8 August 1891 A.D. Dr. Harold Samuel Laird Born—American Presbyterian
Churchman
Archivist. “August 8: Dr. Harold Samuel Laird.” This
Day in Presbyterian History. 8 Aug
2014. http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/2014/08/august-8-2/.
Accessed 8 Aug 2014.
August 8: Dr. Harold Samuel Laird
It has been my experience that there are just a few men
who, when spoken of, are remembered with the utmost respect and veneration. Dr.
Harold Samuel Laird was one such man. In 1987, Dr. Paul R. Gilchrist, who
was at that time serving as the Stated Clerk of the PCA, wrote the following
memorial upon the death of the Dr. Laird. Dr. Gilchrist’s final summary
comments are particularly in keeping with every estimation that I have heard of
Harold Samuel Laird over the years.
In Memoriam: Harold Samuel Laird
by Paul R. Gilchrist.
Dr.
Harold S. Laird quietly went home to be with the Lord on August 25 at
Quarryville Presbyterian Home, PA, at the age of 96. He was one of those
valiant Presbyterians who stood for “the faith once delivered to the saints.”
With J. Gresham Machen and others, he was tried by his presbytery in the
liberal UPUSA (Northern Presbyterians) for disobeying the General Assembly
mandate to disband the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions
which they had established in 1934 for the proclamation of the Gospel. Dr.
Laird also had been a founder of Westminster Theological Seminary in 1929. When
the General Assembly of 1936 upheld the convictions of Machen, Laird, and five
others, they banded together and formed the Presbyterian Church of America (later
renamed the Orthodox Presbyterian Church).
Harold
S. Laird was born on August 8, 1891, in New Castle, PA. He studied under the giants
of the faith at Princeton Theological Seminary: Robert Dick Wilson, B. B.
Warfield, C. W. Hodge, and J. G. Machen. He received the honorary Doctor
of Divinity degree from Wheaton College in 1938. In 1965 he was elected
moderator of the 142nd Genera! Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in
North America, General Synod which merged with the Evangelical Presbyterian
Church that year to form the RPC,ES (which joined the PCA in 1982).
Dr.
Laird was best known as an outstanding preacher of the Gospel, a loving and
tender pastor, and a contender for the faith. He was always vitally interested
in world missions and the theological education of pastors and missionaries. He
served seven churches in the Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia area for 40
years.
It
can truly be said of him that he walked with God. All who heard him pray came
into the presence of God. His life verse — “Seek first the kingdom of God and
His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew
6:33) — was evident through his godly spirit. Through all his trials,
he ever remained content in the providence of God. To the very end, his
cheerful countenance was a blessing and inspiration to all.
We
salute this valiant servant for the faith — as he moves from the church
militant to the blessedness of the church victorious.
Life Chronology:
8 August 1891 – Birth
1914 – Graduation from Lafayette College, with the B.A. degree
1917 – Graduation from Princeton Theological Seminary
1917-1919 – Pastor of the Arlington Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, Maryland
1919-1924 – Pastor, Henry Memorial Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA
1924-1927 – Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Lewiston, PA
1927-1933 – Pastor, Presbyterian Church of Collingswood, NJ
1933-1936 – Pastor, First & Central Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE
1936-1957 – Pastor, Faith Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE
Honorably retired
1982 – Ministerial credentials transferred into the PCA
25 August 1987 – deceased. Dr. Laird was a member of the Susquehanna Valley Presbytery (PCA) at the time of his death.
Honors awarded Dr. Laird during his lifetime included:
1938 – Doctor of Divinity degree awarded by Wheaton College
1965 – Moderator of the 142nd General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America
8 August 1891 – Birth
1914 – Graduation from Lafayette College, with the B.A. degree
1917 – Graduation from Princeton Theological Seminary
1917-1919 – Pastor of the Arlington Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, Maryland
1919-1924 – Pastor, Henry Memorial Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA
1924-1927 – Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Lewiston, PA
1927-1933 – Pastor, Presbyterian Church of Collingswood, NJ
1933-1936 – Pastor, First & Central Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE
1936-1957 – Pastor, Faith Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE
Honorably retired
1982 – Ministerial credentials transferred into the PCA
25 August 1987 – deceased. Dr. Laird was a member of the Susquehanna Valley Presbytery (PCA) at the time of his death.
Honors awarded Dr. Laird during his lifetime included:
1938 – Doctor of Divinity degree awarded by Wheaton College
1965 – Moderator of the 142nd General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America
No comments:
Post a Comment