York Town Square

This stained glass window at York, Pa.’s, First Moravian Church, one of 31 designed by noted York County artist J. Horace Rudy, is located on the south wall of the church’s sanctuary.This is another in a series on those windows. Also of interest: All Rudy stained-glass window posts from the start and York native Steve Zirnkilton’s ‘Law & Order’ voice known to the world and York County enthusiasts could find historical event, site to visit every day.

Terrence Downs, yorktownsquare.com provides information on another colorful stained-glass window at First Moravian Church as well as the venerable family of S. Morgan Smith … .

“When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the benefits of the body of Christ?” as written by St. Paul – I Corinthians 10:16.
This symbol is used in mainline churches the world over. When we think of the cup, we recall the Last Supper, but in this passage written by Paul, we are charged to become aware of the power of the Sacrament relating to our Faith thru the Resurrection. This window centered in the south wall of the Sanctuary shapes our Worship and communion with Jesus, being given – In Memory of Mary M. Weigle by Mrs. Gibson Smith.
The notoriety of the S. Morgan Smith family withstanding, Mrs. Susan E. Smith and her husband Gibson Smith hold right of pride in the progeny of their family, producing 2 outstanding sons. This family is revered in the annuals of York First Church, and largely responsible for its progression during the 19th Century into the 20th: Mrs. Gibson Smith is Susan Elizabeth Fahs Smith, and her sister is Mary M. Fahs Weigle, who married Martin Weigle of York. Mary, widowed by Martin passed away in 1903. Another sister is Emma Rebecca Fahs Smith – marrying the Rev. Stephen Morgan Smith of North Carolina.
The Gibson & Susan Fahs family resided at 417 West Market Street across from Union Lutheran Church, John Fahs Jr. residing on the opposite side of West Market at the elder John Fahs homestead, which had been the home of Judge Bonham;, John Fahs, Jr. being on the board of the Farmers’ Market Company and the Western National Bank. In the narrative at the University of Pennsylvania, author Lynne Farrington in her dissertation ‘Alchemy, Metallurgy, and Pharmacy’ writes: “Edgar Fahs Smith and the History of Chemistry” pens the biography of Edgar and his family as was gleaned: “EDGAR FAHS SMITH, Professor of Chemistry and Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, was born to Gibson and Susan Elizabeth (Fahs) Smith at King’s Mill in West Manchester Township, near York, Pennsylvania, on May 23, 1854.
His father was a grain, wood, and coal merchant in York who died suddenly of pneumonia in middle age, leaving the family in comfortable circumstances. His mother was a devout Moravian to whom Smith credited much of his success. His brother, Allen John, born in 1863, would follow Smith in a flourishing career of his own, as a physician, author, and educator. Allen John Smith was Professor of Pathology in the Medical School at the University of Pennsylvania from 1903 until his death in 1926, and served as the Dean of the Medical faculty from 1909 to 1912. While Edgar Fahs Smith’s early training was in classical languages and literature at the academically rigorous York County has, does and ever will contribute to the happiness of man.
Though Smith originally planned to attend Yale College, he enrolled at Pennsylvania College in 1872 and took a Bachelor of Science degree in 1874, majoring in chemistry and mineralogy. Smith’s chemistry professor encouraged him to go abroad and study at the University of Göttingen receiving the Masters of Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees in 1876. Returning to Pennsylvania, Smith married Margie Alice Gruel. The couple, whose marriage appears to have been one of mutual respect, understanding, and affection, had no children. Apart from a short period of teaching at Muhlenberg College (1881-1883) in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Wittenberg College (1883-1888), in Springfield, Ohio, he spent his entire career at the University of Pennsylvania. Smith died in Philadelphia on May 3, 1928.”
Also of interest:
– Window in memorial to Beauchamp H. Smith: Beautiful First Moravian Church in York, Part 10.
– Window in memorial to S. Morgan Smith, Part 5.
– First Moravian’s website.
Also
– All York Town Square posts from the start. (Key word search by using “find” on browser.) Or search Google. For example: search yorktownsquare first moravian.
– Previous posts on First Moravian or its historic windows.