four was led by Dr. D. H. Elliott in his characteristic manner, and among the results may be mentioned the declaration of one young man of his intention to prepare for the gospel ministry. Two others led us to believe they had the same things under consideration and desired the prayers of God’s people for their guidance.

An after-meeting, from four o’clock to five, was led by Rev. D. Bruce Martin. The interest was intensified when a young woman arose and announced her surrender to the Savior and her intentions of uniting with the Covenanter Church the first opportunity. There were some who repeatedly attempted to gain the floor to speak, but others were ahead. There was a realization that the opportunities of the great convention were about to close, and many hearts were touched with the desire to publicly honor their Lord. Even after this meeting closed, one young man sought a conference with one of the workers and surrendered his life to Jesus and declared his intention of entering the gospel ministry.

“Sabbath afternoon was a time for rejoicing by the angelic hosts as well as the saints on earth, a suitable preparation for the triumphs of the closing service on Sabbath evening.”

Consecration Service

That last Sabbath evening was the most wonderful in the lives of most everyone there. Never was there such a meeting in the history of our Church. The conference had reached the summit of spiritual enthusiasm and was waiting for what God the Lord would do. The Temple was packed to overflowing, even into the anterooms.

In the stillness Rev. Owen F. Thompson opened the meeting, and Rev. Paul McCracken led in prayer. After the song service and announcements, Rev. J. D. Edgar began his memorable sermon on Psalm 45:16: “Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.”

He had scarcely begun when the rain came down in torrents—so heavily it was almost impossible to hear even in the very front of the Temple. Those back a little way could not hear at all. Mr. Edgar tried to talk against the noise of the rain but to no avail. Then he stopped, and said, “Let us pray God that if it is His will He will stop the rain so that we may go on with the meeting.” For just a few minutes a number of short prayers were offered pleading with God to stop the rain. Then suddenly the storm settled down to a gentle shower, which was soon over, and Mr. Edgar went on with his sermon. Such a direct answer to prayer many in the audience had never witnessed.

Mr. Edgar chose as his theme, “God’s replacements in the work of the kingdom.” The text means not merely sons and daughters in the flesh, he said, but young people in the Church are to take the place of the fathers. Then he made an earnest appeal for the young people to surrender their lives, to let God have His way with them, as the potter with the clay, to allow their love for God to rise above their love even to live. The young man or young woman who loves God and His book more than his own life is what our Church needs. Will you do what God has for you to do? Will you do it?

Mr. Edgar’s appeal was tender and impressive and persuasive. Then he had all kneel at their seats while he prayed. After that he called all the ministers to the platform and all the missionaries and all the leaders of the Church, those who are devoting their lives to the service of the Church. After that he called on all those who were willing to consecrate their lives to the Lord’s work in the ministry or in the mission field, or in some particular branch of the Church’s work, to come to the platform. Those who responded not only went up to the platform but signed their names, designating what branch of the Lord’s work they wanted to enter. The result was as follows: Iowa Presbytery, 20; Pittsburgh, 20; Kansas, 9; Ohio, 7; Illinois, 7; New York, 6; Philadelphia, 4; Syracuse, 2. The total was 41 men, 34 women, including several children, at least 15 college graduates, and 18 children of ministers—75 in all.

As we stood and watched these young people eagerly waiting their turn to sign and crowding around the table, while tears were in every eye in the audience, and none were ashamed, some openly sobbing, one minister remarked, “How like the signing of the Covenant in Greyfriars!” And so it was.

Covenanters, we dare not go back on these young people. We must with them hold fast to our faith.

Report of the Committee on Data and Observations of the 1926 National Young People’s Conference

John Mitchell is an archivist for the RPCNA and is a member of Rose Point (New Castle, Pa.) RPC.