Rev. Dr. Calvin Weiss Laufer

  General Notes:

The history on the Rev. Calvin Weiss Laufer was compiled from the 1906 Lauffer History with edits by James R. Lauffer Sr. (2008) and with gratitude for information gathered by "Cyberhymnal.org". The lyrics and tunes to Calvin's hymns can be found at <http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/l/a/u/laufer_cw.htm> , assuming this location, and possibly even websites, are not in the historical archives when you read this. Calvin is of special interest to James due to seeing his name in a Lutheran Hymnal over 40 years ago and he has always wondered if this person was related. Now, through the genealogy research going into the Second Edition Lauffer History book, Calvin has become a known relative and also a person with a real and interesting history.

Rev. Calvin Weiss Laufer was the pastor, of the Steinway Reformed Church, Steinway, Long Island City, New York (1900 - 1905). "The membership tripled during the five years of his pastorate at Steinway; a membership of only 85 when he took charge and the Sunday school attendance grew from 275 to 500." He then became the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, West Hoboken, New Jersey (1905 - 1915). Following this pastorate he served as a field representative for the Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sunday School Work (1915 - 1924), and the Presbyterian Board of Christian Education (1925 - 1938). He helped edit the Presbyterian "Hymnal" of 1933 and the "Handbook to the Hymnal" (1935). His other works include:

of Optimism, 1911
The Incomparable Christ, 1914
The Bible-Story and Content, 1924
Junior Church School Hymnal, 1927
Songs for Men, 1928
The Church School Hymnal for Youth, 1928
Primary Worship and Music, 1930
Hymn Lore (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Westminster Press, 1932)
When the Little Child Wants to Sing, 1935
Lyrics
Holy Father, Bless Us (1921)
Holy Father, God of Might (© 1928)
Like Thee, Dear Master, Help Us Feel (© 1927) (© by Edward B Laufer)
My Life, Dear Lord, I Give to Thee (1918)
O Magnify the Lord with Me
O Master of the Loving Heart (© 1927)
O Thou Eternal Christ of God (1934)
Our Hearts, Dear Lord, Are in the Hills (© 1925)
We Thank Thee, Lord, Thy Paths of Service Lead (1919)
When Comes the Golden Sunset (1922)
is a son of Nathan Laufer, of Broadheadsville, Pa., born April 6, 1874. He had a strenuous time preparing himself for the ministry, and enthusiasm and marked industry have characterized his labors since."

In 1891, "at the age of seventeen he had prepared himself to teach. The law of Pennsylvania, however, precluded his teaching at that age. Nevertheless, through the 'age blindness' of the local Board of Education, he was appointed a public school teacher. His salary was $23 per month. The school in which he taught was four and a half miles from his home. That distance he walked twice a day, even during the cold winters. Meanwhile his evenings were devoted to Latin and Greek, under the direction of his pastor, Rev. S. F. Laury, and at the end of the first winter he had mastered three books of Caesar and two books of Xenaphon's "Anabasis." Continuing to teach for another winter he devoted his spare time to study. He attended the Fairview Academy at Broadheadsville and graduated in the spring of 1893. Though all of the personal hardships, he received a gold medal for scholarship.

This is a partial list of graduates from Fairview Academy. The Academy is no
longer in operation. Part of the building still stood in 1996 in what is now
considered Effort, Pa.

Class of 1893
Rev. Calvin W. Laufer -Steinway, N.Y.

Class of 1894
Rev. E. E. Kresge- Allentown, Pa (from the S. S. Kresge Company store chain)
Rev. H. A. Kunkle- Scranton, Pa
Prof. Geo. B. Kunkle- Wind Gap, Pa (Calvin's brother-in-law, married to Mary Jane)

Class of 1901

Miss Lizzie J. Laufer (Mrs. Clayton Fetherman)-Stroudsburg, Pa (1^st cousin to Calvin)

"Interesting note: Text books used in the class included: Orthography
(Spelling), Pedagogy (teaching), Astronomy, Physics and Rhetoric. Cost for
Teacher's spring course, 10 weeks, $10 or $1 per week. Board $2.50 per
week."


"In the fall of 1893 he entered college with only $93 in his purse, and in his heart a profound faith in God-- determined to win at any price. While in college he played the organ in one of the local churches, gave instruction on the piano to as many as eighteen pupils a week, conducted a choral class, and occasionally wrote verses for the local papers. Calvin and Ellen Metzgar were married in 1895 and while managing family life, he graduated from Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa., 1897, winning the senior prize debate and $50 in gold."

In September, 1897, he entered Union Theological Seminary, and graduated with a M.A. in 1900. During his course there, he connected himself, for financial reasons, with Rev, Dr. Schauffler in missionary work in the slums, and he became associated with the Rev. Dr. A. H. McKinny, now of Newark, (1900) but then pastor of Olivet Church, New York City. Based on a book Calvin edited in 1935, "When The Little Child Wants To Sing", we see he is noted as "Dr. Calvin W. Laufer, Chairman and Editor". It was found Calvin obtained his Doctor of Divinity from Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska.

  Research Notes:

Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord
HALL



Author:William H. Foulkes, Early 20th C. Musician:Calvin W. Laufer, 1874-1938 Take Thou our minds, dear Lord, we humbly pray;
Give us the mind of Christ each passing day;
Teach us to know the truth that sets us free;
Grant us in all our thoughts to honor Thee.

Take Thou our hearts, O Christ, they are Thine own;
Come Thou within our souls and claim Thy throne;
Help us to shed abroad Thy deathless love;
Use us to make the earth like heav'n above.

Take Thou our wills, Most High! Hold Thou full sway;
Have in our in most souls Thy perfect way;
Guard Thou each sacred hour from selfish ease;
Guide Thou our ordered lives as Thou dost please.

Take Thou ourselves, O Lord, heart, mind, and will;
Thro' our surrendered souls Thy plans fulfill.
We yield ourselves to Thee— time, talents, all;
We hear, and henceforth heed, Thy sov'reign call.

Copyright renewal:

Thee, Dear Master, Help Us Feel Calvin W Laufer 17May27:A993307
16May55:R149900 by Edward B Laufer (C)

Calvin married Ellen Metzgar.